Ecological dynamics

F122XY002KY- Deep Well Drained Limestone Uplands

Communities described in this provisional document reflect plant communities that are likely to be found on these soils and have not been extensively field verified. This PES describes hypotheses based on available data of many different scales and sources and has not been developed utilizing site-specific ecological field monitoring. This PES does not encompass the entire complexity or diversity of these sites. Additional field studies are needed to develop a comprehensive and science-based native plant restoration plan for these soils.

Forest Vegetation as listed in Official Series Descriptions (OSD):
Hagerstown: Native vegetation is mixed hardwoods, including black walnut.
Haggatt: Native vegetation is deciduous hardwood forest (Indiana only)
Knobcreek: Native vegetation is deciduous hardwood forest. (Indiana only)
Lowell: Native forest has upland oaks, hickory, walnut, ash, hackberry, locusts, redbud, and red cedar as the dominant species.

Only two tree species can be selected for entry into the database as dominants; however, multiple tree species may be dominant on these sites and it will vary depending on aspect, soil depth, seed sources, management, and disturbance history.

State 1. Forestland

Phase 1.1: Plant species dominants:
White oak - northern red oak / rusty black haw – eastern redbud / rattlesnake fern - wild yam
(Quercus alba - Quercus rubra / Viburnum rufidulum – Cercis canadensis / Botrychium virginianum - Dioscorea quaternata)

Forests on these limestone-influenced sites are generally mixed oak or oak-hickory. In areas with more topography, the north and east slopes may show an increase in shade tolerant hardwood species such as maples. Understory communities are usually well-developed and contain herbs and forbs that thrive on limestone soils. The shrub layer is usually sparse in older, reference type communities but may be dense in successional stages.

Depending upon external influences such as fire and site management history, tree species may include a variety of oaks, hickories and other hardwoods.

Higher quality understory communities reflect the limestone influence and may include:
twinleaf, false rue anemone, early meadow rue, Dutchman’s breeches, squirrel corn, nodding trillium, shooting star, alumroot, false Solomon’s seal, yellow trout lily, celandine poppy, yellow corydalis, large-flowered bellwort, sessile trillium, blue-eyed Mary, wild yam, jack in the pulpit, smooth Solomon’s seal, avens, glade bluets, beaked agrimony, white snakeroot. (Delphinium tricorne, Jeffersonia diphylla, Enemion biternatum, Thalictrum dioicum, Dicentra cucullaria, Dicentra canadensis, Trillium flexipes, Dodecatheon meadia, Heuchera americana, Maiantheum racemosa, Erythronium americanum, Stylophorum diphyllum, Corydalis flavula, Uvularia grandiflora, Trillium sessile, Collinsia verna, Dioscorea quaternata, Arisaema triphyllum, Geum canadense, Agrimonia rostellata, and Ageratina altissima.)

Field work and site inspections are needed to determine the exact composition and dominance of understory species. Shrubs and vines on these sites may include spicebush, various grapes, Virginia creeper, and poison ivy. (Lindera benzoin, Vitis spp., Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Toxicodendron radicans).

The absence of a natural fire regime and a history of disturbances (logging, grazing, etc.) are influences that will move this community from an old growth mixed-oak or oak-hickory community to a more mesic hardwood community. Long-term lack of a natural fire regime or human disturbances can create a more mesic, shady environment which enhances the reproduction of quick growing, shade-tolerant species such as maples, ashes, etc. and reduces the successful regeneration of oaks and hickories.

This state may in impacted by the invasion of non-native honeysuckle within the understory. Lonicera spp. (usually L. maackii in central Kentucky) alters the native plant communities due to shade and competition. Long-term, multi-year control efforts are required to control this aggressive non-native plant and restore native woodlands.


State: 2. Pasture
Phase 2.1: Managed Pasture. Plant species dominants: Schedonorus arundinaceus (tall fescue)

Pasture plant species are dependent on seeding, weed control, concurrent land uses, on-going levels of disturbance, and landowner goals. Individual site and soil characteristics, along with management activities, will influence production levels.

Many species of grass, both warm and cool season, are available and suitable for these sites. Common forage species include tall fescue, orchard grass, Kentucky bluegrass, Johnson grass, timothy, and various species of clover.

Management of pasture sites should follow conservation planning standards and protocols which include watershed protection, soil health, and adequate forage species.

Transitioning this state to a reference condition would require long-term timber stand improvement practices to control non-native vegetation and manage for desired hardwood species.

State: 3 – Transitional (Abandoned Field)
Phases 3.1: Plant species dominants: Juniperus virginiana/ Rubus spp. - Rosa multiflora/ Vernonia gigantea -Schedonorus arundinaceus
Eastern red cedar /blackberry – multiflora rose/ ironweed- tall fescue

Tree species regeneration on these sites will depend on the severity and duration of disturbance, soil characteristics, adjacent plant communities and seed sources, post-disturbance management inputs, presence or absence of continued site disturbances (grazing), slope, and aspect.

Transitioning this state to a reference condition would require timber stand improvement practices to control non-native vegetation and manage for desired hardwood species.

State 4: Phase 4.1. Abandoned Croplands
Plant species dominant:
henbit deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) – mouse-eared chickweed (Cerastium L. )

Abandonment of cropland would result in many weed species taking over the site. Initially, annual weeds would be predominate followed by grasses, shrubs and finally, pioneers trees.

It would require years of management, plantings, and weed control to establish successional communities that could transition to a reference community.

State 4: Phase 4.1. Abandoned Croplands

Plant species dominant:
henbit deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) – mouse-eared chickweed (Cerastium L. )

Abandonment of cropland would result in many weed species taking over the site. Initially, annual weeds would be predominate followed by grasses, shrubs and finally, pioneers trees.

It would require years of management, plantings, and weed control to establish successional communities that could transition to a reference community.


State: 5: Phase 5.1. Cropland
Dependent upon seeding and management. Most common crops are corn and soybeans.


TO VALIDATE THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROVISIONAL ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION FUTURE FIELD WORK IS NEEDED. This will include field inspection and data collection including medium to high intensity sampling, soil correlations, and analysis of that data.

A final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews of the ESD will be needed to produce a document to be utilized for on-site conservation planning.