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Hurricane effects on subtropical pine rocklands of the Florida Keys

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Abstract

We investigate the effects of Hurricane Wilma’s storm surge (23–24 October 2005) on the dominant tree Pinus elliottii var densa (South Florida slash pine) and rare plant species in subtropical pine rocklands of the Lower Florida Keys. We examine the role of elevation on species abundance in 1995 (Hurricane Betsy in 1965), 2005 (Hurricane Georges in 1998), and 2008 (Hurricane Wilma in 2005) to investigate if hurricanes influence abundance by eliminating plants at lower elevation on Big Pine Key, the largest island in the Lower Florida Keys. We compare densities before and after Hurricane Wilma over the 2005–2008 sampling period and examine the role of elevation on changes in pine and rare species densities three years after Hurricane Wilma. We use elevation to assess the impact of hurricanes because elevation determined whether a location was influenced by storm surge (maximum surge of 2 m) in the Lower Florida Keys, where pine rocklands occur at a maximum elevation of 3 m. In 1995 (30 years after a major storm), elevation did not explain the abundance of South Florida slash pine or Chamaecrista lineata, but explained significant variation in abundance of Chamaesyce deltoidea. The latter two species are rare herbaceous plants restricted to pine rocklands. In 2008, 3 years after Hurricane Wilma, the positive relationship between elevation and abundance was strongest for South Florida slash pine, C. deltoidea, and C. lineata. Effects of Hurricane Wilma were not significant for rare species with wider distribution, occurring in plant communities adjacent to pine rocklands and in disturbed rocklands. Our results suggest that hurricanes drive population dynamics of South Florida slash pine and rare species that occur exclusively in pine rocklands at higher elevations. Rare species restricted to pine rocklands showed dramatic declines after Hurricane Wilma and were eliminated at elevations <0.5 m. Widely distributed rare species did not show significant changes in density after Hurricane Wilma. Abundance increased with elevation for South Florida slash pine and C. lineata after the hurricane. In an environment influenced by sea level rise, concrete plans to conserve pine ecosystems are warranted. Results from this study will help define conservation strategies by strengthening predictive understanding of plant responses to disturbance in the backdrop of sea level rise.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Institute for Regional Conservation, 22601 SW 152nd Ave., Miami, FL, 33170, USA

    Sonali Saha & Keith Bradley

  2. Department of Earth & Environment and Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, University Park/OE148, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Michael S. Ross

  3. Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, OE-148, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Pablo L. Ruiz

  4. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 28950 Watson Blvd., Big Pine Key, FL, 33043, USA

    Phillip Hughes & Thomas Wilmers

  5. The Nature Conservancy, 55 N. Johnson Road, Big Pine Key, FL, 33043, USA

    Chris Bergh

Authors
  1. Sonali Saha
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  2. Keith Bradley
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  3. Michael S. Ross
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  4. Phillip Hughes
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  6. Pablo L. Ruiz
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  7. Chris Bergh
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Correspondence to Sonali Saha.

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Saha, S., Bradley, K., Ross, M.S. et al. Hurricane effects on subtropical pine rocklands of the Florida Keys. Climatic Change 107, 169–184 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-011-0081-1

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