Subtropical Coastal Zones of Miami Ridge / Atlantic Coastal Strip
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Dune Destruction
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Transition T1B
Invasion of Non-Native / Exotic Species
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Transition T1C
Human Alteration / Transportation of Materials
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Transition T1D
Increase in Long-Term Hydroperiod
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Restoration pathway R2A
Undisturbed Dune Succession
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Transition T2A
Invasion of Non-Native / Exotic Species
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Transition T2B
Human Alteration / Transportation of Materials
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Transition T2C
Increase in Long-Term Hydroperiod
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Restoration pathway R3A
Mechanical / Biological / Chemical Removal
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Restoration pathway R3B
Mechanical / Biological / Chemical Removal
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Transition T3A
Human Alteration / Transportation of Materials
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Transition T3B
Increase in Long-Term Hydroperiod
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Transition T4A
Increase in Long-Term Hydroperiod
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Transition T5A
Soil Aeration
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
These are highly fluctuating communities that occur along high-energy coastlines and is dominated by saltwater tolerant annuals and perennials closest to the ocean and grading into taller grasses and woody species further away from the coast. The communities in the sub-model show the undisturbed succession after the reference community (State & Community 1.1) depending on the type of substrates they are deposited on. The transitions shown are characteristic if the community is left undisturbed over time. However this is a highly fluctuating community and disturbances can affect one or all of the following communities, often transitioning it back to unconsolidated substrate (State & Community 2.1), which over time can recolonize with any of the coastal communities behind a beach dune.
Characteristics and indicators
This state is characterized by vegetated communities directly adjacent to the ocean, often influenced by the salt spray and tidal fluctuations. The more developed communities are often found on stabilized beach dunes and can support more woody vegetation.
Resilience management
These are highly prized communities for both urbanization and recreational uses.
Submodel
Description
This area is typically an unvegetated community that is found in the inter- and supra-tidal zones and deposits wind blown and tidally moved sand on the shore. Unconsolidated Substrates are important in that they form the foundation for the development of other Marine and Estuarine Natural Communities (Ecological Sites R156AY500FL and R156AY550FL) when conditions become appropriate. Unconsolidated Substrate Communities are associated with and often grade into Beach Dunes (Phase 1.1) in this ecosite.
Characteristics and indicators
This area is characterized by very sparse to no vegetation in the inter- and supra-tidal zones. It is the main depositor of sand for the establishment of the vegetated coastal communities.
Description
This state consists of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Non-Native Category 1 Species list . More information on these species list can be found:
https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/63140/file/Florida%E2%80%99s_Pest_Plants.pdf
or by contacting the UF / IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/),
the UF / IFAS Assessment of Non-native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas (https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/),
or the FWC Invasive Plant Management Section (http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/invasive-plants/).
This community will not represent every possibility of invasive species but rather the most common in these areas.
Characteristics and indicators
Non-Native species include species that exist outside of Florida's natural range and are introduced to the state via people, weather events, or any other means.
Resilience management
This state can be found as a part of any other state and can completely replace the native habitat if not properly managed. Restoration to natural communities after exotic non-native invasion includes practices such as mechanical and chemical removal.
Description
These areas include soils that were intentionally and substantially modified by humans for an intended purpose, commonly for terraced agriculture, building support, mining, transportation, and commerce. The alteration is of sufficient magnitude to result in the introduction of a new parent material (human-transported material) or a profound change in the previously existing parent material (human-altered material). They do not include soils modified through standard agricultural practices or formed soils with unintended wind and water erosion. When a soil is on or above an anthropogenic landform or microfeature, it can be definitely be associated with human activity and is assigned to a unique taxa, usually found as an "Urban land complex" within that communities' natural soil properties (e.g., Baggs cape fine sand- Urban land complex, 0-2% slopes).
Characteristics and indicators
Evidence of these areas include soils with manufactured items (e.g. artifacts) present in the profile, human altered-materials (e.g., deeply excavated or deeply plowed soil) or human-transported material (e.g., fill), and position on or above anthropogenic landforms (e.g., flood-control levees) and microfeatures (e.g., drainage ditches). Detailed criteria regarding the identification of anthropogenic (artificial) landforms, human-altered materials, and human-transported material are in the "Keys to Soil Taxonomy" (Soil Survey Staff, 2014).
Submodel
Description
This state describes the impact of increased hydroperiods from anthropogenic or natural causes that creates an altered hydrologic state resulting in permanent flooding. The impact of this causes destruction of the terrestrial community and may in time shift to a subaqueous community.
Characteristics and indicators
This state is characterized by permanent water levels in an area that was previously in an intertidal or supratidal zone.
Resilience management
This is a final state and unlikely and improbable to go back to the original reference state.
Submodel
Mechanism
This transition from vegetated to nonvegetated communities is driven by the destruction of the beach dune. This can be from coastal erosion via naturally or anthropogenically, or from extreme storm events that destroy the beach dune and allow for washover of sand and saltwater. The rapid intrusion of saltwater and / or sand can smother the existing vegetation that depended on the beach dune for protection.
Constraints to recovery
Depending on the intensity of the destruction, the vegetated communities behind the dune may be destroyed, and will depend on the reestablishment of the dune before the following communities may be reestablished.
Context dependence
This is most often seen with extreme storm events during storm surges, blowing through the established dune to destroy the vegetated communities. It can also happen over time anthropogenically, when beachgoers create a path through the dunes perpendicular to the water, making the dune more susceptible to erosion.
Mechanism
The invasion of non-native or exotic species can be driven by a multitude of different environmental factors such as changes in natural hydroperiods or in fire regimes. Typically once a change in one of the two factors mentioned above occurs, non-native or exotic invasive species become established and begin to compete with native species for habitat and nutrients.
Constraints to recovery
Recovery from non-native or exotic invasive species may be difficult due to many adaptations which allow them to survive and outcompete in intolerable conditions. Localized knowledge for each species must be known for best removal of it without harming the native environment, and often different treatments must be applied over one given area.
Context dependence
Growth of non-native and exotic invasive species can be rapid following a change in a natural stressor such as fire frequency or natural hydroperiods which might have once kept the invasive species at bay.
Mechanism
This transition is driven by the alteration and/ or transportation of materials via anthropogenic means.
Mechanism
This is driven by increased hydroperiods, both anthropogenic and natural, which causes long-term flooding and permanently altering the state.
Mechanism
This restoration strategy depends on the undisturbed succession of the vegetated communities. It depends on the recolonization of a beach dune with seaoats or another dune stabilizing grass/ forb that can protect the communities behind it. After a storm surge the deposition of shelly substrates in an area might lead to the formation of a coastal berm instead of a dune if found along a lower energy coastline.
Context dependence
Over longer periods of time if remained undisturbed this area can transition along back towards a maritime hammock. This is dependent on the community remaining undisturbed, from natural influences such as extreme weather events or from anthropogenic influences such as urbanization.
Mechanism
The invasion of non-native or exotic species can be driven by a multitude of different environmental factors such as changes in natural hydroperiods or in fire regimes. Typically once a change in one of the two factors mentioned above occurs, non-native or exotic invasive species become established and begin to compete with native species for habitat and nutrients.
Constraints to recovery
Recovery from non-native or exotic invasive species may be difficult due to many adaptations which allow them to survive and outcompete in intolerable conditions. Localized knowledge for each species must be known for best removal of it without harming the native environment, and often different treatments must be applied over one given area.
Context dependence
Growth of non-native and exotic invasive species can be rapid following a change in a natural stressor such as fire frequency or natural hydroperiods which might have once kept the invasive species at bay.
Mechanism
This transition is driven by the alteration and/ or transportation of materials via anthropogenic means.
Mechanism
This is driven by increased hydroperiods, both anthropogenic and natural, which causes long-term flooding and permanently altering the state.
Mechanism
Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal strategies include removing the non-native and exotic invasive species through various mechanisms. Localized knowledge for individual non-native or exotic invasive species is needed for specific management. Sometimes introduction of fire regimes may prevent or stop the growth of non-native or exotic invasive species, but many species are fire tolerant. Mechanical removal might include cutting and removal of invasive species. Chemical removal might include spot spraying or basal bark injection treatments.
Context dependence
Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal of non-native and exotic invasive species is a time dependent process, with both removal types taking long times to be considered effective.
Mechanism
Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal strategies include removing the non-native and exotic invasive species through various mechanisms. Localized knowledge for individual non-native or exotic invasive species is needed for specific management. Sometimes introduction of fire regimes may prevent or stop the growth of non-native or exotic invasive species, but many species are fire tolerant. Mechanical removal might include cutting and removal of invasive species. Chemical removal might include spot spraying or basal bark injection treatments.
Context dependence
Mechanical, biological, and chemical removal of non-native and exotic invasive species is a time dependent process, with both removal types taking long times to be considered effective.
Mechanism
This transition is driven by the alteration and/ or transportation of materials via anthropogenic means.
Mechanism
This is driven by increased hydroperiods, both anthropogenic and natural, which causes long-term flooding and permanently altering the state.
Mechanism
This is driven by increased hydroperiods, both anthropogenic and natural, which causes long-term flooding and permanently altering the state.
Model keys
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The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.