The Central Hardwood Forest Region As an introduction to environmental gradients and forest composition Henry McNab Research Forester.

The Central Hardwood Forest Region

As an introduction to environmental gradients and forest

composition

Henry McNab

Research Forester

Lesson Plan (23 July 2007, 1300-1350)

• Objective - Review the region described as the Central Hardwoods Forest, its environment, and tree species.

• Presentation – 10-12 min.

• Questions – 5 min.

Vegetation and sites

Saguaro(very hot and dry site)

Cypress(warm andvery wet site)

BlackSpruce(very coldsite)

Citrus(very hot andhumidsite)

Vegetation patterns of central N.A.

The upland oak forest region*

*Schnur, G.L. 1937. Yield, stand, and volume tables for even-aged upland oak forest. Tech. Bull. 560. Washington, DC: USDA,Forest Service. 87 p.

Two sections:*Oak-hickory*Oak-chestnut- yellow-poplar

Central hardwood forest region of eastern North America*

*Braun, E.L. 1950. Deciduous forests of Eastern North America. New York, NY: Hafner Publishing Company. 596 p.

Five sections:*Mixed Mesophytic*Western Mesophytic*Oak-Hickory*Oak-Chestnut*Beech-Maple

Central Hardwood Forest Region among others of North America*

*Fralish, J.S. 2003. The central hardwood forest: It’s boundaries and physiographic provinces. 2002 Cent. Hwd. For. Conf. GTR NC-234.

Central Hardwood Forest Oak-hickory and mesophytic elements

PlateausSection Appal. Mtn.

Section

A few facts and figures

• 100 million acres (1/5 forest area of US).

• ~40 billion cu ft (1/3 of all hardwoods).

• 21 cover types.• 15 oaks and 50

associated species.• 5 oaks make up 80%

of stand basal area.

CHF Region bordered on north by northern hardwood forests

CHF Region bordered on south by mixed hwd and southern pine forests

CHF Region bordered by small area of Miss. River forests (mostly agric.)

CHF Region bordered on west by prairie and grasslands

Climate of the CHF and others

Water balance of hardwood forest

Water balances of four central hardwood forests

(Bristol, TN; Columbus, OH; Louisville, KY, Ft. Smith, Ark

Water balance of grasslands (Goodland, Kansas)

Water balance of high (dry) conifer forest (Flagstaff, Arizona)

Water balance of desert region (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Water balance at Caribou, Maine – similar to S. Appal high elev. (6,000’)

Water balance of wet, tropical forest (Key West, Fla.)

12 Upland oaks (according to Fralish 2003)

• Major– Chestnut– White– Black– Scarlet– Northern Red

• Others– Post– Chinkapin – Southern red– Blackjack– Bear– Shingle– Hill’s (Lake States)

Oak rangesWhite Black

N. red Scarlet

10 Upland hickories (according to Fralish 2003)

• Major– Shagbark– Pignut– Red– Bitternut– Mockernut– Sand– Black

• Others– Yellow-poplar– Conifers generally not

important

Central Hardwood Forest Appalachian Mountain Section

Appal. Mtn.Section

S. App. arborescent vegetation

• Eighty ± common forest trees (Frothingham 1931): white ash, basswood, beech, blue beech, river birch, sweet birch, yellow birch, yellow buckeye, butternut, red cedar, black cherry, pin cherry, (Am. chestnut), chinquapin, coffeetree, crab apple, dogwood, American elm, slippery elm, winged elm, balsam fir, black gum, red gum, hackberry, hawthorn, Carolina hemlock, eastern hemlock, bitternut hickory, mockernut hickory, pignut hickory, shagbark hickory holly, hophornbeam, black locust cucumber magnolia, Fraser magnolia, umbrella magnolia, red maple, sugar maple, red mulberry, black oak, blackjack oak, chestnut oak, pin oak, post oak, northern red oak, scarlet oak, shingle oak, southern red oak, swamp white oak, water oak, white oak, pitch pine, white pine, shortleaf pine, Virginia pine, persimmon, great rhododendron, yellow-poplar, redbud, sassafras, serviceberry, silverbell, sourwood, red spruce, sycamore, black walnut, black willow + a few others.

• Problem: How to group the species for management.

Central Hardwood Forest summary

• The CHF Region mostly has a continental climatic regime of hot summers (70-90°F) and no dry months.

• Tree species are mostly oaks and hickories (also chestnut), with mesophytic species (think Y-P) important in mountainous areas.

• Climatic factors affecting distribution of vegetation on a national scale are applicable at landscape and local scales, too.

• Distribution of species in the S. Appal. Section of the CHF is the topic of my next presentation.