Ohio subset of Plant Communities of the Midwest ... - NatureServe
Ohio subset of Plant Communities of the Midwest ... - NatureServe
Ohio subset of Plant Communities of the Midwest ... - NatureServe
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Prairies/Grasslands: <strong>Midwest</strong>ern Sand and Gravel Tallgrass Prairies<br />
Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans - Schizachyrium scoparium - Aletris farinosa<br />
Herbaceous Vegetation<br />
Big Bluestem - Yellow Indiangrass - Little Bluestem - Nor<strong>the</strong>rn White Colicroot Herbaceous Vegetation<br />
Mesic Sand Tallgrass Prairie<br />
CEGL005096<br />
DESCRIPTION: Stands <strong>of</strong> this community may be dominated by grasses, mixtures <strong>of</strong> grasses and forbs, forbs, or<br />
short shrubs and grasses. Abundant and diagnostic species include Andropogon gerardii, Calamagrostis canadensis,<br />
Pycnan<strong>the</strong>mum virginianum, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans. Aletris farinosa and Coreopsis<br />
tripteris are typical in this community and can be locally abundant. O<strong>the</strong>r characteristic species include Carex<br />
pensylvanica, Desmodium canadense, Panicum virgatum, Solidago canadensis, and Solidago juncea (Comer et al.<br />
1995b, Faber-Langendoen and Maycock 1994). Species composition varies with soil moisture and pH. Comer et al.<br />
(1995b) found five examples <strong>of</strong> this community in <strong>the</strong>ir survey <strong>of</strong> Michigan lakeplain prairies. The dominant species<br />
on <strong>the</strong> best <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se sites were Schizachyrium scoparium and Andropogon gerardii. Common plants included<br />
Asclepias tuberosa, Baptisia tinctoria, Carex muehlenbergii, Carex swanii, Hieracium longipilum, Liatris scariosa,<br />
Lupinus perennis, Rudbeckia hirta, and Viola sagittata.<br />
This community occurs on level sandy glacial outwash, sandy glacial lakeplains, valley trains, and in dune areas.<br />
Soils are sandy loams, loamy sands, and sands. They are moderately well-drained to imperfectly or somewhat poorly<br />
drained. The soils <strong>of</strong>ten have thick, dark surface horizons, a slowly permeable layer within <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>ile, a high water<br />
table, and additions <strong>of</strong> water through seepage. The water table is highest in <strong>the</strong> spring and falls through <strong>the</strong> summer<br />
with drought conditions <strong>of</strong>ten occurring in <strong>the</strong> autumn. There is quite a bit <strong>of</strong> variation in soil moisture from site to site.<br />
There is sometimes brief ponding after heavy rains or in <strong>the</strong> spring. Soil pH ranges from 4.0-8.2 (Faber-Langendoen<br />
and Maycock 1994, Comer et al. 1995b).<br />
Fire is important in maintaining this community. In <strong>the</strong> absence <strong>of</strong> fire, mesic sand prairies succeed to woodland or<br />
forest. Poa compressa is a common exotic in disturbed sites.<br />
COMMENTS: 2, MCS. This type represents <strong>the</strong> mesic sand prairies in <strong>the</strong> Upper <strong>Midwest</strong> that are both <strong>of</strong>f and on <strong>the</strong><br />
lakeplain area <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Great Lakes. Lakeplain stands may be very similar to wet-mesic lakeplain prairies (Faber-<br />
Langendoen and Maycock 1987). In Michigan, <strong>Ohio</strong>, and Ontario, no distinction is made between mesic sand prairies<br />
on <strong>the</strong> lakeplain or <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> lakeplain, as was done for wet-mesic sand prairies, Andropogon gerardii - Calamagrostis<br />
canadensis - Pycnan<strong>the</strong>mum virginianum - Oligoneuron ohioense Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL005095), since <strong>the</strong><br />
mesic condition is much less connected to lakeplain hydrology (P. Comer pers. comm. 1997). Type needs fur<strong>the</strong>r<br />
review in Wisconsin, where it may occur at Chiwaukee Prairie and Avoca Prairie (E. Epstein pers. comm. 1999).<br />
CONSERVATION RANK: G2. Many former sites <strong>of</strong> this type have been eliminated by agricultural development.<br />
DISTRIBUTION: This community occurs in <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn Great Lakes region <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> United States and Canada, ranging<br />
from sou<strong>the</strong>rn Wisconsin and nor<strong>the</strong>rn Illinois to <strong>Ohio</strong> and Ontario.<br />
USFS ECOREGIONS: 212Hx:CCC, 212Hy:CCC, 222Ao:CCC, 222Ha:CCC, 222If:CCC, 222Jb:CCC, 222Jg:CCC, 222Jh:CCC,<br />
222Jj:CCC, 222Kg:CCC, 222Ki:CCC, 222Qb:CCC, 251Da:CCC, 251Dd:CCC, 251Dg:CCC<br />
CONSERVATION REGIONS: 36:C, 48:C<br />
STATES: IL IN MI OH WI PROVINCES: ON<br />
MIDWEST HERITAGE SYNONYMY: IL mesic sand prairie =<br />
IN mesic sand prairie =<br />
MI mesic sand prairie =<br />
OH big bluestem prairie +<br />
WI mesic sand prairie <br />
OTHER SYNONYMY: Mesic sandy loam prairie (Faber-Langendoen and Maycock 1987) =, Mesic sandy loam prairie<br />
(Faber-Langendoen and Maycock 1994) =<br />
USNVC HIERARCHY: ANDROPOGON GERARDII - (SORGHASTRUM NUTANS) HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE (V.A.5.N.a)<br />
PLANT COMMUNITIES OF THE MIDWEST – 2001. APPENDIX: ASSOCIATION DESCRIPTIONS<br />
576