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Florida Soil Series and Natural Community Associations

G. D. J. LaPierre, N. D. Medina-Irizarry, and M. G. Andreu

Abstract

The purpose of this publication is to provide Florida land managers an up-to-date table that links soil series to potential natural community types. Soils often dictate the presence of different types of natural communities. We synthesized land-management plans, the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) documentation of exemplary sites, along with the UC Davis Soil Resource Laboratory Soil Web Survey mapping information system (SoilWeb) (FNAI 2010; UC Davis n.d.) to correlate soil series and natural communities. A table provides a list of soil series with GPS coordinates and conservation site names. Use of this table will help private landowners, land managers, and researchers detect potential, current, and former natural communities on sites. However, this publication is not designed to be used as a single absolute determinant; ground-truthing and historical mapping should always be used when mapping natural communities.

Background

Florida is home to a diverse mosaic of soils and natural communities (FNAI 2010). Soils often dictate the occurrence of different natural communities (USDA 1989; Myers and Ewel 1990). These natural communities, in turn, are distinguished from one another based on differences in disturbance regimes and species present (FNAI 2010; Myers and Ewel 1990; Noss 2018). In Florida, the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) classification system is a standard most agencies and organizations use to identify and classify different types of natural communities (FNAI 2010). Distinguishing natural communities is a crucial task for land managers working to restore or conserve natural areas. However, identifying a natural community can be a difficult task, especially in areas significantly modified by humans (e.g., agriculture, silviculture, urbansites). In these cases, knowledge of the soil type present on a site can help determine the previous natural community. Yet, a catalog correlating soils to natural communities is not currently available to land managers.

In Florida, soils are classified based on the taxonomic system developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This system is based on six levels of classification, with orders being the highest and series being the lowest. Generally, there is little correlation between higher soil levels (e.g., orders, sub-orders) and regional vegetational types (Hironaka, Fosberg, and Neiman 1990). However, natural communities can be correlated to more refined lower levels of soil classification (e.g., series) (USDA 1989; Hironaka, Fosberg, and Neiman 1990). In 1989, the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) developed a table linking soil series to the occurrence of 26 natural communities found in Florida (USDA 1989). However, the natural community definitions developed by the SCS differ from the modern and more widely used FNAI community definitions in Florida. The purpose of this publication is to provide Florida land managers an up-to-date table (Table 1) that links soil series to potential FNAI natural community types. As can be seen in Table 1, a soil series may support multiple community types.

Methodology

We correlated soil series and natural communities through the synthesis of land-management plans, FNAI documentation of exemplary sites, and SoilWeb mapping information. A total of 226 soil series were included in this analysis. Soil series not included here had too small a range across Florida or were not found within FNAI reference plots or conservation lands. Additionally, soil subgroups are also included in this publication to help provide supplementary information for users. This compilation provides a framework to include other soil series and community types in future work.

We first located FNAI exemplary sites from the coordinates provided via FNAI documentation and then matched the natural community type(s) to the corresponding soil series present per the SoilWeb. In cases where a soil series was not found on any FNAI exemplary site, an alternative location within a public conservation area was used. Land-management plans were referenced to help verify the soil series and the natural community classification. The GPS coordinates and conservation site names of the selected locations for said soil series were also recorded. Out of 46 terrestrial FNAI community types, 42 were included in this assessment. The four that were excluded are: upland glade, sinkhole, limestone outcrop, and keys cactus barren communities.

In certain instances, soils may not be useful in distinguishing closely related natural communities. For example, various coastal upland communities are located within the landscape based on their proximity to the seashore. Thus, they are not easily distinguished from one another at a broad level using soil mapping alone. This is also true for other sets of communities where elevation and hydrology play a large role in the location of the community. Consequently, certain communities are referred to by their broader FNAI community classifications. These include cypress and tupelo swamps, marshes, and coastal upland communities (see Table 2). Additionally, bottomland forest and alluvial forest communities were combined due to similar issues in distinguishing these communities from one another using soils alone1.

This tool, when used in combination with the USDA NRCS soil map provides insight to potential native plant communities that may be found on a given site. Soil mapping data can be readily accessed through apps such as SoilWeb on a mobile device. Individuals seeking to complete rapid assessment of a parcel for acquisition and conservation purposes may want to identify possible locations of threatened and endangered species (T&E) based on potential plant communities. This tool can be used to assist landowners and managers in determining the desired future condition of a parcel despite the site having been degraded due to past land-use practices.

This matrix should be considered to be a first approximation, and we encourage users to contact the authors with updates.

Table 1. USDA Soil Series and correlated FNAI natural communities, with example locations of where these soil community relationships occur, as well as the order and subgroup each soil series is classified as based on USDA soil taxonomy.

Soil Series

FNAI Community

Soil Order

Subgroup

Example Location

Location Name and Management Plan Hyperlinked

Albany

Upland Pine

Ultisols

Grossarenic Paleudults

29.99034, -85.01080

Apalachicola National Forest

Alpin

Sandhill

Entisols

Lamellic Quartzipsamments

29.75018, -82.67834

Bell Ridge Longleaf Wildlife and Environmental Area

Anclote

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Mollisols

Typic Endoaquolls

29.31896, -81.89984

Ocklawaha River Wildlife Management Area

Angie

Upland Pine

Ultisols

Aquic Paleudults

30.90064, -86.65578

Blackwater River State Forest

Apopka

Upland Pine

Ultisols

Grossarenic Paleudults

29.63165, -82.37119

Natural Area Teaching Laboratory

Archbold

Sandhill, Scrub

Entisols

Typic Quartzipsamments

27.60196, -81.25211

Avon Park Air Force Range

Aripeka

Hydric Hammock

Alfisols

Aquic Hapludalfs

29.02585, -82.73428

Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve

Astatula

Sandhill, Scrub

Entisols

Typic Quartzipsamments

29.44778, -81.82776

Ocala National Forest - Riverside Island

Basinger

Wet Flatwoods

Entisols

Spodic Psammaquents

27.03754, -81.38566

Platt Branch Wildlife and Environmental Area

Bayvi

Salt Marsh

Mollisols

Cumulic Endoaquolls

29.39896, -83.19474

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge

Bessie

Mangrove Swamp

Histosols

Terric Haplosaprists

28.64156, -80.62810

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Bigbee

Bottomland & Alluvial Forest

Entisols

Typic Quartzipsamments

30.39107, -83.16577

Suwannee River State Park

Bivans

Upland Hardwood Forest

Alfisols

Typic Albaqualfs

29.75552, -82.46045

San Felasco Hammock State Park

Bladen

Wet Prairie, Wet Flatwoods

Ultisols

Typic Albaquults

30.11168, -85.03251

Apalachicola National Forest

Blanton

Upland Pine, Upland Mixed Woodland

Ultisols

Grossarenic Paleudults

29.96996, -82.76404

Ichetucknee State Park

Blichton

Upland Hardwood Forest

Ultisols

Arenic Plinthic Paleaquults

29.73541, -82.43931

San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park

Bluff

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Mollisols

Typic Endoaquolls

29.21146, -82.03255

Silver Springs State Park

Boca

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland, Marshes

Alfisols

Arenic Endoaqualfs

29.74925, -84.99581

Babcock Wildlife Management Area

Bohicket

Salt Marsh

Entisols

Typic Sulfaquents

29.75939, -84.98440

Apalachicola National Estuarine Reserve

Bonifay

Upland Pine

Ultisols

Grossarenic Plinthic Paleudults

30.90697, -86.65342

Blackwater River State Forest

Bonneau

Upland Hardwood Forest

Ultisols

Arenic Paleudults

29.95735, -82.77649

Icheutucknee River State Park

Braden

Mesic Flatwoods, Seepage Slope

Ultisols

Aquic Arenic Hapludults

27.48648, -82.20004

Duette Preserve

Bradenton

Mangrove Swamp, Hydric Hammock

Alfisols

Typic Endoaqualfs

27.59120, -82.57361

Terria Ceia Preserve State Park

Brantley

Slope Forest, Upland Hardwood Forest

Alfisols

Ultic Hapludalfs

30.57737, -84.94625

Torreya State Park

Brickyard

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Inceptisols

Typic Endoaquepts

30.58332, -84.95946

Torreya State Park

Brighton

Marshes

Histosols

Typic Medihemists

28.85012, -81.36470

Black Bear Wilderness Area

Broward

Sandhill, Scrub

Entisols

Aquic Quartzipsamments

29.02405, -82.70386

Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Conservation Area

Buffalo Tiger

Marl Prairie, Glades Marsh

Histosols

Typic Haplosaprists

26.41893, -80.44140

Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area

Cadillac

Upland Hardwood Forest

Alfisols

Grossarenic Paleudalfs

29.55903, -82.32721

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Caloosa

Coastal Upland

Entisols

Typic Udifluvents

26.69737, -81.82255

Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve

Canaveral

Coastal Upland

Entisols

Aquic Quartzipsamments

28.45477, -80.53785

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Candler

Sandhill

Entisols

Lamellic Quartzipsamments

29.69502, -82.00715

Ordway-Swisher Biological Station

Canova

Marshes

Alfisols

Histic Glossaqualfs

27.63235, -80.72951

Fort Drum Marsh Conservation Area

Captiva

Salt Marsh

Entisols

Mollic Psammaquents

26.45774, -82.13757

J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Cardsound

Pine Rockland

Entisols

Lithic Udorthents

25.43507, -80.50622

Navy Wells Pineland Preserve

Cassia

Scrubby Flatwoods

Spodosols

Oxyaquic Alorthods

27.29045, -82.29167

Myakka River State Park

Centenary

Mesic Flatwoods, Scrubby Flatwoods

Spodosols

Entic Grossarenic Alorthods

29.88809, -81.94968

Camp Blanding Wildlife Management Area

Chipley

Sandhill

Entisols

Aquic Quartzipsamments

30.34744, -84.65656

Apalachicola National Forest

Chipola

Upland Mixed Woodland

Ultisols

Arenic Kanhapludults

30.77322, -84.96820

Apalachee Wildlife Management Area

Chobee

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Mollisols

Typic Argiaquolls

28.53441, -80.95978

Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area

Cocoa

Coastal Upland, Scrub

Alfisols

Psammentic Hapludalfs

28.78442, -80.80336

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Copeland

Marshes

Mollisols

Typic Argiaquolls

26.85137, -81.81777

Babcock Wildlife Management Area

Cornelia

Coastal Upland

Spodosols

Arenic Alorthods

30.50177, -81.44871

Big Talbot Island State Park

Corolla

Coastal Upland

Entisols

Aquic Quartzipsamments

30.70387, -81.43704

Fort Clinch State Park

Dania

Glades Marsh, Marl Prairie

Histosols

Lithic Haplosaprists

25.70173, -80.58154

Everglades National Park

Daytona

Scrubby Flatwoods, Scrub

Spodosols

Arenic Alorthods

28.83469, -80.82134

Canaveral National Seashore

Deland

Scrubby Flatwoods

Spodosols

Entic Grossarenic Alorthods

29.18059, -81.16005

Tiger Bay State Forest

Delks

Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Ultic Alaquods

29.253911 ,-81.9344

Ocala National Forest

Delray

Marshes

Mollisols

Grossarenic Argiaquolls

27.62923, -80.73194

Fort Drum Marsh Conservation Area

Demory

Hydric Hammock

Mollisols

Lithic Endoaquolls

29.19028, -82.82646

Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park

Denaud

Marshes

Inceptisols

Histic Humaquepts

26.49326, -81.24313

Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest

Dirego

Salt Marsh

Histosols

Terric Sulfisaprists

29.71252, -84.75839

Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park

Dorovan

Shrub Bog, Marshes

Histosols

Typic Haplosaprists

30.53916, -82.47853

Osceola National Forest

Dothan

Upland Pine

Ultisols

Plinthic Kandiudults

30.90552, -86.73480

Blackwater River State Forest

Duckston

Coastal Upland, Salt Marsh

Entisols

Typic Psammaquents

29.70068, -84.79693

Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park

Duette

Scrubby Flatwoods

Spodosols

Entic Grossarenic Alorthods

27.71765, -81.33119

Avon Park Air Force Range

Durbin

Salt Marsh

Histosols

Typic Sulfihemists

25.94107, -81.56748

Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Eaton

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Alfisols

Arenic Albaqualfs

28.33987, -81.94108

Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve

EauGallie

Dry Prairie, Mesic Flatwoods, Wet Prairie

Spodosols

Alfic Alaquods

27.25461, -82.25189

Myakka River State Park

Ebro

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Histosols

Typic Haplosaprists

30.40086, -85.96896

Choctawhatchee River Wildlife Management Area

Electra

Scrubby Flatwoods

Spodosols

Oxyaquic Alorthods

29.46577, -82.28272

Price's Scrub State Park

Emeralda

Hydric Hammock, Marshes

Alfisols

Mollic Albaqualfs

28.74051, -81.42875

Rock Springs Run State Park

Escambia

Upland Pine

Ultisols

Plinthaquic Paleudults

30.90487, -86.69482

Blackwater River State Forest

Estero

Mangrove Swamp, Salt Marsh

Spodosols

Typic Alaquods

27.51560, -82.67545

Robison Preserve

Esto

Upland Pine

Ultisols

Typic Kandiudults

30.92338, -86.93570

Blackwater River State Forest

Eureka

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Alfisols

Typic Albaqualfs

29.21237, -82.01594

Silver Springs State Park

Everglades

Marshes

Histosols

Typic Haplohemists

29.21391, -81.88851

Ocala National Forest

Faceville

Upland Mixed Woodland

Ultisols

Typic Kandiudults

30.67395, -84.23677

Tall Timbers Research Station

Farmton

Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Arenic Ultic Alaquods

29.10268, -81.44500

Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge

Felda

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Alfisols

Arenic Endoaqualfs

27.74468, -81.35689

Avon Park Air Force Range

Floridana

Marshes

Mollisols

Arenic Argiaquolls

28.50618, -80.89487

Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area

Foxworth

Sandhill

Entisols

Typic Quartzipsamments

30.29392, -84.80619

Apalachicola National Forest

Fripp

Coastal Upland

Entisols

Typic Quartzipsamments

30.46684, -81.41418

Little Talbot Island State Park

Ft. Green

Hydric Hammock

Alfisols

Arenic Ochraqualfs

27.27328, -82.27028

Myakka River State Park

Fuquay

Upland Pine

Ultisols

Arenic Plinthic Kandiudults

30.05057, -85.00131

Apalachicola National Forest

Gator

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland, Marshes

Histosols

Terric Haplosaprists

29.34102, -83.06695

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge

Gentry

Marshes

Mollisols

Arenic Argiaquolls

26.50722, -81.22926

Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area

Goldhead

Wet Flatwoods

Alfisols

Arenic Endoaqualfs

29.95610, -81.64288

Bayard Conservation Area

Goldsboro

Upland Pine

Ultisols

Aquic Paleudults

30.13170, -85.03930

Apalachicola National Forest

Hague

Upland Mixed Forest

Alfisols

Arenic Hapludalfs

29.10210, -82.43557

Rainbow Springs State Park

Heights

Mesic Flatwoods

Alfisols

Arenic Endoaqualfs

26.87409, -81.85940

Babcock Wildlife Management Area

Hilolo

Hydric Hammock

Mollisols

Mollic Endoaqualfs

28.50075, -80.69437

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Hobe

Mesic Flatwoods, Scrubby Flatwoods

Spodosols

Entic Grossarenic Alorthods

26.99326, -80.15940

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Holopaw

Marshes

Alfisols

Grossarenic Endoaqualfs

27.24082, -82.27157

Myakka River State Park

Homosassa

Salt Marsh

Entisols

Typic Sulfaquents

28.84165, -82.61901

Crystal River Preserve State Park

Hontoon

Marshes

Histosols

Typic Haplosaprists

27.60219, -81.33567

Avon Park Air Force Range

Hornsville

Upland Pine

Ultisols

Aquic Hapludults

30.80833, -84.95189

Apalachee Wildlife Management Area

Hurricane

Scrubby Flatwoods

Spodosols

Oxyaquic Alorthods

29.95296, -81.95157

Camp Blanding Wildlife Management Area

Iberia

Bottomland & Alluvial Forest

Vertisols

Typic Epiaquerts

29.26499, -81.93837

Ocklawaha River Ocala National Forest

Ichetucknee

Upland Hardwood Forest

Alfisols

Albaquultic Hapludalfs

29.98305, -82.75665

Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Immokalee

Dry Prairie, Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Aquods

27.93326, -81.15824

Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area

Immokalee

Dry Prairie

Spodosols

Aquods

27.58131, -81.09109

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park

Islamorada

Mangrove Swamp

Histosols

Typic Sulfosaprists

25.28335, -80.30137

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park

Isles

Mangrove Swamp

Alfisols

Arenic Endoaqualfs

26.93676, -82.16083

Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park

Johnston

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Inceptisols

Cumulic Humaquepts

30.92108, -86.71087

Blackwater River State Forest

Jonathan

Scrubby Flatwoods

Spodosols

 Grossarenic Alorthods

27.01157, -80.13878

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Jumper

Mesic Hammock

Ultisols

Arenic Plinthaquic Paleudults

29.01469, -82.28852

Ross Prairie State Forest

Jupiter

Hydric Hammock/Baygall

Mollisols

Lithic Endoaquolls

26.50376, -81.25793

Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest

Kaliga

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Histosols

Terric Haplosaprists

27.95675, -81.07880

Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area

Kanapaha

Upland Hardwood Forest, Upland Mixed Woodland

Ultisols

Grossarenic Paleaquults

29.73574, -82.43651

San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park

Kendrick

Upland Pine

Ultisols

Arenic Paleudults

28.74503, -82.41102

Citrus Wildlife Management Area of Withlacoochee State Forest

Kershaw

Sandhill

Entisols

Typic Quartzipsamments

29.84697, -81.95601

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park

Kesson

Coastal Upland

Entisols

Typic Psammaquents

26.44656, -82.10684

J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Keyvaca

Pine Rockland

Mollisols

Lithic Haprendolls

24.70332, -81.37560

Big Pine Key

Kinston

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Inceptisols

Fluvaquentic Endoaquepts

30.55339, -85.88777

Choctawhatchee River Water Management Area

Kureb

Scrub, Coastal Upland

Entisols

Spodic Quartzipsamments

29.79522, -85.40945

T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

Lacoochee

Salt Marsh

Entisols

Spodic Psammaquents

28.83505, -82.71199

Crystal River Preserve State Park

Lake

Sandhill

Entisols

Typic Quartzipsamments

29.62558, -82.31122

Sweetwater Preserve

Lakeland

Sandhill

Entisols

Typic Quartzipsamments

30.36640, -87.42883

Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park

Lauderhill

Glades Marsh, Hydric Hammock

Histosols

Lithic Haplosaprists

25.70691, -80.61088

Everglades National Park

Lawnwood

Wet Flatwoods

Spodosols

Aeric Alaquods

27.09965, -80.22836

Atlantic Ridge Preserve State Park

Ledwith

Marshes

Alfisols

Typic Albaqualfs

29.56868, -82.29395

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Leefield

Upland Pine, Upland Mixed Woodland

Ultisols

Arenic Plinthaquic Paleudults

30.19442, -85.02466

Apalachicola National Forest

Leon

Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Aeric Alaquods

30.21044, -84.59683

Apalachicola National Forest

Lignumvitae

Mangrove Swamp

Entisols

Typic Fluvaquents

24.70989, -81.39186

Big Pine Key

Lochloosa

Mesic Hammock

Ultisols

Aquic Arenic Paleudults

29.56013, -82.32875

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Loxahatchee

Glades Marsh

Histosols

Typic Haplosaprists

26.45866, -80.35124

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

Lucy

Slope Forest

Ultisols

Arenic Kandiudults

30.57276, -84.94799

Torreya State Park

Lutterloh

Mesic Flatwoods, Wet Flatwoods

Alfisols

Grossarenic Paleudalfs

30.23998, -84.58065

Apalachicola National Forest

Lynchburg

Mesic Flatwoods

Ultisols

Aeric Paleaquults

30.10309, -85.05579

Apalachicola National Forest

Malabar

Wet Prairie

Alfisols

Grossarenic Endoaqualfs

27.94509, -81.12291

Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area

Mandarin

Scrubby Flatwoods

Spodosols

Oxyaquic Alorthods

29.92938, -84.35173

Bald Point State Park

Mascotte

Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Ultic Alaquods

30.33544, -82.70637

Big Shoals State Park

Matecumbe

Rockland Hammock

Histosols

Typic Sulfosaprists

25.28717, -80.29714

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park

Maurepas

Salt Marsh

Histosols

Typic Haplosaprists

30.01669, -84.45134

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

Mckee

Mangrove Swamp

Entisols

Typic Hydraquents

27.81037, -80.42945

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Micanopy

Mesic Hammock

Alfisols

Aquic Paleudalfs

28.73365, -82.42151

Citrus Wildlife Management Area of Withlacoochee State Forest

Micco

Marshes

Histosols

Terric Haplohemists

28.17930, -80.78498

River Lakes Conservation Area

Millhopper

Upland Mixed Woodland, Upland Pine

Ultisols

Grossarenic Paleudults

29.71489, -82.45334

San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park

Monteocha

Cypress Dome Swamp

Spodosols

Ultic Alaquods

29.56281, -82.19720

Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve

Moultrie

Salt Marsh

Entisols

Spodic Psammaquents

29.88491, -81.28007

Anastasia State Park

Myakka

Mesic Flatwoods, Dry Prairie

Spodosols

Aeric Alaquods

27.92374, -81.10603

Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area

Myakka

Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Aeric Alaquods

28.12648, -81.03598

Triple N Ranch Wildlife Management Area

Narcoosee

Mesic Flatwoods, Scrubby Flatwoods

Spodosols

Oxyaquic Alorthods

28.00386, -80.94273

Herky Huffman/Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area

Nettles

Wet Flatwoods

Spodosols

Alfic Arenic Alaquods

27.00209, -80.16627

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Newhan

Coastal Upland

Entisols

Typic Quartzipsamments

29.71521, -84.75137

Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park

Newnan

Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Oxyaquic Alorthods

29.56427, -82.19248

Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve

Nittaw

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Mollisols

Typic Argiaquolls

28.39238, -82.00470

Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve

Nutall

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Alfisols

Mollic Albaqualfs

30.14119, -83.98502

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

Ochopee

Marl Prairie, Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Inceptisols

Lithic Endoaquepts

26.12887, -81.36649

Osceola National Forest

Ocilla

Upland Mixed Woodland, Upland Pine

Ultisols

Aquic Arenic Paleudults

30.38665, -82.31743

Osceola National Forest

Ocoee

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Histosols

Terric Haplohemists

28.98145, -81.48458

Seminole State Forest

Okalwaha

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland, Marshes

Histosols

Terric Haplohemists

28.86304, -81.89556

Lake Griffin State Park

Okeechobee

Marshes

Histosols

Hemic Haplosaprists

29.59872, -82.04337

Little Orange Creek Preserve

Okeelala

Slope Forest, Upland Hardwood Forest

Alfisols

Ultic Hapludalfs

30.57379, -84.95067

Torreya State Park

Okeelanta

Marshes

Histosols

Terric Haplosaprists

27.00069, -81.17382

Sixmile Marsh in Fisheating Creek

Oldsmar

Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Alfic Arenic Alaquods

26.58653, -81.33387

Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest

Oleno

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Inceptisols

Vertic Endoaquepts

29.87637, -82.58590

River Rise Preserve State Park

Olustee

Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Ultic Alaquods

30.22760, -82.47967

Osceola National Forest

Ona

Wet Flatwoods

Spodosols

Arenic Alaquods

27.66593, -81.42723

Lake Wales Ridge State Forest, Arbuckle Tract

Orangeburg

Upland Pine, Upland Mixed Woodland

Ultisols

Typic Kandiudults

30.79411, -86.86510

Blackwater River State Forest

Orlando

Xeric Hammock

Inceptisols

Humic Psammentic Dystrudepts

29.42261, -81.78948

Ocala National Forest

Orsino

Scrub

Entisols

Spodic Quartzipsamments

29.20910, -82.98754

Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve

Ortega

Scrub

Entisols

Typic Quartzipsamments

29.84610, -81.94847

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park

Pahokee

Glades Marsh, Slough

Histosols

Lithic Haplosaprists

25.71892, -80.64570

Everglades National Park

Paisley

Bottomland & Alluvial Forest

Alfisols

Typic Albaqualfs

29.19960, -82.01753

Silver Springs State Park

Palm Beach

Coastal Upland

Entisols

Typic Quartzipsamments

28.92414, -80.82144

Canaveral National Seashore

Pamlico

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Histosols

Terric Haplosaprists

30.33860, -82.43963

Big Gum Swamp Wilderness

Pantego

Shrub Bog, Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Ultisols

Umbric Paleaquults

30.51351, -82.35976

Osceola National Forest

Paola

Scrub

Entisols

Spodic Quartzipsamments

29.22365, -81.69469

Juniper Prairie Wilderness Area Ocala National Forest

Parkwood

Mesic Hammock

Alfisols

Mollic Endoaqualfs

27.84539, -81.13444

Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area

Peckish

Mangrove Swamp

Entisols

Typic Sulfaquents

26.81593, -82.18675

Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park

Pedro

Upland Hardwood Forest

Alfisols

Typic Hapludalfs

29.87193, -82.58191

O'Leno State Park & River Rise Preserve State Park

Pelham

Wet Flatwoods

Ultisols

Arenic Paleaquults

30.07457, -85.07084

Apalachicola National Forest

Pellicer

Salt Marsh

Entisols

Typic Sulfaquents

29.72997, -81.25634

Matanzas State Forest

Pennekamp

Rockland Hammock

Mollisols

Lithic Haprendolls

25.28481, -80.29422

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park

Penney

Sandhill

Entisols

Lamellic Quartzipsamments

29.75048, -82.68783

Bell Ridge Longleaf Wildlife and Environmental Area

Pennsuco

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland, Mangrove Swamp

Entisols

Typic Fluvaquents

25.62117, -80.30167

Deering Estate at Cutler

Perrine

Mangrove Swamp

Entisols

Typic Fluvaquents

25.57584, -80.31349

Biscayne National Park

Pickney

Baygall

Inceptisols

Cumulic Humaquepts

30.34164, -84.60430

Apalachicola National Forest

Pineda

Wet Flatwoods

Alfisols

Arenic Glossaqualfs

27.18807, -82.32260

Myakka River State Park

Pinellas

Wet Flatwoods

Alfisols

Arenic Endoaqualfs

26.94235, -80.51290

DuPuis Management Area

Placid

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Inceptisols

Typic Humaquepts

27.96747, -81.08874

Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area

Plantation

Baygall

Inceptisols

Histic Humaquepts

26.37134, -80.40983

Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area

Plummer

Wet Flatwoods, Wet Prairie

Ultisols

Grossarenic Paleaquults

30.02953, -84.96105

Apalachicola National Forest

Pomello

Scrubby Flatwoods

Spodosols

Oxyaquic Alorthods

28.33622, -81.20102

Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area

Pomona

Mesic Flatwoods, Wet Flatwoods

Spodosols

Ultic Alaquods

29.56816, -82.19218

Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve

Pompano

Wet Flatwoods

Entisols

Typic Psammaquents

27.67524, -81.41423

Lake Wales Ridge State Forest, Arbuckle Tract

Popash

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Alfisols

Grossarenic Endoaqualfs

29.35239, -83.05110

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge

Pople

Mesic Flatwoods

Alfisols

Arenic Endoaqualfs

27.19718, -82.25590

Myakka River State Park

Pottsburg

Wet Flatwoods, Seepage Slopes

Spodosols

Grossarenic Alaquods

30.23347, -84.87305

Apalachicola National Forest

Punta

Mesic Flatwoods, Wet Flatwoods

Spodosols

Grossarenic Alaquods

26.84611, -82.19916

Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park

Rains

Wet Flatwoods, Seepage Slopes

Ultisols

Typic Paleaquults

30.14849, -85.05025

Apalachicola National Forest

Resota

Coastal Upland

Entisols

Spodic Quartzipsamments

29.66557, -85.17552

St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge

Riviera

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Alfisols

Arenic Glossaqualfs

27.92297, -81.08863

Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area

Rutlege

Wet Flatwoods

Inceptisols

Typic Humaquepts

29.70637, -84.77405

Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park

Salerno

Wet Flatwoods

Spodosols

Grossarenic Alaquods

27.00335, -80.13930

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Samsula

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland, Shrub Bog

Histosols

Terric Haplosaprists

27.02469, -80.13750

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Sanibel

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland, Marshes

Inceptisols

Histic Humaquepts

27.58319, -81.32411

Avon Park Air Force Range

Sapelo

Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Ultic Alaquods

30.16669, -84.96030

Apalachicola National Forest

Satellite

Scrub, Scrubby Flatwoods

Entisols

Aquic Quartzipsamments

27.59960, -81.26089

Avon Park Air Force Range

Scranton

Wet Flatwoods, Mesic Flatwoods

Entisols

Humaqueptic Psammaquents

29.94504, -84.34702

Bald Point State Park

Sellers

Marshes

Inceptisols

Cumulic Humaquepts

29.22725, -81.68699

Juniper Prairie Wilderness Area Ocala National Forest

Shenks

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland, Marshes

Histosols

Terric Haplosaprists

29.48812, -81.72972

Caravelle Ranch Wildlife Management Area

Smyrna

Dry Prairie, Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Aeric Alaquods

28.13448, -81.03498

Triple N Ranch Wildlife Management Area

Sparr

Upland Hardwood Forest

Ultisols

Grossarenic Paleudults

29.52756, -82.29363

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

St. Johns

Wet Flatwoods, Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Typic Alaquods

27.68473, -81.26368

Avon Park Air Force Range

St. Lucie

Scrub

Entisols

Typic Quartzipsamments

27.19811, -81.35880

Archbold Biological Station

Stilson

Mesic Flatwoods, Upland Pine

Ultisols

Arenic Plinthic Paleudults

30.16010, -85.01422

Apalachicola National Forest

Surrency

Baygall, Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Ultisols

Arenic Umbric Paleaquults

30.24314, -84.58039

Apalachicola National Forest

Talquin

Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Aeric Alaquods

30.34194, -84.62318

Apalachicola National Forest

Tavares

Scrub

Entisols

Typic Quartzipsamments

29.52464, -82.28631

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Tequesta

Marshes

Alfisols

Histic Glossaqualfs

26.78615, -80.15797

Grassy Waters Preserve

Terra Ceia

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland, Marshes

Histosols

Typic Haplosaprists

29.27854, -81.93363

Ocklawaha River Ocala National Forest

Tisonia

Salt Marsh

Histosols

Terric Sulfihemists

29.68296, -85.09784

St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge

Tomoka

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland, Marshes

Histosols

Terric Haplosaprists

28.65180, -80.95237

Seminole Ranch Conservation Area

Tooles

Hydric Hammock

Alfisols

Arenic Albaqualfs

29.42036, -83.18692

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge

Troup

Upland Pine

Ultisols

Grossarenic Kandiudults

30.24129, -84.96579

Apalachicola National Forest

Turnbull

Salt Marsh

Entisols

Typic Hydraquents

29.64860, -81.22403

Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve

Tuscawilla

Hydric Hammock

Alfisols

Typic Endoaqualfs

29.38135, -81.12609

Bulow Creek State Park

Valkaria

Wet Prairie

Entisols

Spodic Psammaquents

27.54648, -81.05297

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park

Wabasso

Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Alfic Alaquods

26.75845, -81.97801

Yucca Pens Unit State at Babcock Wildlife Management Area

Wadley

Sandhill

Ultisols

Grossarenic Paleudults

29.75283, -82.69589

Bell Ridge Longleaf Wildlife and Environmental Area

Wahee

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland

Ultisols

Aeric Endoaquults

29.98878, -85.02187

Apalachicola National Forest

Wauberg

Marshes

Alfisols

Arenic Albaqualfs

29.56330, -82.31163

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Wauchula

Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Ultic Alaquods

28.86056, -81.40784

Lower Wekiva State Preserve State Park

Waveland

Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Arenic Alaquods

26.98215, -80.15290

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Weekiwachee

Salt Marsh

Histosols

Terric Sulfisaprists

28.81791, -82.64319

Crystal River Preserve State Park

Welaka

Coastal Upland

Entisols

Spodic Quartzipsamments

28.51330, -80.57991

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Winder

Marshes

Alfisols

Typic Glossaqualfs

27.67701, -81.21783

Avon Park Air Force Range

Woodington

Wet Flatwoods, Wet Prairie, Seepage Slopes

Ultisols

Typic Paleaquults

30.06089, -84.99131

Post Office Unit Apalachicola National Forest

Wulfert

Mangrove Swamp

Histosols

Terric Sulfisaprists

25.90888, -81.62919

Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Zephyr

Cypress/Tupelo Wetland, Marshes

Ultisols

Typic Albaquults

28.34784, -82.07733

Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve

Zolfo

Mesic Flatwoods

Spodosols

Oxyaquic Alorthods

29.15978, -82.60131

Goethe State Forest

Table 2. Florida natural communities (per FNAI definitions) included in this project. Higher level categories are highlighted in bold. (*) indicates where communities were combined in this project.

FNAI Communities

Estuarine Vegetated Wetlands

High Pine & Scrub

Hardwood Wetland

Cypress/ Tupelo Wetland

Freshwater Non-Forested Wetlands

Salt Marsh

Upland Mixed Woodland

Baygall

Dome Swamp

Seepage Slope

Mangrove Swamp

Upland Pine

Hydric Hammock

Basin Swamp

Wet Prairie

Keys Tidal Rock Barren

Sandhill

Bottomland & Alluvial Forest*

Strand Swamp

Marl Prairie

 

Scrub

 

Floodplain Swamp

Shrub Bog

Hardwood Forested Uplands

Pine Flatwoods & Dry Prairie

Coastal Uplands

Marshes

Sinkholes & Outcrops

Slope Forest

Wet Flatwoods

Beach Dune

Depression Marsh

Upland Glade

Upland Hardwood Forest

Mesic Flatwoods

Coastal Berm

Basin Marsh

Sinkhole

Mesic Hammock

Scrubby Flatwoods

Coastal Grassland

Coastal Interdunal Swale

Limestone Outcrop

Rockland Hammock

Pine Rockland

Coastal Strand

Floodplain Marsh

Keys Cactus Barren

Xeric Hammock

Dry Prairie

Maritime Hammock

Slough Marsh

 

 

 

Shell Mound

Glades Marsh

 

 

 

 

Slough

Excluded from Project

 

Literature Cited

Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI). 2010. Guide to the Natural Communities of Florida: 2010 Edition. 223.

Hironaka, M., M. A. Fosberg, and K. E. Neiman. 1990. The Relationship between Soils and Vegetation. Proceedings—Management and Productivity of Western-Montane Forest Soils 29–31.

Myers, R. L., and J. J. Ewel. 1990. Ecosystems of Florida. University of Central Florida Press, Orlando.

Noss, R. F. 2018. Fire Ecology of Florida and the Southeastern Coastal Plain. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.

UC Davis California Soil Resource Lab. (n.d.). SoilWeb: An Online Soil Survey Browser. Retrieved February 14, 2022, from https://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/gmap/

US Department of Agriculture, Soil and Water Conservation Service (USDA) 1989. 26 Ecological Communities of Florida. Gainesville, Florida.

Peer Reviewed

Publication #FOR384

Release Date:June 2, 2022

Related Experts

Andreu, Michael G.

Specialist/SSA/RSA

University of Florida

Medina-Irizarry, Natalia

student

University of Florida

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About this Publication

This document is FOR384, one of a series of the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences. Original publication date May 2022. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.

About the Authors

G. D. J. LaPierre, PhD candidate; N. D. Medina-Irizarry, research assistant; and M. G. Andreu, associate professor; Forest Systems Lab, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, UF/IFAS Extension Gainesville, Florida, 32611.

 

Contacts

  • Michael Andreu