We classified forest types at Wildwood Park using U.S. Forest Service "Forest Inventory and Analysis" and "NatureServe" ecological classification systems, as defined in the Central Appalachians Forest Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment (Butler et al. 2015).
Four major forest types were identified at Wildwood Park, based on our field research and vegetation analysis. These include:
Dry-mesic oak forests are common in the northeast, southern, and Central Appalachians. These forests are drier than mixed mesophytic forests, but more moist than dry oak-pine forests (Butler et al, 2015). In most cases, the dominant tree species found in this forest type are white oak, shagbark hickory, sugar maple, American beech, chestnut oak, white ash, scarlet oak, and red maple. Before the European settlement, fires were common throughout dry-mesic oak forests and helped to maintain oaks as a dominant tree species. However, with fire-suppression efforts during the 20th century, fire frequency has declined. This has resulted in a shift in species and forest conditions from oaks, hickories, and other dry oak forest species to more mesic (moist) conditions and greater abundance of maples, beech, and tulip poplar in some areas ("mesophication"). Learn more about fire suppresion and mesophication in eastern forests here. Wind and ice storms also are increasingly problematic in today's dry mesic forests (Butler et al, 2015). |
The drier environmental conditions that dry-mesic oak species prefer do not support invasive species growth as readily as other forests types such as mixed-mesophytic forests, as invasive plants tend to prefer more optimal conditions and nutrient dense soils. |