Terrestrial Ecosystems 3 Chapter 1

TERRESTRIAL Chapter 1: Terrestrial Ecosystems 3 Chapter 1: What are the history, Terrestrial status, and projected future of terrestrial wildlife habitat types and Ecosystems species in the South? Margaret Katherine Trani (Griep) Southern Region, USDA Forest Service ■ Since presettlement, there have insect infestation, advanced age, Key Findings been significant losses of community climatic processes, and distur- biodiversity in the South (Noss and bance influence mast yields. ■ There are 132 terrestrial vertebrate others 1995). Fourteen communities ■ The ranges of many species species that are considered to be are critically endangered (greater cross both public and private of conservation concern in the South than 98-percent decline), 25 are land ownerships. The numbers of by State Natural Heritage agencies. endangered (85- to 98-percent imperiled and endangered species Of the species that warrant conser- decline), and 11 are threatened inhabiting private land indicate its vation focus, 3 percent are classed (70- to 84-percent decline). Common critical importance for conservation. factors contributing to the loss of as critically imperiled, 3 percent ■ The significance of land owner- as imperiled, and 6 percent as these communities include urban development, fire suppression, ship in the South for the provision vulnerable. Eighty-six percent of species habitat cannot be of terrestrial vertebrate species exotic species invasion, and recreational activity. overstated. Each major landowner are designated as relatively secure. has an important role to play in ■ The remaining 2 percent are either The term “fragmentation” the conservation of species and known or presumed to be extinct, references the insularization of their habitats. or have questionable status. habitat on a landscape. The change ■ Species of conservation concern in arrangement of remaining habitats are dominated by amphibians and can be accompanied by a loss of Introduction reptiles. Fifty-four amphibians, habitat area. Habitat fragmentation 40 reptiles, 20 birds, and 18 can result in the decline of interior- The South has an impressive mammals are classed as imperiled. dwelling birds; the decline of some diversity of terrestrial communities ■ Increasing population trends are large, wide-ranging species; and and species associations. These reported for wild turkey, white-tailed the loss of other specialized species. communities range from mountain deer, and black bear. Populations Habitat fragmentation affects the spruce-fir forests to tropical hardwoods, of northern bobwhite quail, gray fox, patch, connectivity, and edge and from coastal dunes to prairies. and red squirrels have declined for characteristics of a landscape. Centuries of settlement and land use several years. There have also ■ Connectivity within a landscape change have brought a number of been declines in mourning dove may facilitate movement and threats and pressures. The majority and American woodcock populations. fecundity for some species, while of the landscape has been modified Cottontail rabbit and ruffed grouse the size and shape of landscape considerably, resulting in the populations have demonstrated patches influences the integrity disappearance, degradation, and cyclical patterns. Among the of both biotic and abiotic processes. endangerment of native communities. migratory game birds, record Edge characteristics also have This chapter assesses the historical harvests of ducks and geese have important implications for and present status of terrestrial species occurred in recent years. the persistence of an array across the South. It is organized into ■ Groups of nongame birds with of terrestrial species with very six major sections: more than 50 percent of their species different habitat requirements. 1. An overview of southern historical showing significant declining trends ■ The availability of hard conditions affecting terrestrial include grassland-nesting birds and soft mast can influence vertebrate species. (70 percent), ground-nesting birds some terrestrial vertebrate 2. A review of populations, harvests, (57 percent), and shrubland-nesting species. Mast is an essential and the conservation status of species birds (53 percent). component in the diet of many occurring in the South. birds and mammals. Disease, TERRESTRIAL 4 Southern Forest Resource Assessment 3. A review of selected sensitive passenger pigeon is assigned the GX universities throughout the South communities in the region and the ranking because there is no question were contacted to obtain additional common threats to these communities. about its extinction. For a considerable information. The results from this 4. An overview of vertebrate species number of species that have not been effort were combined with additional that consume hard and soft mast. This observed in many years, however, information obtained from several section also lists several mast-producing there remains some hope of rediscovery. plant and animal field guides. A list of species that occur in the South. That, for example, is the case for mast-producing species was compiled Bachman’s warbler. These species using vegetation guides; terrestrial 5. An evaluation of the significance of were assigned the status of GH. vertebrate species that include mast public and other land for maintaining as a component of their diet were species and their habitats. Information on game and furbearer abundance was obtained from the extracted from wildlife field guides. 6. A review of the literature on Renewable Resources Planning Act fragmentation and its influence on (RPA) Wildlife Report (Flather and Results landscapes and the species supported others 1999). The RPA is a periodic by those landscapes. assessment of natural resources on Several species are included that, the Nation’s forests and rangelands. Historical Conditions at one stage or another of their lives, The RPA data on game populations The presettlement landscape of return to land to reproduce or spend originated from State agencies using the South was quite diverse: forests a part of their lives there. The focus questionnaires developed by the of different ages were interspersed is on vertebrates because information USDA Forest Service and the Natural with expansive savannas, dense on the regional biogeography of many Resources Conservation Service. cane thickets, barrens, and swamps. terrestrial invertebrate groups is Data from the RPA assessments are Disturbance was a major influence on lacking (Echternacht and Harris 1993). taken from various State and Federal the composition of southern forests, Scientific names are provided in the agencies. Population projections of creating forest openings and resetting chapter tables; therefore, common harvested animals are based on surveys succession (Lorimer 2001). Forests names will be used in the text. (Note: of experts from State wildlife agencies. were dynamic; natural succession Additional information on the status Information on rare and threatened progressed with shade-tolerant plants and habitat relationships of vertebrate communities was based on the replacing pioneer species. Periodic resources across the South is provided comprehensive reviews conducted flooding and associated sedimentation in chapters 5 and 23, which include by Grossman and others (1994), influenced the distribution and discussions of threatened and Noss and others (1995), White and composition of local areas. endangered species.) others (1998), and Walker (2001). Frequent thunderstorms provided Information on the acreage and a source of natural fires, resulting Methods and distribution of Federal land was in a landscape of mixed species Data Sources obtained from the National Parks composition. Lightning fires burned index (U.S. Department of the Interior unabated (Williams 1989). Fire 2000a), the Lands Report from the Fish frequency and intensity were dominant Data on the conservation status and Wildlife Service (U.S. Department forces (refer to chapter 25). Fire was of terrestrial vertebrate species were of Interior 2000b), and the Lands important for the persistence of many compiled from State Natural Heritage Area Report of the USDA Forest Service communities including pine forests, agencies using NatureServe (2000). (U. S. Department of Agriculture, oak-hickory forests, savannas, barrens, The Natural Heritage database is Forest Service 2000c). Agency reports and prairies (Trani and others 2001). an inventory of known occurrences also were compiled for national parks Native Americans, through use of for species of conservation concern, (U.S. Department of the Interior, Park including federally listed species. Stein fire and crop cultivation (Buckner Service 2000) and national refuges 1989, Delcourt and Delcourt 1987), and others (2000) list multiple criteria (U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish used by Natural Heritage for assessing further modified the composition and and Wildlife Service 2000), providing open character of the forest. Fires were conservation status: occurrence property descriptions and species lists. (number of distinct populations or frequently set to create openings for subpopulations); condition (viability Statewide timberland ownership crops and to drive game for harvest. of extant populations); population size; data were obtained from the Forest The effects of native inhabitation area of occupied habitat; short- and Inventory and Analysis Research on southern forests were extensive long-term population trends; known Work Unit (FIA) of the

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