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CEGL006327 Pinus echinata Ruderal Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shortleaf Pine Ruderal Forest
Colloquial Name: Ruderal Shortleaf Pine Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association represents early-successional Pinus echinata-dominated vegetation. This broadly defined type has a wide distribution throughout the native range of Pinus echinata where it may develop under a variety of circumstances associated with severe natural and/or anthropogenic disturbance. It is most frequently associated with abandoned agricultural land, unmanaged clearcuts, and burned or heavily eroded areas, where adjacent Pinus echinata are able to seed into the newly disturbed area and colonize before other species such as Pinus taeda. These are considered ruderal forests as they typically result from anthropogenic disturbances that fundamentally alter the vegetation structure, floristic composition, and often the physical and chemical structure of the soil. Vegetation tends to be dense with a moderately to extremely barren understory. While Pinus echinata is clearly the single most dominant tree, other "old-field" Pinus species (e.g., Pinus taeda, Pinus virginiana) and/or other early-successional deciduous trees (e.g., Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera) may also be present. Associated woody and herbaceous species vary with geography but are typically ruderal or exotic species. As these forests age, mid-successional species such as Quercus spp. and Carya spp. may begin to replace senescent Pinus echinata individuals.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: In Kentucky, this vegetation is known only from the eastern part of the state. A stand at Mammoth Cave National Park which is referred here may have originated with the planting of Pinus echinata. In Louisiana, this successional vegetation occurs in the Florida parishes and may have a dense shrub understory. In Arkansas, old fields succeed to Pinus echinata. Stands have suffered some damage from southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Pinus echinata is clearly the single most dominant tree. In addition, other "old-field" Pinus species (e.g., Pinus taeda, Pinus virginiana) and/or other early-successional deciduous trees (e.g., Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera) may also be present. Forests of 50+ years may begin to become codominated by mid-successional species such as Quercus spp. and Carya spp. in some instances. Associated woody and herbaceous species vary with geography but are typically ruderal or exotic species.
Dynamics: Composition of this community depends more on past disturbance history and adjacent forest composition than on the micro-environment of the site. The community can be found on a variety of upland exposures but is most well-developed in areas that were heavily farmed and then abandoned. Over time, the canopy composition shifts as Pinus echinata succumbs to disease, blowdown, or pine beetle damage and other later successional species begin to take advantage of the gaps left by dead and dying pines. At this point, the community can begin to shift to one of a number of community types that are considered "later successional" than this type and possess a canopy that is dominated by hardwoods rather than pines.
Environmental Description: This broadly defined type may develop under a variety of circumstances associated with severe natural and/or anthropogenic disturbance. It is most frequently associated with abandoned agricultural land, unmanaged clearcuts, and burned or eroded areas. These are considered ruderal forests as they typically result from anthropogenic disturbances which fundamentally alter the vegetation structure, floristic composition, and often the physical and chemical structure of the soil.
Geographic Range: This community is found throughout the southeastern United States.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, GA, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, WV?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683227
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D008 | 1.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Na.90 Black Locust - Tuliptree - Norway Maple Ruderal Forest Macrogroup | M013 | 1.B.2.Na.90 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.90.a Eastern Red-cedar - Tuliptree / Tatarian Honeysuckle Ruderal Forest Group | G030 | 1.B.2.Na.90.a |
| Alliance | A3227 Eastern Red-cedar - Virginia Pine - Shortleaf Pine Ruderal Forest Alliance | A3227 | 1.B.2.Na.90.a |
| Association | CEGL006327 Shortleaf Pine Ruderal Forest | CEGL006327 | 1.B.2.Na.90.a |
Concept Lineage: Concept of this association is covered in the Evergreen Forest associations 2591 and 6327.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IA7a. Xeric Shortleaf Pine - Oak Forest (Allard 1990)
? T1A9bI1a. Pinus echinata (Foti et al. 1994)
? T1A9bI1a. Pinus echinata (Foti et al. 1994)
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- Burns, R. M., and B. H. Honkala, technical coordinators. 1990a. Silvics of North America: Volume 1. Conifers. Agriculture Handbook 654. USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC. 675 pp.
- Foti, T., M. Blaney, X. Li, and K. G. Smith. 1994. A classification system for the natural vegetation of Arkansas. Proceedings of the Arkansas Academy of Science 48:50-53.
- GNHP [Georgia Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. Georgia Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle.
- Hop, K., M. Pyne, T. Foti, S. Lubinski, R. White, and J. Dieck. 2012a. National Park Service vegetation inventory program: Buffalo National River, Arkansas. Natural Resource Report NPS/HTLN/NRR--2012/526. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 340 pp.
- McManamay, R. H. 2015. Vegetation mapping at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/SECN/NRR--2015/1088. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 278 pp.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
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- Pyne, M., E. Lunsford Jones, and R. White. 2010. Vascular plant inventory and plant community classification for Mammoth Cave National Park. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 334 pp.
- Schotz, A., H. Summer, and R. White, Jr. 2008. Vascular plant inventory and ecological community classification for Little River Canyon National Preserve. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 244 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- TNHS [Texas Natural History Survey]. No date. Unpublished data. Texas Natural History Survey, The Nature Conservancy, San Antonio.
- White, Jr., R. D. 2004. Vascular plant inventory and plant community classification for Cowpens National Battlefield. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 126 pp.
- White, Jr., R. D. 2005. Vascular plant inventory and plant community classification for Fort Donelson National Battlefield. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 135 pp.
- White, Jr., R. D., and T. Govus. 2005. Vascular plant inventory and plant community classification for Kings Mountain National Military Park. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 178 pp.