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Ecological site F131AY015MO

Sand Terrace Woodland

Accessed: 09/15/2026

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General information

Draft. A draft ecological site description is either incomplete or has not undergone quality control and quality assurance review.

MLRA notes

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 131A–Southern Mississippi River Alluvium

The Southern Mississippi River Alluvium (outlined in red on the map; northern portion only) is a vast alluvial plain, stretching from the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to tidewater areas of the Gulf of Mexico. The area is formed primarily in sediments deposited by the Mississippi River, with significant contributions from the St Francis and Black Rivers west of Crowley’s Ridge, in the northern part of the area. A variety of alluvial landforms are present, including natural levees, sand splays, backswamps, channels, swales, stream terraces and braided terraces. Dunes have formed from wind redistribution of alluvial sands, and loess deposits overlie older terraces to the west. Elevation ranges from about 330 feet in the north to sea level in the south. Local relief is low, and much of the area appears flat, although low escarpments and other slight changes in elevation often indicate major changes in hydrology and soils.

Classification relationships

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

Missouri Department of Conservation Forest and Woodland Communities (Missouri Department of Conservation, 2006):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Bottomland Woodland.

National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Quercus stellata - Quercus velutina - Quercus alba - (Quercus falcata) / Croton Michauxii Sand Woodland (CEGL002396).

Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002):
This Ecological Site occurs in various Land Type Associations primarily within the following Subsections:
Mississippi River Alluvial Plain
St. Francis River Alluvial Plain

Ecological site concept

Sand Terrace Woodlands are within the green areas on the map (Missouri portion only; distributions farther south are currently under review). These areas are widespread east of Crowley’s Ridge, particularly west of the Floodplain Forest ecological sites. They are often associated with the Sand Terrace Savanna and Braided Terrace ecological sites. Soils are very deep and loamy, with sandy loam surface textures. The reference plant community is woodland dominated by post oak, blackjack oak, black oak, southern red oak, black hickory, and pignut hickory.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	(1) Quercus stellata (2) Quercus marilandica
Shrub	(1) Corylus americana
Herbaceous	(1) Andropogon ternarius (2) Monarda punctata

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Physiographic features

These sites are on stream terraces. Most areas are nearly level, but some areas have slopes of up to 15 percent. Some areas are subject to flooding.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Stream terrace
Flooding frequency	None
Ponding frequency	None
Slope	0 – 8 %
Water table depth	8 – 10 in
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Soil features

These soils are very deep, with no major rooting restrictions. The soils were formed under woodland vegetation. Organic matter content is generally low. Parent material is alluvium. They have fine sandy loam to loamy sand surface layers, with loamy subsurface layers that are generally sandy loam. These soils are not affected by seasonal wetness. Soil series associated with this site include Beulah, Bosket, Canalou, Deanburg, Farrenburg, Fontaine, and Libourn.

The accompanying picture of the Bosket series shows a dark, fine sandy loam surface layer grading into the loamy brown subsoil at about 30 cm. The substrata below about 72 cm in this picture are weakly stratified fine sandy loam and loamy sand. Picture courtesy of Kevin Godsey and Dan Childress; scale is in centimeters.

Figure 1. Bosket series

Table 3. Representative soil features

Surface texture	(1) Fine sandy loam (2) Loamy sand (3) Silt loam
Family particle size	(1) Sandy
Drainage class	Somewhat poorly drained to well drained
Permeability class	Moderately slow to moderate
Surface fragment cover <=3"	Not specified
Surface fragment cover >3"	Not specified
Available water capacity (0-40in)	4 – 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)	4.5 – 7.3
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.

Sand Terrace Woodlands occur on large sand terraces that are slightly elevated above the surrounding lowlands. The elevated position and coarse textured, well drained sands limit the growth of trees (50 to 60 feet and 50 to 70 percent canopy closure) and supported a rich ground cover grass and forb community with numerous unique species. Plant species were adapted to survive in nutrient-deficient, easily eroding or shifting, droughty soils. Blowout areas may occur in a nearly pure sand substrate. Many of these sites are closely associated or intergrade with sand savannas and swales.

These areas rarely flood. In addition to drought, fire played a role in keeping woody species at bay, likely occurring at least once every 3 to 5 years. Fire restricts the dominance of trees and removes the dense mat of leaf litter creating opportunities for plants less aggressive than the grasses and sedges. During fire free intervals woody species would have increased, only to be checked with the return of fire.

Sand Terrace Woodlands were furthermore subjected to grazing by native large herbivores, such as bison, elk and deer. Grazing by native herbivores would have effectively kept understory conditions open, creating conditions more favorable to ground flora species and minimizing woody trees and shrubs.

Today most of these ecological sites have been converted to intensive agriculture. Only a few quality remnants exist but are denser in the absence of fire. Thinning and prescribed fire can restore these remnants. Their position and soil properties still make them good candidates for sand prairie and savanna development and management.

State and transition model

Additional community tables

Interpretations

Animal community

Wildlife*
Oaks and hickories provide an important food source for many animals including White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, and Fox Squirrel.

Both snags and live cavity or den trees provide important food and cover for vertebrate wildlife. Snags are also very important to invertebrate species. Fox Squirrel, Red-headed Woodpecker and Eastern Bluebird utilize snags and den trees for foraging, nesting or shelter. “Wolf” trees are a particularly valuable type of live cavity tree. These large diameter, often open-grown, old-ages, hollow trees provide both cavities for wildlife and usually hard or soft mast food sources. Large diameter snags and den trees are particularly important wildlife habitat features to retain.

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: Northern Bobwhite, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Bluebird, Brown Thrasher, White-eyed Vireo, Prairie Warbler, Field Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Red-headed Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Loggerhead Shrike

Amphibian and reptile species associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition: Six-lined Racerunner (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus), northern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus hyacinthinus), northern scarletsnake (Cemophora coccinea copei), and Dusty Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon gloydi).

Invertebrates – Many native insect species are likely associated with this phase of this ecological site’s reference state condition, especially native bees, ants, beetles, butterflies and moths, and crickets, grasshoppers and katydids.

*This section prepared by Mike Leahy, Natural Areas Coordinator, Missouri Department of Conservation, 2013

Other information

Forestry
Management: Estimated site index values for oaks range from 40 to 50. Timber management opportunities are fair. Sandy textures and lower available water affects tree growth and increases windthrow hazards. Harvest methods that leave some mature trees to provide shade and soil protection may be desirable. Restrict cuttings to group selection cuttings of 2 to 5 acres or single tree selections. These sites respond well to prescribed fire as a management tool. Where possible, favor black oak, southern red oak, white oak and post oak.

Limitations: Sandy textures throughout profile; Hand planting or direct seeding may be necessary. Seedling mortality due to low available water capacity may be high. Mulching or providing shade can improve seedling survival. Erosion is a hazard when slopes exceed 15 percent.

Supporting information

Contributors

Fred Young
Doug Wallace

Acknowledgments

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. 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. 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. Accessed May 2014. https://esi.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESI_Forestland/pgFSWelcome.aspx Nelson, Paul W. 2010. The Terrestrial Natural Communities of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri. Nigh, Timothy A., & 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.

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
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

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