KUCHLER TYPE VALUE AND USE
KUCHLER TYPE: Subtropical Pine Forest



FORESTRY VALUES : 
South Florida slash pine is highly valued for house construction timber:
The vast majority of Miami Rock Ridge pine forests were logged by the
1930's and 1940's.  Most extant stands are second growth [6].


RANGE VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


WILDLIFE VALUES : 
The red-cockaded woodpecker is a highly specialized species endemic to
southern pine and pine-hardwood forests.  It excavates cavities in
mature, living pine trees infected with heart rot (i.e., old-growth
pine).  This species appears to be closely adapted to the open forests
that are maintained by short fire-free intervals, including subtropical
pine forest [26,37].

Pinelands in Big Cypress Swamp provide habitat for the Big Cypress fox
squirrel, which is listed as threatened by the Florida Fish and Game
Commission and is under review for Federal listing.  South Florida slash
pine seed is a preferred food source for these squirrels [20].


OTHER VALUES : 
Coontie was once a staple in the diet of early Indians, Seminoles, and
the early white settlers.  Coontie flour was an economic product in the
Miami region from about 1840 to 1925 [33].


MANAGEMENT CONCERNS : 
Invasion of remnant Miami Rock Ridge pine forest stands by exotics is a
major concern [24].  Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) is
difficult to eradicate, particularly where stands have been protected
from fire for many years [1].  Taylor and Herndon [39] hypothesized in
1981 that, "in a few years", all of the subtropical pine forest outside
the Everglades would be urbanized or invaded by Brazilian pepper.
Within Everglades National Park, management of subtropical pine forest
with prescribed fire has maintained the native understory and is
believed to be the major factor excluding Brazilian pepper [24].

Extant stands of subtropical pine forest in Everglades National Park are
primarily the result of natural regeneration from scattered cull south
Florida slash pine left after logging in the late 1930's; most of these
stands are well-stocked, 30- to 40-year-old second growth [24,39].  Some
poorly stocked subtropical pine forests on poor sites were never cut
[39].

A number of endemic species confined to subtropical pine forest and
therefore are dependent on the existence of subtropical pine forest:
crenulate leadplant (Amorpha crenulata [Federal list-endangered]),
eastern silver aster (Aster concolor), false boneset (Brickellia
eupatorioides var. floridana), wedge sandmat (Chamaesyce deltoidea
var.deltoidea [Federal listing-endangered], and C. d. var. adhaerens),
Small's milkpea (Galactia smalii [Federal list-endangered]), tiny
milkwort (Polygala smallii [Federal list-endangered]), and narrowleaf
hoarypea (Tephrosia angustissima).  In addition, major segments of the
remaining United States populations of the following species occur in
subtropical pine forest:  Mexican alvarodoa (Alvaradoa amorphoides),
Blodgett's silverbush (Argythamnia blodgetti), smooth strongbark
(Bourreria cassinifolia), coughbush (Ernoda littoralis), and coastal
mock vervain (Glandularia maritima) [24].

Related categories for Kuchler Type: Subtropical Pine Forest