Beech–maple forest
A beech–maple forest or a maple beech forest is a
Description
The canopy is dominated by American beech and sugar maple trees, providing little light to the understory. The reduced light provides poor conditions for shrubs, with the exceptions of American witch-hazel and alderleaf viburnum shrubs.[4] The ground cover includes herbs and spring ephemerals, flowers which are able to bloom before the canopy fills in.[5] Seedlings of beech and maple trees are shade-tolerant, allowing them to grow in low light conditions for several years. These seedling are waiting for an opening in the canopy, and grow rapidly when an opening is made by the death of a mature tree.[4]
Beech–maple forests are often found on flat or rolling terrain, in a variety of moist to well-drained soils with high levels of organic matter.[4][6] They thrive in glacial till from the Wisconsin glaciation.[7] Typically, in sandy soils, the maple is more common while in soils that have more clay in them, the beech is more dominant.[2] There must be a fairly high level of precipitation.[8]
These forests are the result of
Distribution
The range of the beech–maple forest type extends from the Atlantic coast west to Minnesota, Michigan and from southern Canada south to Virginia and Tennessee.[4] It is widespread in New York[4] and was an important component of the original vegetation of northeastern Ohio.[12] Instances of a beech–maple forest can be found at altitudes of 320 feet (98 m) to 3,900 feet (1,200 m).[4]
Gallery
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American beech, Fagus grandifolia, Gadsden Co., Florida.
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American BeechJohnson City, TN
See also
References
- ^ "Eco Succession". Archived from the original on 2008-12-26. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
- ^ a b Gates, Frank C (March 27 – April 20, 1912). "The Vegetation of the Region in the Vicinity of Douglas Lake, Cheboygan County, Michigan, 1911". Annual Report of the Michigan Academy of Science. 14th. University of Michigan: Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters: 71–75, 104. Retrieved December 11, 2008.
- ^ Perinton Natural History page describing Harts Woods, a National Natural Landmark beech maple forest
- ^ a b c d e f Sugar Maple Aceraceae -- Maple family
- ^ "Lake Erie Allegheny Partnership for Biodiversity" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-07-20. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ^ "Michigan Natural Features Inventory" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ^ "Bio440 lecture notes Bette A. Loiselle" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
- ^ Study of the North-facing Slope of the Grand Valley State University Ravines
- ^ Changes in the Community, Bio 3300 Dr. John B. Pascarella, Valdosta State University.
- ^ "Plant Succession Course description". Archived from the original on 2008-11-23. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- ^ "Neonaturalist Natural Communities". Archived from the original on 2008-12-04. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
- ^ "The Vegetative Composition of a Beech-Maple Climax Forest in the Glaciated Plateau of Northeastern Ohio, William H. Schlesinger" (PDF). May 1971.
External links
- Beech Maple Forest
- A. B. Williams. The Composition and Dynamics of a Beech-Maple Climax community. First printed in Ecological Monographs Vol 6 No 3, July 1936 pages 318-408. [1]
- ^ The composition and dynamics of a beech maple climax community. Vol. 6. 1936.