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FNAI COMMUNITY: Scrub
STAGE DESCRIPTION
- Overstory: An open to closed pine canopy cover of 15-65% may or may not be present (Breininger at al., 1999; Myers, 1990). Many areas include closed canopies of mature oaks at or above 6 feet in height (Breininger et al., 1999). Scrub hickory may be present (Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 1990).
- Mid Story: Mix of tall scrub and short and/or optimal scrub. An area the size of a Scrub-jay territory (about 20 acres of scrub) is composed of a mix of shrubs that are mostly taller than 6 feet in height with some shrubs that are shorter than 6 feet in height (Breininger et al., 1999). Shrub layer consists of oaks (between 5 and 49%), including myrtle oak, sand live oak, and Chapman's oak. Saw palmetto and rusty lyonia make up the other half to 95% of shrub layer cover. Florida rosemary and other shrubs are scattered throughout (Myers, 1990).
- Ground Cover: Few exposed white sandy patches with most ground continuously covered with shrubs or dense grasses over 1 foot in height. Shrub layer is taller and more dense than short/optimal stage and includes gopher apple, beak rush, and milk peas (Breininger et al., 1999)
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