Upland Pine Ecosystems

Gopher Frogs, Burrows, and Fire: Interactions in the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem

Elizabeth A. Roznik and Steve A. Johnson

Pinus palustris: Longleaf Pine

Edward F. Gilman, Dennis G. Watson, Ryan W. Klein, Andrew K. Koeser, Deborah R. Hilbert, and Drew C. McLean

Longleaf Pine Regeneration

Chris Demers, Alan Long, and Patrick Minogue

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet.

Opportunities for Uneven-Aged Management in Second Growth Longleaf Pine Stands in Florida

Jennifer L. Gagnon, Eric J. Jokela, Ajay Sharma, and Jason G. Vogel

A discussion of traditional and alternative longleaf pine management practices, as well as a description of the process of converting an even-aged stand of mature longleaf pine to an uneven-aged stand.

Fire and Invasive Plant Interactions

Deb Stone and Michael Andreu

Prescribed fire and invasive species are two common land management concerns in Florida; therefore it is important that land managers have a solid understanding of their interactions and how they affect the surrounding ecosystems. These interactions can be roughly categorized into two groups: the effects of the invasive plant on the fire regime and the impacts of fire on the invasive plant or other flora. For this review we chose four invasive species in the southeastern United States that cover a range of interactions with fire: Cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica), Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera), old world climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum), and Japanese climbing fern (L. japonicum). This publication details basic information on each species, what is known about how it interacts with fire, and synthesizes this knowledge into concrete management recommendations.

Wildlife of Florida Factsheet: Eastern Indigo Snake

Tyler Buckley, Raoul K. Boughton, Peyton Niebanck, and E. Hance Ellington

Learn more about Eastern Indigo Snakes! The Wildlife of Florida Factsheet series was created to provide the public with a quick accurate introduction to Florida’s wildlife, including both native and invasive. We hope these factsheets inspire people to investigate wildlife in their own backyard and communities and understand the amazing biodiversity of wildlife in the state of Florida.

Born to Burn: The Fire Ecology of Longleaf Pines

D. Alex Bowers, Daniel J. Johnson, Lukas Magee, and Raelene M. Crandall

Fire-dependent longleaf pine ecosystems once covered over 37 million hectares across the Southeast. Today, they occupy less than 5% of their historical range due to urban development, land-use changes, and fire suppression. Fire maintains open canopies, supports diverse ground cover species, and facilitates longleaf pine establishment. This publication describes the longleaf pine life cycle, highlighting how each growth stage, from seedling to adult, is adapted to fire. It explores the historical role of fire: both lightning and indigenous peoples sustained frequent burns across these landscapes for millennia. Without regular fire, longleaf pine ecosystems become closed-canopy forests dominated by other species, leading to biodiversity loss and increased wildfire risk.  Landowners and fire managers will find practical recommendations for using prescribed fire safely and effectively to manage longleaf pine habitats, promote ecosystem resilience and aid longleaf pine recovery.

Bees and Fire: How does Fire in Longleaf Pine Savannas Affect Bee Communities?

Nicole Mitchell, Sarah Anderson Weaver, and Raelene M. Crandall

Bees are efficient pollinators known to be key components of healthy forests. Thus, bees are often used as indicators of community response to restoration and disturbances, including fire. In longleaf pine savannas, the open canopies and floral resources that increase bee diversity and abundance are promoted by applying frequent, patchy prescribed fires. This publication is aimed to help fire and natural resource managers, landowners, and interested citizens learn more about the benefits of using fire to promote bee diversity in longleaf pine savannas.