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| General Description |
Dense and extensive thickets composed of Rhododendrons are conspicuous features of acidic coves in the mountains, where they are commonly referred to as "Rhododendron Hells". Rhododendrons also grow out in the open on high elevation heath balds.
This habitat is associated with montane climates. A few species, such as Rhododendron maximum and R. catawbiense, that occur in the Piedmont are included in the Cool Mesic Forests habitat although they are also major components of Rhododendron thickets in the Mountains. Animal species belonging to this habitat include herbivores that specialize on Rhododendrons and two species that rely on Rhododendron thickets for cover.
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| Abiotic Factors |
Geographic Regions: Low to High Mountains. USDA Hardiness Zones: 6a-6b. Landform: slopes, ridges, ravines, and bottomlands. Slope Aspect: all aspects, particularly above 4,000'. Soil Moisture: Mesic. Soil texture: rocky to loamy. Soil pH: acidic. Soil Nutrient Content: nutrient poor. Microclimate: Cool and humid. Hydrological Features: springs and seeps are common, particularly at the interface between slopes and bottomlands. Fire Frequency: very rare. Drought Frequency: uncommon to rare. Ice Storm Damage: moderate to severe. Wind Storm Damage: moderate. Insolation: heath balds are well insolated but acidic cove forests are deeply shaded
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| Biotic Structure |
Vegetation Type: open shrublands to closed canopy forests Strata: forest canopy is present or absent; the herb layer is typically sparse. Woody debris and leaf litter: logs and fallen branches are common; leaf litter can be plentiful
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| Co-evolved Species Groups |
Phagic and Competitory Symbioses
Rhododendron species // Lyonetia latistrigella-Synanthedon rhododendri
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| Determining Species |
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| Estimated Risk to the Determining Species |
Two species are ranked as S2 or higher and the Average PE is equivalent to a state rank of S2 |
| Estimated Risk to the Co-evolved Species Groups |
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| Estimated Security of the Habitat |
No species in this group are considered secure |
| Index of Habitat Imperilment |
The combination of a relatively high Average PE and one historic species produces a relatively high value of HRI for an otherwise fairly small number of species. It falls within our Tier 3 of Conservation Concern (0.5 ≥ HRI > 0.05), indicating a moderate priority for conservation actions.
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| Identified Risks |
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| Observed Trends |
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| Distribution Map | |
| Distribution |
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| Major Conservation Reserves |
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| Priority Areas for Surveys and Conservation Protection |
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| Stewardship and Management Recommendations |
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| References |
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| Updated on |
2023-01-24 21:52:43 |
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