SUMMARY OF DOI SCIENCE NEEDS RELATED TO RECOVERY OF VEGETATIVE COMMUNITIES AND MULTIPLE ANIMAL SPECIES
Major DOI Responsibilities and Interests	Major Unanswered Questions	Needed Science	Timeline
Restore the ecological communities of South Florida in ways that will optimize benefits to the greatest number of imperiled species (Stewardship responsibility for all federal lands; possible partnership opportunities on nonfederal lands)	Avian Species Recovery
	What specific habitats require restoration or management for the suite of federally protected avian species in South Florida? How do we optimize the benefits of restoration for protected avian species in South Florida while minimizing tradeoffs caused by conflicting habitat needs?	Development of key habitat-management information for avian species Research and possible model development or refinement to support decision making where restoration activities pose the potential for multi-species tradeoffs affecting wading birds wood stork roseate spoonbill snail kite white ibis Cape Sable seaside sparrow red-cockaded woodpecker Florida grasshopper sparrow Audubon's crested caracara Landscape-scale ecological modeling Determination of connectivity and importance of South Florida populations for widely distributed species Development of species-specific information needed for recovery planning: Cape Sable seaside sparrow Everglade snail kite Identifying critical limiting factors and optimal conditions for avian species Studies of migratory birds in South Florida	Avian Species Component of MSRP Implementation Schedule Species Recovery Plans for which the FWS Vero field office has the agency lead are rolled into the MSRP Implementation Schedule Draft: April 12 2004 Final: 2005
	Recovery of Scrub Community:
	Is sufficient habitat protected to support recovery of scrub and high pineland plants? How should scrub habitat be managed, including use of prescribed fire and mechanical methods, for continued protection of scrub and high pineland plants?	Updated surveys, inventories, and monitoring data Population viability analyses Assessment of the adequacy of the conservation land network Population augmentation Research of long-term vegetation changes following fire and mechanical treatments Information about the effects on scrub habitat of land management and other practices
	Recovery of Scrub-Dependent Animals
	Is sufficient habitat protected to support recovery of the Florida scrub-jay, sand skink, bluetail mole skink, and Highlands tiger beetle? How should scrub habitat be managed, including use of prescribed fire and mechanical methods, for continued protection of scrub-dependent animals?	Habitat and population viability analyses of Florida scrub jay, sand skink, and bluetail mole skink Updated information about the Highlands tiger beetle Effects of human activities on sand and bluetail mole skink Information about the effects of land management and other practices	Species Recovery Plans for which the FWS Vero field office has the agency lead are rolled into the MSRP Implementation Schedule Draft: April 12, 2004 Final: 2005
	Recovery of Pine Rockland Community: Miami-Dade County
	Is the existing pine rockland habitat sufficient for recovery of its listed species? How should remaining pine rockland be managed to encourage recovery of its listed plant species?	Population viability analyses Natural forest community mapping and mapping of individual species Analysis of mechanical treatment to recover habitat Research to support species propagation and reintroduction	Species Recovery Plans for which the FWS Vero field office has the agency lead are rolled into the MSRP Implementation Schedule Draft: April 12, 2004 Final: 2005
	Recovery of Florida Keys Species
	Is sufficient habitat protected to support recovery of threatened and endangered Keys species? How should habitat be managed, including use of prescribed fire and control of anthropogenic factors, for continued protection of Keys species? Are habitat restoration and species augmentation efforts appropriate and/or sufficient for recovery of Keys species?	Determine how secondary effects of development are affecting threatened and endangered species of the Keys Analysis of life history requirements Research the preferred method of habitat manipulation to improve the survival of the Key Largo woodrat in north Key Largo. Determine how to maintain and prevent degradation of crocodile nesting habitat and improve nesting success of the American crocodile on North Key Largo Research to determine individual species' responses to fire Analysis of minimum habitat requirements for species introduction	Species Recovery Plans for which the FWS Vero field office has the agency lead are rolled into the MSRP Implementation Schedule Draft: April 12, 2004 Final: 2005
Major DOI Responsibilities and Interests	Major Unanswered Questions	Needed Science	Timeline
Assess the responses of ecological communities and species as a basis for adaptive management	Avian Species Component of MSRP Implementation
	What are the effects of management activities and resulting ecological changes on key indicator species? What are the changes in the biological status of listed avian species?	Monitoring plan for the avian species component of the MSRP Use detailed field assessments to validate and calibrate models	Post-implementation monitoring and assessment ESA calls for updated recovery plans every 5 years, as needed
	Recovery of Scrub Community:
	What are the long-term effects of fire on plant species in scrub communities?	Monitoring of long-term vegetation changes following fire	Post-implementation monitoring and assessment ESA calls for updated recovery plans every 5 years, as needed
	Recovery of Scrub-Dependent Animals
			Post-implementation monitoring and assessment ESA calls for updated recovery plans every 5 years, as needed
	Recovery of Pine Rockland Community: Miami-Dade County
	What are the effects of rehydration projects on listed plant species in pine rocklands in Miami-Dade County? How do resource management activities affect populations of invertebrates and reptiles (e.g. butterflies)?	Monitoring of the ecological response to hydration Surveys to determine the status and distribution of imperiled invertebrates Effects of prescribed fire on imperiled pineland species, including planning for fire frequency and size and distribution of burn blocks Effects of Park Maintenance and Exotic Plant Control activities On invertebrates and reptiles	Post-implementation monitoring and assessment ESA calls for updated recovery plans every 5 years, as needed
	Recovery of Florida Keys Species
	Has there been a change in the biological status of any Keys species, particularly the Key deer or American crocodile?	Monitoring and biological status assessments	Post-implementation monitoring and assessment ESA calls for updated recovery plans every 5 years, as needed