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Ecological site F149BY009MA
Well Drained Dense Till Uplands
Last updated: 9/17/2024
Accessed: 06/28/2026
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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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 149B–Long Island-Cape Cod Coastal Lowland
149B—Long Island-Cape Cod Coastal Lowland
This area is in the Embayed Section of the Coastal Plain Province of the Atlantic Plain. It is part of the partially submerged coastal plain of New England. It is mostly an area of nearly level to rolling plains, but it has some steeper hills (glacial moraines). Ridges border the lower plains. The Peconic and Carmans Rivers are on the eastern end of Long Island. The parts of this area in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have no major rivers. This entire area is made up of deep, unconsolidated glacial outwash deposits of sand and gravel. A thin mantle of glacial till covers most of the surface. Some moraines form ridges and higher hills in this area of generally low relief. Sand dunes and tidal marshes are extensive along the coastline.Classification relationships
USDA-NRCS (USDA, 2006):
Land Resource Region (LRR): S—Northern Atlantic Slope Diversified Farming Region
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 149B—Long Island-Cape Cod Coastal Lowland
USDA-FS (Cleland et al., 2007):
Province: 221 Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province
Section: 221A Lower New England
Subsection: 221Ab Cape Cod Coastal Lowland and Islands
Subsection: 221An Long Island Coastal Lowland and MoraineEcological site concept
The site consists of very deep, well drained, coarse-loamy soils formed in dense glacial till. They are gently sloping to strongly sloping soils on or near terminal moraines. Representative soils are Nantucket and Montauk loam phase.
The reference plant community is considered to be an Mixed oak-hardwood forest with occsional pines. Oaks were found to be dominant on terminal moraines within Cape Cod while pitch pine dominated sandy outwash sites (Parshall et al. 2003). Common oaks include black oak, scarlet oak, white, and scrub oak. Pitch pine is subdominant with lesser amounts of beech and hickories. Common shrubs include lowbush blueberry and black huckleberry. Post settlement clearing of forests and an increase in fire has led to a dominance of pitch pine over oaks on terminal moraines within Cape Cod (Parshall et al. 2003). In the absence of severe or frequent fire, oaks replaces pitch pine while other hardwoods such as beech and hickories become a larger component of the forests on more mesic sites.(Parshall et al. 2003).Associated sites
F149BY010MA Moist Till Uplands
Moist Till Uplands
Similar sites
F149BY011MA Well Drained Till Uplands
Well-drained Till Upland
F149BY003MA Well Drained Lake Plain
Well-drained Lake Plain
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Quercus velutina
(2) Fagus grandifoliaShrub (1) Vaccinium pallidum
(2) Viburnum acerifoliumHerbaceous (1) Carex swanii
(2) Thelypteris noveboracensisPhysiographic features
This site occurs in moraines and hills in upland landscapes and is not subject to flooding/ponding.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Upland > Moraine
(2) Ground moraine
(3) Hill
Runoff class Low to very high Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 0 – 1000 ft Slope 0 – 65 % Water table depth 24 – 72 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
Coastal regions' climate generally considered maritime, experiences a more moderate climate than inland, i.e., cooler summers and warmer winters and delayed onset of spring. However, coastal regions do experience the brunt of extreme weather such as nor'easters and tropical storms, e.g., hurricanes
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) 170-180 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 210-220 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 50-50 in Frost-free period (actual range) 160-190 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 210-230 days Precipitation total (actual range) 40-50 in Frost-free period (average) 170 days Freeze-free period (average) 220 days Precipitation total (average) 50 in Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 2. Monthly minimum temperature range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 3. Monthly maximum temperature range
BarLineFigure 4. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 5. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 6 Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
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(1) RIVERHEAD RSCH FM [USC00307134], Riverhead, NY
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(2) HYANNIS [USC00193821], Hyannis, MA
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(3) ISLIP LI MACARTHUR AP [USW00004781], Ronkonkoma, NY
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(4) MINEOLA [USC00305377], Mineola, NY
">Influencing water features
N/A
Wetland description
N/A
Soil features
The site consists of moderate to very deep, well to excessively drained, coarse-loamy soils formed in glacial and wind deposited parent materials. Representative soils are Eastchop, Nantucket, and Montauk loam phase.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Till – granite and gneiss
(2) Eolian deposits – schist
(3) Glaciofluvial deposits
Surface texture (1) Loam
(2) Loamy sand
(3) Sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Coarse-loamy
Drainage class Well drained to excessively drained Permeability class Very slow to moderate Depth to restrictive layer 20 – 72 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 9 % Available water capacity
(Depth not specified)3 – 6 in Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(Depth not specified)3.5 – 6 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)2 – 8 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 9 % Ecological dynamics
[Caveat: The vegetation information contained in this section and is only provisional, based on concepts, not yet validated with field work.*]
The vegetation groupings described in this section are based on the terrestrial ecological system classification and vegetation associations developed by NatureServe (Comer 2003). Terrestrial ecological systems are specifically defined as a group of plant community types (associations) that tend to co-occur within landscapes with similar ecological processes, substrates, and/or environmental gradients. They are intended to provide a classification unit that is readily mappable, often from terrain and remote imagery, and readily identifiable by conservation and resource managers in the field. A given system will typically manifest itself in a landscape at intermediate geographic scales of tens-to-thousands of hectares and will persist for 50 or more years. A vegetation association is a plant community that is much more specific to a given soil, geology, landform, climate, hydrology, and disturbance history. It is the basic unit for vegetation classification and recognized by the US National Vegetation Classification (US FDGC 2008; USNVC 2017). Each association will be named by the diagnostic and often dominant species that occupy the different height strata (tree, shrub, and herb). Within the NatureServe Explorer database, ecological systems are numbered by a community Ecological System Code (CES) and individual vegetation associations are assigned an identification number called a Community Element Global Code (CEGL).
[*Caveat] The information presented is representative of very complex vegetation communities. Key indicator plants 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 geography. The reference plant community is not necessarily the management goal. The drafts of species lists are merely 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.
This ecological site, set in well-drained dense till ecological site, supports reference plant communities of mixed hardwoods, such as oaks (Quercus, spp.), hickories (Carya spp.), American beech (Fagus gradifolia), and occasionally tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) and occasional pines (Pinus spp.). Oaks were found to be dominant on terminal moraines within Cape Cod while pines dominated sandy outwash sites (Parshall et al. 2003). These plant communities coincide with Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Dry Oak-Hardwood Forest system(CES203.475), and Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Heathland and Grassland (CES203.895). The prevailing ecological processes are related to coastal influences, such as a coastal climate and storms, and if within close proximity to the coast, maritime effects of wind exposure, salt spray, and sand movement. Fire can be an influence. Threats include development and fragmentation, fire-suppresion, off road vehicles, and invasive plants such as, but not limited to, black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), white poplar (Populus alba), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), Honeysuckles, (Lonicera spp.), oriental bittersweet (Celatrus orbiculatus), japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius), and Asiatic tearthumb (Polygonum perfoliatum). (Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
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Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textEcosystem states
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference State (Well-drained Dense Till Uplands)The predominant plant communities of the Well-drained Dense Till Uplands ecological site’s Reference State (minimally-managed) include:
• Mid-Atlantic Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest, (American Beech – Oaks (White Oak, Northern Red Oak) - Tuliptree / (American Holly) Forest, [Fagus grandifolia - Quercus (alba, rubra) - Liriodendron tulipifera / (Ilex opaca) Forest], - CEGL006075
• Northeastern Atlantic Coastal Beech - Oak Forest (American Beech - White Oak - Northern Red Oak Forest), [Fagus grandifolia - Quercus alba - Quercus rubra Forest, - CEGL006377
Other associated coastal/maritime communities can include:
• Northeastern Coastal Oak / Heath Forest, (Scarlet Oak - Black Oak / Sassafras / Hillside Blueberry Forest), [Quercus coccinea - Quercus velutina / Sassafras albidum / Vaccinium pallidum Forest], - CEGL006375
• Coastal Oak / Mountain Laurel Forest, (Black Oak - Scarlet Oak - Chestnut Oak / Mountain Laurel Forest), [Quercus velutina - Quercus coccinea - Quercus montana / Kalmia latifolia Forest], - CEGL006374
(Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).Community 1.1
American Beech – Oaks (White Oak, Northern Red Oak) - Tuliptree / (American Holly) ForestThis forest is characteristically a mixed forest dominated by American beech (Fagus grandifolia), white oak (Quercus alba), red oak (Quercus rubra), and tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in various proportions. Overstory associates over the range include black oak (Quercus velutina), scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), red maple (Acer rubrum), blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa), pignut hickory (Carya glabra), and white ash (Fraxinus americana); and on Staten Island NY may include southern red oak (Quercus falcata). The subcanopy is characterized by young American beech (Fagus grandifolia), red maple (Acer rubrum), American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), and Sassafras (Sassafras albidum). American holly (Ilex opaca) is particularly characteristic and abundant along the coast. The shrub layer is variable and may include mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), smooth viburnum (Viburnum dentatum), and possibly American strawberry bush (Euonymus americanus). Heath shrubs, such as highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) and hillside blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), may be common but not abundant. Vines are common, including Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), cat greenbrier (Smilax glauca), and poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). The herb layer is composed of Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), perfoliate bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata), pink lady’s slipper (Cypripedium acaule), partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), crippled cranefly (Tipularia discolor), downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens), white wood aster (Eurybia divaricata), striped wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata), Swan’s sedge (Carex swanii), Indian cucumber (Medeola virginiana), ladyfern (Athyrium filix-femina), slender woodland sedge (Carex digitalis), Willdenow’s sedge (Carex willdenowii), beechdrops (Epifagus virginiana), Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), naked tick trefoil (Desmodium nudiflorum) [= Hedysarum nudiflorum], King Soloman’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum), mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), and false Soloman’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum). (Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).
Cross-referenced plant community concepts (typically by political state):
Coastal Forest /Woodland (Swain 2016) [MA]
Coastal Oak-Beech Forest (Edinger et al. 2014) [NY]Community 1.2
American Beech - White Oak - Northern Red Oak ForestNortheastern Atlantic Coastal Beech - Oak Forest (American Beech - White Oak - Northern Red Oak Forest), [Fagus grandifolia - Quercus alba - Quercus rubra Forest, - CEGL006377
This plant association comprises coastal oak-beech forests of the north Atlantic Coast and occurs on dry well-drained, loamy sand of morainal coves. It has a mixed canopy of American beech (Fagus grandifolia), white oak (Quercus alba), and black oak (Quercus velutina) in varying proportions. Red oak Quercus rubra) is a common associate, although it never occurs in abundance. Occasional canopy associates that occur with low cover can include scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), and chestnut oak (Quercus montana) [= Q. prinus]. There are relatively few shrubs and the herb layer includes tree seedlings, especially of Quercus spp. and Americn beech (Fagus grandifolia), plus Swan’s sedge (Carex swanii), Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), white wood aster (Eurybia divaricata), beechdrops (Epifagus virginiana), and false Soloman’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum). (Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).
Coastal Forest /Woodland (Swain 2016) [MA]
Oak-tulip tree forest (Edinger et al. 2014) [NY]
Northeastern Atlantic Coastal Beech - Oak Forest (Sneddon et al. 2010) [Cape Cod National Seashore]Pathway P1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2Disturbance, greater fire frequency, coastal proximity
Key drivers
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Fire frequency
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Vegetation development
Pathway P1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1Succession, Reduced fire frequency
State 2
Semi-natural StateVegetation on lands somewhat conditioned by land use, e.g., managed native plant communities or invasive plant communities.
Community 2.1
Managed Forest WoodlandCommunity 2.2
Black Locust Ruderal ForestRuderal Black Locust Forest, (Black Locust Ruderal Forest), [Robinia pseudoacacia Ruderal Forest], - CEGL007279
Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) can establish on abandoned croplands, pasturing, and former homesites. Associated plants can vary from site to site and include black cherry (Prunus serotina), red ceadr (Juniperus virginiana), American elm (Ulmus americana), slippery elm (Ulmus rubra), shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), black walnut (Juglans nigra), red oak (Quercus rubra), and in some areas Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) or tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima). The understory vegetation is also highly variable depending on site history and often includes (poisen ivy) Toxicodendron radicans; northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is sometimes present in loamy , more mesic conditions. The invasive non-native shrub multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) and bramble wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius) can be present. Other non-native plants like, garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), major celindine (Chelidonium majus), ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea), and European lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis), can characterize the herb layer, which may also include native plants. (Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).
Other non-native plants can include white poplar (Populus alba), winged burningbush (Euonymus alatus), Japanese knotweed (japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum), and oriental bittersweet (Celatrus orbiculatus)
Cross-referenced plant community concepts (typically by political state):
Successional southern hardwoods (Edinger et al. 2014) [NY]
Black Locust successional forest (Sneddon et al. 2010) [Cape Cod National Seashore]Pathway P2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2Invasive plant establishment
Pathway P2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.1Invasive plant management
Conservation practices
Invasive Plant Species Control State 3
Cultural StateLandscapes heavily conditioned by land use, e.g., Plantations/gardens/croplands/hayfields.
Community 3.1
CultivatedCommunity 3.2
Orchard Grass - Timothy - Fescue species - Goldenrod species Herbaceous VegetationThis is a broadly defined vegetation type of pastures and is largely composed of non-native cool-season grasses and herbs (generally of European origin) in the early stages of succession. The fields are typically mowed at least annually. Species composition varies from site to site, from site to site but generally feature Orchard Grass (Dactylis glomerata). Timothy (Phleum pratense)- Fescue grasses (Festuca spp.), and some goldenrods (Solidago spp.). Other graminoid associates may include creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera), winer bentgrass (Agrostis hyemalis), creeping wildrye (Elymus repens), smooth brome (Bromus inermis), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Canada bluegrass (Poa compressa), and sweet vernalgrass (Anthoxanthum odoratum). Forbs scattered among the grasses are varied but include hawkweeds (Hieracium spp.), yellow oxalis (Oxalis stricta), common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa), gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis), early goldenrod (Solidago juncea), Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima), flattop goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia), field chickweed (Cerastium arvense), evening primrose (Oenothera biennis), common cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex), calico American-aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum), New England American-aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), white panicle American -aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum), Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota), annual agweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), bird vetch (Vicia cracca), sweetclover (Trifolium spp.), and many others (Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).
Cross-referenced plant community concepts (typically by political state):
Cultural Grassland (Swain Swain 2016) [MA]
Successional Old Field (Edinger et al. 2014) [NY]
Nothestern Old Field (Sneddon et al. 2010) [Cape Cod National Seashore]Pathway P3.1A
Community 3.1 to 3.2Pastureland management
Pathway P3.2A
Community 3.2 to 3.1Cropland management
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2Disturbance, invasive plant establishment
Conservation practices
Forest Land Management Key drivers
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Timber management
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Nonnative plant species presence and/or establishment
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Fire frequency
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3Cutting, land clearing, plant establishment, wind erosion control
Conservation practices
Brush Management Land Clearing Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1Herbaceous weed treatment, plant removal, plant establishment, successional management
Conservation practices
Brush Management Restoration and Management of Natural Ecosystems Native Plant Community Restoration and Management Forest Land Management Invasive Plant Species Control Monitoring and Evaluation Transition T2A
State 2 to 3Cutting, land clearing, plant establishment, wind erosion control
Conservation practices
Land Clearing Invasive Plant Species Control Herbaceous Weed Control Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1Herbaceous weed treatment, plant removal, plant establishment, successional management
Conservation practices
Brush Management Restoration and Management of Natural Ecosystems Native Plant Community Restoration and Management Invasive Plant Species Control Monitoring and Evaluation Herbaceous Weed Control Transition T3A
State 3 to 2Abandonment, disturbance, invasive plant establishment
Additional community tables
Table 5. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 6. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 7. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 8. Community 2.2 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 3.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Site Development and Testing Plan Future work is needed, as described in a project plan, to validate the information presented in this provisional ecological site description. Future work includes field sampling, data collection and analysis by qualified vegetation ecologists and soil scientists. As warranted, annual reviews of the project plan can be conducted by the Ecological Site Technical Team. A final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews of the ESD are necessary to approve a final document.
References
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Cleland, D.T., J.A. Freeouf, J.E. Keys, G.J. Nowacki, C. Carpenter, and W.H. McNab. 2007. Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections of the Coterminous United States. USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report WO-76. Washington, DC. 1–92.
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Comer, P., D. Faber-Langendoen, R. Evans, S. Grawler, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, M. Pyne, M. Reid, K. Schultz, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2003. Ecological Systems of the United States: A Working Classification of U.S. Terrestrial Systems. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia..
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Edinger, G.J., D.J. Evans, S. Gebauer, T.J. Howard, D. Hunt, and A. Olivero. 2014. Ecological Communities of New York State, Second Edition: A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke's Ecological Communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY..
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NatureServe. 2018 (Date accessed). NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://explorer.natureserve.org.. http://explorer.natureserve.org.
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Sneddon, L., R. Zaremba, and M. Adams. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping at Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts.
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Swain, P.C. 2016. Classification of the natural communities of Massachusetts, Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife,.
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USNVC [United States National Vegetation Classification]. 2017 (Date accessed). United States National Vegetation Classification Database V2.01. Federal Geographic Data Committee, Vegetation Subcomittee, Washington DC.
Other references
Cleland, D.T., J.A. Freeouf, J.E. Keys, G.J. Nowacki, C. Carpenter, and W.H. McNab. 2007. Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections of the Coterminous United States. USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report WO-76. Washington, DC.
Comer, P., D. Faber-Langendoen, R. Evans, S. Gawler, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, M. Pyne, M. Reid, K. Schulz, K., Snow, and J.Teague. 2003. Ecological Systems of the United States: A Working Classification of U.S. Terrestrial Systems. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
Edinger, G.J., Evans, D.J., Gebauer, S., Howard, T.G., Hunt, D.M., and A.M. Olivero, A.M. (eds.). 2014. Ecological Communities of New York State, Second Edition: A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke's Ecological Communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
FGDC [Federal Geographic Data Committee]. 2008. National Vegetation Classification Standard, Version 2. Federal Geographic Data Committee, Vegetation Subcommittee, Washington DC.
Greller, A. A Classification of Mature Forests on Long Island, New York. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 104:376–382.
NatureServe 2018. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: January 2018).
Parshall, T., D.R. Foster, E. Faison, D. MacDonald, and B.C.S. Hansen. 2003. Long‐term history of vegetation and fire in pitch pine–oak forests on cape cod, Massachusetts. Ecology 84:736–748.
Sneddon, L. A., Zaremba, R. E., and M. Adams. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping at Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts. Natural Resources Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2010/147. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA.
Swain, P.C. 2016. Classification of the Natural Communities of Massachusetts. Version 2.0. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Westborough, MA.
United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006. Land Resource Regions and Major land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 296.
United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2015. National Soils Information System (NASIS).
USNVC [United States National Vegetation Classification]. 2017. United States National Vegetation Classification Database, V2.01. Federal Geographic Data Committee, Vegetation Subcommittee, Washington DC. http://usnvc.org/explore-classification/ (Accessed: 2018)Contributors
Nels Barrett, Ph.D.
Joshua HibitApproval
Nels Barrett, 9/17/2024
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 05/23/2020 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):
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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:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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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:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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