Reference Sites

 Three representative locations along a spatial gradient from Pensacola to Tampa Bay (720

km) sub-divided into three one-hectare blocks, representing young, mid-aged, and mature age

class; were used in this study. The different stages (age classes) represented a chronosequence of

110-years. The three locations are Topsail Hill State Park, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge,

and the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area of the Florida Fish and Wildlife

Commission.

 A three stage balanced nested design was used to integrate the indicators measured at

different scales, and between sites. Each reference site had a cluster of three one-hectare blocks

containing stands that represent young, mid-aged, and 100' year-old age class. Each one-hectare

block was sub-divided into four randomly placed 400 m2 meaSuring plots where forest structure

and coarse woody debris (CWD) were determined. Within each 400 m2 Subplot, vegetation was

inventoried on four randomly placed 1 m2 quadrat using the same modified Daubenmire scale

method utilized at the restoration site.

Soil Sampling and Preparation

 Soils were sampled from within the vegetation survey quadrats taken from the top 10cm, at

each of the reference sites and the restoration test site during August of 2005, and September of

2005 and 2006. They were stored at 4o C until analysis. Sub-samples were sent to the University

of Florida soil testing lab for analysis of soil pH by prepared slurries using a soil-to-water ratio

of 1-to-2 (EPA method 150.1i), organic matter content (%) by the Walkley-Black method, and

plant-available phosphorus by the use of Mehlich-1 extractant (H2SO4 & HCL) and measured

on an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrophotometer (EPA method 200.7). Soil microbial

biomass was determined by chloroform fumigation-extraction extraction (Vance et. al., 1987).

Net nitrogen mineralization rates were estimated from in-situ incubation of soil samples (Eno,