Home/Ecosystems/ Central Appalachian Limestone Glade and Woodland

Central Appalachian Limestone Glade and Woodland

EVT 7400Central Appalachian Alkaline Glade and Woodland

CES202.602GNRTreeConifer-hardwood

Summary

This system occurs at low to moderate elevations from the Central Appalachians (with a few northward incursions into southernmost New York and New England possible) south to the Ridge and Valley and Piedmont. It consists of woodlands and open glades on thin soils over limestone, dolostone or similar calcareous rock. Juniperus virginiana is a common tree, often increasing in the absence of fire, and Quercus muehlenbergii is indicative of the limestone substrate. Rhus aromatica, Cercis canadensis, and Ostrya virginiana may occur. Prairie grasses are the dominant herbs (Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium, Bouteloua spp.). Forb richness is often high; characteristic forbs include Asclepias verticillata, Brickellia eupatorioides, Erigeron pulchellus, Monarda fistulosa, Packera obovata, Salvia lyrata, and Symphyotrichum oblongifolium. Fire is sometimes an important natural disturbance factor, but open physiognomies may also be maintained by drought.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Vegetation

In some cases, the woodlands grade into closed-canopy forests. Juniperus virginiana is a common tree, filling in in the absence of fire, and Quercus muehlenbergii is indicative of the limestone substrate. Rhus aromatica, Cercis canadensis, and Ostrya virginiana may occur. Prairie grasses are the dominant herbs (Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium, Bouteloua spp.); forb richness is often high. Characteristic forbs include Asclepias verticillata, Monarda fistulosa, Salvia lyrata, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, and Brickellia eupatorioides (Braun 1950).

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Environment

This system occupies mid-elevation rocky ridges, gentle to steep south- and southwest-facing slopes, and outcrops with thin soils and calcareous bedrock. Large amounts of exposed mineral soils and/or gravel are characteristic. Soils are high in pH and rich in calcium and magnesium. Although these areas are subject to prolonged droughts, local areas of ephemeral vernal seepage occur in microtopographic concavities, and they may have distinctive vegetation (e.g., colonies of Dodecatheon meadia). A series of glades in western Virginia is somewhat distinctive because of the dolostone, which contains a high magnesium content. These glades are located on low dolomite knobs and foothills of Elbrook dolomite that occupy middle to upper slopes and crests of south- or southwest-facing spur ridges at relatively low elevations. In the Allegheny Mountains and along the Allegheny Front of Pennsylvania, the surface geology is primarily sandstone and shale, but the Mauch Chunk formation includes several narrow bands of limestone that outcrop frequently on steep slopes (Berg et al. 1980).

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Dynamics

Drought stress appears to drive patch dynamics. Fire is likely to have a somewhat lesser impact due to thin soils and sparse vegetation, although fire scars on woody vegetation of barrens in Virginia suggest that fire may also play a role in maintaining the open character of this system (Ludwig 1999), and fire is also thought to contribute to arresting succession by woody species in Pennsylvania (Laughlin 2004, McPherson 2013). Where this system occurs on steep slopes, debris avalanches may cause periodic disturbance, but this process needs further study (Bartgis 1993); anthropogenic disturbance is thought to have played a role in establishment of some occurrences in Pennsylvania; quarrying has been noted to create habitat for the establishment of species characteristic of limestone prairies, but overall this activity poses a threat through outright destruction or habitat degradation (Laughlin 2004, McPherson 2013).

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Threats

Glades and barrens in West Virginia have a history of grazing by sheep, allowing for establishment of invasive species such as Salvia reflexa (Bartgis 1993). Development and quarrying are threats to this system in West Virginia (Bartgis 1993, Dreese 2010). The soils formed from limestone in the Ridge and Valley and Piedmont are also prime farmland, and large portions have been converted for farming and residential development. Quarrying has also impacted habitat significantly (McPherson 2013). Less than 1% of Pennsylvania's protected lands include calcareous geology. This is problematic as 23% of all rare vascular plant taxa in the state are calciphiles and 10% of Pennsylvania's flora (197 taxa) are considered to be habitat specialists, mainly found in calcareous habitats. Of these, 57% are rare in the state including 31 globally rare calciphile taxa (ranked G2-G4G5) (McPherson 2013). Global climate change could pose significant problems to limestone specialists.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Distribution

This system is known from Pennsylvania and northwestern New Jersey south through the Ridge and Valley to western Virginia, possibly extending to southeasternmost New York and the marble valleys of northwestern Connecticut.

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 saccharum var. saccharum, Celtis occidentalis, Fraxinus americana, Juniperus virginiana, Ostrya virginiana, Prunus alleghaniensis, Quercus muehlenbergii

Tree subcanopy

Cercis canadensis

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Amelanchier sanguinea, Rhus aromatica

Herb (field)

Andropogon gerardi, Asclepias verticillata, Astragalus neglectus, Bouteloua curtipendula, Brickellia eupatorioides, Castilleja kraliana, Clematis coactilis, Delphinium exaltatum, Deschampsia caespitosa, Echinacea laevigata, Houstonia canadensis, Linum lewisii, Melica nitens, Monarda brevis, Monarda fistulosa, Oenothera linifolia, Oligoneuron rigidum, Onosmodium virginianum, Ranunculus fascicularis, Rhynchospora thornei, Salvia lyrata, Schizachyrium scoparium, Solidago arguta var. harrisii, Sporobolus neglectus, Symphyotrichum laeve var. concinnum, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, Taenidia montana, Thaspium pinnatifidum, Viola walteri

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

Ecologically Associated Animals (15)

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.

Mammals (3)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Red Wolf	Canis rufus	G1
Least Weasel	Mustela nivalis	G5
Southern Appalachian Woodrat	Neotoma floridana haematoreia	G5T4Q

Reptiles (8)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Eastern Copperhead	Agkistrodon contortrix	G5
Green Anole	Anolis carolinensis	G5
North American Racer	Coluber constrictor	G5
Southeastern Five-lined Skink	Plestiodon inexpectatus	G5
Southeastern Crowned Snake	Tantilla coronata	G5
Common Gartersnake	Thamnophis sirtalis	G5
Mountain Earthsnake	Virginia valeriae pulchra	G5T3T4
Eastern Smooth Earthsnake	Virginia valeriae valeriae	G5T5

Butterflies & Moths (1)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Olympia Marble	Euchloe olympia	G5

Insects (1)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Divergent Melanoplus	Melanoplus divergens	G2G3

Other (2)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Eastern Milksnake	Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum	G5T5
Eastern Cougar	Puma concolor couguar	G5TXQ

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

At-Risk Species Associated with this Ecosystem (12)

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.

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank	ESA Status
Red Wolf	Canis rufus	G1	Endangered; Experimental population, non-essential
Kral's Paintbrush	Castilleja kraliana	G2	--
Virginia White-hair Leatherflower	Clematis coactilis	G3	--
Tall Larkspur	Delphinium exaltatum	G3	--
Smooth Purple Coneflower	Echinacea laevigata	G2G3	Threatened
Divergent Melanoplus	Melanoplus divergens	G2G3	--
Smoke Hole Bergamot	Monarda brevis	G1G2	--
Eastern Cougar	Puma concolor couguar	G5TXQ	Delisted
Thorne's Beakrush	Rhynchospora thornei	G3	--
Mountain Parsley	Taenidia montana	G3	--
Cutleaf Meadow-parsnip	Thaspium pinnatifidum	G2G3	--
Mountain Earthsnake	Virginia valeriae pulchra	G5T3T4	--

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

Component Associations (5)

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 saccharum - Quercus muehlenbergii / Cercis canadensis Woodland	G4	NatureServe
Quercus muehlenbergii - Cercis canadensis / Packera obovata - Lithospermum canescens Woodland	G3	NatureServe
Quercus muehlenbergii / Packera plattensis - Parthenium auriculatum - Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland	G2	NatureServe
Quercus muehlenbergii - Quercus (alba, rubra) - Carya cordiformis / Viburnum prunifolium Forest	G3	NatureServe
Quercus rubra - Carya (glabra, ovata) / Ostrya virginiana / Carex lucorum Forest	G4	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
NJ	SNR
OH	SNR
PA	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.