Fwc Fish And Wildlife Research Institute recently issued the following announcement.
Rare habitats host rare species
Let’s get granular with a true Florida native trying its best to persist! The federally endangered Miami Tiger Beetle (Cicindelidia floridana) is found only in the greater Richmond Pine Rocklands of southwest Miami. This rare, hot, harsh, and fire-adapted landscape occurs solely in South Florida and a few Bahama islands. The Miami Tiger Beetle is dependent on fire to maintain patches of bare ground where adults and larvae live. Once spanning 185,000 acres, less than 2% of the globally imperiled pine rocklands remain in Miami, making prescribed fires difficult due to heavily urbanized surroundings.
Once feared to be extinct, in 2015 FWC and partners began surveys and monitoring for the Miami Tiger Beetle and despite its many threats (e.g., development, climate change, exotic/invasive species), small populations continue to persist in a handful of natural areas receiving fire, thinning of pines and invasive plant control.
Multi-agency cooperation and sound management decisions are key for this rare beetle and its imperiled pine rockland habitat to persevere.
Original source can be found here.
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