Peatland Pocosin
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- Transition 1 More details
- Transition 3 More details
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Description
Wetland depressions and Carolina Bays typically are meadowlike wetlands that occur in shallow depressions that are
seasonally flooded. The site is characterized by a species-rich herbaceous understory of grasses and sedges. The site
can also support trees such as pond-cypress (Taxodium ascendens), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), and/or pond pine (Pinus
serotina).
Description
Streamhead Pocosin includes forests and woodlands with an evergreen shrub stratum and canopy dominated by Pond Pine (Pinus serotina). Other similar forested wetlands may be dominated by Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides), and/or hardwoods such as Sweet Bay (Magnolia virginiana), Swamp Black Gum (Nyssa biflora), and Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera). These are treated in the Sandhill Streamhead Pocosin and Swamp Environmental Site Description document. Sandhill Seep is usually just upslope from the Sandhill Streamhead Pocosin and Swamp, and the environmental site is only slightly different, The ecological dynamics of the Streamhead Pocosin is influenced by the amount and duration of saturation or flooding and the frequency and intensity of wildland fire. These areas are generally upstream from well developed floodplains, and are more influenced by seepage fed saturation, than by flooding for stream channel overflow. These seepage habitats support many evergreen shrubs which can burn in medium to high intensity wildland fires. The leaves of these shrubs contain volatile oils which provide substantial fuel to fires which may approach this riparian habiat from adjacent uplands at medium intensity. The varied frequency and intensity of wildland fire contributes to a mosaic of different vegetation with in this ecological site.
Mechanism
Frequent Fire is wildland fire which is occurring more than once in a decade. Wildland fire includes planned prescribed fires, and fires which are not planned, such as arson fires, accidental fires or fires started by lightning. Unplanned fires can be more intense than planned prescribed fires. Prescribed fire (Rx fire) is defined as fire applied in a knowledgeable manner to forest fuels on a specific land area under selected weather conditions to accomplish predetermined, well-defined management objectives.
Mechanism
Lack of Fire is a period of 40 years or more without wildland fire. Wildland fire includes planned prescribed fires, and fires which are not planned, such as arson fires, accidental fires or fires started by lightning. Unplanned fires can be more intense than planned prescribed fires. Prescribed fire (Rx fire) is defined as fire applied in a knowledgeable manner to forest fuels on a specific land area under selected weather conditions to accomplish predetermined, well-defined management objectives.
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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.