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G021 Fagus grandifolia - Acer saccharum - Quercus spp. Forest Group
Type Concept Sentence: Stands occur throughout the central United States, reaching into southern Canada, on mesic, rich loam soils and are dominated by hardwood species with rich and diverse understories. Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, Quercus rubra, and Tilia americana are the most common canopy species. Due to conversion to agriculture, logging, browsing and grazing, the range of this group has significantly decreased and very few large stands remain.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Beech - Sugar Maple - Oak species Forest Group
Colloquial Name: North-Central Beech - Maple - Basswood Forest
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group covers forests with dense canopies primarily dominated by Acer saccharum. Fagus grandifolia and Tilia americana often can codominate to dominate the canopy. Quercus rubra and Ostrya virginiana are common associates. Understories are rich with diverse herbaceous and shrub species. This group typically occurs on mesic, rich loam soils formed from glacial till or loess parent material. Examples of this group are found throughout the Midwest and southern Ontario ranging from eastern Kansas to northern Minnesota and east to central Ohio and St. Lawrence Lowlands in southern tip of Quebec. The primary natural dynamic affecting this group includes small gap development and replacement due to wind or tree death. However, the greatest impacts on this group are due to conversion to agriculture, logging, browsing, and grazing. Once common in many areas, very few large stands of this group remain intact across its range.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Mostly closed-canopy forests dominated by Acer saccharum with Fagus grandifolia and Tilia americana as likely codominants. Stands have rich, diverse understories and typically occur on mesic, rich loam soils.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This group encompasses the beech-maple and maple-basswood forests of the Midwest. It includes Daubenmire''s (1936) "Big Woods." Boundaries between this group and ~Laurentian-Acadian Hardwood Forest Group (G743)$$ in the Midwest need to be clarified. Additional data from southern Ontario and Quebec are needed to better describe occurrences within that portion of the range of this group.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Mostly closed-canopy forests with rich understory shrub and herb layers.
Floristics: Canopies are characterized by any mixture of Fagus grandifolia, Acer saccharum, Tilia americana, and Quercus rubra. Associates include Ostrya virginiana, Fraxinus americana, Carya cordiformis, Carpinus caroliniana, Acer nigrum, and Prunus serotina. Acer saccharum tends to be the dominant canopy species, although the dominance of Acer saccharum compared to other species can vary across the range of this group based on regional climate and microclimate. Fagus grandifolia can dominate the canopy or codominate with Acer saccharum in parts of the range, especially across Ohio, southern Ontario, and southern Michigan. Understory herbaceous species and shrubs are diverse and rich. Typical species include Anemone quinquefolia, Adiantum pedatum, Arisaema triphyllum, Osmorhiza claytonii, Polygonatum biflorum, Sanicula spp., Asarum canadense, Actaea pachypoda, Caulophyllum, Allium spp., Viola spp., Hepatica nobilis var. acuta, Sanguinaria canadensis, Polygonatum pubescens, Tiarella cordifolia, and Trillium grandiflorum.
Dynamics: Wind and fire can impact this group over long return intervals. Small-gap development and replacement due to tree death is more frequent than more catastrophic fire or wind. The greatest impacts on this group are due to conversion to agriculture, logging, browsing, and grazing.
Environmental Description: Mesic-moist to dry-mesic sites in various landscape settings, often on rolling uplands, valley slopes, and bottoms. These forests tend to occur north of the glacial boundary. Stands typically occur on high-nutrient, rich loam soils formed from glacial till or loess. Soils are generally well-drained with a mesic-moist to dry-mesic moisture regime. Thick layers of humus and leaf litter can occur.
Geographic Range: Across the north temperate region of eastern North America from Minnesota and the Great Lakes south through central Missouri and eastern Kansas and Nebraska and east across southern Canada to central Ohio.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, ON, SD, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.833284
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.5 Central Midwest Mesic Forest Macrogroup | M882 | 1.B.2.Na.5 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.5.b American Beech - Sugar Maple - Oak species Forest Group | G021 | 1.B.2.Na.5.b |
| Alliance | A0220 Sugar Maple - American Basswood - Northern Red Oak Forest Alliance | A0220 | 1.B.2.Na.5.b |
| Alliance | A3226 Sugar Maple - American Beech Forest Alliance | A3226 | 1.B.2.Na.5.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
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