Tropical Park pineland, six days post burn. This is a pine rockland habitat, dependent on fire to keep the mostly open canopy consisting of only slash pine and the rich diversity of native grasses, shrubs and forbs as an understory. For more info about the importance of fire in pine rocklands, see here: https://www.miamidade.gov/environment/library/brochures/pine-rocklands.pdf
& here: https://www.miamidade.gov/environment/pine-rocklands.asp
This pineland had been taken over by many invasive plants due to fire suppression and unfortunately also infiltrated by cats (there are probably hundreds of cans of cat food in some parts of this preserve thanks to people feeding the cats). I am hoping to volunteer with EEL to help clean up and also pull up any invasive plants that pop up. There are a few areas with lots of rosary pea (Abrus precatorius) dropping fruit/seed in part of the preserve and there are also some parts with Urena that didn't burn.
Link to news article about the fire: https://wsvn.com/news/local/miami-dade/part-of-tropical-park-catches-fire-near-soccer-field/
My goal here was to more carefully map the burn via iNaturalist, showing the state of plants in different parts of the preserve. I was very careful not to bring in or pick up/move around any seeds on my shoes/socks/clothes!
All my observations from one day post burn: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.788490133153903&nelng=-79.94006956842279&on=2022-05-12&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&swlat=25.618346976274324&swlng=-80.63735808160638&user_id=joemdo
Five days post burn, with some decent rain storms having passed: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.788490133153903&nelng=-79.94006956842279&on=2022-05-16&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&swlat=25.618346976274324&swlng=-80.63735808160638&user_id=joemdo
Six days post burn (today), right after a pretty heavy rainstorm:
Observations from 6 days post burn: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.788490133153903&nelng=-79.94006956842279&on=2022-05-17&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&swlat=25.618346976274324&swlng=-80.63735808160638&user_id=joemdo
In area that was burned not too long ago (not sure exactly how long, presumably less than two years, likely less than one year)
Not sure about ID
In area that was burned not too long ago (not sure exactly how long, presumably less than two years, likely less than one year)
In area that was burned not too long ago (not sure exactly how long, presumably less than two years, likely less than one year)
In area that was burned not too long ago (not sure exactly how long, presumably less than two years, likely less than one year)
In area that was burned not too long ago (not sure exactly how long, presumably less than two years, likely less than one year)
In area that was burned not too long ago (not sure exactly how long, presumably less than two years, likely less than one year)
In area that was burned not too long ago (not sure exactly how long, presumably less than two years, likely less than one year)
In area that was burned not too long ago (not sure exactly how long, presumably less than two years, likely less than one year)
In area that was burned not too long ago (not sure exactly how long, presumably less than two years, likely less than one year)
Didn't realize my GPS was off so location is estimated
Didn't realize my GPS was off so location is estimated
My goal here was to make it to the cypress dome just to the northwest but I started hearing baby alligators so I turned back. Vegetation between me and the dome also looked too thick to get through.
My goal here was to make it to the cypress dome just to the northwest but I started hearing baby alligators so I turned back. Vegetation between me and the dome also looked too thick to get through.
My goal here was to make it to the cypress dome just to the northwest but I started hearing baby alligators so I turned back. Vegetation between me and the dome also looked too thick to get through.
My goal here was to make it to the cypress dome just to the northwest but I started hearing baby alligators so I turned back. Vegetation between me and the dome also looked too thick to get through.
My goal here was to make it to the cypress dome just to the northwest but I started hearing baby alligators so I turned back. Vegetation between me and the dome also looked too thick to get through.
My goal here was to make it to the cypress dome just to the northwest but I started hearing baby alligators so I turned back. Vegetation between me and the dome also looked too thick to get through.
My goal here was to make it to the cypress dome just to the northwest but I started hearing baby alligators so I turned back. Vegetation between me and the dome also looked too thick to get through.
My goal here was to make it to the cypress dome just to the northwest but I started hearing baby alligators so I turned back. Vegetation between me and the dome also looked too thick to get through.
Missed this one in the Big C. Glad to pick it up here!
My goal here was to make it to the cypress dome just to the northwest but I started hearing baby alligators so I turned back. Vegetation between me and the dome also looked too thick to get through.
My goal here was to make it to the cypress dome just to the northwest but I started hearing baby alligators so I turned back. Vegetation between me and the dome also looked too thick to get through.