Ecological dynamics
[Caveat: The vegetation information contained in this section and 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 2003). Terrestrial ecological systems are specifically defined as a group of plant community types (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 (US FDGC 2008). Each association will be named by the diagnostic and often dominant species that occupy the different height strata (tree, shrub, and herb). 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).
[*Caveat] The information presented is representative of very complex vegetation 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.
The Well-drained Lake Plain ecological site occurs on well-drained flats and in slight depressions in protected areas, and in this MLRA, along the coast. It is characterized mainly by coastal forests, and variants of the coastal forest that transition to maritime forests closer to the ocean. These coastal forests are predominantly oaks with red maples and occasionally white pine. Coastal forests also may include more southern species such as American holly, (Ilex opaca), honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), and sassafras (Sassafras albidum). (Note: Sites considered "maritime" in nature are in immediate proximity to estuarine or marine environments and strongly subjected to frequent salt spray, wind exposure, and sand movement, giving the upright woody vegetation a more stressed and sometimes contorted appearance. Whereas sites considered "coastal" are situated further inland, yet still influenced by coastal process, just less so.) These well-drained lake plains are not well-described but may in part, include vegetation within the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Hardwood Forest system (CES203.475) and in part by the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Maritime Forest (CES203.302) system (NatureServe 2017), depending on proximity to the ocean. Areas cleared of trees support meadows or old-fields. (Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).
State 1
Reference State (Well-drained Lake Plains)
Coastal forests in somewhat protected areas along the coast are predominantly:
• North Atlantic Coastal Oak / Holly Forest (Black Oak / American Holly Forest [Quercus velutina / Ilex opaca Forest – CEGL006378])
In areas transitioning to a sandier substrate may include:
• Coastal White Pine - White Oak Forest (Eastern White Pine - White Oak / Inkberry Forest [Pinus strobus - Quercus alba / Ilex glabra Forest – CEGL006382])
A variant of the well-drained lake plain in close proximity to the ocean may include:
• Northeastern Maritime Forest (Black Cherry - Sassafras - Canadian Serviceberry - Black Oak / Roundleaf Greenbrier Forest [Prunus serotina - Sassafras albidum - Amelanchier canadensis - Quercus velutina / Smilax rotundifolia Forest – CEGL006145])
Other low stature vegetation may include the broadly-defined and widely distributed ruderal meadow or old field vegetation:
• Little Bluestem Old-field Meadow (Little Bluestem - (Broomsedge Bluestem) - Goldenrod species Ruderal Meadow, [Schizachyrium scoparium - (Andropogon virginicus) - Solidago spp. Ruderal Meadow – CEGL006333])
whether possible community-types may include frost-pocket vegetation has to be determined.
(Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).
Community 1.1
Black Oak / American Holly Forest
North Atlantic Coastal Oak / Holly Forest (Black Oak / American Holly Forest [Quercus velutina / Ilex opaca Forest – CEGL006378])
Canopy dominants include black oak (Quercus velutina), white oak (Quercus alba), red maple (Acer rubrum), and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica). Occasionally American beech (Fagus grandifolia) may be present. American holly (Ilex opaca) is typically abundant in the subcanopy with lessor amounts of Canadian serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis), and sassafras (Sassafras albidum). Common shrubs include highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), American witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana), and northern arrowwood (Viburnum recognitum). Patches of mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) may be profuse. Vines include such species as poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia), cat greenbrier (Smilax glauca), and grapes (Vitis spp.). Forbs include starflower (Trientalis borealis), Swan’s sedge (Carex swanii), and New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis). (Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).
Community 1.2
Eastern White Pine - White Oak / Inkberry Forest
Coastal White Pine - White Oak Forest, (Eastern White Pine - White Oak / Inkberry Forest ), [Pinus strobus - Quercus alba / Ilex glabra Forest] – CEGL006382
This coastal forest is common on sandy outwash plains that may transition from well-drained silts and sandyloams yet remain sheltered from more extreme maritime exposure. These forests are dominated by white pine (Pinus strobus), white oak (Quercus alba), and black oak (Quercus velutina) in the canopy with occasional pitch pine (Pinus rigida) in low abundance. The shrub layer is characterized by inkberry (Ilex glabra), with lessor amounts of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) and blue huckleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa). Herb layer includes wintergreen [shinleaf] (Pyrola spp.), rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera spp.), and several ferns. (Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).
State 2
Semi-natural State
Vegetation on lands somewhat conditioned by land use, e.g., managed native plant communities or invasive plant communities.
Community 2.1
Managed
Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) removal follow severe coastl storm and salt kill.
Community 2.2
Invasive plants
Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), Norway Maple (Acer platanoides), tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima). winged burningbush (Euonymus alatus), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius), oriental bittersweet (Celatrus orbiculatus), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), major celindine (Chelidonium majus), ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea), and European lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis) can characterize the herb layer, which may also include native plants.
Pathway CP2.1-2.2
Community 2.1 to 2.2
Invasive plant establishment
Pathway CP2.2-2.1
Community 2.2 to 2.1
Invasive plant management
State 3
Cultural State
Cultivated / Pasture / Garden
Characteristics and indicators. not known?
Community 3.1
cultivated/pasture/garden?
Transition T1-2
State 1 to 2
Forest management, disturbance, invasive plant establishment
Transition T1-3
State 1 to 3
disturbance, clearing, cutting, brush removal
Brush Management |
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Land Clearing |
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Restoration pathway R2-1
State 2 to 1
tree removal, wildlife mgmt., invasive plant control, brush removal, native plant establishment
Tree/Shrub Establishment |
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Upland Wildlife Habitat Management |
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Forest Stand Improvement |
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Native Plant Community Restoration and Management |
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Transition T2-3
State 2 to 3
land clearing, cutting, vegetation removal
Restoration pathway R3-1
State 3 to 1
selective plantings, succession, vegetation management
Restoration pathway T3-2
State 3 to 2
succession, vegetation management