Natural Community- Sandpine Scrub  (Stage 1)

Both sugar sand white and buffy yellow soils can support sand pine scrub communities.  Typical soil types include Archbold, Daytona, Duette, Hobe, Paola, Pomello, Resota, St. Lucie, Satellite, and Welaka (Soil Conservation Society of America, 1987).

FUEL MODEL: Fuel Model 6 is best fit for modeling the fire behavior of this stage.  This community will burn only when the fuels are concentrated and dried out, or if they have gone a long period of time without fire (Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 1990).  When the fuels do burn they burn in patches, leaving some areas unburned or lightly burned, while others burn intensely (Abrahamson et al., 1984).  Strong winds are necessary to help carry the fire through the shrub layer (Anderson, 1982).

TYPICAL FIRE BEHAVIOR: [Using FBPS: FM 6, FFM 8, LFM 100, MFW 5 - 10] (Refer to page 32)

DESIRED STAGE: Sand pine scrub - Stage 1 (Sapling) or Stage 3 (Mature).  This desired stage decision is site specific dependent upon the EEL Programs' prioritization for Scrub-jay habitat optimization or forest aesthetics.  Stage 3 consists of a pine canopy with 70% closure.  The midstory consists of a dense layer of oaks including myrtle oak, sand live oak, and Chapman's oak, and other shrubs including saw palmetto, Florida rosemary, and rusty staggerbush. Ground layer vegetation is sparse with many bare sandy patches and few grasses.  Fuel Models 4 and 7. 

RESTORATION/MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL

• Restoration Phase:
  

• No restoration required.
  

• Maintenance/Management Phase:
  

1. High intensity prescribed burns should be conducted in sand pine scrub every 15 to 100 years (The Nature Conservancy, 1995).
   

• Special Management Concerns:
  

• None reported.
  

• Turkey Creek
  
• Malabar Scrub Sanctuary
  

General Fire Effects & Management Considerations

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