Print Report
A0620 Quercus macrocarpa Central Tallgrass Woodland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is widespread in the central tallgrass region on mesic or dry-mesic sites with an open to moderately closed tree canopy dominated by Quercus macrocarpa.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bur Oak Central Tallgrass Woodland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Great Plains Bur Oak Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: The canopy of this alliance is open to moderately closed and usually dominated by Quercus macrocarpa. Common associates in the canopy are Quercus muehlenbergii in the southeast portion, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Tilia americana, and Populus tremuloides in the northern half, and Carya spp. and Ulmus spp. in the eastern part of the alliance''s range. A shrub layer 1-2 m tall is often present, especially in the northern half of the range of this alliance. Dominant shrubs include Amelanchier alnifolia, Corylus americana, Corylus cornuta, Prunus virginiana, and Symphoricarpos occidentalis. The herbaceous layer is dominated by graminoids. These can range from tall grasses, such as Andropogon gerardii, Panicum virgatum, and Sorghastrum nutans, to mid grasses, such as Schizachyrium scoparium and Hesperostipa spartea, to short graminoids, such as Carex inops ssp. heliophila. This alliance is found in a landscape dominated by tallgrass prairie communitiesThese topographic positions provided some protection from the fires that regularly occurred on the surrounding prairies in pre-European times. However, some fire was necessary to prevent the woodland physiognomy from closing and becoming a forest.. In Nebraska, the soils are fertile, moderately well-drained to well-drained, and deep. All of its associations are found in the midwestern United States west of the Mississippi River.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Quercus macrocarpa- or Quercus muehlenbergii-dominated woodlands in the central tallgrass region with shrubs or prairie grasses predominant in the understory.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: There are currently three alliances in the Great Plains dominated by Quercus macrocarpa. This alliance has a woodland canopy and stands have an understory reflecting tallgrass prairies. There are two physiognomic types in this alliance: those with a shrubby understory and those with a mixedgrass understory. These are currently grouped into one alliance See also ~Quercus macrocarpa / Mixedgrass Woodland Alliance (A1505)$$ which is a drier mixedgrass prairie alliance. In the northern Great Plains, this alliance can be similar to stands in ~Northeastern Great Plains Aspen Woodland Group (G146)$$
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance has an open to moderately closed tree canopy. The shrub layer can be nearly absent to dense. Graminoids 1-2 m tall dominate the moderate to dense herbaceous layer.
Floristics: The canopy is open to moderately closed and usually dominated by Quercus macrocarpa. Common associates in the canopy are Quercus muehlenbergii in the southeastern portion, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Tilia americana, and Populus tremuloides in the northern half, and Carya spp. and Ulmus spp. in the eastern part of the alliance''s range. P A shrub layer 1-2 m tall is often present, especially in the northern half of the range of this alliance. Dominant shrubs include Amelanchier alnifolia, Corylus americana, Corylus cornuta, Prunus virginiana, and Symphoricarpos occidentalis. The herbaceous layer is dominated by tall graminoids. These can range from tall grasses, such as Andropogon gerardii, Panicum virgatum, and Sorghastrum nutans, to mid grasses, such as Schizachyrium scoparium and Hesperostipa spartea (= Stipa spartea).
Dynamics: The topographic positions where this alliance occurs provide some protection from the fires that regularly occurred on the surrounding prairies in pre-European times. However, some fire was necessary to prevent the woodland physiognomy from closing and becoming a forest (Abrams 1985, MNNHP 1993).
n similar prairie woodlands, cattle and bison use them for forage, shelter and shade. Damage to trees and undergrowth from rubbing and trampling occurs. Grazing can also cause changes in floristic composition.
n similar prairie woodlands, cattle and bison use them for forage, shelter and shade. Damage to trees and undergrowth from rubbing and trampling occurs. Grazing can also cause changes in floristic composition.
Environmental Description: This woodland alliance is found in a landscape dominated by tallgrass prairie communities. It occurs in topographic positions that provided some protection from the fires that regularly occurred on the surrounding prairies in pre-European times. However, some fire was necessary to prevent the woodland physiognomy from closing and becoming a forest (Abrams 1985, MNNHP 1993). In Nebraska, the soils are fertile, moderately well-drained to well-drained, and deep (Rolfsmeier and Steinauer 2010).
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs across the central tallgrass prairie region from Nebraska and Kansas to western Iowa, western Missouri, and eastern Oklahoma. It may extend into northern Oklahoma.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: IA, KS, MB?, MO, NE, OK, SD?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899004
Confidence Level: Low
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.4 White Oak - Bur Oak - Shagbark Hickory Forest, Woodland & Savanna Macrogroup | M012 | 1.B.2.Na.4 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.4.b North-Central Oak - Hickory Forest & Woodland Group | G649 | 1.B.2.Na.4.b |
| Alliance | A0620 Bur Oak Central Tallgrass Woodland Alliance | A0620 | 1.B.2.Na.4.b |
| Association | CEGL002052 Bur Oak / Big Bluestem - Switchgrass Woodland | CEGL002052 | 1.B.2.Na.4.b |
| Association | CEGL002053 Bur Oak / Big Bluestem - Porcupine Grass Woodland | CEGL002053 | 1.B.2.Na.4.b |
| Association | CEGL002072 Bur Oak / Roughleaf Dogwood / Wild Sarsaparilla Forest | CEGL002072 | 1.B.2.Na.4.b |
| Association | CEGL002145 Chinquapin Oak - Bur Oak / Big Bluestem Ravine Woodland | CEGL002145 | 1.B.2.Na.4.b |
Concept Lineage: Equals old A.620 except removed one association - CEGL002139.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Bur Oak: 42 (Eyre 1980)
< Mesic Bur Oak Forest and Woodland (Rolfsmeier and Steinauer 2010) [includes A0620 and A0245.]
< Mesic Bur Oak Forest and Woodland (Rolfsmeier and Steinauer 2010) [includes A0620 and A0245.]
- Abrams, M. D. 1985. Fire history of oak gallery forests in a northeast Kansas tallgrass prairie. The American Midland Naturalist 114(1):188-191.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Hoagland, Bruce W. Personal communication. Ecologist, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, University of Oklahoma, Norman.
- MNNHP [Minnesota Natural Heritage Program]. 1993. Minnesota''s native vegetation: A key to natural communities. Version 1.5. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, St. Paul, MN. 110 pp.
- Rolfsmeier, S. B., and G. Steinauer. 2010. Terrestrial ecological systems and natural communities of Nebraska (Version IV - March 9, 2010). Nebraska Natural Heritage Program, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Lincoln, NE. 228 pp.