3. Animals

 Tropical hammocks serve as habitat for a variety of wildlife species, many
 of which are not found elsewhere. Some species that occur are:

 MAMMALS Everglades mink, Mustela vison; Gray squirrel, Sciurus
 carolinensis; Key deer, Odocoileus virginanus; Key Largo cotton
 mouse, Peromyscus Rossvpinus; Key Largo woodrat, Neotoma
 floridana; Marsh rabbit, Sylvilagus palustris

 Information on animals know to occur in specific ecological communities is
 in Appendix C.

LAND USE INTERPRETATIONS

1. Environmental Values as a Natural System

 Tropical hammock communities are probably the most endangered ecological
 type in Florida. Such endangerment lies in the fact that the communities
 are not widespread in occurrence and have received considerable pressures
 for other land uses. Special consideration should be given to
 incorporating all existing tropical hammock into an overall land use plan.
 Such a plan would insure the continued use of these communities as
 hurricane protection, landscape and greenbelt areas, parks, and wildlife
 habitat in an areas under tremendous population growth pressures.

2. Rangeland

 Not recommended as a land use.

3. Wildlifeland

 There are very specific requirements for the wildlife that occur in
 tropical hammocks, particularly those resident species. Able to fulfill
 the requirements of both local and migratory wildlife, tropical hammocks
 naturally become good habitat for these species. A special function is
 that of cover for many mammals during periods of high water and resting
 and feeding areas for migratory birdlife.

4. Woodland

 Not recommended for commercial production.

5. Urbanland

 This community is subject to high water tables during the rainy season and
 has limitations for urban development. Water management systems are
 required for urban uses. It is usually difficult to establish vegetation
 on steep channel side slopes and infertile spoil. Special planting and
 management techniques may be required. Without vegetation, erosion and
 sedimentation is often a problem in water management systems. Wind
 erosion can also become a problem in unvegetated areas. This is
 especially severe in the spring.