Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>USGS</strong>-NPS <strong>Vegetation</strong> <strong>Mapping</strong> Program<br />
Colonial National Historical Park<br />
COMMON NAME (PARK-SPECIFIC): DISTURBED CALCAREOUS FOREST<br />
SYNONYMS<br />
USNVC English Name: Not Applicable<br />
USNVC Scientific Name: Not Applicable<br />
USNVC Identifier: Nonst<strong>and</strong>ard<br />
LOCAL INFORMATION<br />
Environmental Description: Disturbed Calcareous Forest is mapped along a 4-km (2.5-mile)<br />
stretch of Colonial Parkway along the York River. These forests have extensive wind damage,<br />
have been invaded by exotic plants, <strong>and</strong> have been bisected by the construction of the Colonial<br />
Parkway.<br />
<strong>Vegetation</strong> Description: Disturbed Calcareous Forest is a deciduous forest dominated by<br />
species indicative of disturbance or associated with early-successional forests, but with a high<br />
frequency of species indicative of calcareous or fertile. The canopy is often dominated by earlysuccessional<br />
species such as Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree), Liquidambar styraciflua<br />
(sweetgum), Pinus taeda (loblolly pine), <strong>and</strong> Quercus falcata (southern red oak). Additional<br />
trees species indicative of a calcareous soil influence include Quercus muehlenbergii (chinkapin<br />
oak), Acer barbatum (southern sugar maple), Carya cordiformis (bitternut hickory), <strong>and</strong> Juglans<br />
nigra (black walnut). Other tree species, such as Quercus rubra (northern red oak), Quercus alba<br />
(white oak), Fraxinus americana (white ash), <strong>and</strong> Platanus occidentalis (American sycamore),<br />
may also occur but are not dominant. Species in the subcanopy include those from the canopy,<br />
along with Ostrya virginiana (hophornbeam), Ulmus rubra (slippery elm), <strong>and</strong> Celtis<br />
occidentalis (common hackberry). Typical tall shrubs are the exotic shrub Ailanthus altissima<br />
(tree of heaven), as well as Ostrya virginiana (hophornbeam), Lindera benzoin (northern<br />
spicebush), Acer barbatum (southern sugar maple), <strong>and</strong> Cornus florida (flowering dogwood).<br />
Short shrubs include Asimina triloba (pawpaw), <strong>and</strong> Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana<br />
(eastern redcedar). The herb layer is dominated by the exotic grass Microstegium vimineum<br />
(Nepalese browntop) <strong>and</strong> the exotic vine Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle). Other<br />
species can include Arabis laevigata (smooth rockcress), Bromus pubescens (hairy woodl<strong>and</strong><br />
brome), Campsis radicans (trumpet creeper), Elymus villosus (hairy wildrye), Elymus virginicus<br />
(Virginia wildrye), <strong>and</strong> Verbesina alternifolia (wingstem).<br />
Most Abundant Species:<br />
Stratum Lifeform Species<br />
Tree canopy Broad-leaved deciduous tree Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree)<br />
Herb (field) Vine/Liana Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle)<br />
Herb (field) Graminoid Microstegium vimineum (Nepalese browntop)<br />
Characteristic Species: Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree), Lonicera japonica (Japanese<br />
honeysuckle), Microstegium vimineum (Nepalese browntop), Quercus muehlenbergii (chinkapin<br />
oak).<br />
Other Noteworthy Species: Information not available.<br />
Subnational Distribution with Crosswalk Data:<br />
State SRank Rel Conf SName<br />
Reference<br />
VA<br />
NA . .<br />
[not crosswalked, not ranked] .<br />
Local Range: Disturbed Calcareous Forest is mapped along a 4-km (2.5-mile) stretch of<br />
Colonial Parkway along the York River. It is mapped as six polygons ranging in size from 0.6 to<br />
2.6 ha (1.6 to 6.4 acres).<br />
318
Change language