Upland Pine Ecosystems

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English

Upland pine communities are woodlands characterized by widely spaced longleaf pines with a sparse to moderate shrub layer, along with a dense, species-rich groundcover of grasses and herbs. Other plants commonly occurring in this community are turkey oak, bluejack oak, southern red oak, live oak, persimmon, gopher apple, and leadplant. Animal species include green treefrog, gopher tortoise, eastern fence lizard, red-bellied woodpecker, loggerhead shrike, cotton mouse, and fox squirrel.

Publications

Gopher Frogs, Burrows, and Fire: Interactions in the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem

Elizabeth A. Roznik and Steve A. Johnson

Pinus palustris: Longleaf Pine

Edward F. Gilman, Dennis G. Watson, Ryan W. Klein, Andrew K. Koeser, Deborah R. Hilbert, and Drew C. McLean

Longleaf Pine Regeneration

Chris Demers, Alan Long, and Patrick Minogue

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet.

Opportunities for Uneven-Aged Management in Second Growth Longleaf Pine Stands in Florida

Jennifer L. Gagnon, Eric J. Jokela, Ajay Sharma, and Jason G. Vogel

A discussion of traditional and alternative longleaf pine management practices, as well as a description of the process of converting an even-aged stand of mature longleaf pine to an uneven-aged stand.

Fire and Invasive Plant Interactions

Deb Stone and Michael Andreu

Prescribed fire and invasive species are two common land management concerns in Florida; therefore it is important that land managers have a solid understanding of their interactions and how they affect the surrounding ecosystems. These interactions can be roughly categorized into two groups: the effects of the invasive plant on the fire regime and the impacts of fire on the invasive plant or other flora. For this review we chose four invasive species in the southeastern United States that cover a range of interactions with fire: Cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica), Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera), old world climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum), and Japanese climbing fern (L. japonicum). This publication details basic information on each species, what is known about how it interacts with fire, and synthesizes this knowledge into concrete management recommendations.

Wildlife of Florida Factsheet: Eastern Indigo Snake

Tyler Buckley, Raoul K. Boughton, Peyton Niebanck, and E. Hance Ellington

Learn more about Eastern Indigo Snakes! The Wildlife of Florida Factsheet series was created to provide the public with a quick accurate introduction to Florida’s wildlife, including both native and invasive. We hope these factsheets inspire people to investigate wildlife in their own backyard and communities and understand the amazing biodiversity of wildlife in the state of Florida.

Bees and Fire: How does Fire in Longleaf Pine Savannas Affect Bee Communities?

Nicole Mitchell, Sarah Anderson Weaver, and Raelene M. Crandall

Bees are efficient pollinators known to be key components of healthy forests. Thus, bees are often used as indicators of community response to restoration and disturbances, including fire. In longleaf pine savannas, the open canopies and floral resources that increase bee diversity and abundance are promoted by applying frequent, patchy prescribed fires. This publication is aimed to help fire and natural resource managers, landowners, and interested citizens learn more about the benefits of using fire to promote bee diversity in longleaf pine savannas.