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CEGL004642 Quercus lyrata Pond Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Overcup Oak Pond Forest
Colloquial Name: Overcup Oak Pond Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This overcup oak pond forest is found in the south-central United States in southern Missouri and Arkansas. Stands occur in basins of sinkholes or other isolated depressions on uplands. Soils are very poorly drained, and surface water may be present for extended periods of time, rarely becoming dry. Water depth may average close to 0.5 m in depth. Soils may be deep (100 cm or more), consisting of peat or muck, with parent material of peat, muck or alluvium. These forests are Quercus lyrata-dominated and occur in seasonally flooded ponds in upland situations. These ponds may also have Liquidambar styraciflua and Nyssa biflora in the canopy. These canopy species also occur in the shrub layer with Acer rubrum. Herbaceous species, such as Eleocharis obtusa, can be present in the center of the pond, along with hummocks of Sphagnum. When these ponds draw down, leaf litter can comprise 60-70% of the ground cover, with only scattered herbs on the Sphagnum hummocks and at the bases of trees. Small thickets of Smilax rotundifolia occur around the edges of these ponds and on hummocks, with occasional Vaccinium pallidum. Additional species that occur on hummocks and tree bases include Toxicodendron radicans, Asplenium platyneuron, and moss species.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This description is based on an example in the Arkansas Ozarks, at the edge of Quercus lyrata''s range. Similar isolated, upland oak ponds dominated by Quercus lyrata, Quercus phellos, Quercus palustris, or combinations of these three species also occur in the Arkansas Ozarks (at the edge of all three species'' ranges) [see ~Quercus phellos Ozark Pond Forest (CEGL007402)$$ and ~Quercus palustris Pond Forest (CEGL007809)$$]. Dominance by any one species can be related to length of hydroperiod, with Quercus lyrata having the longest, and Quercus palustris the shortest, and with related differences in vascular species richness. However, field application of three separate oak pond associations based on dominance can be problematic. Consideration should be given to creating one or two alliances for oak ponds that each cover large geographic areas (i.e., southern vs. northern), rather than having them split up by dominance. CEGL007809 has a shorter hydroperiod and more diverse vascular flora. For related vegetation in Kentucky, see ~Quercus lyrata - Quercus (palustris, phellos) - Liquidambar styraciflua - (Populus heterophylla) Floodplain Forest (CEGL004421)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: These forests are Quercus lyrata-dominated and occur in seasonally flooded ponds in upland situations. These ponds may also have Liquidambar styraciflua and Nyssa biflora in the canopy. These canopy species also occur in the shrub layer with Acer rubrum. Herbaceous species, such as Eleocharis obtusa, can be present in the center of the pond, along with hummocks of Sphagnum. When these ponds draw down, leaf litter can comprise 60-70% of the ground cover, with only scattered herbs on the Sphagnum hummocks and at the bases of trees. Small thickets of Smilax rotundifolia occur around the edges of these ponds and on hummocks, with occasional Vaccinium pallidum. Additional species that occur on hummocks and tree bases include Toxicodendron radicans, Asplenium platyneuron, and moss species.
Dynamics: Extreme droughts may cause the ponds to go dry for an extended period.
Environmental Description: This community is a small, isolated, upland feature, occurring in basins of sinkholes or other isolated depressions on uplands. Soils are very poorly drained, and surface water may be present for extended periods of time. These small ponds can dry out completely, but can fill again with a single rain event. Water depth may average close to 0.5 m in depth. Soils may be deep (100 cm or more), consisting of peat or muck, with parent material of peat, muck or alluvium (Nelson 1985).
Geographic Range: This overcup oak pond forest is found in the south-central United States in southern Missouri and Arkansas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, MO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684585
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1G3
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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.2 Pin Oak - Green Ash - Blackgum Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M503 | 1.B.3.Na.2 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.2.b Overcup Oak - Post Oak - Blackgum Flatwoods & Pond Forest Group | G654 | 1.B.3.Na.2.b |
| Alliance | A3429 Willow Oak - Overcup Oak - Water Oak Interior Pond Forest Alliance | A3429 | 1.B.3.Na.2.b |
| Association | CEGL004642 Overcup Oak Pond Forest | CEGL004642 | 1.B.3.Na.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus lyrata Pond Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- Chastain, R. A., M.A. Struckhoff, K. W. Grabner, E. D. Stroh, H. He, D. R. Larsen, T. A. Nigh, and J. Drake. 2006. Mapping vegetation communities in Ozark National Scenic Riverways: Final technical report to the National Park Service. Open-File Report 2006-1354. U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA. 90 pp. plus appendices.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Nelson, P. 2010. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Revised edition. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
- Nelson, P. W. 1985. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Jefferson City. 197 pp. Revised edition, 1987.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.