Ecological dynamics
[Caveat: The vegetation information contained in this section is only provisional, based on concepts, not yet validated with field work.*]
The vegetation groupings described in this section are based on the terrestrial ecological system classification and vegetation associations developed by NatureServe (Comer et al., 2003). Terrestrial ecological SYSTEMS are specifically defined as a group of plant community types called ASSOCIATIONS that tend to co-occur within landscapes with similar ecological processes, substrates, and/or environmental gradients. They are intended to provide a classification unit that is readily mappable, often from terrain and remote imagery, and readily identifiable by conservation and resource managers in the field. A given system will typically manifest itself in a landscape at intermediate geographic scales of tens-to-thousands of hectares and will persist for 50 or more years. A vegetation association is a plant community that is much more specific to a given soil, geology, landform, climate, hydrology, and disturbance history. It is the basic unit for vegetation classification and recognized by the US National Vegetation Classification (FDGC, 2008; USNVC, 2017). Each association will be named by the diagnostic and often dominant species that occupy the different height strata (represented by tree, shrub, and herb layers). Within the NatureServe Explorer database, ecological systems are numbered by a community Ecological System Code (CES) and individual vegetation associations are assigned an identification number called a Community Element Global Code (CEGL).
Additional and more localized vegetation information can be provided by the various State Heritage Programs. Additional insights to the vegetation were provided by Plant Communities of Ohio: A Preliminary Classification (Anderson, 1982).
Due to a long history of human activity, the reference condition more accurately reflects the current naturalized, minimally-managed state rather than the historic, pre-European settlement condition. Terraces and plains of the unglaciated, Western Alleghany Plateau are variable, with some sites derived from old alluvium derived from sandstone and siltstone, and other sites derived from eolian sands, and still other sites from glacial outwash.
The vegetation of the Fine Terrace and Plain ecological site is quite varied and can be dominated by oak-maple-tuliptree, with other co-associates like American beech, white ash, basswood, yellow buckeye and sporadically eastern hemlock. Within the reference state, the plant associations are predominately part of the South Central Interior Mesophytic Forest system (CES202.887) and to a lessor degree the Central Appalachian Dry Oak-Pine Forest system (CES202.591) (NatureServe 2020). Besides the mature plant community-types listed here, other spontaneous, successional plant community-types that exist following disturbance or management are normally considered phases of the minimally managed Reference State. However, if dominated by non-native plant, the altered plant community-type would be considered belonging to the Semi-Natural State.
Agents-of-change within any ecological site include both natural and anthropogenic stressors. Canopy disturbances such as fire, wind, and ice storms, will tend to favor oaks and pines. (Lafon et al., 2017). Conversely, fire suppression, a changing climate, and natural forest succession effect mesophication, a trend toward more shade tolerant species, e.g., white ash, sugar maple, red maple, American beech. (Nowacki et al., 2008). However, site conditions do influence the degree of mesophication. Within the the Fine Terrace and Plain ecological site, mesophication is more pronounced in more common mesic conditions, while more subdued on less common xeric conditions. Where deer densities are high, deer browse has a pronounced effect on plant regeneration, structure, and species diversity. However, deer browse can vary across the landscape (Royo et al., 2017). Currently, deer browsing pressure in southeastern Ohio is relatively low (Apsley and McCarthy, 2004). Invasive and incursive plants can directly affect forest ecosystems in many ways; through direct competition for resources, alter fire or hydrologic conditions and affect species diversity. Insect pests and diseases such as the Gypsy moth, oak decline and armillaria root rot can cause reduced productivity and mortality in target oak species (Butler et al., 2015). With increasing moisture stress and drought, beech bark disease may increase. (Butler et al., 2015). Within the unglaciated Western Alleghany Plateau, most of the hills remain forested, with some agriculture on lands flat enough to support it. Agriculture and residential development are concentrated in the valleys. Surface mining for coal affects land and water to varying degrees (Ohio Div. of Wildlife, 2015; USDA-NRCS, 2006).
Other ecological states, a Semi-natural State and a Cultural State are recognized. The Semi-natural State would expect plant communities where ecological processes primarily operate with some conditioning by land management, e.g., managed forests, or plant communities that are an artifact of land management e.g., predominately invasive plants. The Cultural State is a completely converted or transformed state; heavily or completely conditioned by land management, e.g., cultivated lands, pasture/haylands, vineyards, and plantations, etc. Generally, the form of vegetation in the Semi-natural State or the Cultural State is not able to be specified until field work is conducted.
[*Caveat] The vegetation information presented is representative of complex plant communities. Key indicator plants 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 geography. The reference plant community is not necessarily the management goal. The drafts of species lists are merely 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.
State 1
Reference State (minimally-managed)
As a result of a long history of human activity, the associations listed below, may in reality, reflect the current naturalized, minimally-managed state rather than the historic, pre-European settlement condition. Notice transition pathways are not always designated between some of the communities in the reference state because the differences in vegetation are more controlled by landscape position, rather than disturbances or management, or that the relationships are not understood. In addition, undisclosed successional plant community-types following disturbance may be included as community phases.
Within the reference state, the plant communities are quite variable and may include:
• Quercus alba - Fagus grandifolia Western Allegheny Forest (CEGL006144)
(Translated Name: White Oak - American Beech Western Allegheny Forest)
[Common Name: Western Allegheny White Oak - Beech Forest],
• Fagus grandifolia - Acer saccharum - Liriodendron tulipifera Unglaciated Forest (CEGL002411)
(Translated Name: American Beech - Sugar Maple - Tuliptree Unglaciated Forest)
[Common Name: Interior Low Plateau Beech - Maple Forest],
And also other plant communities:
• Quercus velutina - Quercus alba - Carya (glabra, ovata) Forest (CEGL002076)
(Translated Name: Black Oak - White Oak - (Pignut Hickory, Shagbark Hickory) Forest)
[Common Name: Black Oak - White Oak - Hickory Forest]
• Tsuga canadensis - Fagus grandifolia - Acer saccharum / (Hamamelis virginiana, Kalmia latifolia) Forest CEGL006304).
(Translated name: Eastern Hemlock - American Beech - Sugar Maple / (American Witch-hazel, Mountain Laurel) Forest)
[Common name: East-Central Hemlock - Hardwood Forest].
(Source: NatureServe 2020)
Community 1.1
White Oak - American Beech Western Allegheny Forest
Quercus alba - Fagus grandifolia Western Allegheny Forest (CEGL006144)
(Translated Name: White Oak - American Beech Western Allegheny Forest)
[Common Name: Western Allegheny White Oak - Beech Forest],
(Source: NatureServe 2020)
Community 1.2
White Oak - Northern Red Oak - Mockernut Hickory / Flowering Dogwood Acidic Forest
Fagus grandifolia - Acer saccharum - Liriodendron tulipifera Unglaciated Forest (CEGL002411)
(Translated Name: American Beech - Sugar Maple - Tuliptree Unglaciated Forest)
[Common Name: Interior Low Plateau Beech - Maple Forest],
(Source: NatureServe 2020)
Community 1.3
Successional plant community-type(s)
Pathway 1.1-1.3
Community 1.1 to 1.3
disturbance, greater fire frequency
Pathway 1.2-1.3
Community 1.2 to 1.3
disturbance, greater fire frequency
Pathway 1.3-1.1
Community 1.3 to 1.1
vegetation development/succession
Pathway 1.3-1.2
Community 1.3 to 1.2
vegetation development/succession
State 2
Semi-natural State
The Semi-natural State would expect plant communities where ecological processes are primarily operating with some land conditioning in the past or present, e.g., managed forests, or plant communities that are an artifact of land management e.g., predominately invasive plants.
Community 2.1
Managed Forest/Woodland
Community 2.2
Invasive Plants
Pathway 2.1-2.2
Community 2.1 to 2.2
2.1-2.2 invasive plant establishment, vegetation development/succession
Pathway 2.2-2.1
Community 2.2 to 2.1
invasive plant management, forest management
State 3
Cultural State
The Cultural State would expect the ecological site to be strongly conditioned by land management/converted to Cultivated/Pasture/Plantation.
Transition T1-2
State 1 to 2
forest management, fire suppression, disturbance, invasive plant establishment
Transition T1-3
State 1 to 3
cutting, land clearing, plant establishment
Restoration pathway R2-1
State 2 to 1
plant removal, plant establishment, successional management
Transition T2-3
State 2 to 3
cutting, land clearing, plant establishment
Restoration pathway R3-1
State 3 to 1
plant removal, plant establishment, successional management
Restoration pathway R3-2
State 3 to 2
forest management, fire suppression, disturbance, invasive plant establishment
