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.
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.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | G-Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Grasshopper Sparrow | Ammodramus savannarum | G5 |
| Upland Sandpiper | Bartramia longicauda | G5 |
| Loggerhead Shrike | Lanius ludovicianus | G4 |
| Eastern Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | G5 |
| Common Name | Scientific Name | G-Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Massasauga | Sistrurus catenatus | G3 |
| Common Name | Scientific Name | G-Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Hoary Elfin | Callophrys polios | G5 |
| Mottled Duskywing | Erynnis martialis | G3 |
| Chryxus Arctic | Oeneis chryxus strigulosa | G5T4 |
| Tawny Crescent | Phyciodes batesii | G3G4 |
| Grizzled Skipper | Pyrgus centaureae | G5 |
| Common Name | Scientific Name | G-Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Pleistocene Catinella | Mediappendix exilis | G3? |
| Common Name | Scientific Name | G-Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Grizzled Skipper | Pyrgus wyandot | G1G2Q |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mottled Duskywing | Erynnis martialis | G3 | -- |
| Dwarf Lake Iris | Iris lacustris | G3 | Threatened |
| Pleistocene Catinella | Mediappendix exilis | G3? | -- |
| Tawny Crescent | Phyciodes batesii | G3G4 | -- |
| Appalachian Grizzled Skipper | Pyrgus wyandot | G1G2Q | -- |
| Eastern Massasauga | Sistrurus catenatus | G3 | Threatened |
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 - Ostrya virginiana - Carya ovata - Quercus rubra Limestone Woodland | G3 | NatureServe |
| Carya ovata / Zanthoxylum americanum / Panicum philadelphicum - Carex pensylvanica Alvar Woodland | GNR | NatureServe |
| Danthonia spicata - Poa compressa - (Schizachyrium scoparium) Grassland | G2 | NatureServe |
| Deschampsia cespitosa - (Sporobolus heterolepis, Schizachyrium scoparium) - Carex crawei - Packera paupercula Grassland | G2 | NatureServe |
| Juniperus communis - (Juniperus virginiana) - Rhus aromatica - Viburnum rafinesqueanum / Oligoneuron album Shrubland | G3 | NatureServe |
| Juniperus horizontalis - Dasiphora fruticosa / Schizachyrium scoparium - Carex richardsonii Dwarf-shrubland | G2 | NatureServe |
| Juniperus virginiana / Ranunculus fascicularis Woodland | G3 | NatureServe |
| Picea glauca - Thuja occidentalis - Juniperus communis / Iris lacustris - Carex eburnea Shrubland | G1 | NatureServe |
| Pinus banksiana - Thuja occidentalis - Picea glauca / Juniperus communis Alvar Woodland | G2 | NatureServe |
| Sporobolus heterolepis - Schizachyrium scoparium - (Carex scirpoidea) / (Juniperus horizontalis) Grassland | G2 | NatureServe |
| Sporobolus neglectus - Sporobolus vaginiflorus - Trichostema brachiatum - Panicum philadelphicum - (Poa compressa) Alvar Grassland | G2 | NatureServe |
| Thuja occidentalis - Pinus banksiana / Dasiphora fruticosa / Clinopodium arkansanum Wooded Grassland | G1 | NatureServe |
| Tortella tortuosa - Cladonia pocillum - Placynthium spp. Alvar Pavement | G2 | NatureServe |
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 |
|---|---|
| MI | SNR |
| NY | SNR |
| OH | SNR |
| WI | SNR |
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.