National Forests in Florida Final Report
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- Wet Slash Pine Savannas and Flatwoods
Slash Pine - Titi SwampElement Identifiers NVCS association: Pinus elliottii var. elliottii / Cliftonia monophylla - Cyrilla racemiflora Woodland Database Code: CEGL003638 Formation: Saturated temperate or subpolar needle-leaved evergreen woodland Alliance: PINUS ELLIOTTII SATURATED TEMPERATE WOODLAND ALLIANCE (II.A.4.N.f.2) Element Concept Summary: This association presumably represents swamps of the East Gulf Coastal Plain of Florida (and possibly Mississippi and Alabama) with overstory canopy dominated by Pinus elliottii var. elliottii. In addition, Pinus serotina may be present but not abundant. These swamps may occur on strongly acid, infertile, often peaty soils which are either shallowly inundated or waterlogged during wet seasons. They may be associated with blackwater areas and are usually isolated from more fire-prone flatwoods. In contrast to examples with a strong component of Pinus serotina, this association may inhabitat deeper portions of acid swamps. The midstory is strongly dominated by Cliftonia monophylla and Cyrilla racemiflora which tend to exclude invasion of other species, and which strongly suppress herbaceous understory species. Other evergreen species, such as Lyonia lucida and Ilex coriacea, may be common. Overall, species richness is quite low. Environment: These swamps may occur on strongly acid, infertile, often peaty soils which are either shallowly inundated or waterlogged during wet seasons (Clewell 1981). They may be associated with blackwater areas (A. Weakley pers. comm.) and are usually isolated from more fire prone flatwoods. In contrast to examples with a strong component of Pinus serotina, this association may inhabit deeper portions of acid swamps (Clewell 1981). Vegetation: See Summary Dynamics: This association is not subject to frequent, low-intensity fire typical of longleaf flatwoods. The lack of herbaceous vegetation and presence of a high water table makes it difficult for fires to ignite except under droughty conditions. If and when fires do occur they are likely to be intense crown fires which may also burn into the peaty soils. It has been observed that fire history may explain the physiognomy of this and related acid swamps [see Similar Association]. Clewell (1981) suggests that examples with emergent overstory and/or taller shrub layers are subject to less frequent fire or at least have not been subject to destructive fire as recently as shorter forms. Intense crown fires may eliminate or heavily reduce the pine overstory, creating a transition to Cyrilla racemiflora - Cliftonia monophylla Shrubland (CEGL003847). Similar Associations: Pinus serotina - Pinus elliottii var. elliottii / Cliftonia monophylla - Cyrilla racemiflora Woodland (CEGL003674)--related acid swamp of the same region with codominance of Pinus serotina, may occur along more transitional areas with better drainage (Clewell 1981). Cyrilla racemiflora - Cliftonia monophylla Shrubland (CEGL003847)--acid swamp of the same region without emergent canopy of pines. Synonymy: No information Comments: This association should not be confused with unnaturally fire-suppressed flatwoods which have developed similar structure, although in a given area the two may be difficult to distinguish. Such examples should be considered as low-quality examples of an existing flatwoods association. According to C. Kindell, work is needed to determine clear distinction between this community and another related type, Pinus serotina - Pinus elliottii var. elliottii / Cliftonia monophylla - Cyrilla racemiflora Woodland (CEGL003674). Conservation Ranking & Rare Species GRank: G2G3Q (01-02-01): This saturated Pinus elliottii acid swamp association is restricted to the East Gulf Coastal Plain. The remaining examples which are not on public land are highly threatened by development, and even those on public lands are negatively affected by alteration of fire regimes. Natural fire regimes have almost been completely excluded from this type and related acid swamps, given that they tend to only burn during extreme droughts when prescribed fire is not used or allowed. Due to their isolation, these swamps are less subject to routine disturbances such as grazing or ORV use. However, slash pine was logged from nearly all stands historically (Clewell 1981), and an undetermined amount of this association has been essentially turned into the shrubland form Cyrilla racemiflora - Cliftonia monophylla Shrubland (CEGL003847) or converted to commercial forest plantations or agriculture. Most examples on private lands which have not been destroyed are probably severely degraded due to almost complete lack of fire management and swamp draining. Some examples are managed on U.S. Forest Service lands, and incidental burning on military lands has in some cases also maintained more-or-less natural fire regimes. ^The "Q" was added to the rank to provide consistency in interpretation between this type and the related type, Pinus serotina - Pinus elliottii var. elliottii / Cliftonia monophylla - Cyrilla racemiflora Woodland (CEGL003674). High-ranked species: No information Element Distribution Range: This association is found in the East Gulf Coastal Plain of Florida (and possibly Mississippi and Alabama). It could potentially occur in other areas within the native range of the nominals. States: AL? FL MS? Crosswalk to State Classifications: Not yet cross-referenced to state classifications TNC Ecoregions: 53:C USFS Ecoregions: 232:C Federal Lands: USFS (Apalachicola, Conecuh?, De Soto?, Ocala, Osceola) Element Sources References: Clewell 1981, Weakley pers. comm. Wet Slash Pine Savannas and Flatwoods Directory: library library -> Strategic Plan South Sudan Country Office Context library -> The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh Selected Letters library -> Ieee/iee electronic Library (iel) library -> [0] B. Hardware [2] library -> [1] B. Hardware [1] library -> Florida public service commission library -> 1 1 before the florida public service commission 2 docket no. 070650-ei 3 In the Matter of: 4 petition to determine need for turkey point nuclear units 6 and 7 electrical 5 power plant, by florida power & light company library -> Archived Online Exhibit Download 3.16 Mb. Share with your friends:
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