Natural Resources
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Ecological site F116AY039MO
Loamy Floodplain Step Forest
Last updated: 9/24/2020
Accessed: 09/04/2026
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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): 116A–Ozark Highland
The Ozark Highland constitutes the Salem Plateau of the Ozark Uplift. Elevation ranges from about 300 feet on the southeast edge of the Ozark escarpment, to about 1,600 feet in the west, adjacent to the Burlington Escarpment of the Springfield Plateau. The underlying bedrock is mainly horizontally bedded Ordovician-aged dolomites and sandstones that dip gently away from the uplift apex in southeast Missouri. Cambrian dolomites are exposed on deeply dissected hillslopes. In some places, Pennsylvanian and Mississipian sediments overlie the plateau. Relief varies, from the gently rolling central plateau areas to deeply dissected hillslopes associated with drainageways such as the Buffalo, Current, Eleven Point and White Rivers.
Classification relationships
Terrestrial Natural Community Type in Missouri (Nelson, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Mesic Bottomland Forest.
Missouri Department of Conservation Forest and Woodland Communities (MDC, 2006):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Mixed Hardwood Mesic Bottomland Forest.
National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to an Acer saccharum - Quercus rubra - Carya cordiformis / Asimina triloba Forest (CEGL002060).
Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002):
This ecological site is widespread across the Ozark Highlands Section.Ecological site concept
NOTE: This is a “provisional” Ecological Site Description (ESD) that is under development. It contains basic ecological information that can be used for conservation planning, application and land management. After additional information is collected, analyzed and reviewed, this ESD will be refined and published as “Approved”.
Loamy Floodplain Step Forests occur along most major streams throughout the Ozark Highland. Soils are very deep and loamy, and are subject to flooding. The reference plant community is forest with an overstory dominated by a variety of trees including sugar maple, northern red oak, bitternut hickory, bur oak, American elm, black walnut and Kentucky coffee tree, an understory dominated by pawpaw, northern spicebush, Ohio buckeye and eastern leatherwood and a rich herbaceous ground flora.Associated sites
F116AY011MO Chert Upland Woodland
Chert Upland Woodlands, and other upland and backslope ecological sites, are upslope.
F116AY034MO Loamy Terrace Forest
Loamy Terrace Forests are upslope.
F116AY035MO Wet Terrace Forest
Wet Terrace Forests are upslope.
F116AY042MO Sandy/Gravelly Floodplain Forest
Sandy/Gravelly Floodplain Forests and other floodplain ecological sites are downslope.
Similar sites
F116AY034MO Loamy Terrace Forest
Loamy Terrace Forests are upslope and experience less flooding.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Quercus rubra
(2) Acer saccharumShrub (1) Asimina triloba
Herbaceous (1) Asarum canadense
(2) CarexPhysiographic features
This site is on high floodplains (floodplain steps), with slopes of 0 to 3 percent. The site generates some runoff to adjacent lower floodplain sites, and receives some runoff from higher stream terraces and uplands. This site is subject to occasional flooding.
The following figure (adapted from Holbrook and Childress, 2006) shows the typical landscape position of this ecological site, and landscape relationships with other ecological sites. It is within the area labeled “5” on the figure. Loamy Floodplain Step Forest sites are typically below Terrace Forest sites, labeled “2” and “3”. The Floodplain Step Forest sites are slightly above the Floodplain Forest sites, which are adjacent to the active stream channel.
Figure 2. Landscape relationships for this ecological site.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Flood-plain step
Flooding duration Very brief (4 to 48 hours) to brief (2 to 7 days) Flooding frequency Rare to occasional Ponding frequency None Slope 0 – 3 % Water table depth 27 – 60 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The Ozark Highland 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 Ozark Highland 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 crossing the MLRA from northwest to southeast.
The average annual precipitation in almost all of this area is 38 to 45 inches. Snow falls nearly every winter, but the snow cover lasts for only a few days. The average annual temperature is about 53 to 60 degrees F. The lower temperatures occur at the higher elevations in the western part of the MLRA. Mean January minimum temperature follows a stronger north-to-south 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 a northwest to southeast gradient. 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.
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. Deep sinkholes often have a microclimate significantly cooler, moister, and shadier than surrounding surfaces, a phenomenon that may result in a strikingly different ecology. 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; 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) 150-160 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 180-190 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 50-50 in Frost-free period (actual range) 140-160 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 170-190 days Precipitation total (actual range) 50-50 in Frost-free period (average) 150 days Freeze-free period (average) 180 days Precipitation total (average) 50 in Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 3. Monthly precipitation range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 4. Monthly minimum temperature range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 5. Monthly maximum temperature range
BarLineFigure 6. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 7. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 8 Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
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(1) CALICO ROCK 2 WSW [USC00031132], Calico Rock, AR
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(2) DONIPHAN [USC00232289], Doniphan, MO
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(3) FREEDOM [USC00233043], Linn, MO
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(4) TAHLEQUAH [USC00348677], Tahlequah, OK
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(5) LICKING 4N [USC00234919], Licking, MO
">Influencing water features
This ecological site is typically on high floodplains (floodplain steps). Stream levels typically respond quickly to storm events, especially in watersheds where surface runoff is dominant. Short- to medium- duration flooding is not uncommon in many areas, particularly during spring and early summer storm events. Constructed levees, often accompanied by stream channelization, have altered the hydrology and flooding dynamics in many places. Streambeds may be incised into the surrounding floodplain by as much as 10 feet may be a sign of an alternative state. In most areas the water table has a minimal effect on the vegetative community.
Soil features
These soils have no rooting restriction. They were formed under forest vegetation, with periodic depositional flood events. Organic matter content is variable. Parent material is alluvium. They have silt loam, sandy loam or loam surface horizons, and loamy subsoils lacking argillic horizons that may be skeletal with depth. They are not affected by seasonal wetness. Soil series associated with this site include Gladden, Haymond, Hontas, Huzzah, Jamesfin, Kaintuck, Possumtrot, Racket, Sturkie, and Woolly.
The accompanying picture of the Gladden series shows the brown loamy alluvium characteristic of these soils. Gravel content increases in the lower horizons of the Gladden soils. Scale is in inches. Photo credit, NRCS
Figure 9. Gladden series
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium
Surface texture (1) Loam
(2) Silt loam
(3) Sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Moderately well drained to somewhat excessively drained Permeability class Moderately slow to moderate Soil depth 72 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 0 – 12 % Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)5 – 8 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)4.5 – 7.3 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 50 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 10 % 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.
Historically, Loamy Floodplain Step Forests in the Ozarks were on relatively stable floodplain positions that flooded approximately once every 3 to 5 years. It is likely that the hydrology of these streams has altered since pre-settlement because of changes in land use. Current flooding is likely more frequent. Historically these forests were structurally and compositionally diverse, with occasional tree fall gaps caused by flooding and natural mortality providing opportunities for regeneration of overstory species. The understory was also complex, with multiple layers of shade-tolerant species such as pawpaw, northern spicebush, Ohio buckeye and eastern leatherwood. Grape vine, greenbriar, and trumpet creeper climb into canopy gaps, and a diverse array of ground flora species carpet the forest floor.
Today, existing forests are dominated by a wide variety of deciduous hardwood tree species including sugar maple, northern red oak, bitternut hickory, bur oak, American elm, black walnut and Kentucky coffeetree. However, mortality and gaps formed from flood damaged trees are likely more abundant than historically, and the presence of more flood-tolerant trees such as sycamore, eastern cottonwood, green ash and hackberry may be elevated.
The productive Loamy Floodplain Step Forest sites have regularly been converted to pasture and occasionally, cropland. The remaining forests often occur as a narrow band traversing the riverfront forest or stream edge. These bands of forest play an important role as a source of food and shelter for migrating birds. In addition, they are very important for streambank stabilization, capturing sediment and mitigating scour during flood events.
Uncontrolled grazing by domestic livestock in the remaining strips of forest can kill trees and remove the ground cover, resulting in de-stabilization and degradation of this ecological site. Carefully planned timber harvest can be tolerated by this system, but high-grading of the timber will also degrade the system.
Re-establishment of these forests is important for stream quality and health, as well as for migratory birds. Planting of late-successional species on the appropriate landscape position and soils has proven to be quite successful.
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 diagramStandard diagram
Figure 10. Landscape relationships for this ecological site.
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textEcosystem states
SWAPAEHSWAPAEHSWAPAEHStates 1, 5 and 2 (additional transitions)
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 5 submodel, plant communities
State 1
ReferenceHistorically, Loamy Floodplain Step Forests in the Ozarks were on relatively stable floodplain positions that flooded approximately once every 3-5 years. This state was dominated by a variety of mesic species such as sugar maple, northern red oak, and bitternut hickory. The understory was complex, with multiple layers of shade-tolerant species. A highly diverse ground flora was also present.
Dominant plant species
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northern red oak (Quercus rubra), tree
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sugar maple (Acer saccharum), tree
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pawpaw (Asimina triloba), shrub
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sedge (Carex), grass
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Canadian wildginger (Asarum canadense), other herbaceous
Community 1.1
Northern Red Oak – Sugar Maple/Pawpaw / Canadian Wildginger – SedgeForest overstory.Forest Overstory (Species list is based on field reconnaissance as well as commonly occurring species listed in Nelson 2010; names and symbols are from USDA PLANTS database.
Forest understory. Forest Understory (Species list is based on field reconnaissance as well as commonly occurring species listed in Nelson 2010; names and symbols are from USDA PLANTS database.
State 2
Managed ForestWhere this state remains, it has often been subjected to selective timber harvest; rarely are they managed with an even-aged timber management system. While these patches may closely resemble the reference state, the diversity of tree species has been selectively (removal of oak and walnut) altered. In addition, a change to more frequent, higher-intensity floods on the modern landscape likely creates more frequent canopy gaps, and introduces more flood-tolerant species such as sycamore, eastern cottonwood, green ash or hackberry. Limiting timber harvest may allow a return to the reference state where hydrologic regimes are least altered.
Dominant plant species
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sugar maple (Acer saccharum), tree
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northern red oak (Quercus rubra), tree
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American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), tree
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pawpaw (Asimina triloba), shrub
Community 2.1
Sugar Maple – Northern Red Oak – Sycamore /PawpawState 3
GrasslandThis ecological site has been converted to non-native grasslands of tall fescue and red clover. This state frequently transitions to a cropland state especially when commodity prices are high. A return to a near-reference state from this state is not recommended. Transitioning to a Managed Forest state is possible through long-term commitments of time and money.
Dominant plant species
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tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), grass
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red clover (Trifolium pratense), other herbaceous
Community 3.1
Tall Fescue/Red CloverState 4
High Graded/ Grazed ForestThis state is subjected to uncontrolled grazing and high-graded timber harvests. The grazing will open up the understory and remove much of the diverse ground flora. This can lead to erosion of the topsoil during floods. Grazed units also often undergo timber harvest removing a wide variety of outstanding hardwood trees, further diminishing the structural and compositional diversity. A return to the near-reference state will require a long-term commitment including the elimination of grazing, planting of trees and perhaps shrub and herbaceous species, and very limited targeted timber harvests and thinning.
Dominant plant species
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American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), tree
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green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), tree
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coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus), shrub
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wildrye (Elymus), grass
Community 4.1
Sycamore – Green Ash/Coralberry/ WildryeState 5
CroplandSome areas of this ecological site have been converted to row crop agriculture. They often transition to a grassland state. A return to the near-reference state is not practical from this state. Transitioning to a Managed Forest state is possible through long-term commitments of time and money.
Dominant plant species
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wheat (Triticum), grass
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corn (Zea mays), grass
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soybean (Glycine max), other herbaceous
Community 5.1
Corn, Soybeans, WheatTransition T1A
State 1 to 2This transition occurs when the natural flood regime of the area is altered. It also occurs during uneven-age timber management.
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3This transition is where clearing and pasture planting has occurred.
Transition T1C
State 1 to 4This transition occurs when there has been a poorly planned harvest and grazing within the area.
Transition T1D
State 1 to 5This transition occurs when there has been clearing of the area for row crop management.
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1Forest stand improvement; long term succession (+10-20 years)
Transition T3A
State 3 to 2This transition occurs when there is fescue eradication, tree planting and weed control done in the area.
Transition T3B
State 3 to 5This transition occurs when there has been clearing of the area for row crop management.
Transition T4C
State 4 to 2This transition occurs when there is tree planting with long-term succession and uneven-age management.
Transition T4A
State 4 to 3This transition is where clearing and pasture planting has occurred.
Transition T4B
State 4 to 5This transition occurs when there has been clearing of the area for row crop management.
Transition T5B
State 5 to 2This transition occurs when there is tree planting with long-term succession and uneven-age management.
Transition T5A
State 5 to 3This transition is where clearing and pasture planting has occurred.
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) TreeAmerican sycamore PLOC Platanus occidentalis Native – – – 0 bitternut hickory CACO15 Carya cordiformis Native – – – 0 slippery elm ULRU Ulmus rubra Native – – – 0 bur oak QUMA2 Quercus macrocarpa Native – – – 0 common hackberry CEOC Celtis occidentalis Native – – – 0 white ash FRAM2 Fraxinus americana Native – – – 0 American elm ULAM Ulmus americana Native – – – 0 boxelder ACNE2 Acer negundo Native – – – 0 sugarberry CELA Celtis laevigata Native – – – 0 Shumard's oak QUSH Quercus shumardii Native – – – 0 green ash FRPE Fraxinus pennsylvanica Native – – – 0 black walnut JUNI Juglans nigra Native – – – 0 Kentucky coffeetree GYDI Gymnocladus dioicus Native – – – 0 sugar maple ACSA3 Acer saccharum Native – – – 0 white oak QUAL Quercus alba Native – – – 0 red mulberry MORU2 Morus rubra Native – – – 0 Ohio buckeye AEGL Aesculus glabra Native – – – 0 northern red oak QURU Quercus rubra Native – – – 0 Table 7. Community 1.1 forest understory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height (ft) Canopy cover (%) Grass/grass-like (Graminoids)Virginia wildrye ELVI3 Elymus virginicus Native – – eastern woodland sedge CABL Carex blanda Native – – giant cane ARGI Arundinaria gigantea Native – – Indian woodoats CHLA5 Chasmanthium latifolium Native – – whitegrass LEVI2 Leersia virginica Native – – James' sedge CAJA2 Carex jamesii Native – – eastern star sedge CARA8 Carex radiata Native – – woodland bluegrass POSY Poa sylvestris Native – – parasol sedge CAUM4 Carex umbellata Native – – eastern woodland sedge CABL Carex blanda Native – – Bosc's panicgrass DIBO2 Dichanthelium boscii Native – – Forb/Herbobovate beakgrain DIOB3 Diarrhena obovata Native – – common blue violet VISO Viola sororia Native – – yellow passionflower PALU2 Passiflora lutea Native – – cutleaf toothwort CACO26 Cardamine concatenata Native – – common yellow oxalis OXST Oxalis stricta Native – – pointedleaf ticktrefoil DEGL5 Desmodium glutinosum Native – – Canadian woodnettle LACA3 Laportea canadensis Native – – goldenseal HYCA Hydrastis canadensis Native – – jumpseed POVI2 Polygonum virginianum Native – – wingstem VEAL Verbesina alternifolia Native – – striped cream violet VIST3 Viola striata Native – – pinnate prairie coneflower RAPI Ratibida pinnata Native – – cutleaf coneflower RULA3 Rudbeckia laciniata Native – – Canadian clearweed PIPU2 Pilea pumila Native – – bottomland aster SYON2 Symphyotrichum ontarionis Native – – wild blue phlox PHDI5 Phlox divaricata Native – – eastern false rue anemone ENBI Enemion biternatum Native – – Canadian honewort CRCA9 Cryptotaenia canadensis Native – – early meadow-rue THDI Thalictrum dioicum Native – – white avens GECA7 Geum canadense Native – – eastern waterleaf HYVI Hydrophyllum virginianum Native – – lateflowering thoroughwort EUSE2 Eupatorium serotinum Native – – biannual lettuce LALU Lactuca ludoviciana Native – – Canadian wildginger ASCA Asarum canadense Native – – Shrub/Subshrubpawpaw ASTR Asimina triloba Native – – northern spicebush LIBE3 Lindera benzoin Native – – eastern leatherwood DIPA9 Dirca palustris Native – – American black elderberry SANIC4 Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis Native – – Carolina buckthorn FRCA13 Frangula caroliniana Native – – TreeAmerican hornbeam CACA18 Carpinus caroliniana Native – – Ohio buckeye AEGL Aesculus glabra Native – – common persimmon DIVI5 Diospyros virginiana Native – – flowering dogwood COFL2 Cornus florida Native – – Vine/Lianasaw greenbrier SMBO2 Smilax bona-nox Native – – grape VITIS Vitis Native – – Table 8. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 9. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 5.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
Wildlife (MDC 2006):
Wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and eastern gray squirrel depend on hard and soft mast food sources and are typical upland game species of this type.
Birds associated with mid-successional stages include Whip-poor-will and Wood Thrush while birds associated with late-successional stages include Worm-eating warbler, Whip-poor-will, Great Crested Flycatcher, Ovenbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Wood Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Northern Parula, Louisiana Waterthrush (near streams), and Broad-winged Hawk.
Reptile and amphibian species associated with mature forests include: ringed salamander, spotted salamander, marbled salamander, central newt, long-tailed salamander, dark-sided salamander, southern red-backed salamander, three-toed box turtle, western worm snake, western earth snake, and American toad.Other information
Forestry (NRCS 2002, 2015):
Management: Site index values range from 70 for oak to 105 for sycamore. Timber management opportunities are good to excellent. Create group openings of at least 2 acres. Large clearcuts should be minimized if possible to reduce impacts on wildlife and aesthetics. Uneven-aged management using single tree selection or group selection cuttings of ½ to 1 acre are other options that can be used if clear cutting is not desired or warranted. Harvest methods that leave some mature trees to provide shade and soil protection may be desirable. Maintain adequate riparian buffer areas.
Limitations: Wetness from flooding – short duration and/or high water table; Use of equipment may be restricted in spring and other excessively wet periods. Equipment use when wet may compact soil and damage tree roots. Tree planting is difficult during spring flooding periods. Seedling mortality may be high due to excess wetness. Ridging the soil and planting on the ridges may increase survival.Supporting information
Inventory data references
Potential Reference Sites: Loamy Floodplain Step Forest Plot ELPOFS03 - Racket soil Located in Eleven Point Area, MTNF, USFS, Oregon County, MO Latitude: 36.701491 Longitude: -91.200254 Plot ELPOFS04 - Sturkie soil Located in Eleven Point Area, MTNF, USFS, Oregon County, MO Latitude: 36.698865 Longitude: -91.198174 Plot ELPOFS07 - Possumtrot soil Located in Eleven Point Area, MTNF, USFS, Oregon County, MO Latitude: 36.65377 Longitude: -91.184939 Plot HAMMCA_KS01 - Kaintuck soil Located in Bradley A. Hammer CA, Wayne County, MO Latitude: 36.962979 Longitude: -90.564741 Plot SHNAMB03 – Possumtrot soil Located in Shaw Nature Reserve, MOBOT, Franklin County, MO Latitude: 38.461561 Longitude: -90.813753 Plot SHNAMB04 – Kaintuck soil Located in Shaw Nature Reserve, MOBOT, Franklin County, MO Latitude: 38.455193 Longitude: -90.820495 Plot CURINP06 - Possumtrot soil Located in Current River Area, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, NPS, Carter County, MO Latitude: 37.087539 Longitude: -91.063635 Plot WOWOCA01 - Racket soil Located in Woodson K. Woods CA, Phelps and Crawford Counties, MO Latitude: 37.967013 Longitude: -91.521568
Other references
Anderson, R.C. 1990. The historic role of fire in North American grasslands. Pp. 8-18 in S.L. Collins and L.L. Wallace (eds.). Fire in North American tallgrass prairies. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.
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.
Brinson, M.M. 1993. A hydrogeomorphic classification for wetlands. Technical Report WRP-DE-4, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS.
Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, & E.T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. U.S. Dept. of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washington DC.
Harlan, J.D., T.A. Nigh and W.A. Schroeder. 2001. The Missouri original General Land Office survey notes project. University of Missouri, Columbia.
Holbrook, Donald, & J. Daniel Childress. 2006. Soil Survey of Bollinger County, Missouri. U.S. Dept. of Agric. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Ladd, D. 1991. Reexamination of the role of fire in Missouri oak woodlands. Pp. 67-80 in G.V. Brown, James K.; Smith, Jane Kapler, eds. 2000. Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on flora. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 2. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 257 p.
Missouri Department of Conservation. 2010. Missouri Forest and Woodland Community Profiles. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2002. Woodland Suitability Groups. Missouri FOTG, Section II, Soil Interpretations and Reports. 30 pgs.
Natural Resources Conservation Service. Site Index Reports. Downloaded 2015. https://esi.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESI_Forestland/pgFSWelcome.aspx
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. 550p.
Nigh, Timothy A., & Walter A. Schroeder. 2002. Atlas of Missouri Ecoregions. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri. 212p.
Schoolcraft, H.R. 1821. Journal of a tour into the interior of Missouri and Arkansas from Potosi, or Mine a Burton, in Missouri territory, in a southwest direction, toward the Rocky Mountains: performed in the years 1818 and 1819. Richard Phillips and Company, London.Contributors
Fred Young
Doug WallaceApproval
Nels Barrett, 9/24/2020
Acknowledgments
Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Department of Natural Resources personnel provided significant and helpful field and technical support during this project.
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 09/04/2026 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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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:
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PrintThe 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.
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