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CEGL007231 Quercus alba - Quercus velutina - Carya (ovata, tomentosa) - Pinus sp. Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Oak - Black Oak - (Shagbark Hickory, Mockernut Hickory) - Pine species Forest
Colloquial Name: Southern Appalachian Dry-Mesic White Oak - Hickory Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This dry-mesic upland forest of the southern Appalachians and Cumberland Plateau/Southern Ridge and Valley is dominated by Quercus alba, Quercus velutina, and several Carya spp. (Carya ovata, Carya tomentosa, Carya glabra, Carya pallida) and contains a variable amount of Pinus virginiana or Pinus taeda. Liquidambar styraciflua can also be important in some examples. Several other Quercus spp. may be present in the canopy (Quercus falcata, Quercus stellata, Quercus coccinea, Quercus muehlenbergii, and Quercus rubra). The understory contains Acer rubrum and Oxydendrum arboreum. In the Ridge and Valley of northeastern Monroe County, Tennessee, this type occurs as disturbed stands with sparse shrub and herb strata. At Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park, this association occurs in sheltered locations on a sandstone ridge that forms the structural spine of Moccasin Bend.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Described from Tellico Pilot Project (Ridge and Valley, northeastern Monroe County, Tennessee; 32 stands sampled), where this type occurs as disturbed stands with sparse shrub and herb strata (Andreu and Tukman 1995). Pinus virginiana is included in the name as a placeholder to indicate the relative xeric nature of this forest until more information is available to define understory indicator species. There is a slight possibility that this association may occur in far southwestern Virginia. Related vegetation in Virginia is currently treated as ~Quercus montana - Quercus rubra - Carya ovalis / Carex pensylvanica - (Calamagrostis porteri) Forest (CEGL008516)$$ or ~Quercus alba - Quercus montana - Carya glabra / Cornus florida / Vaccinium pallidum Forest (CEGL008515)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands of this upland forest are dominated by Quercus alba, Quercus velutina, and several Carya spp. (Carya ovata, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Carya glabra, Carya pallida) and can contain a variable amount of Pinus virginiana or Pinus taeda. Several other Quercus spp. may be present in the canopy (Quercus falcata, Quercus stellata, and Quercus coccinea). Liquidambar styraciflua can also be important in some examples. In addition, Pinus strobus may comprise a small part of the canopy (in the Tellico examples). The canopy is generally closed (>75% cover) with gaps resulting from natural disturbance (i.e., mudslides, fire). Other frequently occurring species but in low percent coverage are Liriodendron tulipifera, Carya tomentosa, Quercus stellata, Carya glabra, Quercus coccinea, Acer saccharum, Fraxinus americana, and Pinus echinata. Other canopy species do occur, but less frequently. The subcanopy has a percent cover of less than 40%. Frequently occurring subcanopy species may include Quercus alba, Oxydendrum arboreum, Cornus florida, Fraxinus americana, and Carya glabra. The shrub and herbaceous layers are sparse. The shrub layer will contain small stems of the canopy and subcanopy species and may contain shrubs such as Vaccinium arboreum and Frangula caroliniana. Other species that may be found in the herbaceous layer are Rosa sp., Rubus sp., Verbesina occidentalis, Aureolaria virginica, Chimaphila maculata, Desmodium sp., Pleopeltis polypodioides ssp. polypodioides, Polystichum acrostichoides, and Rudbeckia hirta. Lonicera japonica is an exotic species and, when it was found in this community, it has an average cover of approximately 30%. This may be a problem for the regeneration of these stands.
Dynamics: The presence of Pinus virginiana, Pinus taeda, and Liquidambar styraciflua in the canopy indicates disturbance. Natural disturbances in this area include fire and mudslides. Anthropogenic disturbances include logging and grazing.
Environmental Description: In the Tellico study area, this forest generally occurs on southerly slopes with elevation between 250 and 305 m (820-1000 feet). Topographical position ranges from low slope to high slope. Slopes range from gentle to very steep (0-40+°). Unlike Quercus alba - Quercus rubra communities, these stands are uncommon on the highly dissected knobs. In the remainder of the study area, however, they are common. The dry-mesic nature of these stands probably results from a combination of southerly aspect and dry soil conditions. These communities are associated with a wide variety of soils. Many stands are underlain by soils derived in residuum from calcareous shale and calcareous sandstone of the Middle Ordovician. These soils are slightly to very acidic and well-drained. Soil series of this type are Dandridge (Lithic Ruptic-Alfic Eutrochrepts), Tellico (Typic Rhododults), and Steekee (Ruptic-Ultic Dystrochrepts). These soils are slightly to very acidic and well-drained to very well-drained. Average depth of solum ranges from 43 cm (17 inches) (Dandridge series) to 147 cm (58 inches) (Tellico series). Other soils associated with these stands include Typic Hapludults weather from limestone (Bland series) and Paleudults on terraces and foot slopes formed from colluvium and alluvium (Etowah).
Geographic Range: This community occurs in the Southern Ridge and Valley and Cumberland Plateau province of Tennessee and may occur in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama and Virginia, as well.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL?, GA, KY?, SC?, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685853
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5
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.2 Appalachian-Northeastern Oak - Hardwood - Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M502 | 1.B.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.2.a Chestnut Oak - Hickory species / American Chestnut Forest Group | G015 | 1.B.2.Na.2.a |
| Alliance | A4390 White Oak - Northern Red Oak - Quercus montana Forest Alliance | A4390 | 1.B.2.Na.2.a |
| Association | CEGL007231 White Oak - Black Oak - (Shagbark Hickory, Mockernut Hickory) - Pine species Forest | CEGL007231 | 1.B.2.Na.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus alba - Carya (ovata, tomentosa, glabra) - Pinus virginiana (47) (Andreu and Tukman 1995)
< IA6i. Interior Upland Dry-Mesic Oak - Hickory Forest (Allard 1990)
< White Oak: 53 (Eyre 1980)
< IA6i. Interior Upland Dry-Mesic Oak - Hickory Forest (Allard 1990)
< White Oak: 53 (Eyre 1980)
- 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.
- Andreu, M. G., and M. L. Tukman. 1995. Forest communities of the Tellico Lake Area, East Tennessee. M.F. project report, Duke University, School of the Environment. Durham, NC. 66 pp. plus appendices.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- Fleming, Gary P. Personal communication. Ecologist, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA.
- Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.