Calcareous Loess Exposed Backslope Woodland

Description

The reference plant community is categorized as a dry oak-hickory woodland. The two community phases within the reference state are dependent on a fire frequency of every one to ten years. Shorter fire intervals maintain dominance by bur oaks, while less frequent intervals allow other oak species and hickories to increase their dominance. Drought, ice storm, periodic insect defoliation, and native grazing disturbances have less impact in the reference phases, but do contribute to overall species composition, diversity, cover, and productivity.

Submodel

Description

Fire suppression can transition the reference oak-hickory open woodland community into a closed-canopy forest state. This state is evidenced by an overstocked and overgrown canopy that exceeds 80 percent cover with a sparse herbaceous understory. Bur oak recruitment is suppressed as a result of the shaded conditions (LANDFIRE 2009; Nelson 2010). Non-native invasive species can readily colonize these sites including garlic mustard, common buckthorn, multiflora rose, tree of heaven, and oriental bittersweet (LANDFIRE 2009; Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2010).

Submodel

Description

The cool-season pasture state occurs when the reference state has been anthropogenically-altered for livestock production. Early settlers harvested the trees for timber and fuel and seeded such non-native cool-season species as smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), converting the woodland to pasture (Smith 1998; IDNR 2013). Over time, as lands were continually grazed by large herds of cattle, the non-native species were able to spread and expand across the site, reducing the native species diversity.

Submodel

Description

The combination of natural and anthropogenic disturbances occurring today has resulted in a number of forest health issues, and restoration back to the historic reference condition is likely not possible. Woodlands and forests are being stressed by non-native diseases and pests, habitat fragmentation, permanent changes in soil hydrology, past uncontrolled livestock grazing, and overabundant deer populations on top of naturally-occurring disturbances (severe weather and native pests) (Flickinger 2010). However, these habitats provide multiple ecosystem services including carbon sequestration; clean air and water; soil conservation; wildlife habitat; biodiversity support; timber, fiber, and fuel products; as well as a variety of cultural activities (e.g., hiking, camping, hunting) (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005; Flickinger 2010). Therefore, conservation of forests and woodlands should still be pursued. Woodland reconstructions are an important tool for repairing natural ecological functioning and providing habitat protection for numerous species of Calcareous Loess Exposed Backslope Woodlands. Therefore ecological restoration should aim to aid the recovery of degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems. A successful restoration will have the ability to structurally and functionally sustain itself, demonstrate resilience to the ranges of stress and disturbance, and create and maintain positive biotic and abiotic interactions (SER 2002). The reconstructed woodland state is the result of a long-term commitment involving a multi-step, adaptive management process.

Submodel