Southern Coastal Plain Limestone Forest
Summary
This system represents dry to dry-mesic deciduous forests of the East Gulf Coastal Plain where limestone, marl, or other calcareous substrates occur near enough to the surface to influence vegetation composition. Examples are most common in the Black Belt region of Alabama and Mississippi, but are also present in more isolated patches in other portions of the region, including western Alabama, eastern Georgia, and southwestern middle Tennessee. Generally, the vegetation consists of forests and woodlands on well-developed, deep soils. Related, but physiognomically distinct, vegetation surrounding rock outcrops and calcareous prairies is accommodated within other ecological systems.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Vegetation
Typical stands are dominated by oaks and hickories, particularly species which are indicative of finer-textured soils and/or a higher base status in the soil (e.g., Carya carolinae-septentrionalis, Quercus muehlenbergii, Quercus pagoda, Quercus shumardii, Quercus stellata). Other hardwood trees include Fraxinus americana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum), and Aesculus glabra. The rare Carya myristiciformis may also be found in some stands. Understory trees may include Fraxinus americana and Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana. Early-successional or fire-suppressed stands may exhibit greater dominance by Juniperus virginiana. More nutrient-rich or fire-sheltered stands may exhibit dominance or codominance by Fraxinus americana, Tilia americana (most commonly var. caroliniana, but var. heterophylla along the Chattahoochee River), and/or Acer floridanum. Understory trees may include smaller examples of canopy species in addition to Aesculus pavia var. pavia, Cercis canadensis, Cornus florida, Ostrya virginiana, and Ulmus alata. Shrubs and woody vines may include Arundinaria gigantea, Berchemia scandens, Bignonia capreolata, Cocculus carolinus, Cornus drummondii, Crataegus spp., Euonymus americanus, Euonymus atropurpureus, Frangula caroliniana, Hydrangea quercifolia, Ilex decidua, Menispermum canadense, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Ptelea trifoliata, Sideroxylon lycioides, Staphylea trifolia, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, Toxicodendron radicans, Viburnum spp., and Vitis spp. Some typical herbs include Chasmanthium laxum, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Dichanthelium boscii, Lithospermum tuberosum, Polystichum acrostichoides, Sanicula spp., Solidago auriculata, Spigelia marilandica, Trillium spp., and Verbesina virginica. The ground layers of some stands may exhibit dominance by native warm-season grasses and other graminoids, including Schizachyrium scoparium, Andropogon spp., Danthonia spp., and Carex cherokeensis. In addition, Tillandsia usneoides may be present as an epiphyte.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Environment
Stands typically occur on ridges and upper to middle slopes of the southern coastal plains where limestone, marl, or other calcareous substrates occur near enough to the surface to influence vegetation composition.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Dynamics
Fire frequency and intensity are factors determining the relative mixture of deciduous hardwood versus evergreen trees in this system. Frequent surface fires occurred on a 5- to 10-year return interval from both lightning and Native American ignitions. These frequent light surface fires maintained the grassy understory and kept hardwoods and shrubs from dominating the understory and forming a midstory layer. Lightning fires occurred primarily during the spring dry season (April and May) with a secondary peak of Native American and settler burning during the fall (October and November) (Landfire 2007a). Occasionally, during extensive droughts, mixed-severity or stand-replacement fires did occur, especially in drier stands, or those containing Juniperus virginiana or rarely with Pinus species (e.g., Pinus taeda and/or Pinus echinata). In addition, local thunderstorm-caused blowdowns created gaps on a small but continual basis. More extensive regional disturbances included tropical storms during the growing season and ice storms during winter (in the northern part of the range). Dense stands of middle to older aged pines (where present) were susceptible to periodic mortality from bark beetle epidemics, and younger Juniperus virginiana trees were killed by periodic droughts.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Threats
The most critical anthropogenic threats include removal of the characteristic dominant hardwoods and a lack of fire. Removal of the characteristic dominant hardwoods (primarily Quercus species and Carya species) through logging may result in a stand dominated by wind-blown or bird-dispersed tree species, including Acer rubrum, Celtis spp., Fraxinus americana, Juglans nigra, Juniperus virginiana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Prunus serotina, Robinia pseudoacacia, Sassafras albidum, Ulmus americana, and the exotic Ailanthus altissima. Lack of fire in the system leads to a closing of the subcanopy and consequent loss of ground layer diversity. Patches dominated by Juniperus virginiana (or rarely with Pinus taeda and/or Pinus echinata) are artifacts of past disturbance and succession in the absence of fire. These are likely to eventually succumb to drought, fire or insect damage (in the case of Pinus species, which are generally atypical due to the high base status in the soils). Another major threat is conversion to human-created land uses, including residential development, quarries, industrial development, and infrastructure development (TNC 1996c).
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Distribution
This system occurs in the East Gulf (and rarely the Atlantic) Coastal Plain, most commonly in the Black Belt region of Alabama and Mississippi. It is also present in more isolated patches in other portions of the region, including western Alabama, eastern Georgia, and marginally in southwestern middle Tennessee. It is also apparently found in the Tallahassee Hills/Valdosta Limesink Region EPA 65o (Florida, Georgia).
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Ecologically Associated Plant Species
Plant species that characterize this ecosystem type, organized by vegetation stratum. These are species ecologically associated with the ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific area.
Tree canopy
Acer floridanum, Aesculus glabra, Carya carolinae-septentrionalis, Carya myristiciformis, Crataegus triflora, Fraxinus americana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Ostrya virginiana, Quercus muehlenbergii, Quercus pagoda, Quercus shumardii, Quercus stellata, Tilia americana var. caroliniana, Tilia americana var. heterophylla, Tillandsia usneoides, Ulmus alata
Tree subcanopy
Aesculus pavia var. pavia, Cercis canadensis, Cornus drummondii, Cornus florida, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana
Shrub/sapling (tall & short)
Forestiera godfreyi, Frangula caroliniana, Hydrangea quercifolia, Ilex decidua, Ptelea trifoliata, Ribes echinellum, Sideroxylon alachuense, Sideroxylon lycioides, Staphylea trifolia, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus
Short shrub/sapling
Euonymus americanus, Euonymus atropurpureus
Herb (field)
Arundinaria gigantea, Berchemia scandens, Bignonia capreolata, Brickellia cordifolia, Carex cherokeensis, Carex impressinervia, Carex thornei, Chasmanthium laxum, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Cocculus carolinus, Dichanthelium boscii, Lithospermum tuberosum, Menispermum canadense, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Polystichum acrostichoides, Schizachyrium scoparium, Silene polypetala, Solidago auriculata, Spigelia marilandica, Toxicodendron radicans, Verbesina virginica
Nonvascular
Plagiochila sullivantii
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Ecologically Associated Animals (4)
Animal species ecologically associated with this ecosystem type based on NatureServe assessment. These are species whose habitat requirements overlap with this ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific roadless area.
Amphibians (1)
| Common Name | Scientific Name | G-Rank |
|---|
| Striped Newt | Notophthalmus perstriatus | G2 |
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
At-Risk Species Associated with this Ecosystem (10)
Species with conservation concern that are ecologically associated with this ecosystem type. G-Rank indicates global conservation status: G1 (critically imperiled) through G5 (secure). ESA status indicates U.S. Endangered Species Act listing.
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Component Associations (10)
Plant community associations that occur within this ecological system. Associations are the finest level of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) and describe specific, repeating assemblages of plant species. Each association represents a distinct community type that may be found where this ecosystem occurs.
| Name | G-Rank | |
|---|
| Acer floridanum - Quercus shumardii - Quercus muehlenbergii - (Aesculus glabra, Carya myristiciformis) Forest | G1 | NatureServe |
| Aquilegia canadensis - Asplenium heterochroum - Polymnia laevigata - Urtica chamaedryoides Rock Outcrop | G1 | NatureServe |
| Fraxinus americana - Juglans nigra - Ulmus rubra / Acer floridanum / Ptelea trifoliata Forest | G2 | NatureServe |
| Juniperus virginiana - (Quercus spp.) Ruderal Forest | GNA | NatureServe |
| Quercus muehlenbergii - Quercus shumardii - Carya (carolinae-septentrionalis, ovata) Forest | G3 | NatureServe |
| Quercus muehlenbergii - (Quercus sinuata) - Carya spp. / Sabal minor / Carex cherokeensis Forest | G2 | NatureServe |
| Quercus (pagoda, shumardii) - Liquidambar styraciflua / Verbesina virginica - Solidago auriculata Forest | G3 | NatureServe |
| Quercus shumardii - Fraxinus americana - Carya spp. / Juniperus virginiana Forest | G2 | NatureServe |
| Quercus shumardii - Quercus pagoda - Fraxinus americana / Ostrya virginiana / Trillium ludovicianum Forest | G1 | NatureServe |
| Tilia americana - Acer floridanum - Fraxinus americana / Arundinaria gigantea / Tillandsia usneoides Forest | G2 | NatureServe |
State Conservation Ranks (3)
Subnational conservation status ranks (S-ranks) assigned by Natural Heritage Programs in each state where this ecosystem occurs. S1 indicates critically imperiled at the state level, S2 imperiled, S3 vulnerable, S4 apparently secure, and S5 secure. An ecosystem may be globally secure but imperiled in specific states at the edge of its range.
| State | S-Rank |
|---|
| AL | SNR |
| MS | SNR |
| TN | SNR |
Methodology and Data Sources
Ecosystem classification: Ecosystems are classified using the LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) layer, mapped to NatureServe Terrestrial Ecological Systems via a curated crosswalk. Each EVT is linked to the USNVC (U.S. National Vegetation Classification) hierarchy through pixel-level co-occurrence analysis of LANDFIRE EVT and NatureServe IVC Group rasters across all roadless areas.
Vegetation coverage: Coverage percentages and hectares are derived from zonal statistics of the LANDFIRE 2024 EVT raster intersected with roadless area boundaries.
Ecosystem narratives and community species: Sourced from the NatureServe Explorer API, representing professional ecological assessments of vegetation composition, environmental setting, dynamics, threats, and characteristic species assemblages.
IVC hierarchy: The International Vegetation Classification hierarchy is sourced from the USNVC v3.0 Catalog, providing the full classification from Biome through Association levels.
Component associations: Plant community associations listed as components of each NatureServe Ecological System. Association data from the NatureServe Explorer API.
State ranks: Conservation status ranks assigned by NatureServe member programs in each state where the ecosystem occurs.