Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Moist, Piedmont - felsic, Upland, Mixed Oak - Hardwood - Conifer Forest
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1 More details
- Transition T3 More details
- Restoration pathway R1 More details
- Transition T2 More details
- Restoration pathway R2 More details
-
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
Closed canopy forests are the reference state on moist sites across the Northern Piedmont. Classic succession proceeds relatively quickly through the meadow and brush states to a forest state, and closed canopy forests are relatively persistent on these sites. The composition and structure of closed canopy forests are variable, dynamic, and largely dependent on disturbance history as well as the silvics of tree species present on the site or nearby. Closed canopy forests on this site typically occur in one of two general phases:
- Mesic Upland Heath Phase
- Mesic Upland Generalist Forest Phase
Both phases are described in detail in the community phases sub-model
Resilience management
There are many threats to the health of forests across the Northern Piedmont including invasive plants, insects, and diseases as well as changing weather patterns including both wind and precipitation in particular. These threats can have a profound impact on the composition, structure, and ecological function of forest stands, but the forest state itself is highly resilient on these sites. The impacts of individual disturbance vectors can potentially be reduced through:
- overstory stocking management and quality tree retention
- managing for a variety of tree species
- managing for a variety of tree ages
- controlling invasive species
- managing for advance regeneration
Submodel
Description
The brush state on this site is a transient state which can be arrived at from at least two different pathways. It can be a normal step in classic succession from the very early succession meadow state through the shrub state towards a forest condition, or, alternatively, it can result from a disturbance vector that reduces or eliminates overstory tree cover and releases the understory woody shrub component. In either case, it's occupation of a site is typically transient with the normal successional pathway progressing out of shrubland towards forest.
Resilience management
Without frequent disturbance, this state is transient in the normal successional pathway. Frequent prescribed fire, prescribed grazing, and/or brush management are necessary to facilitate the persistence of the brush state.
Submodel
Description
The meadow state on this site is a transient state which can be arrived at from at least two different pathways. It can be a normal step in classic succession from the very early succession meadow state through the brush state towards a forest condition, or, alternatively, it can result from a disturbance vector that reduces or eliminates most or all woody cover including overstory tree cover and the understory woody shrub component. In either case, it's occupation of a site is typically transient with the normal successional pathway progressing out of meadow towards brush and then forest.
Resilience management
Without frequent disturbance, this state is transient in the normal successional pathway. Frequent prescribed fire, prescribed grazing, and/or brush management are necessary to facilitate the persistence of the meadow state.
Submodel
Mechanism
The transition from the forest state to the brush state will occur as the result of any disturbance that reduces overstory tree cover but does not similarly reduce understory woody vegetation cover. Examples include tree disease, tree pests, windthrow, and timber harvest.
Context dependence
This transition will only occur when shrubs are already well established beneath the overstory tree canopy prior to release.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
|
|
Forest Stand Improvement |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
The transition from the forest state to the meadow state will occur as the result of any disturbance that reduces (or eliminates) all (most) woody vegetation cover including both trees and shrubs. Examples include tree disease, tree pests, windthrow, and timber harvest.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
|
|
Forest Stand Improvement |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
The brush state will likely succeed to the forest state without any management intervention, but the management practices listed below will facilitate the process.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Tree/Shrub Establishment |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
The transition from the brush state to the meadow state will occur as the result of any disturbance that reduces (or eliminates) all (most) woody vegetation cover including both trees and shrubs. Examples include tree disease, tree pests, windthrow, and timber harvest.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
The meadow state will likely succeed to the brush state without any management intervention, but the management practices listed below will facilitate the process.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Tree/Shrub Establishment |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
|
|
Herbaceous Weed Control |
Model keys
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