Wet Floodplain Woodland

Description

The reference plant community is categorized as a wet-mesic bottomland oak woodland. The two community phases within the reference state are dependent on seasonal flooding regimes and infrequent fires. The amount of water occurring at flood stages and fire intensity affects species composition, cover, and extent. Windthrow events and pest outbreaks have more localized impacts in the reference phases, but do contribute to overall plant community composition, diversity, cover, and productivity.

Submodel

Description

Overbrowsing by an unnaturally abundant white-tailed deer population (in addition to fire suppression and altered landscape hydrology) can transition the reference state into an over-browsed forest state. Continuous browsing has been reported to prevent the regeneration of the historic dominant canopy, which is replaced by mid-level and invasive species (Rolfsmeier 2007; Gubanyi et al. 2008; VerCauteren and Hygnstrom 2011). Common hackberry has a greater tolerance to deer browsing thus allowing it to dominate the tree canopy under high deer browse conditions. Similarly, as small woody shrubs and plants are continuously browsed, the gaps are replaced by less palatable herbaceous species (Gubanyi et al. 2008).

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 Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), converting the woodland to pasture (Smith 1998). 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 Midwest is well-known for its highly-productive agricultural soils, and as a result, much of the MLRA has been converted to cropland, including portions of this ecological site. The continuous use of tillage, row-crop planting, and chemicals (i.e., herbicides, fertilizers, etc.) have effectively eliminated the reference community and many of its natural ecological functions in favor of crop production. Corn (Zea mays L.) and soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) are the dominant crops for the site. These areas are likely to remain in crop production for the foreseeable future.

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 watershed hydrology, and overabundant deer populations on top of naturally-occurring disturbances (severe weather and native pests) (Flickinger 2010; Heitmeyer et al. 2015). However, these habitats provide multiple ecosystem services including carbon sequestration; clean air and water; soil conservation; biodiversity support; wildlife habitat; 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 Wet Floodplain 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.

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