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| General Description |
The presence of hardwood trees is the defining feature of this habitat. Oaks and hickories are common species but this habitat also includes species typical of northern hardwoods, mesic mixed forest, and mixtures of hardwoods and conifers. Species that are still more generalized -- making significant use of conifers as well as hardwoods -- are treated under the General Forests habitat. Species that use of shrub species that occur in forests and/or shrublands are treated under General Forests and Shrublands.
Closed canopy forests as well as more open woodlands are included, as are both upland and lowland stands. Soil chemistry is not a factor for this habitat, with examples occurring on both mafic and acidic substrates.
Determining Species include a small number of plants, such as Witch Hazel and Virginia Heartleaf, that occur in both dry Oak-Hickory forests as well as Mesic Mixed Hardwood forests. A few insect herbivores that specialize on those plants are also included as Determining Species of this habitat.
A much larger group of herbivores are the species that feed on a broad range of hardwood trees, including a number of different families of Dicots. Another another large group that are predatory or omnivorous species that are associated with the structural features of hardwood forests.
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| Abiotic Factors |
Geographic Regions: Lower Coastal Plain to High Mountains. USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-8. Landform: swamps to ridgetops Slope Aspect: all slope aspects as well as flats and ridges. Soil Moisture: xeric to hydric. Soil texture: all types that support species of hardwoods. Soil pH: acidic to circumneutral. Soil Nutrient Content: nutrient poor to rich. Microclimate: cool to warm; moist to dry. Fire Frequency: rare to frequent. Drought Frequency: frequent to rare. Ice Storm Damage: low to moderate. Wind Storm Damage: moderate. Insolation: canopies are well insolated; lower strata vary from deeply to partially shaded
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| Biotic Structure |
Vegetation Type: closed- to open canopy forests composed of broadleaf, deciduous trees, occurring over the entire state. Strata: Subcanopy, shrub, and herb-layers present to poorly developed or absent. Organic Shelter, Foraging, and Nesting Structures: logs and fallen branches are common; leaf litter is usually plentiful
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| Co-evolved Species Groups |
Phagic and Competitory Symbioses:
Hamamelis virginiana // Acronicta hamamelis-Cameraria hamameliella-Caloptilia superbifrontella-Drasteria grandirena-Nola triquetrana-Olethreutes hamameliana-Pseudexentera costomaculana
Tremex columba // Megarhyssa atrata-Megarhyssa greenei-Megarhyssa macrurus-
Mutualistic Symbioses:
Tremex columba // Cerrena unicolor
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| Determining Species |
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| Estimated Risk to the Determining Species |
Only four out of 112 ranked species have a state rank of S3 or higher. Consequently, the Average Probability of Extirpation is very low, the equivalent of a state rank of S4.
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| Estimated Risk to the Co-evolved Species Groups |
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| Estimated Security of the Habitat |
61 species in this habitat are considered secure in North Carolina and the Proportion of Secure Species of 54% is relatively high. This reflects the still common, widespread nature of this habitat. It occurs in both very large single blocks and as well-connected sets of smaller ones.
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| Index of Habitat Imperilment |
The low Average PE for this habitat is offset to some extent by its large number of Determining Species, producing an ENE value that is moderately high. Together with absence of Historic or Extirpated Species and a moderately high value of PSS, the HRI value falls within our Tier 4 Level of Conservation Concern (0.05 ≥ HRI > 0.005), meriting only a low priority for conservation actions.
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| Identified Risks |
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| Observed Trends |
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| Distribution Map | |
| Distribution |
The number of counties showing a low percentage of Determining Species in this otherwise widespread habitat is probably a reflection of the lack of insect surveys that have been conducted within them.
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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 |
2022-07-21 00:06:45 |
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