Subtropical Freshwater Non-Forested Wetlands of Big Cypress

Description

This state is characterized by a short hydroperiod (3 to 6 months) and is typically dominated by hydrophytic grasses and sedges along vast open expanses. These are continuously wet but not constantly inundated soils on slightly higher elevations than marshes. These areas will hold shallow water during the wet season. The main drivers in this community consist of hydrology and fire regimes, relying on short fire return intervals of 1 to 3 years to maintain its grass and shrub community.

Characteristics and indicators

This site is characterized by dominant herbaceous and grass cover on continuously wet but not continuously inundated soils. They occupy vast open expanses and have a high diversity of species. In areas where it has been hydrologically altered stunted trees may be present.

Resilience management

This community is maintained by natural stressors from hydrology and fire regimes. Continuous saturation of the soil allows for the emergence of hydrophytic grasses and herbs while preventing woody mesic species from growing. With short fire return intervals of every 1 to 3 years this community also is able to prevent the emergence and dominance of woody species.

Submodel

Description

Freshwater marshes occur at the lowest point in the landscape and are dominated by grasses, sedges, broadleaf emergents, floating aquatics, and shrubs throughout a vast open expanse. They are typically bordered by wet communities such as wet prairies, wet flatwoods, and cypress swamps; and can be found as isolated pockets within these other communities.

Characteristics and indicators

Freshwater marshes are characterized by long hydroperiods and open expanses of hydrophytic grasses, sedges, and herbaceous species. Species composition is usually heterogeneous and forms along different zones related to lengths of hydroperiod and depth of flooding or ponding.

Resilience management

This state can be maintained through proper hydrologic management and fire return intervals. Both frequent fire and extended hydroperiods play important parts in maintaining this state by keeping woody species excluded.

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Description

This state consists of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Non-Native Category 1 Species list . More information on these species list can be found:

https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/63140/file/Florida%E2%80%99s_Pest_Plants.pdf

or by contacting the UF / IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/),

the UF / IFAS Assessment of Non-native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas (https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/),

or the FWC Invasive Plant Management Section (http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/invasive-plants/).

This community will not represent every possibility of invasive species but rather the most common in these areas.

Characteristics and indicators

Non-Native species include species that exist outside of Florida's natural range and introduced to the state by people, weather, or any other means.

Resilience management

This state can be found as a part of any other state and can completely destroy the native habitat if not properly managed. Restoration to natural communities after exotic invasion include practices such as mechanical and chemical removal.

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Description

The following communities comprise the major land uses in the United States and the land uses receiving the majority of the conservation treatment that address soil, water, air, plant, and animal resources within the USDA.

Characteristics and indicators

These land uses consist of areas that are not completely naturalized (i.e. native habitat) but are not completely altered by anthropogenic means. Through alteration of the natural hydroperiod of an area and modification of the area they are able to support areas that produce valuable commodity products such as agriculture, improved pasture, etc.

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Description

These areas include soils that were intentionally and substantially modified by humans for an intended purpose, commonly for terraced agriculture, building support, mining, transportation, and commerce. The alteration is of sufficient magnitude to result in the introduction of a new parent material (human-transported material) or a profound change in the previously existing parent material (human-altered material). They do not include soils modified through standard agricultural practices or formed soils with unintended wind and water erosion. When a soil is on or above an anthropogenic landform or microfeature, it can be definitely associated with human activity and is assigned to a unique taxa, usually found as an "Urban land complex" within that communities' natural soil properties (e.g., Immokalee sand-Urban land complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes).

Characteristics and indicators

Evidence of these areas include soils with manufactured items (e.g. artifacts) present in the profile, human altered-materials (e.g., deeply excavated or deeply plowed soil) or human-transported material (e.g., fill), and position on or above anthropogenic landforms (e.g., flood-control levees) and microfeatures (e.g., drainage ditches). Detailed criteria regarding the identification of anthropogenic (artificial) landforms, human-altered materials, and human-transported material are in the "Keys to Soil Taxonomy" (Soil Survey Staff, 2014).

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