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.

MLRA notes

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 120C–Kentucky and Indiana Sandstone and Shale Hills and Valleys, Northeastern Part

120C—Kentucky and Indiana Sandstone and Shale Hills and Valleys, Northeastern Part
This area is entirely in Indiana and makes up about 1,050 square miles (2,725 square kilometers). Physiography: This area is in the Highland Rim Section of the Interior Low Plateaus Province of the Interior Plains. Both large and small tributaries of the Ohio River and the East Fork of the White River dissect the nearly level to very steep uplands in the area. The major streams and rivers have well defined valleys with broad flood plains and numerous stream terraces. The flood plains along the smaller streams are narrow. Summits are narrow and are nearly level to gently sloping. Geology: The geologic materials in this area are of Early and Middle Pennsylvanian and Late Mississippian age. The rocks consist mainly of flat-lying, interbedded sandstone, shale, coal, and siltstone with minor areas of limestone. Bedrock outcrops are common on the bluffs along the Ohio River and its major tributaries. The surficial geologic materials consist mainly of a layer of loess, typically less than 3.5 feet (1 meter) thick, on the less eroded parts of the landscape and stratified sediments of Pleistocene age along the Ohio River and its tributaries. Unconsolidated alluvium is deposited in the river valleys.
Soils: The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Alfisols, Ultisols, and Inceptisols. The soils in the area have a mesic soil temperature regime, an udic or aquic soil moisture regime, and dominantly mixed mineralogy. They formed dominantly in loess and in residuum derived from siltstone and shale. They range from moderately deep to very deep and from somewhat poorly drained to well drained and are loamy, silty, or clayey. Fragiudults (Spickert and Tilsit series) and Hapludults (Wrays series) are the dominant soils on ridgetops and the upper parts of hills and knobs. Halpudalfs (Kurtz series), Hapludults (Gilwood and Gnawbone series), and Dystrudepts (Brownstown series) are on moderately sloping to very steep side slopes. Hapludalfs (Coolville, Rarden, Stonehead, and Wellrock series) are on the gently sloping to moderately steep lower parts of side slopes. Hapludalfs (Elkinsville series), Fragiudalfs (Pekin series), and Fragiaqualfs (Bartle series) are on stream terraces. Dystrudepts (Beanblossom, Cuba, and Steff series) and Endoaquepts (Stendal series) are on flood plains.

Classification relationships

Field inspections are needed to accurately identify the components of this community. Due to the low available water and shallow soils, productivity is low and species would be those able to withstand droughty conditions.

QUERCUS STELLATA, QUERCUS MARILANDICA) / SCHIZACHYRIUM SCOPARIUM WOODED HERBACEOUS
ALLIANCE (V.A.6.N.q)

possible Associations:
Quercus stellata - Quercus marilandica / Schizachyrium scoparium - Silphium terebinthinaceum
Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation
Post Oak - Blackjack Oak / Little Bluestem - Prairie-dock Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation
Post Oak Chert Barrens CEGL005134

Quercus marilandica - (Juniperus virginiana) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Danthonia spicata
Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation

Blackjack Oak - (Eastern Red-cedar) / Little Bluestem - Poverty Oatgrass Wooded Herbaceous
Vegetation, Central Shale Glade CEGL002428

Ecological site concept

The Shallow Loamy Skeletal Uplands are located on shallow, loamy , skelatl soils found on hills. Representative soils include: Cincinnati.

These sites are limited in size and most commonly found on south facing slopes. Trees on site are usually small, scattered or in patches, and species may vary. Quercus marilandica, Quercus stellata, Quercus prinus, Pinus virginiana, and Juniperus virginiana may occur. The shrub layer will be sparse but may include Smilax spp. and Vaccinium spp.
The understory will consist of drought tolerant species.

Forest (phases influences by aspect and topography):

State 1, Phase 1.1. post oak (Quercus stellata) -blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) / / poverty oat grass (Danthonia spicata) - little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

These sites have low available water and shallow soils. Trees are stunted and understory sparse. Field work is needed to identify the location of these sites and correlate accurately to soil mapping.

Pasture:
State 2, Phase 2.1: Schedonorus arundinaceus (tall fescue). Species present would be dependent upon seeding and management.

Transitional (abandoned) field.
State 3, Phase 3.1: eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) / greenbrier (Smilax spp.)/ broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon virginicus) – tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus)

This phase is best described as an old field habitat with a mixture of native and introduced grasses and a variety of native and non-native herbs, forbs, seedlings, and saplings. Species present would depend on adjacent seed sources and the presence of on-going disturbances such as grazing, mowing, etc.

Due to low available water, cropland was not included as a major state in this ecological model.

Associated sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species