Community Abstract Oak Openings
Oak Openings CommunityOak Openings,Abstract Page 1 Historical Range Prevalent or likely prevalent Infrequent or likely infrequent Photo by Michael A. Kost Absent or likely absent Overview: Oak openings is a fire-dependent, savanna climatic tension zone. In the 1800s, oak openings were type dominated by oaks, having between 10 and located in the south-central Lower Peninsula of Michigan 60% canopy, with or without a shrub layer. The on sandy glacial outwash and coarse-textured moraines predominantly graminoid ground layer is composed (Wing 1937, Comer et al. 1995, NatureServe 2004). Oak of species associated with both prairie and forest openings occurred within the range of bur oak plains communities. Oak openings are found on dry-mesic and oak barrens, with oak openings dominating more on loams and occur typically on level to rolling topography dry-mesic to mesic soils, bur oak plains occupying more of outwash and coarse-textured end moraines. Oak mesic, flat sites in the southwestern part of the Lower openings have been nearly extirpated from Michigan; Peninsula, and oak barrens thriving on droughty sites. only two small examples have been documented. These similar oak savanna types often graded into each other. Oak openings were historically documented in Global and State Rank: G1/S1 the following counties: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Range: Oak savanna1 and prairie communities reached Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, their maximum coverage in Michigan approximately Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Montcalm, Monroe, 4,000-6,000 years ago, when post-glacial climatic Newaygo, Oakland, Ottawa, Shiawassee, St. Joseph, Van conditions were comparatively warm and dry.
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