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Ecological site R115XB037MO

Loamy Terrace Prairie

Last updated: 12/30/2024
Accessed: 09/14/2026

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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.

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Figure 1. Mapped extent

Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.

MLRA notes

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 115X–Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes

This MLRA is characterized by deeply dissected, loess-covered hills bordering well defined valleys of the Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Wabash Rivers and their tributaries. It is used to produce cash crops and livestock. About one-third of the area is forested, mostly on the steeper slopes. This area is in Illinois (50 percent), Missouri (36 percent), Indiana (13 percent), and Iowa (1 percent) in two separate areas. It makes up about 25,084 square miles (64,967 square kilometers).

Most of this area is in the Till Plains section and the Dissected Till Plains section of the Central Lowland province of the Interior Plains. The Springfield-Salem plateaus section of the Ozarks Plateaus province of the Interior Highlands occurs along the Missouri River and the Mississippi River south of the confluence with the Missouri River. The nearly level to very steep uplands are dissected by both large and small tributaries of the Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Wabash Rivers. The Ohio River flows along the southernmost boundary of this area in Indiana. Well defined valleys with broad flood plains and numerous stream terraces are along the major streams and rivers. The flood plains along the smaller streams are narrow. Broad summits are nearly level to undulating. Karst topography is common in some parts along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and their tributaries. Well-developed karst areas have hundreds of sinkholes, caves, springs, and losing streams. In the St. Louis area, many of the karst features have been obliterated by urban development.

Elevation ranges from 90 feet (20 meters) on the southernmost flood plains to 1,030 feet (320 meters) on the highest ridges. Local relief is mainly 10 to 50 feet (3 to 15 meters) but can be 50 to 150 feet (15 to 45 meters) in the steep, deeply dissected hills bordering rivers and streams. The bluffs along the major rivers are generally 200 to 350 feet (60 to 105 meters) above the valley floor.

The uplands in this MLRA are covered almost entirely with Peoria Loess. The loess can be more than 7 feet (2 meters) thick on stable summits. On the steeper slopes, it is thin or does not occur. In Illinois, the loess is underlain mostly by Illinoian-age till that commonly contains a paleosol. Pre-Illinoian-age till is in parts of this MLRA in Iowa and Missouri and to a minor extent in the western part of Illinois. Wisconsin-age outwash, alluvial deposits, and sandy eolian material are on some of the stream terraces and on dunes along the major tributaries. The loess and glacial deposits are underlain by several bedrock systems. Pennsylvanian and Mississippian bedrock are the most extensive. To a lesser extent are Silurian, Devonian, Cretaceous, and Ordovician bedrock. Karst areas have formed where limestone is near the surface, mostly in the southern part of the MLRA along the Mississippi River and some of its major tributaries. Bedrock outcrops are common on the bluffs along the Mississippi, Ohio, and Wabash Rivers and their major tributaries and at the base of some steep slopes along minor streams and drainageways.

The annual precipitation ranges from 35 to 49 inches (880 to 1,250 millimeters) with a mean of 41 inches (1,050 millimeters). The annual temperature ranges from 48 to 58 degrees F (8.6 to 14.3 degrees C) with a mean of 54 degrees F (12.3 degrees C). The freeze-free period ranges from 150 to 220 days with a mean of 195 days.

Soils The dominant soil orders are Alfisols and, to a lesser extent, Entisols and Mollisols. The soils in the area have a mesic soil temperature regime, an aquic or udic soil moisture regime, and mixed or smectitic mineralogy. They are shallow to very deep, excessively drained to poorly drained, and loamy, silty, or clayey.

The soils on uplands in this area support natural hardwoods. Oak, hickory, and sugar maple are the dominant species. Big bluestem, little bluestem, and scattered oak and eastern redcedar grow on some sites. The soils on flood plains support mixed forest vegetation, mainly American elm, eastern cottonwood, river birch, green ash, silver maple, sweetgum, American sycamore, pin oak, pecan, and willow. Sedge and grass meadows and scattered trees are on some low-lying sites. (United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2022)

LRU notes

The Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes, Western Part consists of deeply dissected, loess-covered hills bordering the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers as well as floodplains and terraces of these rivers. The Northern boundary runs along the South Fabius River valley separating it from the broad rounded interfluves of the northern till plain. A major physiographic feature within the LRU (Land Resource Unit) includes the Lincoln Hills region. The Lincoln Hills extend along the Mississippi River in Missouri, starting about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of St. Louis and extending north to Hannibal. The Lincoln Hills partially escaped the most recent glaciation in the region during the Pleistocene. In geology and biology, they resemble the rugged and forested hills of the Ozark Highlands (MLRA 116A) more than the rolling plains of northern Missouri. The underlying limestone bedrock has formed bluffs, glades, caves, springs, and sinkholes. Elevation ranges from about 420 feet (128 meters) along the Mississippi River near Cape Girardeau, Missouri to about 830 feet (253 meters) near Clarksville along the Mississippi River upstream from St. Louis. High ridges near Hillsboro, Missouri can reach over 1,000 feet (305 meters). Underlying bedrock is mainly Ordovician-aged dolomite and sandstone, with Mississippian-aged limestone north of the Missouri River. Loess caps both stream and glacial outwash terraces along the major rivers along with Pre-Illinoisan till near the edges of the area.

Classification relationships

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) (USDA-NRCS, 2022):
115X–Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes

Terrestrial Natural Community Type in Missouri (Nelson, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Wet-Mesic Bottomland Prairie.

National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans - (Sporobolus heterolepis) - Liatris spp. - Ratibida pinnata Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL002203).

Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002):
This ecological site occurs in the Marais Tenps Clair Alluvial Plain Land Type Association of the Missouri River Alluvial Plain Subsections.

Ecological site concept

Loamy Terrace Prairies are on Mississippi and Missouri river alluvium near the confluence of the two rivers. Sites are associated with Wet Terrace Prairie ecological sites, as well as both Loamy and Clayey Floodplain Forest sites. Soils are very deep and loamy. The reference plant community is prairie dominated by Indiangrass, big bluestem, little bluestem switchgrass, eastern gamagrass, and a wide variety of prairie forbs.

Associated sites

F115XB015MO	Sandy/Loamy Floodplain Forest Sandy/Loamy Floodplain Forests are on lower positions adjacent to the main channel.
R115XB038MO	Wet Terrace Prairie Wet Terrace Prairies are commonly adjacent to these ecological sites.

F115XB015MO

Sandy/Loamy Floodplain Forest

Sandy/Loamy Floodplain Forests are on lower positions adjacent to the main channel.

R115XB038MO

Wet Terrace Prairie

Wet Terrace Prairies are commonly adjacent to these ecological sites.

Similar sites

R115XB038MO	Wet Terrace Prairie Wet Terrace Prairies are on similar landscape positions but have seasonal high water table wetness issues.

R115XB038MO

Wet Terrace Prairie

Wet Terrace Prairies are on similar landscape positions but have seasonal high water table wetness issues.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	(1) Salix humilis
Herbaceous	(1) Andropogon gerardii (2) Tripsacum dactyloides

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Physiographic features

This site is on stream terraces of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Slopes are 0 to 2 percent. The site generates some runoff to adjacent terrace and floodplain sites. This site is subject to rare flooding.

The following figure (adapted from Tummons, 1982) shows the typical landscape position of this ecological site, and landscape relationships among the major ecological sites near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. This site is within the area labeled as “1” on the figure, and is typically on high stream terrace positions of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. These sites are commonly adjacent to Wet Terrace Prairie sites (labeled “2”), and are on higher positions adjacent to Floodplain Forest sites as shown in the figure.

Figure 2. Landscape relationships for this ecological site.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Stream terrace
Runoff class	Negligible to very low
Flooding duration	Brief (2 to 7 days)
Flooding frequency	Rare
Ponding frequency	None
Elevation	350 – 1350 ft
Slope	0 – 2 %
Water table depth	60 in
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

The Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes, Western Part has a continental type of climate marked by strong seasonality. In winter, dry-cold air masses, unchallenged by any topographic barriers, periodically swing south from the northern plains and Canada. If they invade reasonably humid air, snowfall and rainfall result. In summer, moist, warm air masses, equally unchallenged by topographic barriers, swing north from the Gulf of Mexico and can produce abundant amounts of rain, either by fronts or by convectional processes. In some summers, high pressure stagnates over the region, creating extended droughty periods. Spring and fall are transitional seasons when abrupt changes in temperature and precipitation may occur due to successive, fast-moving fronts separating contrasting air masses.

The Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes, Western Part experiences regional differences in climates, but these differences do not have obvious geographic boundaries. Regional climates grade inconspicuously into each other. The basic gradient for most climatic characteristics is along a line diagonally crossing the MLRA from northwest to southeast. Both mean annual temperature and precipitation exhibit gradients along this line.

The average annual precipitation in most of this area is 38 to 48 inches. The average annual temperature is 53 to 57 degrees F. Mean January minimum temperature follows the northwest-to-southeast gradient. However, mean July maximum temperature shows hardly any geographic variation in the MLRA. Mean July maximum temperatures have a range of only two or three degrees across the area.

Mean annual precipitation varies along the same gradient as temperature. Seasonal climatic variations are more complex. Seasonality in precipitation is very pronounced due to strong continental influences. June precipitation, for example, averages three to four times greater than January precipitation. Most of the rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms in summer. Snowfall is common in winter.

During years when precipitation comes in a fairly normal manner, moisture is stored in the top layers of the soil during the winter and early spring, when evaporation and transpiration are low. During the summer months the loss of water by evaporation and transpiration is high, and if rainfall fails to occur at frequent intervals, drought will result. Drought directly affects plant and animal life by limiting water supplies, especially at times of high temperatures and high evaporation rates.

Superimposed upon the basic MLRA climatic patterns are local topographic influences that create topoclimatic, or microclimatic variations. In regions of appreciable relief, for example, air drainage at nighttime may produce temperatures several degrees lower in valley bottoms than on side slopes. At critical times during the year, this phenomenon may produce later spring or earlier fall freezes in valley bottoms. Higher daytime temperatures of bare rock surfaces and higher reflectivity of these unvegetated surfaces may create distinctive environmental niches such as glades and cliffs. Slope orientation is an important topographic influence on climate. Summits and south-and-west-facing slopes are regularly warmer and drier than adjacent north- and-east-facing slopes. Finally, the climate within a canopied forest is measurably different from the climate of a more open grassland or savanna areas.

Source: University of Missouri Climate Center - http://climate.missouri.edu/climate.php; accessed June 2012

Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin, United States Department of Agriculture Handbook 296 - http://soils.usda.gov/survey/geography/mlra/

Table 3 Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	160-180 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	190-200 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	40-40 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	160-190 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	190-200 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	40-40 in
Frost-free period (average)	170 days
Freeze-free period (average)	200 days
Precipitation total (average)	40 in

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 3. Monthly precipitation range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 4. Monthly minimum temperature range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 5. Monthly maximum temperature range

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Figure 6. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 7. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 8 Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) ALTON MELVIN PRICE L&D [USC00110137], West Alton, IL
(2) KASKASKIA RVR NAV LOCK [USC00114629], Ellis Grove, IL

Influencing water features

This ecological site is on stream terraces and floodplain steps of perennial streams. They are not adjacent to the current stream channel. Short duration, rare flooding can occur in some areas, particularly during spring and early summer storm events. Constructed levees, often accompanied by stream channelization, have altered the flooding dynamics in many places and may be a sign of an alternative state. <br />
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The site generates some runoff to adjacent terrace and floodplain sites.

Soil features

These soils have no rooting restriction. The soils were formed under prairie vegetation, and have thick, dark-colored surface horizons. Parent material is alluvium. Surface horizons are primarily loam. Subsurface horizons are loamy. These soils are not affected by seasonal wetness. Soil series associated with this site include DeSioux, Littleton, Monarga, Raddle, and Worthen.

The accompanying picture of the DeSioux series shows a dark, organic-rich surface horizon grading into the loamy substrata. Roots can be seen in the picture throughout the soil profile. Scale is in centimeters. Picture courtesy of Grant Butler, NRCS.

Figure 9. DeSioux series

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Alluvium
Surface texture	(1) Loam
Family particle size	(1) Loamy
Drainage class	Well drained
Permeability class	Moderately slow
Soil depth	72 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	Not specified
Surface fragment cover >3"	Not specified
Available water capacity (0-40in)	7 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in)	Not specified
Electrical conductivity (0-40in)	0 – 2 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in)	Not specified
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)	5.6 – 7.8
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	Not specified
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	Not specified

Ecological dynamics

Information contained in this section was developed using historical data, professional experience, field reviews, and scientific studies. The information presented is representative of very complex vegetation communities. Key indicator plants, animals 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 aspect. The Reference Plant Community is not necessarily the management goal. The species lists are 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 reference community is characterized as a tallgrass prairie unit dominated by big bluestem1 and little bluestem, Indiangrass, switchgrass, eastern gamagrass and a wide variety of prairie wildflowers while other species such as Culver’s root, Michigan lily, and Virginia bunchflower added to the mix of upland drainageway prairie species. Slightly higher areas within or at the edge of the ecological site supported scattered bur oak, pin oak, elm, shellbark hickory and willow.

This ecological site commonly occurred back from the main river channel and was the highest area in the floodplain. The higher position and loamy soil texture created a better drainage situation. Consequently, the site is less wet than adjacent sites. These areas rarely flooded.

Fire played a key role in maintaining this ecological site, likely occurring at least once every three years. Fire removed dead plant litter and provided room for a lush growth of prairie vegetation. Fire also controlled woody species. During fire free intervals woody species would have increased in abundance and spread out onto the main prairie. Grazing by native large herbivores, such as bison, elk, and white-tailed deer furthermore impacted these sites. Their activities altered the composition, fuel loads and structure of the vegetation, adding to the diversity of structure and composition.

These are productive sites. Today, Loamy Terrace Prairies are extirpated from the region as the former terrace prairies and savannas have been converted to intensive agriculture. No quality remnants exist. While re-establishing prairie and savanna on converted agriculture sites is beneficial to wildlife, restoration to the reference state from agricultural land is a long-term proposition with uncertain outcomes.

A State and Transition Diagram follows. Detailed descriptions of each state, transition, plant community, and pathway follow the model. This model is based on available experimental research, field observations, professional consensus, and interpretations. It is likely to change as knowledge increases

State and transition model

Custom diagram

Standard diagram

Figure 10. State and transition diagram for this ecological site

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models

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Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

Ecosystem states

1. Reference

SWAPAEH

2. Fire Suppressed Savanna

SWAPAEH

3. Cool Season Grassland

SWAPAEH

4. Cropland

SWAPAEH

State 1
Reference

This state is tall grass prairie dominated by big bluestem, eastern gamagrass and a wide variety of prairie forbs. This state occurs on level to gently sloping soils. Bur oak, pin oak, shellbark hickory, American elm, American hazelnut, prairie willow and American plum occurred as scattered individuals across the landscape. Two phases occurred that will transition back and forth depending on fire frequencies.

Dominant plant species

pin oak (Quercus palustris), tree
shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa), tree
bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), tree
American plum (Prunus americana), shrub
prairie willow (Salix humilis), shrub
big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides), grass
Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), grass
switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), grass
Culver's root (Veronicastrum virginicum), other herbaceous
Virginia bunchflower (Veratrum virginicum), other herbaceous

Community 1.1
Prairie Willow /Big Bluestem – Eastern Gamagrass

This phase is dominated by big bluestem, Indian grass, switch grass, eastern gama grass and a wide variety of prairie wildflowers while other species such as Culver’s root, Michigan lily, and bunchflower added to the mix of prairie species. These areas flooded periodically. In addition to the occasional flooding, fire played a key role, likely occurring at least once every 3 years.

The plant species list is based on field surveys and commonly occurring species listed in Nelson (2010).

Forest overstory.The Forest Overstory Species list is based on commonly occurring species listed in Nelson (2010).

Forest understory. The Forest Understory list is based on commonly occurring species listed in Nelson (2010).

Community 1.2
American Plum – Prairie Willow /Big Bluestem – Eastern Gamagrass

This phase is characterized by fire free intervals of greater than 10 years. Woody species have increased in abundance and spread out onto the prairie.

Pathway P1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

This community pathway is the result of extended fire-free intervals of 10 or more years.

Pathway P1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

This community pathway is the result of fire intervals of 1 to 3 years.

State 2
Fire Suppressed Savanna

Degraded reference states that have experienced fire suppression and woody invasion for 20 or more years will transition to this state. With fire suppression, woody species such as bur oak, pin oak, and shellbark hickory will begin to increase transitioning this state from a prairie to an open savanna. Native herbaceous ground cover will also decrease. This state is extinct.

Dominant plant species

pin oak (Quercus palustris), tree
shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa), tree
bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), tree
Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis), other herbaceous

Community 2.1
Bur Oak – Pin Oak – Shellbark Hickory/Oak Saplings/ Goldenrod

This is the only phase associated with this state at this time. See the corresponding state narrative for details.

State 3
Cool Season Grassland

Conversion of other states to non-native cool season species such as tall fescue and red clover has been common in this area. Occasionally, these pastures may have scattered bur oaks. Long term uncontrolled grazing and a lack of grassland management can cause significant soil erosion and compaction and increases in less productive species such as Kentucky bluegrass and weedy forbs such as ironweed.

Dominant plant species

tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), grass
red clover (Trifolium pratense), other herbaceous
white clover (Trifolium repens), other herbaceous

Community 3.1
Tall Fescue – Red Top – White Clover

This is the only phase associated with this state at this time. See the corresponding state narrative for details.

State 4
Cropland

This is the dominant State that exists currently with intensive cropping of corn and soybeans occurring. Some conversion to cool season hayland may occur for a limited period of time before transitioning back to cropland. Limited acres are sometimes converted to native warm season grassland through federal set-aside programs.

Dominant plant species

corn (Zea mays), grass
soybean (Glycine max), other herbaceous

Community 4.1
Corn, Soybeans

This is the only phase associated with this state at this time. See the corresponding state narrative for details.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

This transition is the result of fire suppression and woody invasion.

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

This transition is the result of tillage, vegetative seeding and grassland management.

Transition T1C
State 1 to 4

This transition is the result of tillage and conservation cropping system.

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

This community pathway is the result of woody removal and prescribed fire.

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

This transition is the result of woody removal, tillage, vegetative seeding and grassland management.

Transition T2B
State 2 to 4

This transition is the result of woody removal, tillage and conservation cropping system.

Transition T3A
State 3 to 4

This transition is the result of tillage and conservation cropping system.

Transition T4A
State 4 to 3

This transition is the result of vegetative seeding and grassland management.

Additional community tables

Table 5. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 6. Community 1.1 forest overstory composition

Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Nativity	Height ft	Canopy cover (%)	Diameter in	Basal area (square ft/acre)
Tree
pin oak	QUPA2	Quercus palustris	Native	–	0-5	–	0
shellbark hickory	CALA21	Carya laciniosa	Native	–	0-5	–	0
bur oak	QUMA2	Quercus macrocarpa	Native	–	0-5	–	0

Table 7. Community 1.1 forest understory composition

Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Nativity	Height (ft)	Canopy cover (%)
Grass/grass-like (Graminoids)
big bluestem	ANGE	Andropogon gerardii	Native	–	–
switchgrass	PAVI2	Panicum virgatum	Native	–	–
little bluestem	SCSC	Schizachyrium scoparium	Native	–	–
Indiangrass	SONU2	Sorghastrum nutans	Native	–	–
prairie dropseed	SPHE	Sporobolus heterolepis	Native	–	–
eastern gamagrass	TRDA3	Tripsacum dactyloides	Native	–	–
Forb/Herb
ashy sunflower	HEMO2	Helianthus mollis	Native	–	–
hoary puccoon	LICA12	Lithospermum canescens	Native	–	–
prairie blazing star	LIPY	Liatris pycnostachya	Native	–	–
wild bergamot	MOFI	Monarda fistulosa	Native	–	–
wild quinine	PAIN3	Parthenium integrifolium	Native	–	–
purple milkwort	POSA3	Polygala sanguinea	Native	–	–
prairie milkweed	ASSU3	Asclepias sullivantii	Native	–	–
butterfly milkweed	ASTU	Asclepias tuberosa	Native	–	–
white wild indigo	BAAL	Baptisia alba	Native	–	–
purple prairie clover	DAPU5	Dalea purpurea	Native	–	–
eastern purple coneflower	ECPU	Echinacea purpurea	Native	–	–
button eryngo	ERYU	Eryngium yuccifolium	Native	–	–
wholeleaf rosinweed	SIIN2	Silphium integrifolium	Native	–	–
compassplant	SILA3	Silphium laciniatum	Native	–	–
Missouri goldenrod	SOMI2	Solidago missouriensis	Native	–	–
Culver's root	VEVI4	Veronicastrum virginicum	Native	–	–
Virginia bunchflower	VEVI5	Veratrum virginicum	Native	–	–
Shrub/Subshrub
leadplant	AMCA6	Amorpha canescens	Native	–	–
New Jersey tea	CEAM	Ceanothus americanus	Native	–	–
American hazelnut	COAM3	Corylus americana	Native	–	–
American plum	PRAM	Prunus americana	Native	–	–
prairie willow	SAHU2	Salix humilis	Native	–	–

Table 8. Community 1.2 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 9. Community 2.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 10. Community 3.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 11. Community 4.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Interpretations

Animal community

Wildlife

Game species that utilize this ecological site include:
Northern Bobwhite will utilize this ecological site for food (seeds, insects) and cover needs (escape, nesting and roosting cover).

Cottontail rabbits will utilize this ecological site for food (seeds, soft mast) and cover needs.

Turkey will utilize this ecological site for food (seeds, green browse, soft mast, and insects) and nesting and brood-rearing cover. Turkey poults feed heavily on insects provided by this site type.

White-tailed Deer will utilize this ecological site for browse (plant leaves in the growing season, seeds and soft mast in the fall/winter). This site type also can provide escape cover.

Bird species associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition:
Breeding birds as related to vegetation structure (related to time since fire, grazing, haying, and mowing):

Vegetation Height Short ( 0.5 meter, low litter levels, bare ground visible):
Grasshopper Sparrow, Horned Lark, Northern Bobwhite

Mid-Vegetation Height (0.5 – 1 meter, moderate litter levels, some bare ground visible):
Eastern Meadowlark, Dickcissel, Field Sparrow, Northern Bobwhite, Eastern Kingbird,

Tall Vegetation Height (> 1 meter, moderate-high litter levels, little bare ground visible):
Henslow’s Sparrow, Dickcissel, Field Sparrow, Northern Bobwhite, Sedge Wren

Brushy – Mix of grasses, forbs, native shrubs (e.g., Rhus copallina, Prunus americana, Rubus spp., Rosa carolina) and small trees (e.g., Cornus racemosa): Bell’s Vireo, Yellow-Breasted Chat, Loggerhead Shrike, Brown Thrasher, Common Yellowthroat

Amphibian and reptile species associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition: prairies with or nearby to fishless ponds/pools (may be ephemeral) may have Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum) and Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata triseriata); other species include Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata ornata), Western Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus attenuatus), Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris), Prairie Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus arnyi), and Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi).

Small mammals associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition: Least Shrew (Cryptotis parva), Plains Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius), Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster), Southern Bog Lemming (Synaptomys cooperi), Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius), and Badger (Taxidea taxus).

Invertebrates:
Many native insect species are likely associated with this ecological site, especially native bees, ants, beetles, butterflies and moths, and crickets, grasshoppers and katydids. However information on these groups is often lacking enough resolution to assign them to individual ecological sites.

Insect species known to be associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition: Regal Fritillary butterfly (Speyeria idalia) whose larvae feed primarily on native prairie violets (Viola pedata, V. pedatifida, and V. sagittata); Mottled Dusky Wing butterfly (Erynnis martialis), Golden Byssus butterfly (Problema byssus kumskaka), and Crossline Skipper butterfly (Polites origenes). The larvae of the moth Eucosma bipunctella bore into compass plant (Silphium laciniatum) roots and feed and the larvae of the moth Eucosma giganteana bore into a number of Silphium species roots and feed. Native bees, important pollinators, that may be associated with this ecological site’s reference condition include: Colletes brevicornis, Andrena beameri, A. helianthiformis, Protandrena rudbeckiae, Halictus parallelus, Lasioglossum albipennis, L. coreopsis, L. disparilis, L. nymphaereum, Ashmeadiella bucconis, Megachile addenda, Anthidium psoraleae, Eucera hamata, Melissodes coloradensis, M. coreopsis, and M. vernoniae. The Short-winged Katydid (Amblycorypha parvipennis), Green Grasshopper (Hesperotettix speciosus) and Two-voiced Conehead katydid (Neoconcephalus bivocatus) are possible orthopteran associates of this ecological site.

(This section prepared by Mike Leahy, Natural Areas Coordinator, Missouri Department of Conservation, 2013. References for this section: Fitzgerald and Pashley 2000b; Heitzman and Heitzman 1996; Jacobs 2001; Johnson 2000; Pitts and McGuire 2000; Schwartz and others 2001)

Other information

Forestry

Management: This ecological site is not recommended for traditional timber management activity. Historically this site was dominated by a ground cover of native prairie grasses and forbs. Some scattered open grown trees may have also been present. Altered sites may be suitable for non-traditional forestry uses such as windbreaks, environmental plantings, alley cropping (a method of planting, in which rows of trees or shrubs are interspersed with rows of crops) or woody bio-fuels.

Supporting information

Inventory data references

Potential Reference Sites: Loamy Terrace Prairie No quality reference sites are known to exist.

Other references

Batek, M.J., A.J. Rebertus, W.A. Schroeder, T.L. Haithcoat, E. Compas, and R.P. Guyette. 1999. Reconstruction of early nineteenth-century vegetation and fire regimes in the Missouri Ozarks. Journal of Biogeography 26:397-412.

Fitzgerald, J.A. and D.N. Pashley. 2000a. Partners in Flight bird conservation plan for the Ozark/Ouachitas. American Bird Conservancy.

Fitzgerald, J.A. and D.N. Pashley. 2000b. Partners in Flight bird conservation plan for the Dissected Till Plains. American Bird Conservancy.

Frost, C., 1996. Pre-settlement Fire Frequency Regimes of the United States: A First Approximation. Pages 70-81, Proceedings of the 20nd Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference: Fire in Ecosystem Management: Shifting the Paradigm from Suppression to Prescription. Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL.

Harlan, J.D., T.A. Nigh and W.A. Schroeder. 2001. The Missouri original General Land Office survey notes project. University of Missouri, Columbia.

Heitzman, J.R. and J.E. Heitzman. 1996. Butterflies and moths of Missouri. 2nd ed. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.

Jacobs, B. 2001. Birds in Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.

Johnson, T.R. 2000. The amphibians and reptiles of Missouri. 2nd ed. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.

NatureServe, 2010. Vegetation Associations of Missouri (revised). NatureServe, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Nelson, Paul W. 2010. The Terrestrial Natural Communities of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.

Nigh, Timothy A. and Walter A. Schroeder. 2002. Atlas of Missouri Ecoregions. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.

Pitts, D.E. and W.D. McGuire. 2000. Wildlife management for Missouri landowners. 3rd ed. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.

Schwartz, C.W., E.R. Schwartz and J.J. Conley. 2001. The wild mammals of Missouri. University of Missouri Press, Columbia and Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.

Tummons, Richard L. 1982. Soil Survey of St. Charles County, Missouri. U.S. Dept. of Agric. Soil Conservation Service.

United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). 2006. Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 296. 682 pgs.

United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2022. Land resource regions and major land resource areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 296.

University of Missouri Climate Center - http://climate.missouri.edu/climate.php; accessed June 2012

Contributors

Fred Young
Doug Wallace

Approval

Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 12/30/2024

Acknowledgments

Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Department of Natural Resources personnel provided significant and helpful field and technical support in the development of this ecological site.

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	09/14/2026
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:

Download reference sheet

Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site R115XB037MO

Loamy Terrace Prairie

Last updated: 12/30/2024 Accessed: 09/14/2026

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General information

Figure 1. Mapped extent

MLRA notes

LRU notes

Classification relationships

Ecological site concept

Associated sites

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Last updated: 12/30/2024
Accessed: 09/14/2026