Moist, Piedmont - felsic, Riparian Zone, Ecotonal Meadow-Shrub-Forest
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1 More details
- Transition T4 More details
- Transition T5 More details
- Restoration pathway R1 More details
- Transition T2 More details
- Transition T6 More details
- Restoration pathway R2 More details
- Transition T3 More details
- Restoration pathway R3 More details
-
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The forested reference state for these mesic riparian zone sites occurs in at least 3 general phases including:
- Mesic Upland Heath Phase
- Mesic Upland Generalist Forest Phase
- Mesic Generalist Floodplain Forest Phase
These phases are described in detail in the State 1 sub-model section of this document.
Submodel
Description
The brush thicket state is condition dominated by brush and young trees. This phase of this ecological site corresponds with:
International Vegetation Classification Associations
(Zimmerman et al., 2012)
• Allegheny Floodplain Alder Thicket (CEGL006251)
• Piedmont/Central Appalachian Sycamore-River Birch Scour Woodland (CEGL003896)
Pennsylvania Communities
(Zimmerman et al., 2012)
• Alder-dogwood floodplain thicket
• Mixed hardwood floodplain thicket
Representative species are listed below alphabetically.
The database section for grasses / herbs only allows 20 species and the list for this phase is longer than 20. Hence the herbaceous species list is provided here:
• Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem)
• Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp)
• Bidens spp. (beggartick)
• Boehmeria cylindrica (false nettle)
• Carex intumescens (sedge)
• Carex torta (twisted sedge)
• Dichanthelium clandestinum (deertongue grass)
• Elymus virginicus (Virginia wildrye)
• Eupatorium perfoliatum (boneset)
• Eutrochium fistulosum (Joe pye weed)
• Eutrochium maculatum (spotted Joe pye weed)
• Galium aparine (cleavers)
• Helenium autumnale (common sneezeweed)
• Hypericum pyramidatum (great St. Johnswort)
• Leersia virginica (cutgrass)
• Muhlenbergia spp. (muhly)
• Oxalis stricta (common yellow woodsorrel)
• Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass)
• Pilea pumila (clearweed)
• Solidago gigantea (smooth goldenrod)
• Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)
• Spartina pectinata (freshwater cordgrass)
• Teucrium canadense (wild germander)
• Thalictrum pubescens (tall meadow-rue)
• Verbesina alternifolia (wingstem)
• Viola spp. (violets)
Vines
• Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed)
• Clematis virginiana (virgin's-bower)
• Vitis riparia (riverbank grape)
• Vitis spp. (grape)
Resilience management
Common Exotic Species
• Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed)
• Glechoma hederacea (Gill-over-the-ground)
• Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass)
• Rosa multiflora (multiflora rose)
Description
The meadow state is dominated by grasses and herbs with only sparse woody vegetation (if any). This phase of this ecological site corresponds with:
International Vegetation Classification Associations
(Zimmerman et al., 2012)
• Big Bluestem-Switchgrass-Tall Blue Wild Indigo Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL006283)
• Sandcherry/Big Bluestem-Yellow Indian-grass Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL006518)
• Piedmont/Central Appalachian Riverbank Tall Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL006480)
• Polygonum cuspidatum Temporarily Flooded Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL008472)
• Reed Canary-grass Wet Meadow (CEGL006044)
• Rocky Bar and Shore (Twisted Sedge Type) (CEGL004103)
Pennsylvania Communities
(Zimmerman et al., 2012)
• Big bluestem-Indian grass floodplain grassland
• Floodplain meadow
• Japanese knotweed floodplain thicket
• Reed canarygrass floodplain grassland
• Twisted sedge (Carex Torta) stream margin
Representative species are listed below alphabetically.
The database section for grasses / herbs only allows 20 species and the list for this phase is longer than 20. Hence the herbaceous species list is provided here:
• Agrostis perennans (autumn bent)
• Agrostis stolonifera var. palustris (carpet bentgrass)
• Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem)
• Apocynum androsaemifolium (pink dogbane)
• Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp)
• Baptisia australis (blue false-indigo)
• Bidens spp. (beggartick)
• Boehmeria cylindrica (false nettle)
• Calamagrostis canadensis var. canadensis (Canada bluejoint)
• Carex stricta (tussock sedge)
• Carex torta (twisted sedge)
• Carex trichocarpa (sedge)
• Coreopsis tripteris (tall tickseed)
• Cyperus spp. (nutsedges)
• Dichanthelium clandestinum (deertongue grass)
• Doellingeria umbellata (flat-topped white aster)
• Elymus riparius (riverbank wildrye)
• Epilobium coloratum (purpleleaf willowherb)
• Equisetum arvense (field horsetail)
• Eupatorium perfoliatum (boneset)
• Euphorbia corollata (flowering spurge)
• Euthamia graminifolia (grass-leaved goldenrod)
• Eutrochium fistulosum (Joe pye weed)
• Eutrochium maculatum (spotted Joe pye weed)
• Helenium autumnale (common sneezeweed)
• Heliopsis helianthoides (oxeye)
• Hydrocotyle americana (marsh pennywort)
• Hypericum ellipticum (pale St. Johnswort)
• Impatiens capensis (jewelweed)
• Leersia oryzoides (rice cutgrass)
• Leersia virginica (cutgrass)
• Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower)
• Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia)
• Lycopus uniflorus (bugleweed)
• Mentha arvensis (field mint)
• Muhlenbergia spp. (muhly)
• Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern)
• Oxalis stricta (common yellow woodsorrel)
• Panicum virgatum (switchgrass)
• Persicaria hydropiper (water-pepper)
• Persicaria hydropiperoides (mild water-pepper)
• Persicaria maculosa (ladysthumb)
• Persicaria pensylvanica (smartweed)
• Persicaria punctata (dotted smartweed)
• Persicaria sagittata (tearthumb)
• Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass)
• Scirpus polyphyllus (bulrush)
• Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod)
• Solidago gigantea (smooth goldenrod)
• Solidago rugosa (wrinkleleaf goldenrod)
• Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)
• Spartina pectinata (freshwater cordgrass)
• Symphyotrichum lateriflorum (calico aster)
• Triadenum virginicum (marsh St. Johnswort)
• Verbena hastata (blue vervain)
• Verbesina alternifolia (wingstem)
• Viola spp. (violets)
Vines
• Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed)
• Clematis virginiana (virgin's-bower)
• Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)
• Toxicodendron radicans (poison ivy)
• Vitis labrusca (fox grape)
• Vitis riparia (riverbank grape)
Resilience management
Common Exotic Species
• Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)
• Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed)
• Lonicera morrowii (Morrow's honeysuckle)
• Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass)
• Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass)
• Rosa multiflora (multiflora rose)
Description
This phase of this ecological site corresponds with:
International Vegetation Classification Associations
(Zimmerman et al., 2012)
• Northern Riverside Rock Outcrop (CEGL006284)
• Barbara’s buttons Riverscour Prairie (CEGL006598)
• Northeastern Temperate Cobble Scour Rivershore (CEGL006536)
Pennsylvania Communities
(Zimmerman et al., 2012)
• Floodplain scour community
• Periodically exposed shoreline community
Representative species are listed below alphabetically
The database section for grasses / herbs only allows 20 species and the list for this phase is longer than 20. Hence the herbaceous species list is provided here:
Herbs
• Acalypha rhomboidea (three-seeded mercury)
• Agrostis perennans (autumn bent)
• Amorpha fruticosa (false indigo)
• Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem)
• Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp)
• Aristida purpurascens (arrowfeather)
• Boltonia asteroides (aster-like boltonia)
• Cyperus erythrorhizos (redroot flatsedge)
• Cyperus squarrosus (umbrella sedge)
• Cyperus strigosus (false nutsedge)
• Echinochloa muricata (barnyardgrass)
• Eleocharis acicularis (needle spikerush)
• Eleocharis erythropoda (spike-rush)
• Eleocharis obtusa (Wright's spikerush)
• Eleocharis palustris (creeping spikerush)
• Eleocharis tenuis var. pseudoptera (slender spikerush)
• Equisetum arvense (field horsetail)
• Eragrostis frankii (lovegrass)
• Eragrostis hypnoides (creeping lovegrass)
• Eupatorium perfoliatum (boneset)
• Eupatorium serotinum (late eupatorium)
• Euphorbia maculata (spotted spurge)
• Eutrochium spp. (Joe pye weed)
• Fimbristylis autumnalis (slender fimbry)
• Hibiscus laevis (halberdleaf rosemallow)
• Hydrocotyle americana (marsh pennywort)
• Hypericum densiflorum (bushy St. Johnswort)
• Hypericum ellipticum (pale St. Johnswort)
• Hypericum mutilum (dwarf St. Johnswort)
• Hypericum pyramidatum (great St. Johnswort)
• Juncus acuminatus (sharp-fruited rush)
• Juncus canadensis (Canada rush)
• Justicia americana (water-willow)
• Lindernia dubia (false pimpernel)
• Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower)
• Ludwigia palustris (marsh-purslane)
• Lycopus uniflorus (bugleweed)
• Lysimachia terrestris (swamp-candles)
• Lysimachia vulgaris (garden loosestrife)
• Marshallia grandiflora (Barbara’s buttons)
• Mimulus ringens (Allegheny monkeyflower)
• Mollugo verticillata (carpetweed)
• Montia chamissoi (Chamisso's miner's-lettuce)
• Oenothera biennis (evening primrose)
• Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern)
• Osmunda regalis (royal fern)
• Packera spp. (groundsel)
• Persicaria amphibia (water smartweed)
• Persicaria longiseta (low smartweed)
• Persicaria maculosa (ladysthumb)
• Persicaria pensylvanica (smartweed)
• Persicaria punctata (dotted smartweed)
• Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass)
• Pilea pumila (clearweed)
• Sida hermaphrodita (Virginia mallow)
• Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)
• Spartina pectinata (freshwater cordgrass)
• Trautvetteria caroliniensis (Carolina tassel-rue)
• Triadenum virginicum (marsh St. Johnswort)
• Verbena hastata (blue vervain)
• Xanthium strumarium (common cocklebur)
• Zizia aurea (golden-alexander)
Vines
• Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)
• Toxicodendron radicans (poison ivy)
• Vitis labrusca (fox grape)
• Vitis riparia (riverbank grape)
• Vitis rupestris (sand grape)
Characteristics and indicators
The sparse vegetation state is characterized by exposed substrate and often represents areas of exposed rock from scour. Exposed sand and soil along shorelines are also represented in this state.
Resilience management
Common Exotic Species
• Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed)
• Lythrum salicaria (Purple loosestrife)
• Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass)
• Phalaris arundinacea (Reed canarygrass)
Mechanism
This transition pathway can occur as a result of any disturbance that directly impacts an existing forest tree canopy. Examples include abnormal flooding events and/or changes to hydrology which cause increased duration and depth and flooding, increased flood energy and scour, deposition of significant flood transported material, ice, wind, insects, disease, and timber extraction.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
|
|
Forest Stand Improvement |
Mechanism
This transition pathway can occur as a result of any disturbance that directly impacts established woody vegetation including both trees and brush. Examples include abnormal flooding events and/or changes to hydrology which cause increased duration and depth and flooding, increased flood energy and scour, deposition of significant flood transported material, ice, wind, insects, and disease.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
|
|
Forest Stand Improvement |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
This transition pathway can occur as a result of any disturbance that directly impacts all established vegetation as well as soil substrate. Examples include abnormal flooding events and/or changes to hydrology which cause increased duration and depth and flooding, increased flood energy and scour, deposition of significant flood transported material, and ice.
Mechanism
This restoration pathway is a normal successional pathway that can occur in the absence of high-energy flooding with scour as well as the absence of flooding with high rates of deposition.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Riparian Forest Buffer |
|
|
Tree/Shrub Establishment |
|
|
Herbaceous Weed Control |
Mechanism
This transition pathway can occur as a result of any disturbance that directly impacts established woody vegetation including both trees and brush. Examples include abnormal flooding events and/or changes to hydrology which cause increased duration and depth and flooding, increased flood energy and scour, deposition of significant flood transported material, ice, wind, insects, and disease.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
This transition pathway can occur as a result of any disturbance that directly impacts all established vegetation. Examples include abnormal flooding events and/or changes to hydrology which cause increased duration and depth and flooding, increased flood energy and scour, deposition of significant flood transported material, and ice.
Mechanism
This restoration pathway is a normal successional pathway that can occur in the absence of high-energy flooding with scour as well as the absence of flooding with high rates of deposition.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Riparian Forest Buffer |
|
|
Tree/Shrub Establishment |
|
|
Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
Mechanism
This transition pathway can occur as a result of any disturbance that directly impacts all established vegetation as well as soil substrate. Examples include abnormal flooding events and/or changes to hydrology which cause increased duration and depth and flooding, increased flood energy and scour, deposition of significant flood transported material, and ice.
Mechanism
This restoration pathway can occur in the absence of high-energy flooding disturbance as well as flooding with high levels of deposition. Low energy flooding that includes the deposition of soil on and around the rocky substrate can also promote successional advancement of sparse vegetation communities towards riparian meadow, brush, and/or forest.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Riparian Herbaceous Cover |
|
|
Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
Model keys
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