Ecology of South Florida (EVR 3013) LECTURE 20

UPLAND COMMUNITIES V - SCRUB

SPRUCE WOODS ON THE OLD DUNES FULL OF LIFE

The little "Florida spruce," a type of dwarfed white pine, chooses our dry, sandy dunes for its habitat. The trees in every wood lean in the direction of the dominant wind of their lifetime. ... Their chosen living space is the white "sugar sand" of dunes that bordered ancient seas. It is the most arid, least fertile, highest and driest soil of our region.

Ernest Lyons (1969)
HANDOUTS: Species list for scrub

I. PHYSICAL FEATURES

A. Introduction

...nothing could be more sterile than the soil; and these tracts are, in fact, concealed deserts, as they are too poor to admit cultivation, and afford nothing that is fit, even for the browsing of cattle.

Simmons 1822

B. Definition

Scrub is xeromorphic vegetation, dominated by a layer of evergreen oaks or rosemary with or without a pine overstory.

C. Distribution

Old Dunes

D. Geology and Soils

All entisols - usually Quartzipsammnets

E. Hydrology

Extremely well-drained

II. PLANTS

A. Physiognomy

Evergreen, open canopy.

B. Canopy composition, size and density

1. Dominants

Pinus clausa or Quercus spp.

2. Scrubby flatwood

Pinus elliottii

C. Subcanopy

Quercus spp.

D. Shrub and herbs

Licania michauxii, Lyonia spp., Serenoa repens

E. Related communities

Scrubby flatwoods, beach dune and strand

F. Endemics, exotics and diversity

1. Listed species

a. 22 state listed

b. 13 federally listed

2. Endemics

Largely restricted to Lake Wales Ridge

3. Exotics

Schinus terebinthifolius (Brazilian pepper)

4. Diversity

G. Plant species list for scrub

1. Trees
Scrub pine	Pinus clausa
S. Fla. Slash pine	Pinus elliottii var. densa
Live oak	Quercus virginiana
Sand live oak	Quercus geminata
Cabbage palm	Sabal palmetto	[state tree]
2. Shrubs
Brazilian pepper	Schinus terebinthifolius^EX
Saw palmetto	Serenoa repens
Rosemary	Ceratiola ericoides
Rusty Lyonia	Lyonia ferruginea
Coontie	Zamia pumila^C
Wax myrtle	Myrica cerifera
3. Herbs
Broom sedge	Andropogon virginicus
Spanish bayonet	Yucca aloifolia
[many endemic and listed taxa]
4. Epiphytes
Cardinal air plant	Tillandsia fasciculata^C
5. Vines
Muscadine grape	Vitis rotundifolia
6. Lichens
Reindeer moss	Cladonia spp.

III. ANIMALS

A. Mammals

Diversity is high, abundance is relatively low.

B. Reptiles and amphibians

Several endemic or endangered species

C. Birds

Sometimes divers

D. Animal list for scrub

1. Birds
Scrub jay	Aphelocoma coerulescens^T
Red-shouldered hawk	Buteo lineatus
Northern cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis
Turkey vulture	Cathartes aura
Common flicker	Colaptes auratus
Bluejay	Cyanocitta cristata
Palm warbler	Dendroica palmarum
Gray catbird	Dumetella carolinensis
Red-bellied woodpecker	Melanerpes carolinus
N. mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	[state bird]
Mourning dove	Zenaida macroura
2. Mammals
Armadillo	Dasypus novemcinctus^EX
Florida mouse	Podomys floridanus
Bobcat	Lynx rufus
Gray fox	Urocyon cineroargenteus
Raccoon	Procyon lotor
White-tailed deer	Odocoileus virginanus
Florida black bear	Ursus americanus ssp. floridanus^T
Florida panther	Felis concolor ssp. coryi^T	[state animal]
Opossum	Didelphis virginiana
Gray squirrel	Sciurus carolinensis
Wild hog	Sus scrofa^EX
3. Reptiles
Carolina anole	Anolis carolinensis
Indigo snake	Drymarchon corais ssp. couperi^T
Gopher tortoise	Gopherus polyphemus^SSC
E. diamondback	Crotalus adamanteus
E. hognose snake	Heterodon platyrhinos^SSC
Red rat snake	Elaphe guttata
S. five-lined skink	Eumeces inexpectatus
4. Amphibians
Southern toad	Bufo terrestris
5. Butterflies
Giant swallowtail	Heraclites cresphontes
Long-tailed skipper	Goniurus proteus
Gulf fritillary	Agraulis vanillae
Monarch	Danaus plexippus
Zebra	Heliconius charitonius	[state butterfly]
6. Insects
Honey bee	Apis mellifera

For superscript by species name: C = commercially exploited, SSC = species of special concern, T = threatened. Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission listings. EX = exotic.

IV. ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES

A. Fire

Fire limits invasion of hammock species. Scrub is maintained by intense, infrequent fires (20-70 year cycle), scrubby flatwoods 3-15 cycle

UPLAND COMMUNITIES V - SCRUB

I. PHYSICAL FEATURES

A. Introduction

B. Definition

C. Distribution

D. Geology and Soils

E. Hydrology

II. PLANTS

A. Physiognomy

B. Canopy composition, size and density

1. Dominants

2. Scrubby flatwood

C. Subcanopy

D. Shrub and herbs

E. Related communities

F. Endemics, exotics and diversity

1. Listed species

a. 22 state listed

b. 13 federally listed

2. Endemics

3. Exotics

4. Diversity

G. Plant species list for scrub

1. Trees

2. Shrubs

3. Herbs

4. Epiphytes

5. Vines

6. Lichens

III. ANIMALS

A. Mammals

B. Reptiles and amphibians

C. Birds

D. Animal list for scrub

1. Birds

2. Mammals

3. Reptiles

4. Amphibians

5. Butterflies

6. Insects

IV. ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES

A. Fire

B. Productivity

C. Succession

V. HUMAN EFFECTS

A. Pre-Colombian

1. aboriginal hunting

2. aboriginal burning

3. little clearing for agriculture

B. 18th and 19th century

Agriculture

C. 20th century

Development

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