Print Report
CEGL004053 Pinus echinata - Quercus stellata - (Quercus marilandica) Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shortleaf Pine - Post Oak - (Blackjack Oak) Forest
Colloquial Name: East Gulf Coastal Plain Shortleaf Pine - Post Oak Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Pinus echinata - Quercus stellata community occurs on dry, acidic, loamy to clayey uplands in the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi, and possibly elsewhere in the region. The dominant trees are Pinus echinata and Quercus stellata. In natural, or well-burned condition, few other tree species are present. The understory tends to be quite open and herb-dominated, and may be quite species-rich.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The canopy of this association is dominated Pinus echinata. The second most important species is often Quercus stellata; few other woody species reach either the subcanopy or overstory (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data). Quercus marilandica can also be present, but this species has heavily declined in the region [see Brewer (2001)]. Understory composition may vary depending upon geographic location, management history, and site factors. Danthonia spicata was the dominant ground cover in at least one example of this community. Coreopsis major is often present (which is lacking from related vegetation in the WGCP (R. Evans pers. obs.). Other species include Pityopsis graminifolia and Vaccinium spp. [see NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data for more information on the floristics of sampled stands and/or consult with Ron Wieland].
Dynamics: It is believed that historically frequent fires may have been an important factor maintaining the open structure of this type. The extent to which the understory would have been graminoid-dominated under such conditions is unknown, but it is believed that most examples would have supported a fairly rich herbaceous layer.
Environmental Description: This community is known to occur on shallow, clayey soils in the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi and may occur on other soils and other parts of the region as well. The amount of clay at these sites can be of natural occurrence or result from erosion and loss of topsoil which exposes the subsurface clay. The predominance of clay contributes to harsh growing conditions for the vegetation; such soils are as likely to experience physiological drought as sandy soils [see Gupta and Larson 1979].
Geographic Range: This type is endemic to the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi; it may occur in adjacent areas of Tennessee and Alabama, and could possibly extend into Louisiana, Georgia, and/or Florida.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, FL?, GA?, MS, TN?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.720797
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.1 White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Shortleaf Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M016 | 1.B.2.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.1.b Shortleaf Pine - Southern Red Oak - Post Oak Forest & Woodland Group | G012 | 1.B.2.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A3270 Shortleaf Pine - Southern Red Oak Upper Coastal Plain Woodland Alliance | A3270 | 1.B.2.Na.1.b |
| Association | CEGL004053 Shortleaf Pine - Post Oak - (Blackjack Oak) Forest | CEGL004053 | 1.B.2.Na.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Brewer, J. S. 2001. Current and presettlement tree species composition of some upland forests in northern Mississippi. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 128(4):332-349.
- Evans, Rob. Personal communication. Regional Ecologist, Plant Conservation Program, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Raleigh, NC.
- Ferguson, E. R. 1958. Age of rough (ground cover) affects shortleaf pine establishment and survival. Journal of Forestry 56:422-423.
- Gupta, S. C., and W. E. Larson. 1979. Estimating soil water retention characteristics from particle size distribution, organic matter content and bulk density. Water Resource Research 15(6):1633-1635.
- MSNHP [Mississippi Natural Heritage Program]. 2006. Ecological communities of Mississippi. Museum of Natural Science, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Jackson, MS. 9 pp.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- 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.