Mixed Forested Wetlands. (FLUCFCS 630) These systems contain a mixture of coniferous and hardwood wetland canopy species in which neither type is 60% or more dominant. Mixed forested wetlands occur primarily in the southern portion of the site and may grade into cypress swamp or hydric pine plantation. Canopy species include Pinus elliottii, Taxodium ascendens, Magnolia virginiana, Persea palustris, Acer rubrum, and Nyssa biflora. Subcanopy species include Cliftonia monophylla, Xxxxxxx racemiflora, Lyonia lucida, Ilex coriacea, Hypericum chapmanii, Persea palustris, Ilex myrtifolia, Aronia arbutifolia, and Myrica cerifera. Ground cover species include many of the same species observed in cypress swamps. Ground cover may be almost nonexistent where canopy cover is dense.
Mixed Forested Wetlands. Mixed forested wetlands on the BPMB project are typical of acid forested basin swamps (FNAI and FDNR 1990). Some of these swamps on site occur along drainages or streams, primarily in the south and southwest portions of the site. These swamps are evident in the 1942 aerial photos throughout the BPMB tract. In this ecosystem, pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii) are often an important component, as well as several broadleaf tree and shrub species tolerant of hydric conditions, such sweet bay (Magnolia virginiana), myrtle-leaf xxxxx (Ilex myrtifolia), and swamp tupelo (Nyssa biflora). Community composition varies, with no single species or species group exhibiting canopy dominance and includes various combinations of these large and small tree species. Herbaceous cover is sparse and composed of sedges, ferns and minor grasses. These forested wetlands support low species richness (few species present) and express a similar composition from one swamp area to another. On-site, these systems tend to be bay-dominated swamps with a ubiquitous, but never dominant, canopy of slash pine and pond cypress. Soils are infertile, strongly acidic, highly organic sands sometimes too often overlain with peat accumulations, supporting evergreen or semi-evergreen, hydrophytic shrubs, tree saplings, and woody vines. The soil is densely shaded, consistently waterlogged or shallowly inundated during the growing season and only occasionally dries during extended droughts. Fires more often occur at the ecotones adjacent to fire-maintained communities (e.g., pine flatwoods and cypress flats) and influence the mixed forested wetlands with unequal intensities, leaving an uneven peaty substrate and allowing a few trees and shrubs to survive. Differentiation between fire-maintained communities and mixed forested wetlands is usually distinct and abrupt due to the lack of fine fuels within the acid swamp and the increased available hydrology. Titi- dominated edges serve as a buffer zone that protects the trees of the sweet bay-dominated interior areas from the fires that occasionally burn peripherally into these acid swamps. The mixed forested wetland community type commonly grades into hydric pine flatwoods and cypress flats.
Mixed Forested Wetlands. Proposed Conditions. Mixed forested wetlands on the BPMB project are typical of acid forested basin swamps (FNAI and FDNR 1990). Some of these swamps on site occur along drainages or streams, primarily in the south and southwest portions of the site. In this ecosystem, pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii) are often an important component, as well as several broadleaf tree and shrub species tolerant of hydric conditions, such sweet bay (Magnolia virginiana), myrtle-leaf xxxxx (Ilex myrtifolia), and swamp tupelo (Nyssa biflora). Community composition varies, with no single species or species group exhibiting canopy dominance and includes various combinations of these large and small tree species. Herbaceous cover is sparse and composed of sedges, ferns and minor grasses. These forested wetlands support low species richness (few species present) and express a similar composition from one swamp area to another. On-site, these systems tend to be bay-dominated swamps with a ubiquitous, but never dominant, canopy of slash pine and pond cypress. The mixed forested wetland community type commonly grades into hydric pine flatwoods and cypress flats. Existing Conditions. Hydric pine plantation, cypress swamp, and mixed forested wetland.
