Natural Community- Sandpine Scrub  (Stage 2)

buffy yellow soils can support sand pine scrub communities (Stout and Marion, 1993).  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 4 is best fit for modeling the fire behavior of this stage.  Fuel burns very quickly and intensely due to the thick scrub understory and pine litter (Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 1990; Anderson, 1982).  Fires usually burn into the crowns of the pines creating severe stand-replacing burning conditions.  While most of the shrubs are severely cut back, they eventually resprout (Myers, 1990).

TYPICAL FIRE BEHAVIOR: [Using FBPS: FM 4, 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 1 has an open to non-existent overstory.  Most pines are in sapling stage.  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 Model 6.  Stage 3 consists of a pine canopy with 70% closure.  Fuel Models 4 and 7. 

RESTORATION/MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL

• Restoration Phase:
  

• Mechanical restoration coupled with fire may be needed to reduce the number of oaks and woody shrubs.
  

• 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:
  

• Stand replacing fires produce extreme fire behavior.
  

• Turkey Creek
  
• Malabar Scrub Sanctuary
  
• Jordan Scrub Sanctuary
  

General Fire Effects & Management Considerations

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