Fire In South Florida Ecosystems

Abstract

A BSTRA CT-This compendium of fire information for selected south Florida vegetative communities will help resource managers and policymakers to better predict the consequences of their fire management decisions. Included is a brief history of fire in south Florida, along with some associated damages and benefits. Certain natural functions fulfilled by fire are outlined. Fire is rated against other specified threats to south Florida's remaining wildlands, and the impact of ongoing vegetative changes upon fire management in the near future is assessed. The effect of fire on attainment of resource management objectives and the necessity of integrating fire planning into the land management planning process are explained. Available information about fire effects is presented for each of the major vegetative types in south Florida, and fire's relationship with certain exotic species is discussed.

Calophya latiforceps, a New Species of Jumping Plant Lice (Hemiptera: Calophyidae) Associated withSchinus terebinthifolius(Anacardiaceae) in Brazil

“…In colonized hardwood hammocks, Brazilian peppertree plants taller than 1m are significantly more fire tolerant than other woody species (Loope and Dunevitz 1981b). Moreover, once Brazilian peppertree forms dense stands, the high moisture retained by its litter and low fuel levels in the understory may reduce the fire frequency in pyric pine rocklands (Wade et al 1980). According to Bond (1993), plant invaders that suppress the seedlings of other species are called "keystone weeds".…”

An old-growth definition for upland longleaf and south Florida slash pine forests, woodlands, and savannas

“…Fire intervals of 3 to 10 years have been estimated for longleaf in Coastal Plain sandhills where edaphic factors reduce the rate of fuel accumulation, topographic position, or both, limits fue entry (Wharton 1978, Clewell 1986) in the species' "transition" region and in other partiahy fire-protected areas (Ware et al 1993). Before the natural systems were disrupted, fire-dependent South Florida slash pine communities were similarly maintained by regularly recurring surface fires at 2-to 7-year intervals (Harper 1927, Wade et al 1980, Gtmderson and Loope 1982, Snyder 1986). …”

“…& Schult. ], which also tolerates frequent surface fires (Wade et al 1980), and occasionally oaks, e.g., Q. nigru L., Q. virginiana Mill., may be considered natural associates. In rockland habitats, numerous broad-leaved subtropical trees, including exotics, have invaded South Florida slash pine sites.…”

A Regional Guidebook for Applying the Hydrogeomorphic Approach to Assessing Wetland Functions of Flats Wetlands in the Everglades

“…In some years, the Everglades has sufficiently large areas of standing water during the winter months to moderate cold temperatures (Duever et al 1994). Whether or not southern Florida is truly tropical is often debated since damaging frosts recur about every other year (Thomas 1974;Wade, Ewel, and Hofstetter 1980). The sensitivity of tropical plants to cold is the main factor that determines their northern limits, and a northward restriction to the coast is the standard pattern of their distribution (Lodge 1994).…”