The reference forest state is a combination of several vegetation communities within the Central and Southern Appalachian Montane Oak Forest and the Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Systems as defined by NatureServe (NatureServe 2009). Above 3000 feet (914m) the vegetation remains dominated by oak, particularly Northern red oak and white oak, but individuals may be stunted or wind-flagged. At one time, American chestnut may have been a prominent species, but its importance has been dramatically reduced by chestnut blight. The reference communities listed below have been documented on this ecological site and are associated with the Northern Blue Ridge. Due to the heterogeneity and the broadness of this provisional ecological unit, they are not intended to cover every situation nor the full range of conditions and species. There are no transition pathways designated between the two communities in the reference state because the differences in vegetation are more controlled by landscape position and underlying geology than by human or natural disturbance.
Logging followed by natural regeneration. Fire suppression may allow fire sensitive species like red maple, and birches to out compete oak seedlings in the understory.
Control of understory to allow oak seedling recruitment. Prescribed fire will further advance the growth of oaks over fire sensitive species.
Model keys
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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.
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
