Download The Wildlife Conservation Prioritization and Recovery Program

www.sfrc.ufl.edu/CFEOR
The Wildlife Conservation Prioritization and Recovery Program
Author: David Johnson, Assistant Section Leader, FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
a framework to prioritize actions for imperiled and
focal species.
This approach integrates geospatial
analytical techniques to model potential habitat,
T
Population Viability Analysis results, and conservation
he Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
planning. FWC combines this information with area
Commission
comprehensive
specific and expert knowledge to determine where
resource management approach to managing State
focal species conservation can be proactively affected
lands. Restoring the form and function of Florida’s
within a specific WMA. All of this information is
natural communities is the base of this management
incorporated into a Species Management Strategy
(FWC)
uses
a
philosophy. Two programs provide land
that is unique to each WMA.
managers with the tools to achieve
strategy outlines the role of the area in
specific
goals.
wildlife conservation and sets area-
Objective-based vegetation management
specific objectives for managing priority
is used to monitor how specific vegetative
species and their habitat. In addition, the
parameters respond to FWC management
strategy prescribes management to aid in
and
species recovery, prescribes monitoring
habitat
the
management
Wildlife
Prioritization
and
Conservation
Recovery
The
program
to allow evaluation of the species
(WCPR) is used to ensure management is
response to management, and ensures
having the desired effect on wildlife.
the information is shared with others.
The goal of WCPR is to “provide assessment,
Since its inception in 2008, WCPR strategies have
recovery, and planning support for the Wildlife
been initiated or completed for 11 areas including
Management Area (WMA) system to enhance
Apalachicola River and Hungryland Wildlife and
management of focal species and recovery of listed
Environmental Areas, Half Moon, Chassahowitzka,
species.”
and Salt Lake WMAs. The strategies are designed to
WCPR program objectives include;
prioritizing what FWC does for imperiled and focal
mirror
species on FWC lead WMAs; ensuring the actions
Management Plan and will be revisited every 10 years
taken on these areas are part of statewide
to determine if changes are needed.
conservation programs/priorities; and sharing with
information about WCPR or to see a completed
and informing others about the work accomplished
strategy please contact Dan Sullivan, Conservation
on these lands.
Ecologist
1
WCPR is a science-based approach that helps to
assess species needs and opportunities and provides
the
timeline
and
of
the
WCPR
([email protected]).
areas’
required
For more
Coordinator
Multiple causes of seeding rarity in scrub plum, Prunus geniculata
(Rosaceae), an endangered shrub of the Florida scrub
Weekley, Carl W.; David N. Zaya; Eric S. Menges and Amy E. Faivre 2010. American Journal of Botany
91(1):144-155.
Conservation of an imperiled plant often requires an understanding of its reproductive ecology. Scrub plum ( Prunus
geniculata ) is an endangered Florida shrub endemic to pyrogenic xeric uplands. Although plants are long-lived and may flower
profusely, particularly after burning, fruit yield is sparse and seedlings are rare. We investigated potential causes of seedling
rarity in scrub plum by studying its floral sex and breeding systems, fruit development, and germination ecology. We also
developed a flow chart based on two time-since-fire scenarios to illustrate the cumulative impact of these factors on seedling
recruitment. Breeding system experiments suggested partial gametophytic self-incompatibility in this functionally
andromonoecious species, with inbreeding depression in self-compatible individuals. Predispersal seed predation, the major
constraint on seedling recruitment, was lower in the first postburn season. In two field experiments, seed germination was
<11% irrespective of treatment. These results indicate that seedling recruitment in scrub plum may be limited by multiple
factors, including sexual reproductive failure, high predispersal seed predation, and low seed germination. The chance of a
bisexual flower producing a seedling ranges from 5 in 1000 to 5 in 100 000, depending on the time since fire. Restoration of
scrub plum’s historical fire regime may mitigate some of these factors.
American Journal of Botany. To read the full article members click here.
Holly Ober is a University of Florida
Nancy Dwyer is a Fisheries and
extension specialist at the North
Wildlife Biologist III on the Half
Florida Research & Education Center
Moon Wildlife Management area
(NFREC)
Her
located in Sumter County and this
professional appointments include,
year’s award winner of the FWC’s
assistant professor in the Department
Jim Stevenson Resource Manager
of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation,
of the Year! Florida Fish and
affiliate faculty at the School of
Wildlife Conservation Commission
Natural Resources and Environment,
is the lead agency on the Half
faculty program leader for the Natural Areas Training Academy
Moon property which is approximately 9,500 acres bordered
(NATA) and co-director of Conserved Forest Ecosystems
on the west by the Withlacoochee River and the east by
Outreach and Research Cooperative (CFEOR). The intent of
Ventura Ranch (private property) which is approximately
Holly’s research program is to find answers to applied
20,000 acres in size. Natural communities primarily include
questions that deal with forest management and wildlife
pine flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, xeric hammock, improved
management issues. One of her current research projects
pasture and bottomland hardwoods.
include, evaluation of understory vegetation restoration
upland habitat restoration and management, exotic/invasive
techniques in forests of the Southeastern U.S. The intent of
species treatment and eradication, wildlife population
Ober’s extension program is to provide science-based
monitoring, public hunt administration, education and
information about wildlife and their habitats to land managers
outreach, and monitoring the Florida Scrub Jay population.
and to non-scientific audiences, with the goal of encouraging
Recent projects include ground cover restoration and removal
stewardship of natural resources. To learn more about Holly’s
of encroaching hardwoods.
research and extension activities at go to http://
2
nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/contact/HollyOber.shtml or contact her by
prescribed fires annually. She may be contacted via email at
phone: (850) 875-7150 or email [email protected].
Also please visit http://www.MyFWC.com.
in
Quincy,
Fl.
Her duties include
She also conducts numerous
[email protected] or by phone at 352-330-1370.
Colloquium on Plant Pests of Regulatory Significance
Forest
Jan. 6 – April 21, 2010. Wednesdays at 4:00 PM. The
Conservation Area, Property of Mike Adams, 2009 Forest
colloquium is part of the Certificate in Plant Pest Risk
Stewardship Landowner of the Year, St. Johns County.
Assessment and Management coordinated by the UF-
Feb. 25, 2010. Call the St. Johns County Extension Office
IFAS Plant Medicine Program.
at (904) 209-0430 to register.
The Colloquium and
Stewardship
Property
Tour
at
Saturiwa
Certificate are available via distance education (Polycom)
and/or
web;
contact
([email protected];
IT
Specialist
352-392-3631
Kamin
Ext.
360)
Miller
Vegetation Monitoring in a Management Context
for
March 1-6, 2010. A Natural Training Areas (NATA)
workshop and developed for USFS continuing education.
information about Polycom access.
Archbold Biological Station, Lake Placid, FL. To register
Timber Tax Webinar Feb. 24th and March 17,2010; at
and
more
information
please
12:00 noon-1:30 pm Eastern. Program will cover tax filing
nata.snre.ufl.edu/schedule.htm
visit
http://
tips for timber transactions for the 2010 tax season.
Target audience: landowners, foresters, agency staff and
The 2010 Southeast Partners in Flight Meeting
program
tax
March 9-11, 2010. A working group of various
professionals. 1.5 CFE credits available for foresters. No
stakeholders in the southeast interested in avian
registration
conservation and management. The meeting will be held
leaders,
extension
required.
Log
specialist
in
at
and
http://
forestrywebinar.net/
at the UF Hilton Conference Center, Gainesville, FL. For
registration forms and more information, please visit:
Sustainable Use and Depletion of Natural Resources:
http://sepif.org/content/view/46/1/
lessons for the energy system Feb. 24, 2010 at 1:55 2:45 PM. Dr. Stephen Humphrey, UF School of Natural
Working
Resources and Environment. 112 Newins-Ziegler Hall,
March 23-25, 2010. A Natural Training Areas (NATA)
Gainesville, FL.
workshop addressing how political, social and ecological
forces
Across Boundaries to Protect Ecosystems
can
management
information
affect
natural
strategies.
please
visit
areas
To
and
register
innovative
and
more
http://nata.snre.ufl.edu/
schedule.htm
CFEOR Administration
Charlie Houder, Suwannee River Water
Management District, Steering Committee Chair
Bill Cleckley, Northwest Florida Water Management
District, Steering Committee Vice-Chair
CFEOR Mission:
To develop and disseminate knowledge needed to conserve
3 manage Florida’s forest as a healthy, working ecosystem
and
that provides social, ecological and economic benefits on a
Newsletter Contacts
Nancy Peterson, School of Forest Resources and
Conservation, CFEOR Executive Director,
[email protected]
Melissa Kreye, School of Forest Resources and
Conservation, CFEOR Coordinator,
[email protected]
Phone 352.846.0848 ∙Fax 352.846.1277∙ PO Box
110410∙ Gainesville, FL