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Home , Atrytonopsis hianna, Comandra, Linum sulcatum, Oak, Pine, Pygarctia spraguei

- Barrens Community Abstract

Historical Range

Photo by Patrick J. Comer

Prevalent or likely prevalent Infrequent or likely infrequent Absent or likely absent

Global and State Rank: G3/S2 0.3% of the state’s surface area (Comer et al. 1995). Most of this acreage was concentrated in Newaygo Range: Barrens and communities reached their County (17% or 19,000 acres), Crawford County (15% maximum extent in approximately 4,000- or 17,000 acres) and Allegan County (14% or 15,000 6,000 years before present, when post-glacial climatic acres). Today merely a few hundred acres of high conditions were comparatively warm and dry. Dur- quality oak- remain in Michigan. This rare ing this time, xerothermic conditions allowed for the community constitutes less than 0.005% of the present invasion of fire-dependent, xeric vegetation types into a vegetation, a sixty-fold reduction from the amount of large portion of the Lower Peninsula and into sections oak-pine barrens originally present. of the Upper Peninsula. With the subsequent shift of more mesic climatic conditions southward, there has Currently a few small remnants of oak-pine barrens been a recolonization of mesic vegetation throughout persist. Destructive timber exploitation of Michigan. The distribution of fire-dominated com- (1890s) and (1920s) combined with post-logging munities, such as oak-pine barrens, has been reduced slash fires destroyed or degraded oak-pine barrens to isolated patches typically along the climatic tension across Michigan (Michigan Natural Features Inventory zone (Hauser 1953 in Lohrentz and Mattei 1995). In 1995). In addition, alteration of the historical fire the 1800s, oak-pine barrens were located on sandy regime has shifted much of the vegetation types with outwash plains radiating from the tension zone, in the barrens physiognomy into and (Faber- Sandusky lakeplain and in several counties of the Up- Langendoen 1993). Fire suppression policies instituted per Peninsula, including Menominee, Dickinson and in the 1920s resulted in the succession of open oak-pine Chippewa counties (Comer et al. 1995). Presently the barrens to closed canopy dominated by black distribution of this community is concentrated in the and white oaks (Michigan Natural Features Inventory Newaygo Outwash Plain with additional remnants in 1995). Those oak-pine barren fragments that remain the sandy outwash plains of Menominee and Dickinson are often lacking the full complement, which counties and the sandy lakeplains of Huron and Allegan was ubiquitously harvested. In addition to simplified Counties. In addition to Michigan, oak-pine barrens overstory structure, these communities are often remnants occur in Manitoba, Ontario, , and depauperate in floristic diversity as the result of fire Wisconsin (NatureServe 2000). suppression, livestock grazing, off-road vehicle activity, and the subsequent invasion of exotic (Michigan Rank Justification: Prior to European settlement Natural Features Inventory 1995; Lohrentz and Mattei of Michigan in the 1800s, just over 112,000 acres of 1995). oak-pine barrens were present in Michigan, covering

Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 30444 - Lansing, MI 48909-7944 Phone: 517-373-1552 Oak-Pine Barrens, Page 2

Ecoregional map of Michigan (Albert 1995) depicting historical distribution of oak-pine barrens (Albert et al. 2008)

Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 30444 - Lansing, MI 48909-7944 Phone: 517-373-1552 Oak-Pine Barrens, Page 3

Landscape and Abiotic Context: Oak-pine barrens Vegetation Description: The oak-pine barrens com- occur on nearly level to slightly undulating ground in munity is a heterogeneous vegetation type. well-drained sandy glacial outwash, sandy glacial lake- Structurally oak-pine barrens range from dense thickets plains, and less often on sandy areas in coarse-textured of brush and understory scrub oak and pine amongst a moraines. Soils of this xeric, fire-prone community are matrix of to park-like open of widely generally coarse-textured, well-drained sand or loamy spaced mature oak and pines with virtually no or sand of medium to slightly acid pH and low water sub-canopy layer above the open forb and graminoid retaining capacity. Soils typically lack the fine-textured understory (Chapman et al. 1995; Lohrentz and Mattei illuvial horizon associated with soils of the oak open- 1995; Kost et al. 2007). The physiognomic variations, ings and are thus droughtier. Oak-pine and oak barrens which occur along a continuum, are the function of the typically occur in bands surrounding prairie (Kost et al. frequency and intensity of fire (Lohrentz and Mattei 2007). 1995). Typically, oak-pine barrens grade into prairie on one front and dry forest on the other. As noted by The region that contains oak-pine barrens has a cool Curtis (1959), the flora of this community is a mixture snow-forest climate with warm summers north of of prairie and forest species. the tension zone and a warm temperate rainy to cool, snow-forest climate without a dry season and with hot The canopy layer generally varies from 5 to 60 percent summers south of the tension zone. The daily maxi- cover (Chapman et al. 1989) and is dominated or co- mum temperature in July ranges from 24 to 32 °C (75 dominated by the following : (white to 90 °F) and the daily minimum temperature in Janu- oak), (black oak), Quercus ellipsoida- ary ranges from –21 to –4 °C (-5 to 25 °F). The mean lis (northern pin oak), (bur oak), length of freeze-free days is between 90 to 220 days and (white pine), ( pine) the average number of days per year with snow cover of and Pinus banksiana (). The above species 2.5 cm or more is between 10 and 140 days. The nor- of pine and oak are also prevalent in the sub-canopy in mal annual total precipitation ranges from 610 to 1270 shrubby clumps, especially where fire intensity is high. mm (Albert et al. 1986; Barnes 1991). In addition, (red ), serotina (black cherry), grandidentata (bigtooth ), Natural Processes: Curtis (1959) suggested that oak and Populus tremuloides (trembling aspen) are often barrens originated when prairie fires spread into sur- found in the overstory and sub-canopy of this communi- rounding closed oak forest with enough intensity to cre- ty. Along the transition zone and to the south, the most ate open barrens. Repeated low intensity fires working common overstory dominants are white oak, black oak, in concert with periodic drought then maintain these and white pine. North of the transition zone, northern barrens. Oak-pine barrens persist when fire disturbance pin oak replaces black oak and red pine and jack pine prevents canopy closure and the dominance of woody become more prevalent in the canopy layer. (Kost et al. vegetation. Presently, the prevalent catalyst of such 2007). fires is lighting strike but historically, Native Americans played an integral role in the fire regime, accidentally Characteristic include: Amelanchier spp. and/or intentionally setting fire to prairie ecosystems (serviceberry), Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry or (Chapman 1984 in Lohrentz and Mattei 1995). kinnikinick), Ceanothus americanus ( ), (sweetfern), Corylus americana The character of oak-pine barrens can differ dramatical- (American hazelnut), Cornus spp (dogwood species), ly as the result of varying fire intensity and frequency, Corylus cornuta (beaked hazelnut), Crataegus spp. which is influenced by climatic conditions, soil texture, (hawthorn species), Gaultheria procumbens (winter- and topography. Infrequent, high intensity fires kill green), Gaylussacia baccata (huckleberry), Prunus mature oaks and produce barrens covered by scrubby americana (wild ), Prunus virginiana (choke cher- oak sprouts and scattered pines, which survived the ry), Prunus pumila (sand cherry), burn. Park-like barrens with widely spaced trees and (dwarf or dwarf chinkapin oak), Rosa carolina an open grass understory are maintained by low inten- (pasture ), flagellaris(northern dewberry), sity, frequent fires, which occur often enough to restrict Salix humilis (prairie or upland ), and oak (Lohrentz and Mattei 1995; Chapman et angustifolium (low sweet blueberry). al. 1995). Frequent fires of low intensity can maintain high levels of grass and forb diversity by deterring the The ground layer is dominated by graminoids and forbs. encroachment of woody vegetation and limiting the Common species include dominance of the mat-forming sedge pensylva- (little bluestem), Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem), nica ( sedge) (Corner 1996). and Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge), with Pennsylvania sedge often replacing the bluestems in shaded areas, fire suppressed communities, and north

Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 30444 - Lansing, MI 48909-7944 Phone: 517-373-1552 Oak-Pine Barrens, Page 4 of the transition zone. Other prevalent herbs of the speciosa (showy goldenrod), Solidago rigida oak-pine barrens include: oolentangiensis (sky- (stiff goldenrod), and avenacea (needle grass). blue aster), Aureolaria spp. (false foxglove), Coreopsis lanceolata (tickseed), Danthonia spicata (poverty oats), Other noteworthy species: Rare associated Deschampsia flexuosa (hair grass), corollata with oak-pine barrens include: Aster sericeus (western (flowering spurge), divaricatus ( silvery aster, state threatened), Bouteloua curtipen- sunflower), Koeleria macrantha (June grass), Krigia dula (side-oats grama grass, state endangered), Carex biflora(dwarf dandelion), Lathyrus ochroleucus (white inops ssp. heliophila (sun sedge, state special concern), pea), Lespedeza hirta (hairy lespedeza), Liatris cylin- Carex tincta (tinged sedge, state threatened), Cirsium dracea (dwarf blazing star), Lupinus perennis (wild hillii (Hill’s thistle, state special concern), Eleocharis lupine), Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot), Pedicularis melanocarpa (black-fruited spike rush, state special canadensis ( betony), and Stipa avenacea (needle concern), Festuca scabrella (rough fescue, state threat- grass). ened), Geum triflorum (prairie-smoke, state threatened), sulcatum (furrowed flax, state special concern), In the absence of fire and with the prevalence of anthro- Prunus alleghaniensis var. davisii (alleghany or sloe pogenic disturbance such as logging, off-road vehicle plum, state special concern), Rhexia virginica (meadow- recreation, and livestock grazing, the following exotic beauty, state special concern), Rhynchospora macro- species may be dominant components of the herbaceous stachya (tall beak-rush, state special concern), Rhyn- layer of oak-pine barrens: Centaurea maculosa (spotted chospora scirpoides (bald-rush, state threatened), and knapweed), Hieracium spp. (hawkweeds), Hypericum Sisyrinchium strictum (blue-eyed grass, state special perforatum (common St. John’s-wort), Poa compressa concern). (Canada bluegrass), Poa pratensis (Kentucky blue- grass), and Rumex acetosella ( sorrel). The oak-pine barrens with its surrounding prairie share a rich diversity of invertebrates includ- Michigan indicator species: ing numerous , skippers, grasshoppers and Spring/Early Summer locusts. Rare butterflies, skippers, and include: umbellata (bastard toadflax),Coreopsis lan- hianna (dusted , state special con- ceolata (tickseed), Geum triflorum (prairie smoke, state cern), amestris (three-staff underwing, state threatened), Lithospermum canescens (hoary puccoon), endangered), Erynnis p. persius (persius dusky wing, Lupinus perennis (wild lupine), Krigia biflora(dwarf state threatened), Hesperia ottoe (ottoe skipper, state dandelion), Pedicularis canadensis (wood betony), Po- threatened), Incisalia henrici (Henry’s elfin, state threat- tentilla simplex (common cinquefoil), Senecio plattensis ened), Incisalia irus (frosted elfin, state threatened), (prairie ragwort), Stipa spartea (needle grass), and Viola Lycaeides melissa samuelis (Karner blue, state threat- pedata (’s foot violet). ened/federal endangered), Papaipema sciata (Culver’s borer, state special concern), spraguei Summer (Sprague’s pygarctia, state special concern), Pyrgus wy- Anemone cylindrica (thimbleweed), Asclepias tu- andot (grizzled skipper, state special concern), Schinia berosa (butterflyweed),Asclepias verticillata (whorled (phlox , state endangered), Schinia lucens milkweed), Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey tea), (leadplant moth, state endangered), Spartiniphaga inops Helianthus occidentalis (western sunflower), Helianthus (Spartina moth, state special concern), and Speyeria divaricatus (woodland sunflower), Linum sulcatum (fur- idalia (regal fritillary, state endangered). rowed flax, state special concern), Monarda punctata (horsemint), Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot), Opun- Other rare invertebrates include Lepyronia gibbosa tia humifusa (prickly ), and Trichostema dichoto- (Great Plains spittlebug, state threatened), Oecanthus mum (bastard pennyroyal, state threatened). pini (pinetree cricket, state special concern), Orphulella pelidna (green grasshopper, state special con- Fall cern), Prosapia ignipectus (red-legged spittlebug, state Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem), Aristida purpura- special concern), and Scudderia fasciata (pine katydid, scens (three awn grass), Aster oolentangiensis (sky-blue state special concern). aster), Aster ericoides (many flowered aster),Aster seri- ceus (western silvery aster, state threatened), Aureolaria Numerous songbirds utilize oak-pine barrens. Rare flava (false foxglove), (false species include Ammodramus savannarum (grasshopper foxglove), Aureolaria virginica (false foxglove), Bou- sparrow, state special concern) and Dendroica discolor teloua curtipendula (side oats grama, state endangered), (prairie warbler, state endangered). Typical songbirds Liatris aspera (rough blazing star), Liatris cylindracea include Melospiza lincolnii (Lincoln’s sparrow), Pas- (dwarf blazing star), Schizachyrium scoparium (little serina cyanea (indigo bunting), Pooecetes gramineus bluestem), Silphium terebinthinaceum (prairie dock),

Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 30444 - Lansing, MI 48909-7944 Phone: 517-373-1552 Oak-Pine Barrens, Page 5

(vesper sparrow), Sial sialis (Eastern bluebird), Spi- timber harvest followed by slash fires and conversion zella passerina (chipping sparrow), Spizella pusilla to farms or , there is much opportunity (field sparrow), Toxostoma rufum ( thrasher), for restoration of this community type. spe- Vermivora pinus (blue-winged warbler) and Vermivora cies of oak-pine barrens can persist through cycles of ruficapilla (Nashville warbler). Additional avian spe- canopy closure and removal (Chapman et al., 1989). cies that exploit this habitat include: Accipter striatus The occurrence of oak-pine barrens indicator species in (sharp-shinned hawk), Bartamia longicauda (upland closed-canopy forests reveals the presence of a native sandpiper), Bonasa umbellus (ruffed ), Buteo seedbank and highlights that area as a target for restor- jamaicensis (red-tailed hawk), Charadrius vociferus ative management. Also indicative of a site’s potential (killdeer), Falco sparverius (American kestrel), Mel- for restoration is the prevalence of oak and/or pine wolf anerpes erythrocephalus (red-headed ), trees. Wolf trees are large open grown trees with wide- Meleagris gallopavo (), Otus asio (Eastern spreading limbs that are often associated with oak-pine screech-owl), and Zenaida macroura (). barrens plant or seedbank in the soil (Michigan Natural Features Inventory 1995). Cryptotis parva (least shrew, state threatened) and Microtus ochrogaster (prairie vole, state endangered) are rare mammals that may be found in oak-pine bar- rens. Canis latrans (coyote), Microtus pennsylvanicus (meadow vole), Odocoileus virginianus (white-tailed deer), Scirus niger (fox ), Spermophilus tride- cemlineatus (thirteen-lined ground squirrel), Taxidea (badger), Vulpes vulpes (red fox), and Zapus hud- sonia (jumping meadow mouse) are additional mam- mals commonly associated with the oak-pine barrens community.

Several rare reptiles are known from this commu- nity type. They include Pantherophis spiloides (gray ratsnake, state special concern), Sistrurus c. catenatus Photo by Gary Reese (eastern massasauga, state special concern, federal Canopy closure and woody encroachment in a fire suppressed candidate species), and Terrapene c. carolina (Eastern oak-pine barrens. box turtle, state special concern). Bufo a. americanus (Eastern American toad), Bufo fowleri (Fowler’s toad), Where canopy closure has degraded the savanna charac- Heterodon platirhinos (Eastern hog-nosed snake) and ter, one can restore the oak-pine barrens community by Opheodrys vernalis (smooth green snake) are some of selectively cutting the majority of trees, leaving an aver- the more common amphibians and reptiles that frequent age of 4 trees /acre. Reconstructed sites will need to be the oak-pine barrens. maintained by periodic prescribed fire and may require investment in native plant seeding where and plant Conservation/management: Prior to the logging era, banks are inadequate. Depending on what the physiog- fire was the single most significant factor in preserving nomic target of the management is, one can manipulate the oak-pine barrens landscapes. Where remnants of the intensity and frequency of the prescribed burns: low oak-pine barrens persist, the use of prescribed fire is an intensity and high frequency for the park-like end of the imperative management for maintaining an open barrens continuum and low frequency and high intensity canopy and promoting high levels of grass and forb for shrubby oak-pine barrens. Summer burning should diversity by deterring the encroachment of woody veg- be employed to simulate naturally occurring lightning etation and invasive exotics and limiting the dominance season burns. In areas where fire is undesirable or of Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge). Chapman unfeasible, mowing can be utilized and should be car- et al. (1995) suggest that a fire interval of 1-3 years will ried forth in late fall or winter to minimize detrimental remove woody cover in the sapling and shrub layer and impact to herbaceous species and rare invertebrates promote herbaceous diversity. Where rare invertebrates (Michigan Natural Features Inventory 1995; Chapman are a management concern, burning strategies should et al. 1995). allow for ample refugia to facilitate effective post-burn recolonization (Michigan Natural Features Inventory Management of oak-pine barrens communities should 1995). be orchestrated in conjunction with the management Though most of the historical oak-pine barrens have of adjacent communities such as dry sand prairie, dry been degraded by selective logging, livestock graz- southern forest, coastal plain marsh and lakeplain prai- ing, and fire suppression or destroyed by extensive rie.

Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 30444 - Lansing, MI 48909-7944 Phone: 517-373-1552 Oak-Pine Barrens, Page 6

Research needs: As noted by Faber-Langendoen V.A.6.n.F.; Pinus strobus-Quercus (alba, rubra) (1993), numerous distinct community types have been Wooded Alliance; Pinus strobus- lumped under the phrase “Midwest oak .” / Danthonia spicata Acid Bedrock Wooded Misunderstanding and misuse of the term can be allevi- Herbaceous Vegetation ated by the continued refinement of regional classifica- tions that correlate species composition and landscape II.C.3.N.a.; Pinus strobus-Quercus (alba, context. Investigation into the frequency, periodicity ellipsodialias, rubra, velutina) Woodland and intensity of fires in oak-pine barrens is needed to Alliance; Pinus strobus-Pinus resinosa-Quercus guide restoration and management activities. (ellipsoidalis, rubra) / Juniperus communis Rocky Woodland Numerous rare have plants occurring on oak-pine barrens. The effects of fire and alternative Related Abstracts: Alleghany plum, bur oak plains, management techniques on rare faunal populations sen- Culver’s root borer, dry sand prairie, Hill’s thistle, sitive to fire needs to be studied. In addition, because of karner blue , lakeplain oak openings, meadow- the daunting problem of exotic encroachment, research beauty, oak barrens, oak openings, pine barrens, prairie needs to examine management strategies that minimize smoke, red-legged spittlebug, and rough fescue. or reduce dominance. Selected References: Similar communities: Bur oak plains, dry sand prairie, dry southern forest, dry northern forest, Great Lakes Albert, D.A. 1995. Regional landscape ecosystems of barrens, lakeplain oak openings, oak openings, oak bar- Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin: A working rens and pine barrens. map and classification. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-178. Other Classifications: St. Paul, MN: USDA, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station, St. Paul, MN. http://nrs. Michigan Natural Features Inventory Pre­ fs.fed.us/pubs/242 (Version 03JUN1998). 250 pp. settlement Vegetation (MNFI): Albert, D.A., J.G. Cohen, M.A. Kost, B.S. Slaughter, Oak-Pine Barren and H.D. Enander. 2008. Distribution Maps of Michigan’s Natural Communities. Michigan Natural Michigan Department of Natural Resources Features Inventory, Report No. 2008-01, Lansing, (MDNR): G- grass and O0, W0, R0, or J0- Oak, White Pine, Red Pine or Jack Pine with <100 trees MI. 174 pp. per acre. Barnes, B.V. 1991. forests of . Pp 219-344 in E. Röhrig and Michigan Resource Information Systems B. Ulrich (eds.) Ecosystems of the World 7: (MIRIS): 33 (Pine or Oak Opening, 412 (Central Temperate Deciduous Forests. Elsevier, ), 4122 (White Oak), 4123 (Black Amsterdam. Oak), 4129 (Other Oak), 421 (Pine), 4210 Chapman, K.A. 1984. An ecological investigation of (Undifferentiated Pine), 4211 (White Pine), 4212 native grassland in Southern Lower Michigan. (Red Pine), and 4213 (Jack Pine). M.A. thesis, Western Michigan University. Chapman, K.A., M.A. White and M.R. Huffman. The Nature Conservancy National Classification: 1989. Draft: Oak barrens stewardship abstract. Midwest Heritage Task Force, The Nature CODE; ALLIANCE; ASSOCIATION; Conservancy. Minneapolis, MN. COMMON NAME Chapman, K.A., M.A. White, M.R. Huffman and D. Faber-Langendoen. 1995. Ecology and V.A.6.N.f.; Pinus strobus-Quercus (alba, rubra) stewardship guidelines for oak barrens landscapes Wooded Herbaceous Alliance; Pinus strobus- in the upper Midwest. In Forest Stearns and Karen Quercus alba-(Quercus velutina) / Andropogon Holland, eds., Proceedings of the Midwest Oak gerardii Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation; White Savanna Conference, 1993. U.S. Environmental Pine-White Oak Barrens Protection Agency, Internet Publications. Comer, P.J., D.A. Albert, H.A. Wells, B.L. Hart, J.B. V.A.6.n.F.; Pinus banksiana-(Pinus resinosa) Raab, D.L. Price, D.M. Kashian, R.A. Corner and Wooded Herbaceous Alliance; Pinus banksiana- D.W. Schuen. 1995. Michigan’s presettlement (Quercus ellipsodalis) / Schizachyrium scoparium- vegetation, as interpreted from the General Land Prarie Forbs Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation; Jack Office Surveys 1816-1856. Michigan Natural Pine / Prarie Forbs Barrens Features Inventory, Lansing MI. digital map.

Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 30444 - Lansing, MI 48909-7944 Phone: 517-373-1552 Oak-Pine Barrens, Page 7

Corner, R.A. 1996. Natural community abstract for pine barrens. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, MI 3 pp. Curtis, J.T. 1959. Vegetation of Wisconsin: An Ordination of Plant Communities. University. of Wisconsin Press, Madison, WI. 657 pp. Faber-Langendoen, D. 1993. A proposed classification for savannas in the Midwest. Background paper for the Midwest conference. 18 pp. Faber-Langendoen, D. (editor). 1999. International classification of ecological communities: Terrestrial vegetation of the Midwestern . The Nature Conservancy, Midwest Conservation Science Department, Minneapolis MN. Hauser, R.S. 1953. An ecological analysis of the isolated of Newaygo County, Michigan. Ph.D diss, Michigan State College. Kost, M.A., D.A. Albert, J.G. Cohen, B.S. Slaughter, R.K. Schillo, C.R. Weber, and K.A. Chapman. 2007. Natural communities of Michigan: Classifica- tion and descrip tion. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Report Number 2007-21, Lansing, MI. 314 pp. Lohrentz, M. and L. Mattei. 1995. Newaygo prairie- barrens ecosystem site conservation plan. 59 pp. Michigan Natural Features Inventory. 1995. Forest stewardship training materials for oak-pine barrens ecosystem. (Unpublished manuscript). NatureServe: An online [web application]. 2000. Version 1.0 . Arlington (VA): Association for Biodiversity Information. Available: http://www.natureserve.org/. (Accessed: September 11, 2000 ). Nuzzo, V. 1986. Extent and status of Midwest oak savanna: presettlement and 1985. Natural Areas Journal 6: 6-36.

Abstract Citation: Cohen, J.G. 2000. Natural community abstract for oak- pine barrens. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, MI. 7 pp.

Updated June 2010.

Copyright 2004 Michigan State University Board of Trustees. Michigan State University Extension is an affirmative- action, equal-opportunity organization. Funding for abstract provided by Michigan Department of Natural Resources-Forest Management Division and Wildlife Division.

Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 30444 - Lansing, MI 48909-7944 Phone: 517-373-1552