State 1
Fire Dependent Forest

Fire Dependent Forest are characterized by having predominantly blackjack oaks and shortleaf pines, with other oak and hickory species occurring to a lesser extent, interspaced by a herbaceous understory. This community was common on the acidic uplands of the Blackland Prairie before regular fire suppression and heavy land management. Blackjack oaks are highly resistant to fire and pines grow more rapidly than most hardwood species giving them an advantage over other tree species in areas experiencing common disturbance from fire. In the time since fire suppression has become more common the representation of this community has greatly decreased with post and white oak replacing blackjack oak. Pine trees are still common.

Resilience management. A regular fire regime is required to maintain this community.

Community 1.1
Fire Dependent Forest

Resilience management. A regular fire regime is required to maintain this community.

State 2
Fire Suppressed Forest

Fire Suppressed Forest communities are comprised of post oak, white oak, southern red oak, hickories, sweetgum, shortleaf pine, and loblolly pine interspaced by a herbaceous understory. These forests can occur in two phases, “wetter” and “drier”. In the “wetter” hardwoods are predominant with a few pine trees. In the “drier” phase the inverse is true, with pines occurring more regularly and hardwoods to a lesser extent. For the provisional phase of ecological site development, it is difficult to determine which of these phases is typical for this site. In future stages of ESD development, when there is more data, it will be possible to determine how common these phases occur on this ecological site.

Resilience management. This state thrives when there is little disturbance on the landscape.

Community 2.1
Wet Phase Fire Suppressed Forest

This phase occurs on this site when there is little disturbance from land management or fire and there is greater moisture availability. In the wet phase, hardwoods are predominant mixed with a few pine trees and surrounded by a herbaceous understory.

Resilience management. This state thrives when there is little disturbance on the landscape.

Community 2.2
Dry Phase Fire Suppressed Forest

This phase occurs on this site when there is little disturbance from land management or fire and there is less moisture availability. In the dry phase, the plant community tends to be a mixed pine and hardwood forest surrounded by a herbaceous understory.

Resilience management. This state thrives when there is little disturbance on the landscape.

Pathway 2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2

Pathway 2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.1

State 3
Temporary Post Disturbance Grassland

Temporary Post Disturbance Grassland occurs after a large-scale disturbance on these sites. This disturbance can be either management driven (clearcutting, abandonment,…) or naturally occurring (fire…). This phase is temporary. If management continues the landscape will shift into whatever state is being managed for. If a site is not being managed post disturbance it will likely transform into a forest community. Plants that occur on this site depend largely on what was growing prior to the disturbance.

Resilience management. This community is dependent on a large scale disturbance or change in management.

Community 3.1
Temporary Post Disturbance Grassland

Grasses, forbs, and other herbaceous species are the first to recover after a major disturbance. If this disturbance is not maintained the grassland will transition into another state.

Resilience management. This community is dependent on a large scale disturbance or change in management.

State 4
Silviculture

The Silviculture community is a managed forest used for wood production and wildlife habitat. Most silviculture communities in this area are planted loblolly pine, but in some instances hardwoods are planted. Silviculture is best suited to the Interior Flatwoods LRU of MLRA 135A, but it can be implemented in the other LRUs. Before committing to silviculture, it would be best to consult an NRCS area forester to ensure that it is a viable option for a given site.

Resilience management. Common practices for maintaining this state are tree thinning, herbicide, and fire.

Community 4.1
Silviculture

Resilience management. Common practices for maintaining this state are tree thinning, herbicide, and fire.

State 5
Pasture

Pasture is a grassland that occurs as a result of heavy land management changes (clearcutting, herbicide, grazing, planting etc.) in order to produce livestock forage or hay. Pasture differs from native grassland as the plant species in the pasture are typically selected and planted specifically for forage quality. Livestock grazing can greatly alter the plant community.

Resilience management. Plant and manage for desired species.

Community 5.1
Pasture

Resilience management. Plant and manage for desired species.

State 6
Cropland

Cropland occur as a result of heavy land management changes (clearcutting, herbicide, tilling, etc.) in order to produce crops. Common crops for this ecological site are cotton, corn, and soybeans. There are different management styles used for cropland communities including conventional till, no till, cover crop, double crop, and others. Some of these practices are mutually exclusive, but others can be combined.

Community 6.1
Cropland

State 7
Aquaculture

Aquaculture in this region is predominantly used for the production of catfish. Most producers in this region will excavate ponds at a uniform depth in flat heavy clay areas.

Community 7.1
Aquaculture

State 8
Conservation Area

Conservation areas are sites set aside to try and recapture the historical plant and animal communities of the reference state. These states will never be a perfect replication because of anthropogenic and natural changes to the ecological system. Some of these changes include fire suppression, changes in hydrology (channeling waterways...), extinction of species, introduced species, invasive species, altering landscapes (farming practices and urbanization) and probable changes to the soil microbial communities. These sites are meant to be the best representation possible for these historical communities given the changes that have occurred. For this ecological site a restoration area would be a forested area that maintained a regular burning regiment.

Community 8.1
Conservation Area

Resilience management. This will require managing for specific species such as blackjack oak an incorporating a regular burning regiment.

Transition T1-2
State 1 to 2

Prevent fire and other large scale disturbance. This is a slow transition.

Transition T1-3
State 1 to 3

If a fire is intense enough to kill even the fire resistant trees or if the forest is clear-cut, it will transition into a temporary grassland.

Transition T2-3
State 2 to 3

Any major disturbance that kills the trees in the forest will cause it to transition to a temporary grassland.

Transition T2-8
State 2 to 8

Clear trees and plant and manage for the historical fire dependent forest. These sites will never be a perfect representation of the historical community.

Transition T3-2
State 3 to 2

Prevent fire and other disturbances and a forest will grow.

Transition T3-4
State 3 to 4

Manage for desired forest community

Transition T3-5
State 3 to 5

Manage for desired forage species

Transition T3-6
State 3 to 6

Plant and manage for desired crops.

Transition T3-7
State 3 to 7

Dig ponds to the desired depth and manage for selected aquatic species.

Transition T3-8
State 3 to 8

Plant and manage for the historical fire dependent forest. These sites will never be a perfect representation of the historical community.

Transition T4-2
State 4 to 2

If the site is not managed it could transition into a Fire Suppressed Forest.

Transition T4-3
State 4 to 3

Clear the trees.

Transition T4-5
State 4 to 5

Clear the trees and then plant and mange for desired forage species.

Transition T4-6
State 4 to 6

Clear the trees and then plant and mange for desired crops.

Transition T4-8
State 4 to 8

Clear trees and plant and manage for the historical fire dependent forest. These sites will never be a perfect representation of the historical community.

Transition T5-3
State 5 to 3

Any significant natural or management disturbance can cause this shift.

Transition T5-4
State 5 to 4

Clear forage species and plant and manage for desired forest community.

Transition T5-6
State 5 to 6

Clear forage species and plant and manage for desired crops.

Transition T5-7
State 5 to 7

Dig ponds to the desired depth and manage for selected aquatic species.

Transition T5-8
State 5 to 8

Plant and manage for the historical fire dependent forest. These sites will never be a perfect representation of the historical community.

Transition T6-3
State 6 to 3

Any significant natural or management disturbance can cause this shift.

Transition T6-4
State 6 to 4

Clear crops and plant desired forest species.

Transition T6-5
State 6 to 5

Clear crop species and plant and mange for desired forage species.

Transition T6-7
State 6 to 7

Dig ponds to the desired depth and manage for selected aquatic species.

Transition T6-8
State 6 to 8

Plant and manage for the historical fire dependent forest. These sites will never be a perfect representation of the historical community.

Transition T7-3
State 7 to 3

Fill ponds with soil, the grassland will be the first state in succession if management is not applied.

Transition T8-2
State 8 to 2

Prevent fire and other large scale disturbance.

Transition T8-3
State 8 to 3

If a fire is intense enough to kill even the fire resistant trees or if the forest is clear-cut, it will transition into a temporary grassland.

Transition T8-4
State 8 to 4

Clear forest and plant desired tree species.

Transition T8-5
State 8 to 5

Clear forest and plant and mange for desired forage species.

Transition T8-6
State 8 to 6

Clear forest, plant and manage for desired crops.

Transition T8-7
State 8 to 7

Clear trees and manage for desired aquatic species.