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Ecological site F133AY005NC

Atlantic Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland DRY - PROVISIONAL

Accessed: 11/13/2024

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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): 133A–Southern Coastal Plain

This MLRA (shown in orange in the figure above) is in Alabama (26 percent), Mississippi (24 percent), Georgia (21 percent), Florida (8 percent), North Carolina (7 percent), Virginia (5 percent), South Carolina (4 percent), Tennessee (4 percent), and Louisiana (1 percent). It makes up about 106,485 square miles (275,930 square kilometers). It is the largest MLRA in the U.S. The city of Alexandria, Virginia, is at the northernmost tip of the area. The MLRA also includes Fredericksburg, Richmond, and Petersburg, Virginia; Rocky Mount, Goldsboro, Fayetteville, and Lumberton, North Carolina; Florence, Sumter, and Orangeburg, South Carolina; Albany and Tifton, Georgia; Tallahassee, Florida; Tuskegee, Eufaula, Selma, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Savannah, Tennessee; Corinth, Starkville, Grenada, Meridian, Hattiesburg, and McComb, Mississippi; and Bogalusa, Louisiana. Interstates 95, 64, 85, 40, 20, 20/59, 26, 16, 75, 10, 65, 59, and 55 cross this area from north to south. This area extends from Virginia to Louisiana and Mississippi, but it is almost entirely within three sections of the Coastal Plain Province of the Atlantic Plain. The northern part is in the Embayed Section, the middle part is in the Sea Island Section, and the southern part is in the East Gulf Coastal Plain Section. This MLRA is strongly dissected into nearly level and gently undulating valleys and gently sloping to steep uplands. Stream valleys generally are narrow in their upper reaches but become broad and have widely meandering stream channels as they approach the coast. Elevation ranges from 80 to 655 feet (25 to 200 meters), increasing gradually from the lower Coastal Plain northward. Local relief is mainly 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 meters), but it is 80 to 165 feet (25 to 50 meters) in some of the more deeply dissected areas.

Classification relationships

ATTENTION: This ecological site meets the requirements for PROVISIONAL. A provisional ecological site is established after ecological site concepts are developed and an initial state-and-transition model is drafted. A provisional ecological site typically will include literature reviews, land use history information, legacy data, and must include some soils data, ocular estimates for canopy and/or species composition by weight, and some line-point intercept information. A provisional ecological site provides the conceptual framework of soil-site correlation for the development of the ESD. For more information about this ecological site, please contact your local NRCS office.

Ecological site concept

This system of upland Pinus palustris-dominated vegetation ranges from southern Virginia (beginning approximately at
the James River) to northeastern Florida (excluding longleaf pine of the Fall-Line Sandhills, accommodated by another ecological
system), where it was once perhaps the most extensive system in the Outer Coastal Plain within its range. Examples and associations
share the common feature of upland (non-wetland) moisture regimes and natural exposure to frequent fire. They occur on a variety of
well- to excessively drained soils, and on the higher parts of upland-wetland mosaics. The vegetation is naturally dominated by Pinus
palustris. Most associations have an understory of scrub oaks. The herb layer is generally well-developed and dominated by grasses. Aristida stricta primarily dominates in the northern part of its range, and Aristida beyrichiana in the southern part. Frequent, low-intensity fire is the dominant natural ecological force. This system occurs on upland sites of the Middle to Outer Atlantic Coastal Plain, on landforms that include loamy to
sandy flats, relict beach system deposits, eolian sand deposits, Carolina bay rims, and occasional low rolling hills. Soils range from
mesic to xeric and from sandy to loamy or occasionally clayey. Most natural remnants are on coarse sands, but most examples
probably once occurred on loamy soils. Soils are largely acidic and infertile, and the coarsest sands are excessively drained and sterile. The unifying feature of this system is non-wetland sites that naturally supported frequent fire. As such, it once covered much of the landscape of the Coastal Plain. Variations in soil texture and drainage appear to be a primary driver of differences between
associations within the system, with biogeography also important. Descriptions of Ecological Systems for
Modeling of LANDFIRE Biophysical Settings
Ecological Systems
06 October 2007
Descriptions provided to TNC and LANDFIRE by NatureServe

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	(1) Pinus palustris (2) Quercus laevis
Shrub	Not specified
Herbaceous	(1) Aristida stricta

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Physiographic features

This area extends from Virginia to Louisiana and Mississippi, but it is almost entirely within three sections of the Coastal Plain Province of the Atlantic Plain. The northern part is in the Embayed Section, the middle part is in the Sea Island Section, and the southern part is in the East Gulf Coastal Plain Section. This MLRA is strongly dissected into nearly level and gently undulating valleys and gently sloping to steep uplands. Stream valleys generally are narrow in their upper reaches but become broad and have widely meandering stream channels as they approach the coast. Elevation ranges from 80 to 655 feet (25 to 200 meters), increasing gradually from the lower Coastal Plain northward. Local relief is mainly 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 meters), but it is 80 to 165 feet (25 to 50 meters) in some of the more deeply dissected areas.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Swamp

Climatic features

The average annual precipitation in this area ranges from 41 to 53 inches (1,041 to 1,346 millimeters). Maxiumum precipitation occurs in midsummer, and the minimum occurs in autumn. High-intensity, convective thunderstorms account for summer rainfall. If snow occurs at all, it is in small amounts.

The average annual temperature ranges from 59 to 65 degrees F (15 to 18 degrees C).

Climate data is based on Normal PRISM data for the period 1981-2010.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	205 days
Freeze-free period (average)	232 days
Precipitation total (average)	50 in

Bar

Line

Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range

Bar

Line

Figure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 3. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 4. Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) BYRON EXP STN [USC00091448], Byron, GA
(2) SANDHILL RSCH ELGIN [USC00387666], Elgin, SC
(3) AUGUSTA BUSH FLD AP [USW00003820], Augusta, GA
(4) COLUMBIA [USW00013883], West Columbia, SC
(5) AIKEN 5SE [USC00380074], Aiken, SC
(6) CAMDEN 3 W [USC00381310], Camden, SC
(7) CHERAW [USC00381588], Cheraw, SC
(8) HAMLET [USC00313784], Hamlet, NC
(9) JACKSON SPRINGS 5 WNW [USC00314464], Jackson Springs, NC
(10) PELION 4 NW [USC00386775], Pelion, SC
(11) MACON MIDDLE GA RGNL AP [USW00003813], Macon, GA
(12) POPE AFB [USW00013714], Fort Bragg, NC

Soil features

Parent Material: unconsolidated sandy and loamy marine deposits
Landscape: Coastal Plain
Landform: Ridges and hillslopes
Hillslope Profile Position: Summit, shoulder, and backslope
Geomorphic Component: Side slope and interfluve
Slopes: 0 to 15 percent but range to 45 percent
Elevation: 30 to 152 meters (98 to 500 feet)
Mean annual air temperature: 16 to 18 degrees C (62 to 66 degrees F)
Mean annual precipitation: 1219 to 1422 millimeters (48 to 64 inches)
Frost free duration: 190 to 310 days

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS:
These are the Ailey, Alaga, Blanton, Bonneau, Bonifay, Fuquay, Lakeland, Lucy, and Orangeburg, series.
Ailey soils are well drained or somewhat excessively drained on similar positions and have sandy surface and subsurface layers 51 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches) in thickness. The subsoil is dense with some brittleness and cementation and are in an Arenic subgroup.
Alaga soils are excessively drained on similar to lower positions, and are Quartzipsamments.
Blanton soils are somewhat excessively drained to moderately well drained on lower positions and are in a Grossarenic subgroup.
Bonneau soils are well drained on lower, stream terrace positions, are in an Arenic subgroup and have an argillic horizon at depths of 56 to 188 centimeters (22 to 74 inches).
Bonifay soils are well drained soils and are on slightly lower positions, have more than 5 percent plinthite in the argillic horizons and are in the Grossarenic Plinthic subgroup.
Fuquay soils are well drained on lower positions and are in an Arenic subgroup.
Lakeland soils are excessively drained on similar to higher positions and are Quartzipsamments.
Lucy soils are well drained on similar positions and are in an Arenic subgroup.
Orangeburg soils are well drained on similar to lower positions, have a control section of fine-loamy, and are in the Typic subgroup.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY:
Drainage class: Somewhat excessively drained
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity (Ksat): moderately high in the Bt horizon and high in the A and E horizons
Permeability: moderate in the Bt horizon and rapid in the A and E horizons
Flooding frequency and Duration: None
Ponding frequency and Duration: None

USE AND VEGETATION:
Most areas of Troup soils are in forests of pine and mixed hardwoods. Cleared areas are used for pastureland and for growing peanuts, watermelons, and vegetables.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA's): The series occurs primarily in the Southern Coastal Plain (MLRA 133A). It also occurs to a lesser extent in the Carolina and Georgia Sand Hills (MLRA 137), North Central Florida Ridge (MLRA 138), Eastern Gulf Coast Flatwoods (MLRA 152A), and the Atlantic Coast Flatwoods (MLRA 153A).
Extent: large extent
Troup, Lakeland, Wagram,Blanton

Table 4. Representative soil features

Surface texture	(1) Mucky loam
Drainage class	Very poorly drained
Permeability class	Moderate
Soil depth	80 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	Not specified
Surface fragment cover >3"	Not specified
Available water capacity (0-40in)	15 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in)	Not specified
Electrical conductivity (0-40in)	Not specified
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in)	Not specified
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)	3.5 – 5
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	Not specified
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	Not specified

Ecological dynamics

The ecological dynamics of the Cypress –Gum Swamp is influenced by the amount and duration of flooding and forest disturbances such as from logging and regeneration or succession following logging. Damming by beavers or by humans can lead to the establishment of ponds called Coastal Plain Semipermanent Impoundments. These ponds support aquatic vegetation, but when dams fail, the site is available for ruderal marsh plants, generally wetland graminoids. These sites can further succeed to Blackwater Bottomland Hardwoods or Cypress -- Gum Swamp, depending on the amount and duration of flooding of the site.

State and transition model

Custom diagram

Standard diagram

Figure 5. State and transition model.

Figure 6. State and transition model legend.

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models

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
Approved by
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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