Atlantic coastal pine barrens

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Atlantic coastal pine barrens
Humid continental (Dfb), humid subtropical (Cfa) and oceanic
(Cfb) [2]
Conservation
Habitat loss30.06%[1]
Protected22.9%[1]

The Atlantic coastal pine barrens is a now rare

pine tree distribution once controlled by frequent fires.[3]

Setting

This ecoregion once stretched from

New York State, and the Massachusetts Coastal Pine Barrens which stretches from Plymouth, Massachusetts in Southeastern Massachusetts to Cape Cod and the Islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.[4]

The

Pinus spp.). The distinct flora of this ecoregion is maintained by the poor soils and frequent fires which revive the pines; surrounding areas with better soils are part of the Middle Atlantic coastal forests and Northeastern coastal forests ecoregions.[5]

Climate

This ecoregion has a

Long Island, New York, and a humid continental climate in Massachusetts
.

Flora

The composition of the flora of the pine barrens is largely determined by fire frequency. Pitch-pine-dominated forests are the characteristic forests of this ecoregion, but where fires occur at intervals of 10 years or less, dwarf pine forests develop. Where fires are infrequent, oak-dominated forests develop. In wetland areas grow cedar swamp forests and hardwood swamp forests.[6]

Pine-dominated forests

Pitch pine (

Quercus prinus), scarlet (Quercus coccinea), and blackjack (Quercus marilandica). These forests tend to be open with widely spaced trees and plenty of sunlight reaching the forest floor.[6]

The understory is thick with shrubs, including black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) and early lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum). Staggerbrush (Lyonia mariana), dangleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), and sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia) also occur. Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) is abundant.[6]

Dwarf pine forests

The only trees that can recover from frequent fires are pitch pine and blackjack oak, which are abundant here. Deprived of the opportunity to grow tall, these trees grow as shrubs that may only be 4 feet (120 cm) tall.[6]

Black huckleberry and early lowbush blueberry are again common here. Mountain laurel, sheep laurel, and bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) are also common.[6]

Oak-dominated forests

Without fires, leaf litter accumulates, creating an environment that favors the establishment of oak seedlings instead of pine seedlings. In time, the pines grow old, die, and are replaced by oaks (

Quercus spp.). The most common are black, scarlet, chestnut, white, and post oaks. Pitch and shortleaf pines are scattered among the oaks. The forest canopy tends to be closed.[6]

The understory vegetation is similar to that of the pine-dominated forest, with black huckleberry, early lowbush blueberry, and dangleberry common.[6]

Cedar swamp forests

Swamp forests dominated by Atlantic white cedar (

Chamaedaphne calyculata). Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), Sabatia kennedyana, inkberry (Ilex glabra), and winterberry (Ilex verticillata) are also present.[6]

Hardwood swamp forests

Sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) and red maple are the most abundant trees in the hardwood swamp forests. American holly (Ilex opaca), a broadleaf evergreen tree, is common. Pin oak (Quercus palustris), swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor), willow oak (Quercus phellos), tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera),[dubious – discuss] sour gum, and sweet bay magnolia are associates.[6][page needed]

Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) and Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) are often abundant and grow in thickets. Shrubs include arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), spicebush (Lindera benzoin), highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), and swamp azalea.[6]

Grasslands

The region also contains areas of maritime grassland on Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and out at the tip of Long Island that are unique in the United States (see Conscience Point National Wildlife Refuge for an example).

Fauna

Wildlife adapted to this environment includes the Pine Barrens tree frog, Plymouth red-bellied turtle and the extinct heath hen. The beaches of these coasts are important breeding grounds for piping plovers (especially on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and Long Island) and roseate terns (especially on Bird Island).

Threats and preservation

The pine barrens ecosystems have been severely damaged by urban developments as the east coast has become built up with housing, including vacation and retirement properties. Only about 10% of original habitat remains and is very fragmented.

Massachusetts Coastal Pine Barrens with concentrations in Myles Standish State Forest, Manuel F. Correllus State Forest on Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod National Seashore and Joint Base Cape Cod and the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Reservation in Massachusetts
. These areas are now well conserved.

See also

References and external links

  1. ^ a b c d | climate =
    Humid continental, humid subtropical and oceanic
    Hoekstra, J. M.; Molnar, J. L.; Jennings, M.; Revenga, C.; Spalding, M. D.; Boucher, T. M.; Robertson, J. C.; Heibel, T. J.; Ellison, K. (2010). Molnar, J. L. (ed.). The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference    .
    ISBN 978-0-520-26256-0
    .
  2. ISBN 978-0-520-26256-0
    .
  3. JSTOR 2484334
    .
  4. S2CID 161751342. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on 2021-10-29.
  5. ^ a b "Atlantic coastal pine barrens". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8135-2071-1
    .
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