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--p-�-- -~ ~ <br />rA <br />� <br />~m <br />*� (Fitzpatrick at a< 1e94a). Today, these gaps have expanded duo to encroaching <br />citrus groves and burgeoning residential developments (Fitzpatrick g o{ 1994a. <br />L 1994W. <br />� <br />The remaining two (2) Subregions are the Northern Gulf Coast Subregion and dm <br />Southern Gulf Coast Subregion (Fitzpatrick at o/ 1994n). Hbxohua| records of <br />Florida scrub -jay sightings and the distribution of sandy soils indicate that the Go|| <br />~� <br />Coast populations nxVmd|vg from Levy County south to Loo County originally <br />` <br />comprised u fourth major oqoGOuous population of scrub -jays (Fitzpatrick az a/ <br />1994p). However, duo to the mmonuivo |oau of habitat o|uog the Gulf Coast, this <br />nnoo contiguous population has been functionally separated into thn two (2) <br />Subregions defined above (Fitzpatrick urut1384a). <br />-` <br />The most abundant and conmpiCu000plant indicators ofscrub hnhkam are four (4) <br />� <br />species of shrubby, stunted, no|ernphylou u'leaved oaks: Quercus g*nnimox [L <br />cha»manfl, O. 'nyr/ifolia, and (l inopin» (YVoo|[anden and Rupmtdok 1984; Myers <br />` 1990/ Gchmg\zor and Hinkle 1892; Fitzpatrick e/a< 1394o). Most scrub plants are <br />� <br />endemic to Florida, and are adapted to nwoien,'poo, soils, periodic drought, <br />seasonally high rainyo||, and frequent (i/os (Abrahamson 1984; Fitzpatrick at a< <br />' 1984a>. <br />, <br />Optimal Florida nnmhiov habitat (Fitzpatrick o/ ai 1991; Omhnio0e 1992; BmkinAo <br />` o/a/ 1995, 1938W occurs ropatches vfoak scrub (focal habitat), embedded within <br />� a low and open meoic shrub landscape (matrix habitats) (8minioOwr */ a< 1996b). <br />' <br />Optimal oak scrub focal habitat exhibits the following cxomo/c,isdon: l.) 8,*ute/ than <br />50% of the shrub layer comprised of scrub oaks (Ouooxusoppl' 2.) /OY6'30Y6 of txv <br />� <br />area comprised ofopen space (bare sand or sparse herbaceous vegetation); 3.> |oso <br />than 15% pine canopy cover; 4.) o shrub height of 3.9 to 6.6' (1.2 ,o 1.7 m); and 5l <br />^ >328'(10Om)fnxnuforest U}mininVoro,al. 1996' 1e96b. 4forest indef inodus <br />— aoarea exhibiting u oannpyoIOmun of >§5%(omhnin0nro/al, 1335' 1996W. The <br />^ <br />essential elements of optimal Florida scrub -jay habitat are: /ho presence of scrub <br />L <br />oaks, numerous patchy open spaces, an open pine canopy, and low shrub landscape <br />|� <br />~ <br />Native matrix habitats, principally scrubby andmoaic »kne,/lanwnodo. and swale and <br />depression marshes, are important components of optimal Florida uxmhlay habitat <br />` <br />landscapes (8ro|ninOu,o/o< 1335' 189Ob).These native ma/rixhabitats provide prey / <br />/~ <br />species for Florida mmvh'|ayo and habitat for other species of oonaomobno concern - <br /><8re|n|nOo/ e/ A 1995' 1980b>. The high flammability of d.e ouUva muoiu hobhom � <br />often uamnx to spread fire into Ue mofaaimunt oak momb |mkuum (Dmininger at vC <br />~ 1995' 1996u). The mat/ix habitats also provide habitat to Florida uo,uh'inv* during <br />� <br />periods n(habitat degradation ortile preferred oak scrub habitat (8mininon,and nuav <br />1�p8)� <br />`~ ° <br />�. 14 <br />L <br />