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; USNVC 2017). 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 Moist Outwash ecological site, set in moderately-well-drained environments, is characterized by somewhat mesic plant communities with coastal affinities from Long Island, New York, north to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. These plant communities coincide with Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Dry Oak-Hardwood Forest system(CES203.475). The prevailing ecological processes are related to coastal influences, such as a coastal climate and storms, and if within close proximity to the coast, maritime effects of wind exposure, salt spray, and sand movement. The forest canopy is typically pines (Pinus) such as white pine (Pinus strobus) or pitch pine (Pinus rigida), and/or Oaks (Quercus), including black oak (Q. velutina), red oak (Q. rubra), white oak (Q. alba), scarlet oak (Q. coccinea), and chesnut oak (Q. montana). American holly (Ilex opaca) or inkberry (Ilex glabra) can be present. Threats include road vehicles, and may include invasive plants such as, but not limited to, black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), white poplar (Populus alba), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), Honeysuckles, (Lonicera spp.), oriental bittersweet (Celatrus orbiculatus), japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius), Asiatic tearthumb (Polygonum perfoliatum). (Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).
State 1
Reference State (Moist Outwash)
The predominant plant communities of the Moist Outwash ecological site Reference State (miniamally-managed) include:
• North Atlantic Coastal Oak / Holly Forest, (Black Oak / American Holly Forest), [Quercus velutina / Ilex opaca Forest] - CEGL006378
• Coastal White Pine - White Oak Forest, (Eastern White Pine - White Oak / Inkberry Forest), [Pinus strobus - Quercus alba / Ilex glabra Forest], - CEGL006382
• Northeastern Dry Oak - Hickory Forest, Oak (White Oak, Northern Red Oak, Black Oak) - Hickory species / Mapleleaf Viburnum Forest), [Quercus (alba, rubra, velutina) - Carya spp. / Viburnum acerifolium Forest], - CEGL006336
(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
This forest occurs on mesic, moderately well-drained silts and sandy loams in low areas on the landscape that are sheltered from direct maritime influences. Canopy dominants include Oaks (Quercus) predominately black oak (Q. velutina) and white oak (Q. alba),as well as American beech (Fagus grandifolia), red maple (Acer rubrum), and blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica). American holly (Ilex opaca) is abundant in the subcanopy. Other associated species of lessor cover include Canada serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis), and sassafras (Sassafras albidum). Shrubs are common and include highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), American witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana), smooth arrowood (Viburnum recognitum) [= V. dentatum var. lucidum], and mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia). Vines are common but not usually abundant, and include such species as poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia), cat greenbrier (Smilax glauca), and grapes (Vitis spp.). Characteristic herbs include starflower (Trientalis borealis), Swan’s sedge (Carex swanii), and New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis). (Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).
Cross-referenced plant community concepts (typically by political state):
Coastal Forest/Woodland (Swain Swain 2016) [MA]
Coastal oak-holly forest (Edinger et al. 2014) [NY]
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 forest is dominated by white pine (Pinus strobus), white oak (Quercus alba), and black oak (Quercus velutina) in the canopy with occasional pitch pine (Pinus rigida). The shrub layer is characterized by highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum ), blue huckleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa), and inkberry (Ilex glabra). The herb layer contains wintergreens (Pyrola spp.), Indianpipe (Monotropa uniflora), checkered rattlesnake-plantain (Goodyera tesselata), and several ferns, New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis). (Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).
Cross-referenced plant community concepts (typically by political state):
Coastal Forest/Woodland (Swain Swain 2016) [MA]
Successional southern hardwoods (Edinger et al. 2014) [NY]
Pathway CP1.1-1.2
Community 1.1 to 1.2
disturbance, greater fire frequency, coastal proximity
Pathway CP1.2-1.1
Community 1.2 to 1.1
succession, lessor fire frequency
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 Forest Woodland
Community 2.2
Invasive Plant Community
White poplar (Populus alba), winged burningbush (Euonymus alatus), Japanese knotweed (Lonicera japonica), oriental bittersweet (Celatrus orbiculatus)
Pathway CP2.1-2.1
Community 2.1 to 2.2
Invasive Plant establishment
Pathway CP2.2-2.1
Community 2.2 to 2.1
Invasive Plant Management
Invasive Plant Species Control |
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State 3
Cultural State
Landscapes heavily conditioned by land use, e.g., Plantations/gardens
Community 3.1
Plantations/gardens
Transition T1-2
State 1 to 2
disturbance, invasive plant establishment
Transition T1-3
State 1 to 3
cutting, land clearing, plant establishment
Brush Management |
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Land Clearing |
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Restoration pathway R2-1
State 2 to 1
herbaceous weed treatment, plant removal, plant establishment, successional management
Brush Management |
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Restoration and Management of Natural Ecosystems |
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Native Plant Community Restoration and Management |
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Forest Land Management |
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Invasive Plant Species Control |
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Monitoring and Evaluation |
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Transition T2-3
State 2 to 3
cutting, land clearing, plant establishment
Land Clearing |
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Invasive Plant Species Control |
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Herbaceous Weed Control |
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Restoration pathway R3-1
State 3 to 1
herbaceous weed treatment, plant removal, plant establishment, successional management
Brush Management |
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Restoration and Management of Natural Ecosystems |
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Native Plant Community Restoration and Management |
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Invasive Plant Species Control |
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Monitoring and Evaluation |
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Herbaceous Weed Control |
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Transition T3-2
State 3 to 2
disturbance, invasive plant establishment