2012 FDOT Mitigation Plan - Southwest Florida Water Management ...

y trees and shrubs, such as willows (Salix sp.), wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), and red maple (Acer
rubrum), is prevented by frequent fire application (Robbins and Myers 1992).
Florida’s vegetation communities have evolved with fire, and similarly, many of the wildlife species
that co-evolved in these landscapes require fire for their continued existence and maintenance of
healthy populations. The Conner Preserve provides habitat for a suite of rare and/or declining
species that are dependent on regular disturbance by fire. These species include gopher tortoise,
Florida gopher frog, several woodpecker species, bobwhite quail, southeastern American kestrel,
Florida sandhill crane, Florida scrub-jay, and Sherman's fox squirrel. Fire improves forage quality
of grasses and herbs, increasing the nutrient value of these food sources, promotes the production
of mast and berries, and cleans out thick dense undergrowth to facilitate wildlife movement
(Robbins and Myers 1992). It facilitates the seeding and germination of southern yellow pine
species, and controls forest diseases (Robbins and Myers 1992). Fire also generates snags and
stump holes, therefore providing structural habitat for a variety of species. Over 25 bird species
that potentially inhabit the Preserve utilize cavities created in dead trees. So do mammals such as
the eastern flying squirrel and weasels. Once the tree decays and falls, the deadwood on the
ground is utilized as cover by various snakes, lizards, treefrogs, and mammals. Burned out stump
holes are important components of eastern indigo snake habitat. Wading birds benefit from early
growing season fire, which reduces encroachment of woody species into the marsh, maintains
healthy ecotones between the uplands and wetlands, and recycles nutrients, increasing productivity
of the wetland ecosystem (Robbins and Myers 1992)
All natural communities will be managed primarily with growing season fire, as feasible. The
uplands targeted to be restored will be integrated into the burn cycles of the surrounding
landscape when native species are dominant and bahia grass cover is minimal.
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