Print Report

CEGL006111 Quercus ilicifolia - Quercus prinoides Scrub

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bear Oak - Dwarf Chinkapin Oak Scrub

Colloquial Name: Outwash Bear Oak Barrens

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association comprises scrub oak barrens that form within a mosaic of pitch pine-scrub oak barrens along the North Atlantic Coast and inland on sandy outwash plains. It occurs on sandy, drought-prone soils of glacial outwash plains in low "frost pocket" depressions on the landscape or where there are frequent fire-return intervals (<5 years). The shrubland is strongly dominated by Quercus ilicifolia, although it can be codominated by Quercus prinoides. Pinus rigida can form a scattered tree layer, but with low cover (<10% cover). Additional shrub associates that occur in low abundance include Rosa carolina, Rosa virginiana, Morella pensylvanica, and Viburnum dentatum. Betula populifolia can be an important associate northwards. Shrub cover can vary from 30-100%. Vines are common, especially Smilax rotundifolia and Smilax glauca, and can form locally dense thickets. Low shrub and herbaceous cover is inversely proportional to shrub cover, with greater herb cover occurring where shrub cover is less. Dwarf-shrubs include Gaylussacia baccata, Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium pallidum, and Kalmia angustifolia. Herbaceous species commonly include Schizachyrium scoparium, Deschampsia flexuosa, Piptochaetium avenaceum, Carex pensylvanica, and Carex swanii. Lichens can be locally common, especially Cladonia species.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: In New Jersey, this vegetation arises from disturbance.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This shrubland is dominated by Quercus ilicifolia. Quercus prinoides is a common associate that can codominate in some stands. Scattered Pinus rigida can occur, but generally at less than 10% cover. Additional shrub associates that occur in low abundance include Rosa carolina, Rosa virginiana, Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica), and Viburnum dentatum. Shrub cover can vary from 30-100%. Vines are common, especially Smilax rotundifolia and Smilax glauca, and can form locally dense thickets. Low-shrub and herbaceous cover is inversely proportional to shrub cover, with greater herb cover occurring where shrub cover is less. Dwarf-shrubs include Gaylussacia baccata, Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium pallidum, and Kalmia angustifolia. Herbaceous species commonly include Schizachyrium scoparium, Deschampsia flexuosa, Piptochaetium avenaceum (= Stipa avenacea), Carex pensylvanica, and Carex swanii. Lichens can be locally common, especially Cladonia species.

Dynamics:  Scrub oak shrublands occur in a mosaic with pitch pine-scrub oak barrens, often occurring in "frost pockets," small-patch, dry, ice-block depressions within sandplains that receive cold-air drainage. Quercus ilicifolia grows best in full sun; it declines when shaded. It sprouts vigorously after fire with seedling establishment occurring exclusively in post-fire conditions. Patches of scrub oak barrens form where there are fire-return intervals of less than 5 years or greater than 40 years; Pinus rigida does not tend to resprout if top-killed at 20-40 years of age (Jordan 1999).
Environmental Description:  This association occurs on drought-prone soils of sandy outwash plains with frequent fire-return intervals or in small depressional "frost pockets" on the landscape that trap cold air.
Geographic Range: This association occurs near the North Atlantic Coast from Maine to New Jersey, and inland to the pine barrens of New York.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation F005 2.B.4
Division 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division D026 2.B.4.Na
Macrogroup 2.B.4.Na.2 American Beachgrass - Sea-oats - Seaside Goldenrod Dune & Grassland Macrogroup M057 2.B.4.Na.2
Group 2.B.4.Na.2.e Bear Oak - Sheep Laurel - Kinnikinnick Sand Barrens Group G063 2.B.4.Na.2.e
Alliance A3911 Bear Oak Sand Barrens Scrub Alliance A3911 2.B.4.Na.2.e
Association CEGL006111 Bear Oak - Dwarf Chinkapin Oak Scrub CEGL006111 2.B.4.Na.2.e
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Scrub Oak Community (Motzkin et al. 2002)
? Scrub Oak Shrubland Community (Lundgren 2000)
? Scrub oak shrubland (Jordan 1999)
Concept Author(s): S.L. Neid

Author of Description: S.L. Neid and S.C. Gawler

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-26-11
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  • Clark, W. S., Jr. 1946. Effect of low temperatures on the vegetation of the barrens in central Pennsylvania. Ecology 27:188-189.
  • Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
  • Edinger, G. J., D. J. Evans, S. Gebauer, T. G. Howard, D. M. Hunt, and A. M. Olivero, editors. 2014a. Ecological communities of New York state. Second edition. A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke''s ecological communities of New York state. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
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  • Motzkin, G., and D. R. Foster. 2002. Grasslands, heathlands and shrublands in coastal New England: Historical interpretations and approaches to conservation. Journal of Biogeography 29:1569-1590. [http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/sites/harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/files/publications/pdfs/Motzkin_JBiogeography_2002_Grasslands.pdf]
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