Central Florida Pondshore

EVT 7514Central Florida Herbaceous Pondshore
CES203.890GNRHerbRiparian
Summary
This system includes a variety of seasonal depression ponds in central Florida, especially along the Lake Wales Ridge. Examples are rounded or irregularly shaped, shallow depressions from tens to hundreds of meters in diameter. Extensive variation is present based on the variety of soils and hydroperiods. Most examples have vegetation in zones, and nearly all are ringed by Serenoa repens. Characteristic or dominant species associated with the interior of the ponds include Panicum hemitomon, Panicum abscissum, Hypericum edisonianum, and Andropogon brachystachyus.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Vegetation
Most depression ponds accommodated in this system display distinct vegetational zonation. At least four vegetational zones can be readily distinguished (Abrahamson et al. 1984); the community types need to be further reconciled into associations.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Environment
Most examples are known from the Lake Wales Ridge area of central Florida. These are shallow depressions from tens to hundreds of meters in diameter, found on a variety of different soils with different hydroperiods (Abrahamson et al. 1984).
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Dynamics
Variation in the duration and depth of flooding is part of the natural dynamics of the ponds in central Florida. The herbaceous pondshore or rim can burn with fires that burn the surrounding uplands or flatwoods. These fires help maintain the diversity of plants which can occur along the herbaceous pondshore or rim which circles the pond.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Threats
Threats include lack of fire, alteration to the hydrology and damage to the herbaceous ground cover from vehicles, hog rooting, plowlines, and ditching. Lack of fire has been a widespread threat, and generally only sites which are within an area managed for conservation have prescribed fires frequently enough to conserve the biological diversity of this open wetland habitat, especially the ecotone or pondshore rim area. The lack of fire can lead to shrub and tree encroachment, increased shading and evapotranspiration, accumulation of leaf litter, and a drying out of the depression wetland during drier times of year. Since many of the herbaceous plants which grow in these predominantly herbaceous wetlands have corms, or starchy root structures, feral hogs (Sus scrofa) are a real threat. Feral hogs will turn up the soil and eat the below-ground plant parts and amphibians and invertebrates that live in the wet soil. In doing this they disturb the soil and degrade the habitat. The disturbed soil areas where feral hogs have rooted (or vehicles have rutted the wet soil) can provide habitat for weedy or invasive exotic plants. On lands managed as pine plantations, sometimes shallow depression pond habitat is bedded and planted in Pinus elliottii.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Distribution
Endemic to central Florida.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Ecologically Associated Plant Species

Plant species that characterize this ecosystem type, organized by vegetation stratum. These are species ecologically associated with the ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific area.

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Litsea aestivalis, Serenoa repens

Short shrub/sapling

Hypericum edisonianum

Herb (field)

Amaranthus floridanus, Andropogon brachystachyus, Campanula robinsiae, Carex verrucosa, Coelorachis tuberculosa, Cucurbita okeechobeensis, Dichanthelium wrightianum, Echinochloa paludigena, Echinodorus tenellus, Ludwigia curtissii, Lythrum flagellare, Panicum abscissum, Panicum hemitomon, Rhynchospora fernaldii, Zephyranthes simpsonii

Submerged aquatic

Najas filifolia
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Ecologically Associated Animals (7)

Animal species ecologically associated with this ecosystem type based on NatureServe assessment. These are species whose habitat requirements overlap with this ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific roadless area.

Mammals (2)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Round-tailed MuskratNeofiber alleniG2
Southeastern ShrewSorex longirostrisG5

Amphibians (4)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Eastern Narrow-mouthed ToadGastrophryne carolinensisG5
Gopher FrogLithobates capitoG2G3
Southern Chorus FrogPseudacris nigritaG5
Little Grass FrogPseudacris ocularisG5

Fish (1)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Euroamerican Clam ShrimpLimnadia lenticularisG4G5
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
At-Risk Species Associated with this Ecosystem (15)

Species with conservation concern that are ecologically associated with this ecosystem type. G-Rank indicates global conservation status: G1 (critically imperiled) through G5 (secure). ESA status indicates U.S. Endangered Species Act listing.

Common NameScientific NameG-RankESA Status
Florida AmaranthAmaranthus floridanusGH--
Robins' BellflowerCampanula robinsiaeG1Endangered
Florida JointgrassCoelorachis tuberculosaG3--
Okeechobee GourdCucurbita okeechobeensisG1Endangered
Florida Cockspur GrassEchinochloa paludigenaG3Q--
Edison's AscyrumHypericum edisonianumG2G3--
Gopher FrogLithobates capitoG2G3Under Review
PondspiceLitsea aestivalisG3--
Curtiss' SeedboxLudwigia curtissiiG3G4--
Lowland LoosestrifeLythrum flagellareG3--
Narrowleaf NaiadNajas filifoliaG3Under Review
Round-tailed MuskratNeofiber alleniG2--
Cut-throat GrassPanicum abscissumG3--
Fernald's BeakrushRhynchospora fernaldiiG3G4--
Rain LilyZephyranthes simpsoniiG2G3--
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Component Associations (8)

Plant community associations that occur within this ecological system. Associations are the finest level of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) and describe specific, repeating assemblages of plant species. Each association represents a distinct community type that may be found where this ecosystem occurs.

NameG-Rank
Amphicarpum muehlenbergianum - (Panicum hemitomon) MarshG2 NatureServe
Andropogon (capillipes, glaucopsis) - Rhynchospora fascicularis var. fascicularis - Rhexia mariana Wet MeadowG2 NatureServe
Dichanthelium wrightianum - Dichanthelium erectifolium MarshG2 NatureServe
Hypericum brachyphyllum Wet Dwarf-shrublandG3 NatureServe
Panicum hemitomon - Pluchea (camphorata, rosea) - Ludwigia spp. MarshG3 NatureServe
Panicum hemitomon - Pontederia cordata MarshG3 NatureServe
Rhynchospora (careyana, inundata) MarshG3 NatureServe
Woodwardia virginica / Sphagnum cuspidatum MarshG2 NatureServe
State Conservation Ranks (1)

Subnational conservation status ranks (S-ranks) assigned by Natural Heritage Programs in each state where this ecosystem occurs. S1 indicates critically imperiled at the state level, S2 imperiled, S3 vulnerable, S4 apparently secure, and S5 secure. An ecosystem may be globally secure but imperiled in specific states at the edge of its range.

StateS-Rank
FLSNR
Roadless Areas (1)

Inventoried Roadless Areas where this ecosystem is present, identified from LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type spatial analysis. Coverage indicates the proportion of each area occupied by this ecosystem type.

Florida (1)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
Farles PrairieOcala National Forest2.2%16.92
Methodology and Data Sources

Ecosystem classification: Ecosystems are classified using the LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) layer, mapped to NatureServe Terrestrial Ecological Systems via a curated crosswalk. Each EVT is linked to the USNVC (U.S. National Vegetation Classification) hierarchy through pixel-level co-occurrence analysis of LANDFIRE EVT and NatureServe IVC Group rasters across all roadless areas.

Vegetation coverage: Coverage percentages and hectares are derived from zonal statistics of the LANDFIRE 2024 EVT raster intersected with roadless area boundaries.

Ecosystem narratives and community species: Sourced from the NatureServe Explorer API, representing professional ecological assessments of vegetation composition, environmental setting, dynamics, threats, and characteristic species assemblages.

IVC hierarchy: The International Vegetation Classification hierarchy is sourced from the USNVC v3.0 Catalog, providing the full classification from Biome through Association levels.

Component associations: Plant community associations listed as components of each NatureServe Ecological System. Association data from the NatureServe Explorer API.

State ranks: Conservation status ranks assigned by NatureServe member programs in each state where the ecosystem occurs.