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EDIS Update

New and revised publications from the University of Florida Insitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

    Key to Nine Common Smilax Species of Florida (FOR307/FR375)

    May 10th, 2013
    Topic(s):Ecosystems & Species, Forest Resources

    Figure 5. The glaucous coating on the lower surface of the leaf on Smilax glauca is an excellent distinguishing characteristic for this species.Identifying species found in Smilax the genus can be difficult because species resemble one another closely. One must be careful to use detailed descriptions in order to correctly identify a specimen. Smilax species are important because they can provide shelter and food for wildlife and have provided humans with medicine, food, and dyes. Twelve Smilax species are found in Florida. This 8-page fact sheet covers the nine more common species that one may encounter in the state. Written by Lynn Proenza and Michael Andreu, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, January 2013.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr375

    Thousand Cankers Disease: A Threat to Black Walnut in Florida (FOR308/FR376)

    April 8th, 2013
    Topic(s):Crops, Forest Resources

    Figure 4. Lesion caused by the pathogenic fungus, Geosmithia morbida. The dark area is necrotic tissue (dead wood). At the center of the lesion is a hole where the walnut twig borer entered. Thousand cankers disease of walnut is a tree disease of the edible nut-producing and ornamental tree, black walnut. The first diseased trees were observed in New Mexico in the 1990s. The disease has since spread to most of the western states. Until 2009, diseased black walnut trees were only found outside of the natural range of black walnut, which occurs from the mid-Atlantic states to just west of the Mississippi River. In 2009, it was found near Knoxville, Tennessee; it has since spread to Pennsylvania and Virginia. It is possible that within the next decade this disease could naturally spread to Florida. However, if people continue to move TCD infested walnut logs from place to place, this disease could arrive in Florida tomorrow. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Don Spence and Jason A. Smith, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, February 2013.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr376

    Natural Area Weeds: Old World Climbing Fern (Lygodium microphyllum) (SSAGR21/AG122)

    March 12th, 2013
    Topic(s):Ecosystems & Species, Forest Resources

    Figure 3. Leafy branches (pinnae) of Old World climbing fern are 2–5 inches long with several pairs of leaflets (pinnules).Native to Africa, Asia, and Australia, Old World climbing fern (OWCF) is a newcomer to Florida that has spread at an alarming rate since its introduction. The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council considers Old World climbing fern to be invasive. It’s also regulated by laws of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) as a Florida Noxious Weed and by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a Federal Noxious Weed. It may be the most serious threat to Florida’s natural areas. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Kenneth A. Langeland and Jeffery Hutchinson, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, February 2013.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag122

    Wildland-Urban Interface: Key Issues (FOR202/FR264)

    March 4th, 2013
    Topic(s):Community Development, Ecosystems & Species, Forest Resources

    small group of people looking at a mapA result of the influx of new residents to the South is an expansion of urban areas into forests and other natural areas, creating areas referred to as the wildland-urban interface. Interface issues of most concern vary from state to state, but some key issues are consistent across the South. the US Forest Service conducted a series of focus groups in 2000. Key issues gleaned from those focus groups and other related sources are described in this 5-page fact sheet written by L. Annie Hermansen-Baez, Jennifer Seitz, and Martha C. Monroe, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, February 2013.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr264

    Natural Area Weeds: Skunkvine (Paederia foetida) (SSAGR80/WG208)

    February 27th, 2013
    Topic(s):Ecosystems & Species, Forest Resources

    Figure 1. Skunkvine growing over native shrubs.Native to eastern and southern Asia, skunkvine is an invasive plant species introduced to the USDA Field Station near Brooksville before 1897. It has been included on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council List of Invasive Species as a Category I, defined as “species that are invading and disrupting native plant communities in Florida.” It was added to the Florida Noxious Weed List in 1999, making it illegal to possess, move, or release in Florida. This 3-page fact sheet was written by K. A. Langeland, R. K. Stocker, and D. M. Brazis, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, February 2013.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wg208

    Tips for Integrating Land and Wildlife Management: Deer in Forests (WEC329/UW374)

    February 25th, 2013
    Topic(s):Ecosystems & Species, Forest Resources

    Figure 1. What often limits deer populations in Florida’s forests is the availability of nutritious foods.Prized by hunters and wildlife enthusiasts alike, white-tailed deer are a popular species found throughout Florida. As such, they are often the focus of management for landowners, managers, and lessees who want to improve deer populations while maintaining other land uses such as timber production. This 2-page fact sheet provides some deer habitat improvement tips that focus primarily on raising the quality of deer forage but that also will help you grow better cover by improving plant diversity and productivity. Written by William M. Giuliano, John M. Olson, and Cailey Thomas, and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, January 2013.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw374

    Tips for Integrating Land and Wildlife Management: Quail and Timber (WEC331/UW376)

    February 25th, 2013
    Topic(s):Ecosystems & Species, Forest Resources

    Figure 1. Quail prefer a highly interspersed, “crazy quilt” habitat.In Florida, changes in forest management practices during the past 50+ years have led to declines in quail habitat and populations. Important changes involve the use of fire and conversion of native forests to commercial pine plantations. A lack of fire and other disturbance has often led to closed-canopy forests with dense undergrowth that lack important quail habitat components. This 2-page fact sheet provides several quail habitat improvement tips that focus on diversifying the plant species and structural composition and increasing early successional communities dominated by herbaceous plants. Written by William M. Giuliano and Lauren Watine, and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, January 2013.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw376

    Classical Biological Control of Tropical Soda Apple with Gratiana boliviana (ENY865/IN971)

    January 15th, 2013
    Topic(s):Ecosystems & Species, Forest Resources, Livestock

    Figure 4. South Florida Water Management District staff member, Terri Torrens, releasing Gratiana boliviana adults on a tropical soda apple plant.Tropical soda apple is a prickly shrub native to South America. First reported in Glades Co., Florida in 1988, it later spread to Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It is a major problem in pastures and conservation areas. Negative impacts of tropical soda apple include reduction of cattle stocking rates, competition with native plants, and the costs associated with its control. Dense thickets of the weed also can disrupt the movement of wildlife. This 4-page fact sheet provides a summary of the major steps of the successful biological control program against tropical soda apple in Florida. The article covers the importance of the weed, identification and biology of the biological control agent, rearing and release efforts, establishment and impact, and efforts to communicate the outcomes of the program to stakeholders. Written by R. Diaz, J. Medal, K. Hibbard, A. Roda, A. Fox, S. Hight, P. Stansly, B. Sellers, J. Cuda and W. A. Overholt, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, November 2012.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in971

    Classical Biological Control of Air Potato in Florida (ENY864/IN957)

    January 15th, 2013
    Topic(s):Ecosystems & Species, Forest Resources

    Figure 1. Air potato infestation at Snyder park in Fort Lauderdale. This is one of the release sites for Lilioceris cheni.Air potato was introduced to Florida in 1905. By the 1980s, its vines were growing in thickets, waste areas, and hedges or fencerows in many parts of south and central Florida. By 1999, it was recognized as transforming plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structure and disrupting ecological functions. The air potato leaf beetle is a rather large, orange-red Asian leaf beetle. It feeds and develops only on air potato. The USDA-ARS Invasive Plant laboratory in Fort Lauderdale acquired this beetle from China and has begun an ambitious release program aimed at controlling air potato. This 3-page fact sheet was written by T. D. Center and W. A. Overholt, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2012.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in957

    The Costs of Managing an Urban Forest (FOR217/FR279)

    October 8th, 2012
    Topic(s):Community Development, Forest Resources

    Dowtown revitalization project in Gainesville, FL. photo: Thomas WrightUrban forests provide benefits to society often referred to as ecosystem services: they improve human health, environmental quality, and local economies by increasing property values and aesthetics in communities. They help cities control storm water, reduce air pollution and energy costs, and offset carbon dioxide emissions. But urban forests also have “ecosystem disservices.” An accurate assessment of an urban forest’s costs can assist decision makers to better understand the role the forest plays in improving the well-being of the community. Identifying how funding is used can also help communities minimize costs and increase benefits. This 4-page fact sheet will review some of the types of costs associated with urban forests and present typical financial costs associated with urban forest management in the city of Gainesville, Florida. Written by Francisco Escobedo and Jennifer Seitz, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, October 2012.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr279

    Using Soils to Guide Fertilizer Recommendations for Southern Pines (CIR1230/FR053)

    August 27th, 2012
    Topic(s):Forest Resources

    Figure 4. Example of copper (Cu) deficiency in young, loblolly pine growing on a CRIFF C group soil (note: the soft and s-shaped terminal and lateral shoots).Soils supporting southern pine stands in the South tend to be infertile and nutrient additions are often required to achieve optimum rates of production. This 12-page publication describes and classifies soils of the southeastern Coastal Plain region and specifically addresses issues of fertility, growth-limiting nutrients, and fertilizer recommendations for southern pines. Written by Eric J. Jokela and Alan J. Long, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, June 2012.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr053

    Controlling Invasive Exotic Plants in North Florida Forests (SSFOR19/FR133)

    April 5th, 2012
    Topic(s):Ecosystems & Species, Forest Resources

    Chines Tallowtree infestationInvasive non-native organisms are one of the greatest threats to the natural ecosystems of the United States. Invasive plants reduce biodiversity, encroach on endangered and threatened species, and rob native species of habitat. This 8-page fact sheet describes many of the current methods used to manage some of the more common and troublesome invasive exotic plants in north Florida forests. Written by Chris Demers, Alan Long and Rick Williams, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, January 2012.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr133

    Orlando, Florida’s Urban and Community Forests and Their Ecosystem Services (FOR290/FR358)

    March 21st, 2012
    Topic(s):Ecosystems & Species, Forest Resources

    Lymmo Right-of-Way and Station at Turn-Around Area , http://www.fta.dot.gov/12351_4370.html
    Urban forests, or the trees and shrubs on these land uses, play an important role in providing ecosystem services and are often key components in urban planning and management as well as in environmental regulations. This 10-page fact sheet provides information, based on an assessment of urban forests within the limits of the City of Orlando was conducted during the summer of 2010, on the structure and composition of Orlando's urban forest, the occurrence of invasive trees in the city, the ecosystem services trees provide, including estimating the mitigation of climate change effects and their role in urban hydrology, and how this information can be used to define sustainable urban planning objectives and goals. Written by Edem Empke, Elizabeth Becker, Jessica Lab, Ross Hinkle, and Francisco Escobedo, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, February 2012.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr358

    Carbon Sequestration and Storage by Gainesville’s Urban Forest (FOR210/FR272)

    March 8th, 2012
    Topic(s):Ecosystems & Species, Forest Resources, House & Home, Lawn & Garden

    live oak Darien GA (CC BY-NC 3.0) Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.orgCities are a major source of carbon dioxide emissions. This fact sheet demonstrates that urban and natural trees can help mitigate the effects of climate change somewhat by sequestering CO2 but can only sequester a small portion of all carbon dioxide emitted from cities. In addition, decomposing trees and mulch, tree maintenance activities, and improperly placed trees that cause shading in winter can also result in emissions of CO2, so it is important for communities to reduce fossil fuel emissions and manage for and preserve large, healthy trees to maximize the amount of CO2 sequestered by an urban forest. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Francisco Escobedo, Jennifer A. Seitz, and Wayne Zipperer, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, February 2012.
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr272

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