Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F116AY041MO
Loamy Floodplain Forest
Last updated: 9/24/2020
Accessed: 12/03/2024
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): 116A–Ozark Highland
The Ozark Highland constitutes the Salem Plateau of the Ozark Uplift. Elevation ranges from about 300 feet on the southeast edge of the Ozark escarpment, to about 1,600 feet in the west, adjacent to the Burlington Escarpment of the Springfield Plateau. The underlying bedrock is mainly horizontally bedded Ordovician-aged dolomites and sandstones that dip gently away from the uplift apex in southeast Missouri. Cambrian dolomites are exposed on deeply dissected hillslopes. In some places, Pennsylvanian and Mississipian sediments overlie the plateau. Relief varies, from the gently rolling central plateau areas to deeply dissected hillslopes associated with drainageways such as the Buffalo, Current, Eleven Point and White Rivers.
Classification relationships
Terrestrial Natural Community Type in Missouri (Nelson, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Riverfront Forest.
Missouri Department of Conservation Forest and Woodland Communities (MDC, 2006):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to Riverfront Bottomland Forest.
National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Celtis spp. - Quercus spp. - Platanus occidentalis Bottomland Forest (CEGL002410).
Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002):
This ecological site is widespread across the Ozark Highlands Section.
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”.
Loamy Floodplain Forests are widely distributed throughout the Ozark Highland. Soils are loamy and very deep, and are subject to frequent flooding. The reference plant community is a forest dominated by American elm, hackberry, sycamore, eastern cottonwood, and green ash.
Associated sites
| F116AY011MO |
Chert Upland Woodland Chert Upland Woodlands, and other upland and backslope ecological sites, are upslope. |
|---|---|
| F116AY034MO |
Loamy Terrace Forest Loamy Terrace Forests are upslope. |
| F116AY035MO |
Wet Terrace Forest Wet Terrace Forests are upslope. |
| F116AY039MO |
Loamy Floodplain Step Forest Loamy Floodplain Step Forests are upslope. |
Similar sites
| F116AY034MO |
Loamy Terrace Forest Loamy Terrace Forests are upslope and experience less flooding with shorter durations. |
|---|
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
(1) Ulmus americana |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) Vitis |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Laportea canadensis |
Physiographic features
This site is on floodplains with slopes of 0 to 3 percent. The site receives some runoff from higher floodplains, stream terraces and uplands. This site is subject to frequent flooding.
The following figure (adapted from Skaer, 2004) shows the typical landscape position of this ecological site, and landscape relationships with other ecological sites. It is within the area labeled “5” on the figure, on the low floodplain adjacent to the current stream channel. Terrace ecological sites, labeled “3” and “4”, are often on adjacent, higher landscape positions.
Figure 2. Landscape relationships for this ecological site.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Flood plain
|
|---|---|
| Flooding duration | Brief (2 to 7 days) |
| Flooding frequency | Occasional to frequent |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Slope | 3% |
| Water table depth | 60 in |
| Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
The Ozark Highland has a continental type of climate marked by strong seasonality. In winter, dry-cold air masses, unchallenged by any topographic barriers, periodically swing south from the northern plains and Canada. If they invade reasonably humid air, snowfall and rainfall result. In summer, moist, warm air masses, equally unchallenged by topographic barriers, swing north from the Gulf of Mexico and can produce abundant amounts of rain, either by fronts or by convectional processes. In some summers, high pressure stagnates over the region, creating extended droughty periods. Spring and fall are transitional seasons when abrupt changes in temperature and precipitation may occur due to successive, fast-moving fronts separating contrasting air masses.
The Ozark Highland experiences regional differences in climates, but these differences do not have obvious geographic boundaries. Regional climates grade inconspicuously into each other. The basic gradient for most climatic characteristics is along a line crossing the MLRA from northwest to southeast.
The average annual precipitation in almost all of this area is 38 to 45 inches. Snow falls nearly every winter, but the snow cover lasts for only a few days. The average annual temperature is about 53 to 60 degrees F. The lower temperatures occur at the higher elevations in the western part of the MLRA. Mean January minimum temperature follows a stronger north-to-south gradient. However, mean July maximum temperature shows hardly any geographic variation in the MLRA. Mean July maximum temperatures have a range of only two or three degrees across the area.
Mean annual precipitation varies along a northwest to southeast gradient. Seasonal climatic variations are more complex. Seasonality in precipitation is very pronounced due to strong continental influences. June precipitation, for example, averages three to four times greater than January precipitation. Most of the rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms in summer.
During years when precipitation comes in a fairly normal manner, moisture is stored in the top layers of the soil during the winter and early spring, when evaporation and transpiration are low. During the summer months the loss of water by evaporation and transpiration is high, and if rainfall fails to occur at frequent intervals, drought will result. Drought directly affects plant and animal life by limiting water supplies, especially at times of high temperatures and high evaporation rates.
Superimposed upon the basic MLRA climatic patterns are local topographic influences that create topoclimatic, or microclimatic variations. In regions of appreciable relief, for example, air drainage at nighttime may produce temperatures several degrees lower in valley bottoms than on side slopes. At critical times during the year, this phenomenon may produce later spring or earlier fall freezes in valley bottoms. Deep sinkholes often have a microclimate significantly cooler, moister, and shadier than surrounding surfaces, a phenomenon that may result in a strikingly different ecology. Higher daytime temperatures of bare rock surfaces and higher reflectivity of these unvegetated surfaces may create distinctive environmental niches such as glades and cliffs.
Slope orientation is an important topographic influence on climate. Summits and south-and-west-facing slopes are regularly warmer and drier than adjacent north- and-east-facing slopes. Finally, the climate within a canopied forest is measurably different from the climate of a more open grassland or savanna areas.
Source: University of Missouri Climate Center - http://climate.missouri.edu/climate.php; Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin, United States Department of Agriculture Handbook 296 - http://soils.usda.gov/survey/geography/mlra/
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (characteristic range) | 154-179 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (characteristic range) | 181-202 days |
| Precipitation total (characteristic range) | 46-48 in |
| Frost-free period (actual range) | 150-186 days |
| Freeze-free period (actual range) | 180-216 days |
| Precipitation total (actual range) | 44-49 in |
| Frost-free period (average) | 167 days |
| Freeze-free period (average) | 193 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 47 in |
Figure 3. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 4. Monthly minimum temperature range
Figure 5. Monthly maximum temperature range
Figure 6. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 7. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 8. Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
-
(1) HARDY [USC00033132], Hardy, AR
-
(2) ELDON [USC00232503], Eldon, MO
-
(3) BOLIVAR 1 NE [USC00230789], Bolivar, MO
-
(4) SALEM [USC00237506], Salem, MO
Influencing water features
This ecological site is typically in natural levee positions directly adjacent to a perennial stream. Stream levels typically respond quickly to storm events, especially in watersheds where surface runoff is dominant. Short- to medium- duration flooding is common in many areas, particularly during spring and early summer storm events. Constructed levees, often accompanied by stream channelization, have altered the hydrology and flooding dynamics in many places. Streambeds are typically incised into the surrounding floodplain by as much as 10 feet may be a sign of an alternative state.
Some soils in this ecological site have seasonal water tables below about two feet in the winter and spring, generally receding with the falling river levels in the early summer. The water table has a minimal effect on the vegetative community.
Stream hydrograph drives the inflows and outflows of the RIVERINE class of the Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) classification system (Brinson, 1993). Water moves into floodplain wetlands as surface water during flood stage, or as groundwater exchange from the stream channel to the floodplain during high flow stages. As the flood stage recedes, surface and groundwater return to the channel. The direction of movement is horizontal. The direction is also bi-directional in the lateral axis across the floodplain, but is uni-directional on the longitudinal axis parallel to the valley as water flows downhill along the valley gradient.
Soil features
These soils have no rooting restriction. They were formed under forest vegetation, with periodic depositional flood events. Organic matter content is variable. Parent material is alluvium. They have silt loam or fine sandy loam surface horizons, and loamy subsoils that may be skeletal with depth. Some soils are affected by seasonal wetness, but flooding is the primary ecological determinant. Soil series associated with this site include Dameron, Dapue, Haymond, Huzzah, Jamesfin, Kaintuck, Perche, Sandbur, and Sturkie.
The accompanying picture of the Dameron series shows dark, loamy alluvium, underlain by stratified very gravelly sediments. Picture from Baker (1998).
Figure 9. Dameron series
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Parent material |
(1)
Alluvium
|
|---|---|
| Surface texture |
(1) Silt loam (2) Fine sandy loam |
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
| Drainage class | Somewhat poorly drained to somewhat excessively drained |
| Permeability class | Moderately slow to moderate |
| Soil depth | 72 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 3% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | Not specified |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
5 – 8 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
Not specified |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
2 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
Not specified |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
4.5 – 7.3 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
50% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
10% |
Ecological dynamics
Information contained in this section was developed using historical data, professional experience, field reviews, and scientific studies. The information presented is representative of very complex vegetation communities. Key indicator plants, animals and ecological processes are described to help inform land management decisions. Plant communities will differ across the MLRA because of the naturally occurring variability in weather, soils, and aspect. The Reference Plant Community is not necessarily the management goal. The species lists are representative and are not botanical descriptions of all species occurring, or potentially occurring, on this site. They are not intended to cover every situation or the full range of conditions, species, and responses for the site.
The reference plant community is a forest dominated by an overstory of eastern cottonwood, American elm and hackberry with sycamore, green ash and other early successional species scattered throughout. Occasionally, bur oak, shellbark hickory, black walnut and other hardwood species may occur in later stages of development. Canopy height is normally 85 to 110 feet and canopy closure 80 to 100 percent.
Loamy Floodplain Forests are widely distributed throughout the Ozark Highland. They occur on natural levees and low floodplains that flood frequently. Flooding of these ecological sites commonly occurs annually or at least once every 3 years. Loamy sediments, originating from the loess and weathered residuum in the surrounding uplands, make up a significant portion of the alluvium in these floodplains.
The forest is dominated by flood tolerant, tree species such as elm, hackberry, sycamore, eastern cottonwood and green ash. Young stands of these species tend to stabilize the low floodplain and continue to accumulate loamy materials. Consequently, these developing ecological sites tend to be near even aged. Young stands are often dense with a sparse understory and ground flora.
Over the long term, these floodplains may become elevated and/or isolated and begin to accumulate more fine sediments, becoming more stable and enduring. Oaks, shellbark hickory and black walnut begin to accumulate in these later stages of succession. Catastrophic floods will often partially or completely knock down the earlier species and regenerate this site creating a mosaic of early to late successional floodplain forests.
These sites are very productive. Today most of these ecological sites have been cleared and converted to agriculture. While some cleared fields have retained a narrow strip of forest along the river, other sites are often cleared right up to the bank. In such cases, flooding may cause severe stream bank erosion.
Uncontrolled grazing by domestic livestock in the remaining strips of forest is not uncommon and can cause significant damage, killing trees and removing the ground cover, resulting in further de-stabilization and degradation of this ecological site as well. Carefully planned timber harvests can be tolerated in this system, but high grading of the timber will eventually degrade the ecological site.
Loamy Floodplain Forests, generally occurring as a rather narrow band of forests traversing the river edge, are the most abundant remaining floodplain forest type in the Ozark Highlands. These bands of forest still play an important role as a source of food and shelter for migrating birds and as a source for course woody debris for the adjacent stream systems.
A State and Transition Diagram follows. Detailed descriptions of each state, transition, plant community, and pathway follow the model. This model is based on available experimental research, field observations, professional consensus, and interpretations. It is likely to change as knowledge increases.
State and transition model
Figure 10. State and Transition Model for this ecological site.
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
Ecosystem states
States 2 and 5 (additional transitions)
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 5 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference
The historical reference state for this ecological site was old growth bottomland forest. Natural flooding cycles were the primary processes affecting this ecologic site. The understory was complex, with multiple layers of shade-tolerant species. A highly diverse ground flora was also present. Vines were common and went well into the canopy. Scattered open areas were common. A change to more frequent, higher-intensity floods on the modern landscape creates more frequent canopy gaps, and introduces or helps to maintain more flood-tolerant species such as sycamore, eastern cottonwood, green ash or hackberry. Over the long term, these floodplains may become more elevated and/or isolated and accumulate more fine sediments, becoming more stable and enduring. Oak, shellbark hickory and black walnut begin to accumulate in these later stages of succession. Catastrophic floods will often partially or completely knock down the early species and regenerate this site creating a mosaic of early to late successional floodplain forests.
Community 1.1
American Elm – Hackberry/Grape – American Bladdernut /Canadian Woodnettle – Virginia Wildrye
Figure 11. Reference state phase in Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area, Steelville, MO; photo credit MDC.
Natural flooding cycles were the primary processes affecting this ecologic site. The understory was complex, with multiple layers of shade-tolerant species. A highly diverse ground flora was also present. Vines were common and went well into the canopy. Scattered open areas were common.
Forest overstory. The Overstory Species list is based on field reconnaissance as well as commonly occurring species listed in Nelson 2010; names and symbols are from USDA PLANTS database.
Forest understory. The Understory Species list is based on field reconnaissance as well as commonly occurring species listed in Nelson 2010; names and symbols are from USDA PLANTS database.
Community 1.2
Bur Oak – Hackberry – Shellbark Hickory/Grape – American Bladdernut /Canadian Woodnettle – Virginia Wildrye
Natural flooding cycles were the primary processes affecting this ecologic site. The understory was complex, with multiple layers of shade-tolerant species. A highly diverse ground flora was also present. Vines were common and went well into the canopy. Scattered open areas were common.
Pathway P1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2
Long term succession (+10-30 years); sediment accumulation
Pathway P1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1
Catastrophic flood: blow-downs
State 2
Managed Forest
Where this state exists, it has often been subjected to very selective timber harvests. While these forested areas may resemble the reference state, the diversity of tree species has been selectively (removal of oak and black walnut) altered. Reducing harvests and extending rotations will cause a transition to community phase 2.2. Eliminating harvests, implementing selective thinning, and allowing long tern succession may allow a return to the reference state where hydrologic regimes are least altered.
Community 2.1
Bur Oak-Sycamore/American Bladdernut/Wildrye
Community 2.2
Bur oak-Sycamore-Black Walnut/American Bladdernut/Wildrye
Pathway P2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2
Crop Tree Release; little to no harvesting (10-20 years)
Pathway P2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.1
Uneven-age timber management; harvesting
State 3
Grassland
Many acres of this ecological site have been converted to non-native grasslands of tall fescue and red clover. If the site experiences poor grassland management a shift to community phase 3.2 will occur. This phase has diminished ground cover, reduction in productivity, and an increase in oak sprouting and non-native species invasion. This state frequently transitions to a cropland state especially when commodity prices are high. A return to a near-reference state from this state is not recommended. Transitioning to a Managed Forest state is possible through long-term commitments of time and money.
Community 3.1
Tall Fescue/Red Clover
State 4
High-Graded/Grazed Forest
This state is subjected to uncontrolled grazing and high-graded timber harvests. The grazing will open up the understory and remove much of the diverse ground flora. This can lead to erosion of the topsoil during floods. Grazed units also often undergo timber harvest removing a wide variety of outstanding hardwood trees, further diminishing the structural and compositional diversity. A return to the near-reference state will require a long-term commitment including the elimination of grazing, planting of trees and perhaps shrub and herbaceous species, and very limited targeted timber harvests and thinning.
Community 4.1
Sycamore – Green Ash/Coralberry/ Greenbier – Virginia Wildrye
State 5
Cropland
Some areas of this ecological site have been converted to row crop agriculture. They often transition to a grassland state. A return to the near-reference state is not practical from this state. Transitioning to a Managed Forest state may be possible through long-term commitments of time and money.
Community 5.1
Corn, Soybeans, Wheat
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2
Uneven-age timber management and selective harvesting will result in a transition to community phase 2.1.
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3
Clearing, pasture planting and prescribed grazing will result in a transition to community phase 3.1.
Transition T1C
State 1 to 4
Poorly planned harvests (high-grading) and uncontrolled grazing will result in a transition to community phase 4.1.
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1
This state can be restored to a reference state by modifying or eliminating timber harvests, extending rotations, incorporating selective thinning and allowing long-term succession to occur.
Transition T3A
State 3 to 2
Tree planting, long-term succession (30 to 50 years), forest stand improvement and livestock access control will result in a transition to community phase 2.1.
Transition T3B
State 3 to 5
Removing the grass sod, adding conservation tillage and conservation cropping system will result in a transition to community phase 5.1.
Transition T4C
State 4 to 2
Forest stand improvement and livestock access control will result in a transition to community phase 2.1.
Transition T4A
State 4 to 3
Clearing the timber, adding pasture planting and prescribed grazing will result in a transition to community phase 3.1.
Transition T4B
State 4 to 5
Clearing timber, adding tillage and conservation cropping system will result in a transition to community phase 5.1.
Transition T5B
State 5 to 2
Tree planting, long-term succession (30 to 50 years), forest stand improvement, and livestock access control will result in a transition to community phase 2.1.
Transition T5A
State 5 to 3
Pasture planting and prescribed grazing will result in a transition to community phase 3.1.
Additional community tables
Table 5. Community 1.1 forest overstory composition
| Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Nativity | Height (ft) | Canopy cover (%) | Diameter (in) | Basal area (square ft/acre) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tree
|
|||||||
| slippery elm | ULRU | Ulmus rubra | Native | – | – | – | – |
| American sycamore | PLOC | Platanus occidentalis | Native | – | – | – | – |
| bur oak | QUMA2 | Quercus macrocarpa | Native | – | – | – | – |
| common hackberry | CEOC | Celtis occidentalis | Native | – | – | – | – |
| pawpaw | ASTR | Asimina triloba | Native | – | – | – | – |
| Ohio buckeye | AEGL | Aesculus glabra | Native | – | – | – | – |
| bitternut hickory | CACO15 | Carya cordiformis | Native | – | – | – | – |
| white ash | FRAM2 | Fraxinus americana | Native | – | – | – | – |
| American elm | ULAM | Ulmus americana | Native | – | – | – | – |
| Ohio buckeye | AEGL | Aesculus glabra | Native | – | – | – | – |
| black walnut | JUNI | Juglans nigra | Native | – | – | – | – |
| red mulberry | MORU2 | Morus rubra | Native | – | – | – | – |
| sugarberry | CELA | Celtis laevigata | Native | – | – | – | – |
| shellbark hickory | CALA21 | Carya laciniosa | Native | – | – | – | – |
| eastern cottonwood | PODE3 | Populus deltoides | Native | – | – | – | – |
| green ash | FRPE | Fraxinus pennsylvanica | Native | – | – | – | – |
Table 6. Community 1.1 forest understory composition
| Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Nativity | Height (ft) | Canopy cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/grass-like (Graminoids)
|
||||||
| eastern woodland sedge | CABL | Carex blanda | Native | – | – | |
| Virginia wildrye | ELVI3 | Elymus virginicus | Native | – | – | |
| scouringrush horsetail | EQHY | Equisetum hyemale | Native | – | – | |
| hop sedge | CALU4 | Carex lupulina | Native | – | – | |
| squarrose sedge | CASQ2 | Carex squarrosa | Native | – | – | |
| Canada wildrye | ELCA4 | Elymus canadensis | Native | – | – | |
| Indian woodoats | CHLA5 | Chasmanthium latifolium | Native | – | – | |
|
Forb/Herb
|
||||||
| Canadian woodnettle | LACA3 | Laportea canadensis | Native | – | – | |
| wingstem | VEAL | Verbesina alternifolia | Native | – | – | |
| smallspike false nettle | BOCY | Boehmeria cylindrica | Native | – | – | |
| fewflower ticktrefoil | DEPA7 | Desmodium pauciflorum | Native | – | – | |
| spotted ladysthumb | POPE3 | Polygonum persicaria | Native | – | – | |
| jumpseed | POVI2 | Polygonum virginianum | Native | – | – | |
| bristly buttercup | RAHI | Ranunculus hispidus | Native | – | – | |
| cutleaf coneflower | RULA3 | Rudbeckia laciniata | Native | – | – | |
| Canadian blacksnakeroot | SACA15 | Sanicula canadensis | Native | – | – | |
| bottomland aster | SYON2 | Symphyotrichum ontarionis | Native | – | – | |
| Canadian honewort | CRCA9 | Cryptotaenia canadensis | Native | – | – | |
| American bellflower | CAAM18 | Campanulastrum americanum | Native | – | – | |
| Canadian clearweed | PIPU2 | Pilea pumila | Native | – | – | |
| giant goldenrod | SOGI | Solidago gigantea | Native | – | – | |
| stinging nettle | URDI | Urtica dioica | Native | – | – | |
| pale touch-me-not | IMPA | Impatiens pallida | Native | – | – | |
| Virginia bluebells | MEVI3 | Mertensia virginica | Native | – | – | |
| striped cream violet | VIST3 | Viola striata | Native | – | – | |
| eastern waterleaf | HYVI | Hydrophyllum virginianum | Native | – | – | |
| eastern false rue anemone | ENBI | Enemion biternatum | Native | – | – | |
| evening campion | SINI | Silene nivea | Native | – | – | |
|
Shrub/Subshrub
|
||||||
| northern spicebush | LIBE3 | Lindera benzoin | Native | – | – | |
| coralberry | SYOR | Symphoricarpos orbiculatus | Native | – | – | |
| burningbush | EUAT5 | Euonymus atropurpureus | Native | – | – | |
| American bladdernut | STTR | Staphylea trifolia | Native | – | – | |
|
Tree
|
||||||
| slippery elm | ULRU | Ulmus rubra | Native | – | – | |
| Ohio buckeye | AEGL | Aesculus glabra | Native | – | – | |
| American hornbeam | CACA18 | Carpinus caroliniana | Native | – | – | |
| red mulberry | MORU2 | Morus rubra | Native | – | – | |
|
Vine/Liana
|
||||||
| eastern poison ivy | TORA2 | Toxicodendron radicans | Native | – | – | |
| Virginia creeper | PAQU2 | Parthenocissus quinquefolia | Native | – | – | |
| trumpet creeper | CARA2 | Campsis radicans | Native | – | – | |
| graybark grape | VICI2 | Vitis cinerea | Native | – | – | |
| riverbank grape | VIRI | Vitis riparia | Native | – | – | |
| frost grape | VIVU | Vitis vulpina | Native | – | – | |
| heartleaf peppervine | AMCO2 | Ampelopsis cordata | Native | – | – | |
Interpretations
Animal community
Wildlife (MDC 2006):
Wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and eastern gray squirrel depend on hard and soft mast food sources and are typical upland game species of this type.
Birds associated with mid-successional stages include Whip-poor-will and Wood Thrush while birds associated with late-successional stages include Worm-eating warbler, Whip-poor-will, Great Crested Flycatcher, Ovenbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Wood Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Northern Parula, Louisiana Waterthrush (near streams), and Broad-winged Hawk.
Reptile and amphibian species associated with mature forests include: ringed salamander, spotted salamander, marbled salamander, central newt, long-tailed salamander, dark-sided salamander, southern red-backed salamander, three-toed box turtle, western worm snake, western earth snake, and American toad.
Other information
Forestry (NRCS 200, 2014)
Management: Field measured site index values range from 70 to 105. Timber management opportunities are good to excellent. Create group openings of at least 2 acres. Large clearcuts should be minimized if possible to reduce impacts on wildlife and aesthetics. Uneven-aged management using single tree selection or group selection cuttings of ½ to 1 acre are other options that can be used if clear cutting is not desired or warranted. Harvest methods that leave some mature trees to provide shade and soil protection may be desirable. Maintain adequate riparian buffer areas.
Limitations: Wetness – short duration flooding and/or high water table; Use of equipment may be restricted in spring and other excessively wet periods. Equipment use when wet may compact soil and damage tree roots. Tree planting is difficult during spring flooding periods. Seedling mortality may be high due to excess wetness. Ridging the soil and planting on the ridges may increase survival.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Potential Reference Sites: Loamy Floodplain Forest
Plot HUZZCA04 – Sturkie soil
Located in Huzzah CA, Crawford County, MO
Latitude: 38.022491
Longitude: -91.210663
Plot WOWOCA03 – Sturkie soil
Located in Woodson K. Woods CA, Crawford County, MO
Latitude: 37.970062
Longitude: -91.516806
Plot WOWOCA04 – Sturkie soil
Located in Woodson K. Woods CA, Crawford County, MO
Latitude: 37.965213
Longitude: -91.532164
Plot BISUSP03 - Sturkie soil
Located in Big Sugar Creek SP, McDonald County, MO
Latitude: 36.624269
Longitude: -94.266176
Other references
Anderson, R.C. 1990. The historic role of fire in North American grasslands. Pp. 8-18 in S.L. Collins and L.L. Wallace (eds.). Fire in North American tallgrass prairies. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.
Batek, M.J., A.J. Rebertus, W.A. Schroeder, T.L. Haithcoat, E. Compas, and R.P. Guyette. 1999. Reconstruction of early nineteenth-century vegetation and fire regimes in the Missouri Ozarks. Journal of Biogeography 26:397-412.
Brinson, M.M. 1993. A hydrogeomorphic classification for wetlands. Technical Report WRP-DE-4, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS.
Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. U.S. Dept. of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washington DC.
Harlan, J.D., T.A. Nigh and W.A. Schroeder. 2001. The Missouri original General Land Office survey notes project. University of Missouri, Columbia.
Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), 2006. Missouri Forest and Woodland Community Profiles. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2002. Woodland Suitability Groups. Missouri FOTG, Section II, Soil Interpretations and Reports. 30 pgs.
Natural Resources Conservation Service. Site Index Reports. Accessed May 2014. https://esi.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESI_Forestland/pgFSWelcome.aspx
Nelson, Paul W. 2010. The Terrestrial Natural Communities of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Nigh, Timothy A. and Walter A. Schroeder. 2002. Atlas of Missouri Ecoregions. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Owen, Marc R. and Robert T. Pavlowsky. 2010. Baseflow hydrology and water quality of an Ozarks spring and associated recharge area, southern Missouri, USA. Environ Earth Sci (2011) 64:169–183.
Schoolcraft, H.R. 1821. Journal of a tour into the interior of Missouri and Arkansas from Potosi, or Mine a Burton, in Missouri territory, in a southwest direction, toward the Rocky Mountains: performed in the years 1818 and 1819. Richard Phillips and Company, London.
Skaer, David M. 2004. Soil Survey of Jefferson County, Missouri. U.S. Dept. of Agric. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). 2006. Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 296. 682 pgs.
Contributors
Fred Young
Doug Wallace
Approval
Nels Barrett, 9/24/2020
Acknowledgments
Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Department of Natural Resources personnel provided significant and helpful field and technical support during this project.
Rangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
| Author(s)/participant(s) | |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | |
| Date | 09/06/2022 |
| Approved by | Nels Barrett |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
-
Presence of water flow patterns:
-
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
-
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
-
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
-
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
-
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
-
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
-
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
-
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
-
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
-
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
-
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
-
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
-
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.