Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Mesic Temperature Regime, Flood Plain Forest, Very Wet
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Clearcut logging or other large-scale disturbances that cause canopy removal.
More details -
Transition T2A
Long-term natural succession.
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
This mature forest state supports a mixture of bottomland hardwood species.
Characteristics and indicators
Stands are uneven-aged with a broad diameter class distribution. The forest typically has a closed canopy, though canopy gaps and standing dead trees are frequently interspersed. Species diversity is generally higher than in young secondary stands.
Except for on broad floodplains with well-developed backswamps, bottomland oaks (Quercus lyrata, Q. phellos, etc.) typically occupy a relatively small portion of the canopy. Nevertheless, their presence is a good indicator of mature forest conditions.
Dominant plant species
green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), tree
red maple (Acer rubrum), tree
American elm (Ulmus americana), tree
sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), tree
American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), tree
overcup oak (Quercus lyrata), tree
willow oak (Quercus phellos), tree
possumhaw (Ilex decidua), shrub
common winterberry (Ilex verticillata), shrub
eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), shrub
southern arrowwood (Viburnum recognitum), shrub
northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin), shrub
roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia), shrub
possumhaw (Viburnum nudum), shrub
crossvine (Bignonia capreolata), shrub
silky dogwood (Cornus amomum), shrub
early St. Johnswort (Hypericum nudiflorum), shrub
fringed sedge (Carex crinita), grass
blunt broom sedge (Carex tribuloides), grass
greater bladder sedge (Carex intumescens), grass
hop sedge (Carex lupulina), grass
fowl mannagrass (Glyceria striata), grass
whitegrass (Leersia virginica), grass
rice cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides), grass
deertongue (Dichanthelium clandestinum), grass
leathery rush (Juncus coriaceus), grass
lizard's tail (Saururus cernuus), grass
smallspike false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), grass
jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), grass
fringed loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata), grass
sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), grass
Virginia dayflower (Commelina virginica), grass
striped cream violet (Viola striata), grass
Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), grass
marsh seedbox (Ludwigia palustris), grass
Virginia water horehound (Lycopus virginicus), grass
Submodel
Description
This successional phase develops in the wake of clearcut logging, storm-related catastrophic tree mortality, or other large-scale disturbances that have led to canopy removal in the recent past. Which species colonize a particular location in the wake of a disturbance does involve a considerable degree of chance. It also depends a great deal on the type, duration, and magnitude of the disturbance event.
Characteristics and indicators
Plant age distribution is usually even.
Submodel
Transition T1A
Clearcut logging or other large-scale disturbances that cause canopy removal.
Mechanism
The reference state can transition to the secondary succession state through clearcut logging or other large-scale disturbances that cause canopy removal.
Model keys
Briefcase
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Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
The 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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