Rockledge

CURRENT THREAT:

Presently, 2 tracts of land in south Rockledge are slated to be developed, in part or in their entirety, for residential and commercial use. The 2 tracts are the Punacker tract (97 acres) which is destined to become Plantation Point subdivision, and parcel 752 (12.7 acres) which is partially zoned for BU-1 (commercial). If these lands are fully developed, then they will close off access for wildlife into and out of the Cruickshank Scrub Sanctuary (141 acres) to the north. The closure of such access will render the Cruickshank an isolated block of habitat resulting in the deterioration of animal community structure via the eventual extirpation of species whose presence in the sanctuary rely on a continued influx of codemic members for replenishment of fresh and diverse genetic material. Occupants in the isolated sanctuary will experience increased levels of inbreeding that lead to deleterious and often fatal traits. Overcrowding and over foraging will lead to depletion of food resources. Death rates can exceed birth rates. Combined, these effects will likely lead to the disappearance of many species that have been using the sanctuary. What will result is a sanctuary with very little biodiversity, a reduction in landscape level ecological functionality and landscape level continuity (via the loss of the sanctuary as a core reserve that is connected to outlying lands), a reduction in species diversity, and the loss of the ecological value of a local investment that has been purchased by tax payer dollars.

In addition to gopher tortoises, deer, bobcat, and numerous other terrestrial species that could be affected, scrub jays may also suffer as a result. This is because scrub jays are less likely to fly over a development that would lay between the scrub areas in the Cruickshank and areas to the south. Thus, it is essential to retain, as part of the corridor, ample scrub habitat in the corridor.

Interestingly, the areas immediately south of the 2 parcels that are under development pressure are also home to the largest contiguous population of scrub jays on mainland Brevard County. This area is referred to as the central mainland scrub core reserve. To cut off the Cruickshank from this area is to further erode what little scrub jay habitat remains.

Additionally, even if the isolation of the Cruickshank was not a factor in this issue, the central mainland core reserve population will directly suffer as a result of the taking of habitat, via the destruction of scrub habitat that exists on the Plantation Point property. This habitat is currently used by at least 9 scrub jays that also make use of the central mainland core reserve lands to the south and east. The loss of their territories would reduce the effective size of the central mainland core reserve population, and contribute to an increased risk of extinction in that area.

To prevent this ecological disaster, it is essential that corridor connectivity be left intact between the sanctuary and lands to the south (the protected scrub area which is part of the central mainland core reserve) and that the on-site territories remain undisturbed. The corridor will have to route through both of the parcels that are under current development pressure.

The below aerial photographs depict the location and functionality of the sanctuary in relation to other areas in Brevard County, specifically the core reserve to the south, and the required corridor that runs across the two parcels in question.

Further details, including a schedule of county and city meetings that address the use and zoning of these lands, can be found at - http://geocities.com/rockledgeflorida/. Click on the Plantation Point and 12.7 acre links.

THREAT: Rockledge-Viera Scrub Core Reserve and Corridor Conservation, Landscape Ecology, Surveying, Mapping, Community Planning, Corridor Mapping CURRENT THREAT: Presently, 2 tracts of land in south Rockledge are slated to be developed, in part or in their entirety, for residential and commercial use. The 2 tracts are the Punacker tract (97 acres) which is destined to become Plantation Point subdivision, and parcel 752 (12.7 acres) which is partially zoned for BU-1 (commercial). If these lands are fully developed, then they will close off access for wildlife into and out of the Cruickshank Scrub Sanctuary (141 acres) to the north. The closure of such access will render the Cruickshank an isolated block of habitat resulting in the deterioration of animal community structure via the eventual extirpation of species whose presence in the sanctuary rely on a continued influx of codemic members for replenishment of fresh and diverse genetic material. Occupants in the isolated sanctuary will experience increased levels of inbreeding that lead to deleterious and often fatal traits. Overcrowding and over foraging will lead to depletion of food resources. Death rates can exceed birth rates. Combined, these effects will likely lead to the disappearance of many species that have been using the sanctuary. What will result is a sanctuary with very little biodiversity, a reduction in landscape level ecological functionality and landscape level continuity (via the loss of the sanctuary as a core reserve that is connected to outlying lands), a reduction in species diversity, and the loss of the ecological value of a local investment that has been purchased by tax payer dollars. In addition to gopher tortoises, deer, bobcat, and numerous other terrestrial species that could be affected, scrub jays may also suffer as a result. This is because scrub jays are less likely to fly over a development that would lay between the scrub areas in the Cruickshank and areas to the south. Thus, it is essential to retain, as part of the corridor, ample scrub habitat in the corridor. Interestingly, the areas immediately south of the 2 parcels that are under development pressure are also home to the largest contiguous population of scrub jays on mainland Brevard County. This area is referred to as the central mainland scrub core reserve. To cut off the Cruickshank from this area is to further erode what little scrub jay habitat remains. Additionally, even if the isolation of the Cruickshank was not a factor in this issue, the central mainland core reserve population will directly suffer as a result of the taking of habitat, via the destruction of scrub habitat that exists on the Plantation Point property. This habitat is currently used by at least 9 scrub jays that also make use of the central mainland core reserve lands to the south and east. The loss of their territories would reduce the effective size of the central mainland core reserve population, and contribute to an increased risk of extinction in that area. To prevent this ecological disaster, it is essential that corridor connectivity be left intact between the sanctuary and lands to the south (the protected scrub area which is part of the central mainland core reserve) and that the on-site territories remain undisturbed. The corridor will have to route through both of the parcels that are under current development pressure. The below aerial photographs depict the location and functionality of the sanctuary in relation to other areas in Brevard County, specifically the core reserve to the south, and the required corridor that runs across the two parcels in question. Further details, including a schedule of county and city meetings that address the use and zoning of these lands, can be found at - http://geocities.com/rockledgeflorida/. Click on the Plantation Point and 12.7 acre links. For further information, inquire at: Tim Mallow, Coryi Foundation, Inc. 3715 Felda Street Cocoa, Florida 32926 321-631-9779 http://coryi.org tmallow@cfl.rr.com SLIDES: (also downloadable as a Power Point file at: http://coryi.org/plantation.ppt)
Viera Corridor - Viera and Rockledge, Florida.
Cruickshank Scrub Sanctuary.
Plantation Point and 12.7 acre parcels where development is proposed in relation to Cruickshank, Rockledge, Fla.
Wildlife corridor routes that through the parcels, Rockledge, Fla.
Conservation blocks currently in place, corridors and key parcels, Rockledge, Fla. Orthogonal Base Composite
Cruickshank Scrub Sanctuary, Plantation Point, 12.7 acre blocks and proposed wildlife corridors that weave between proposed development areas, Rockledge, Fla. Orthogonal Mid Range Resolution	Minimal Corridor Configuration: Ecologically Required Corridor: