Michigan Forest Communities - Michigan Association of ...

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Southern Mesic Deciduous
(Maple-Beech) Forests
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Habitat
It doesn’t get any better than mesic,
especially southern mesic. Forests
occupying these habitats are the most
species-rich and productive in the state.
Terrain—consisting of till plains, end
moraines, and old lake plains—is level
to rolling. Soils are deep, loamy, generally
well-drained, and fertile. Within 10
to 20 miles of the Great Lakes, the
humid climate also permits mesic
forests to thrive on stabilized sand
dunes. It is no wonder that much of the
pre-European settlement mesic forest of
southern Michigan was cleared for farming.
Today, after a century and a half
(more or less) of cultivation, these areas
still are our most productive agricultural
land. Straight-line winds are the
major natural disturbance in mesic
forests; in mature stands, uprooted or
wind-snapped trees are common.
Tornadoes and ice storms cause more
extensive damage but are less common.
Signature trees
Mesic southern forests always contain
one or both of our most tolerant
hardwood species:
• Sugar maple
• American beech
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