Print Report
CEGL004690 Acer negundo - (Platanus occidentalis, Populus deltoides) Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Box-elder - (American Sycamore, Eastern Cottonwood) Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: Southern Interior Box-elder Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association represents forests on narrow floodplains, along streams and medium-sized rivers and Tennessee Valley Authority impoundments in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Arkansas, where Acer negundo dominates, possibly with emergent Platanus occidentalis and/or Populus deltoides. It explicitly covers Acer negundo-dominated vegetation of streams, as opposed to ~Acer negundo Ruderal Floodplain Forest (CEGL005033)$$, a type of larger rivers which has a greater documented distribution. This association (CEGL004690) covers smaller areas and may have a greater transition zone to other communities and consequently higher diversity. More information is needed on species composition and dynamics of this association in order to better distinguish it from CEGL005033. Composition is variable. In central Kentucky, a simple strip of Acer negundo and Platanus occidentalis, plus Ulmus americana, etc., is common along all medium-sized streams, with almost no Acer saccharinum or Populus deltoides.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: More information is needed on species composition and environmental variables to better distinguish this type (CEGL004690) and ~Acer negundo Ruderal Floodplain Forest (CEGL005033)$$. Tom Foti (pers. comm.) states that the small stream Acer negundo type (CEGL004690) covers small areas and may have a greater transition zone to other communities and consequently higher diversity. In contrast, the big river Acer negundo type (CEGL005033) can cover hundreds of acres with relatively little ecotone and may consist of pure Acer negundo. In central Kentucky, a simple strip of Acer negundo and Platanus occidentalis, plus Ulmus americana, etc., is common along all medium-sized streams, with almost no Acer saccharinum or Populus deltoides (J. Campbell pers. comm.). Most Natural Heritage programs do not track this successional type, and relatively little information is available on its detailed composition and dynamics. Its apparently limited range may simply be due to its failure to be distinguished from the big river type or from other small stream floodplain associations. In Virginia, related vegetation is treated as ~Acer negundo Ruderal Floodplain Forest (CEGL005033)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands are dominated by Acer negundo, possibly with emergent Platanus occidentalis and/or Populus deltoides. In addition, Ulmus americana may also be a canopy component in Kentucky, and Acer saccharinum and Populus deltoides will typically be lacking (J. Campbell pers. comm.). More information is needed on species composition, variation, and dynamics of this association in order to better distinguish it from ~Acer negundo Ruderal Floodplain Forest (CEGL005033)$$, a type of larger rivers which has a greater documented distribution.
Dynamics: This association covers smaller areas and may have a greater transition zone to other communities and consequently higher diversity (T. Foti pers. comm.). In central Kentucky, a simple strip of Acer negundo and Platanus occidentalis, plus Ulmus americana, etc., is common along all medium-sized streams, with almost no Acer saccharinum or Populus deltoides (J. Campbell pers. comm.). Decline of this type has been moderate, primarily caused by disruption of the flooding regime by impoundments or by water withdrawals and interbasin transfers. Natural disturbance includes temporary flooding. Understory dominance by non-native plants Ligustrum sinense, Maclura pomifera, and Microstegium vimineum was documented in middle Tennessee.
Environmental Description: Stands occur on floodplains of streams and medium-sized rivers. They are typically temporarily flooded in the spring.
Geographic Range: This Acer negundo small stream floodplain forest is best documented in central Kentucky; its full distribution is not known. It presumably occurs in Tennessee and is reported from Alabama and Arkansas. It could be found sporadically on small stream floodplains in the southern, eastern, and midwestern United States throughout the range of Acer negundo. The actual range of the type is probably greater than the data indicate. Many states do not track this vegetation as it is early-successional. It may not be adequately distinguished in the data or the literature from the related CEGL005033, a type of larger rivers.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, KY, MS, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688159
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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.1 Silver Maple - American Sycamore - Hackberry species Floodplain Forest Macrogroup | M029 | 1.B.3.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.1.b <i>Acer saccharinum - Platanus occidentalis - Liquidambar styraciflua</i> Floodplain Forest Group | G673 | 1.B.3.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A3700 Green Ash - American Sycamore - Silver Maple Ozark-Ouachita Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3700 | 1.B.3.Na.1.b |
| Association | CEGL004690 Box-elder - (American Sycamore, Eastern Cottonwood) Floodplain Forest | CEGL004690 | 1.B.3.Na.1.b |
Concept Lineage: This association was split from a type defined for the Great Plains of Oklahoma and Texas, with the same nominals, see CEGL002095 (Nashville, Cumberland Plateau meeting).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Campbell, Julian J. N. Personal communication. Kentucky Field Office, The Nature Conservancy.
- Evans, M., B. Yahn, and M. Hines. 2009. Natural communities of Kentucky 2009. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, KY. 22 pp.
- Foti, Tom. Personal communication. Ecologist [retired]. Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Little Rock.
- 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.
- Nordman, C. 2004a. Vascular plant community classification for Stones River National Battlefield. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 64 pp. plus appendices and CD.
- Nordman, C., M. Russo, and L. Smart. 2011. Vegetation types of the Natchez Trace Parkway, based on the U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe Central Databases (International Ecological Classification Standard: Terrestrial Ecological Classifications). Arlington, VA. Data current as of 11 April 2011. 548 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.