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Fire Ecology of South Florida Wetlands

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title: Fire Ecology of South Florida Wetlands
Abstract:
The project objective is to determine the importance that season of burning has on the response of vegetation to fire. We have addressed this through the use of experimental prescribed fires at different times of the year. In Big Cypress National Preserve we have established a long-term study of season and frequency of burning in the unlogged hydric pinelands of the Raccoon Point area. This study includes three seasonal treatments: winter (dry season), spring (early wet season) and summer (mid wet season). A shorter study comparing the response to winter and summer burns was carried out in the pine rocklands on Big Pine Key. We are also studying the effect of season of burning on muhly grass (Muhlenbergia filipes), a component of hydric pinelands and often a dominant in short-hydroperiod wetlands known as muhly or marl prairies. We are conducting field and nursery studies to determine how the season of burning effects the rate of recovery of muhly and its ability to tolerate flooding.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Snyder, James R. , 2006, Fire Ecology of South Florida Wetlands.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -81.5
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -80.75
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 26.48
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.65
    Description_of_Geographic_Extent: South Florida wetlands

  3. What does it look like?

    <http://sofia.usgs.gov/geer/2000/posters/fire/images/locationmapx.gif> (GIF)
    location map

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date: 1996
    Ending_Date: 30-Sep-2004
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: reports

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

  8. What biological taxa does this data set concern?

    Taxonomy:
    Keywords/Taxon:
    Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus: none
    Taxonomic_Keywords: plants
    Taxonomic_Keywords: single species
    Taxonomic_System:
    Classification_System/Authority:
    Classification_System_Citation:
    Citation_Information:
    Originator:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

    U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Department of the Interior - U.S. Geological Survey Department of Commerce - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Smithsonian Institution - National Museum of Natural History (NMNH)

    Publication_Date: 2000
    Title: Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Database
    Other_Citation_Details:
    Retrieved from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line database, <http://www.itis.gov>.
    Online_Linkage: <http://www.itis.gov>
    Taxonomic_Procedures: visual observation in the field
    Taxonomic_Completeness: not available
    General_Taxonomic_Coverage: Muhly grass is identified to species-variety
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Plantae
    Applicable_Common_Name: plants
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Subkingdom
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Tracheobionta
    Applicable_Common_Name: vascular plants
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Division
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Magnoliophyta
    Applicable_Common_Name: angiosperms
    Applicable_Common_Name: flowering plants
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Class
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Liliopsida
    Applicable_Common_Name: monocotyledons
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Subclass
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Commelinidae
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Order
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Cyperales
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Family
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Poaseae
    Applicable_Common_Name: grasses
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Muhlenbergia
    Applicable_Common_Name: muhly
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
    Taxon_Rank_Value: Muhlenbergia capillaris
    Applicable_Common_Name: hairawn muhly
    Taxonomic_Classification:
    Taxon_Rank_Name: Variety
    Taxon_Rank_Value: muhlenbergia capillaris var. Filipes
    Applicable_Common_Name: Gulf muhly
    Applicable_Common_Name: gulfhairawn muhly

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    Project personnel include Curt Scheaffer

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    James R. Snyder
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Big Cypress National Preserve Field Station

    33100 Tamiami Trail E.
    Ochopee, FL 34141-1000
    USA

    239 695-1180 (voice)
    239 695-3007 (FAX)
    jim_snyder@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

Prescribed fire constitutes one of the most pervasive management actions influencing the restoration and maintenance of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. It is generally assumed that lightning-ignited fires were common at the beginning of the rainy season, but there have probably been human-caused fires at other times for the last several thousand years. Since lighting-ignited fire cannot be allowed to operate naturally in South Florida, prescribed (or management-ignited) fire must be used to maintain these habitats. The seasonal occurrence of fire can have an important influence on ecological responses. We have conducted a set of experimental studies to determine the response of vegetation to different seasons of burning. The results of this work will influence the fire management of the publicly owned lands in the Greater Everglades ecosystem.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: 2000 (process 1 of 2)
    The experimental study has been set up in eastern Big Cypress National Preserve, where the most extensive unlogged stands of south Florida slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. densa) remain. The pinelands exist as a mosaic of slightly elevated "islands" within a matrix of cypress domes and dwarf cypress prairies. The substrate is a shallow layer of sand over limestone bedrock, making these pinelands transitional between the true rockland pine forests of the Miami Rock Ridge and the widespread pine flatwoods to the north. The study site of 2573 ha surrounds the Raccoon Point oil field and is divided into 18 experimental burn units. Each burn unit includes at least 50 ha of pine forest. Within each unit, three permanent 1.0 ha tree plots were established. In each plot, trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) > 5.0 cm are tagged and mapped. Smaller 0.1 ha vegetation plots are located in the center of each tree plot and at two additional locations in order to sample herbaceous and shrubby vegetation. There are a total of 54 tree plots and 90 vegetation plots. The tree plots (containing a total of 16,370 trees) show the Raccoon Point pinelands to have average stand densities (trees/ha) of 227 pines, 53 cabbage palms and 24 cypress.

    Date: 2004 (process 2 of 2)
    Work for FY 2004:

    Season of burning in South Florida pinelands

    The fieldwork has been completed and the work will consist of data analysis and reporting. The experimental burns for the long-term study of season and frequency will continue to be carried out by the Big Cypress NPS fire management staff. If a source of subsidized labor is available (perhaps NPS fire crew or SCA interns), all 54 permanent tree plots will be revisited and tree diameters remeasured. The trees were last measured in 1995.

    Seasonal fire effects on muhly grass

    Experimental studies have been established at 3 sites in Big Cypress. A large number of marked muhly individuals were burned over a 6-month period beginning January 2003 and the height of regrowth is measured periodically. Measurements will continue monthly until May 2004. Flowering culms will be counted in October. A companion study utilizing potted plants and large tubs was also set up. Some plants were burned periodically over a five month period. During June 2003 the plants were placed in large tubs in which water levels are maintained either at the ground surface, 10 cm above the ground surface, or 20 cm above the ground surface. Water levels will be dropped beginning in September. The height of the regrowth is measured periodically and the aboveground biomass will be harvested in May 2004.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    James R. Snyder
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Big Cypress National Preserve Field Station

    33100 Tamiami Trail E.
    Ochopee, FL 34141-1000
    USA

    239 695-1180 (voice)
    239 695-3007 (FAX)
    jim_snyder@usgs.gov

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

    Avery, G. N. Loope, L. L., 1980, Endemic taxa in the flora of south Florida: South Florida Research Center Report T-558, National Park Service, Homestead, FL.

    Robertson, W. B., 1953, A survey of the effects of fire in Everglades National Park: National Park Service, Homestead, FL.

    Snyder, J. R. Herndon, A., Robertson, W. , 1990, South Florida rockland: University of Florida Press, Orlando, FL.

    Other_Citation_Details:
    in Ecosystems of Florida

    Ronald L. Myers and John J. Ewel, editors

    Wade. D. Ewel, J., Hofstetter, R., 1980, Fire in south Florida ecosystems: General Technical Report SE -17, United States Forest Service Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Ashville, NC.

    Snyder, James B. Ross, Michael S., Koptur, S, 2005, Developing Ecological Criteria for Prescribed Fire in South Florida Pine Rockland Ecosystems: USGS Open-File Reort 2006-1062, U.S. Geological Survey, Tallahassee, FL.

    Online Links:

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    not available

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    not applicable

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: none
Use_Constraints:
These data are subject to change and are not citeable until reviewed and approved for official publication.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    James R. Snyder
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Big Cypress National Preserve Field Station

    33100 Tamiami Trail E.
    Ochopee, FL 34141-1000
    USA

    239 695-1180 (voice)
    239 695-3007 (FAX)
    jim_snyder@usgs.gov

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    vegetation response to fire

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    The data have no implied or explicit guarantees

  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 23-Jan-2007
Metadata author:
Heather Henkel
U.S. Geological Survey
600 Fourth Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
USA

727 803-8747 ext 3028 (voice)
727 803-2030 (FAX)
sofia-metadata@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata Part 1: Biological Data Profile (FGDC-STD-001.1-1999)

This page is <http://sofia.usgs.gov/metadata/sflwww/fire_ecol_sfl_04.faq.html>

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Coastal Geology
Comments and suggestions? Contact: Heather Henkel - Webmaster
Generated by mp version 2.8.18 on Tue Jan 23 05:42:38 2007