Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F115XB036MO
Calcareous Limestone Protected Backslope Forest
Accessed: 11/14/2024
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 115X–Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes
The Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes, Western Part (area outlined in red on the map) consists mainly of the deeply dissected, loess-covered hills bordering the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers as well as the floodplains and terraces of these rivers. It wraps around the northeast corner of the Ozark Uplift, and constitutes the southern border of the Pre-Illinoisan-aged till plain. Elevation ranges from about 320 feet along the Mississippi River near Cape Girardeau in the south to about 1,020 feet on the highest ridges near Hillsboro, MO in the east. Local relief varies from 10 to 20 feet in the major river floodplains, to 50 to 100 feet in the dissected uplands, with bluffs of 200 to 350 feet along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Underlying bedrock is mainly Ordovician-aged dolomite and sandstone, with Mississippian-aged limestone north of the Missouri River.
Classification relationships
Terrestrial Natural Community Type in Missouri (Nelson, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Dry-Mesic Limestone/Dolomite Forest.
Missouri Department of Conservation Forest and Woodland Communities (MDC, 2006):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a White Oak Forest.
National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Quercus muehlenbergii / Cercis canadensis Forest (CEGL002070).
Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002):
This ecological site occurs in the Outer Ozark Border Subsection, in the following Land Type Associations:
Harrisburg Oak Woodland/Forest Hills
Rock Bridge Woodland/Forest Low Karst Hills
Central Missouri Oak Woodland/Forest Hills
Ecological site concept
NOTE: This is a “provisional” Ecological Site Description (ESD) that is under development. It contains basic ecological information that can be used for conservation planning, application and land management. After additional information is collected, analyzed and reviewed, this ESD will be refined and published as “Approved”.
Calcareous Limestone Protected Backslope Forests are within the green areas on the map. They occupy the northerly and easterly aspects of steep, dissected slopes, and are mapped in complex with the Calcareous Limestone Exposed Backslope Woodland ecological site. These sites are in the eastern part of the MLRA, north of the Missouri River. They are closely associated with Limestone/Dolomite Glade ecological sites, often occurring directly downslope. Other close ecological site associates include Chert Limestone/Dolomite woodland and forest sites, and loess woodland sites, which are upslope. Soils are high in bases, and are moderately deep over dolomite or limestone bedrock, with gravelly surfaces. The reference plant community is forest dominated by chinkapin oak and white oak, along with northern red oak, sugar maple, bitternut hickory, white ash, red elm and black walnut, with a well-developed understory and a rich herbaceous ground flora.
Associated sites
R115XB009MO |
Shallow Limestone/Dolomite Upland Glade/Woodland Shallow Limestone/Dolomite Upland Glade/Woodlands are often closely associated with this ecological site. |
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F115XB014MO |
Chert Limestone/Dolomite Protected Backslope Forest Chert Limestone/Dolomite Protected Backslope Forests are generally upslope on northerly and easterly aspects. |
F115XB046MO |
Chert Limestone/Dolomite Exposed Backslope Woodland Chert Limestone/Dolomite Exposed Backslope Woodland are generally upslope on southerly and westerly aspects. |
Similar sites
F115XB014MO |
Chert Limestone/Dolomite Protected Backslope Forest Chert Limestone/Dolomite Protected Backslope Forests are on similar northerly and easterly aspects but are generally more productive. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Quercus alba |
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Shrub |
(1) Cercis canadensis |
Herbaceous |
(1) Maianthemum racemosum |
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