Interbedded Sedimentary Upland Woodland

Description

The reference plant community is woodland dominated by an overstory of white oak and black oak. This woodland type has a moderate canopy closure (50 to 80 percent), with an open understory and a dense, diverse herbaceous ground flora. Historically, white oak dominated the canopy, along with black oak and occasional hickories, bur oak and post oak. Woodlands are distinguished from forest, by their relatively open understory, and the presence of sun-loving ground flora species including the dominant prairie grasses. Characteristic plants in the ground flora can be used to gauge the restoration potential of a stand along with remnant open-grown old-age trees, and tree height growth.

Submodel

Description

These woodlands tend to be rather dense, with a sparse understory and ground flora. Thinning can increase overall tree vigor and improve understory diversity. However, in the absence of fire, the diversity and cover of the ground flora is diminished. Continual timber management, depending on the practices used, will either maintain this state, or convert the site to uneven-age (State 3) woodlands.

Submodel

Description

Uneven-Age Managed Woodlands resemble their reference state. The biggest difference is tree age, most being only 60 to 90 years old. Composition is also likely altered from the reference state depending on tree selection during harvest. In addition, without a regular 15 to 20 year harvest re-entry into these stands, they will slowly increase in more shade tolerant species and white oak will become less dominant. Uneven Age Managed Woodland is also dense because of fire suppression. Without periodic canopy disturbance, stem density and fire intolerant species, like hickory, will increase in abundance.

Submodel

Description

The Managed Silvopasture state results from managing woodland communities (States 2 or 3) with prescribed fire, canopy thinning, and controlled grazing. This state can resemble the reference state, but with younger maximum tree ages, more open canopies and lower ground flora diversity. Sensation of grazing and controlled harvesting will allow transition to various managed woodland states.

Submodel

Description

Conversion of woodlands to planted, non-native grassland species such as tall fescue has been common for this region. Steep slopes, surface fragments, low organic matter contents and soil acidity make grasslands harder to maintain in a healthy, productive state on this ecological site.

Two community phases are recognized in the Grassland state, with shifts between phases based on types of management. Poor management will result in a shift to community 5.1A that shows an increase in oak sprouting and increases in broomsedge densities. If grazing and active pasture management is discontinued, the site will eventually transition to State 2 from this phase.

Submodel

Description

States that were subjected to repeated, high-grading timber harvests and uncontrolled domestic grazing transitioned to a High-Graded, Grazed Woodland state. This state exhibits an over-abundance of hickory and other less desirable tree species, and weedy understory species such as buckbrush, gooseberry, poison ivy and Virginia creeper. The existing vegetation offers little nutritional value for cattle, and excessive cattle stocking damages tree boles, degrades understory species composition and results in soil compaction and accelerated erosion and runoff.

Two common transitions from this state are woody clearing and conversion to State 5, Grassland or removing livestock, limited harvesting, and allowing long term succession to occur to some other woodland state.

Submodel