Mixed Oak Forest/Woodland State Rank: S5 - Secure

Mixed Oak Forest/Woodland is a broadly Pine Forests (OHWPF) are the defined tree oak dominated community most broadly defined in the that grades into other more narrowly continuum of oak dominated defined communities; The type often forests; specific types are split out occurs in areas that burn regularly, with from this matrix type. OHWPF is dry soils and exposed slopes; dominated by a mix of tree oaks with scattered white pine and saplings of canopy species with hemlock, either of which may be (depending on location) gray birch, in local dense patches. Abundant striped maple, witch hazel, shadbush, and scarlet oak with black oak is the chestnut is dense in patches. The shrub key indicator of Black Oak - layer may be extensive or at least also Scarlet Oak Woodlands. Open Oak Across a slope with Mixed Oak over mountain dense in patches with lowbush Woodlands occur on hill slopes laurel. Photo: Beverly Vucson, DFG. blueberries, huckleberry, and/or mountain with short red and white oak trees The understory of blueberries and laurel. A scattered herbaceous layer is scattered over a grassy or low shrub huckleberries is used by many of these Description: Mixed Oak Forest/ often primarily wild sarsaparilla and understory around small rock outcrops. same species. Amphibians expected Woodland is a deciduous forest or Pennsylvania sedge. They often occur between a rocky summit include northern redback salamanders and woodland community dominated by and the surrounding taller forest. Coastal spotted salamanders. Ringneck snake and multiple species of tree oak that occurs on Forests/Woodlands are within a few miles redbelly snake would be expected. Moths dry soils and exposed acidic talus or rocky of the coast at <~60 ft. elevation and including the orange sallow moth, slopes. The canopy may be closed or receive storm winds and spray. The butterflies, and other insects of the somewhat open (typically having ~70% diverse canopy includes oaks and often southeastern oak and oak-pine forest cover) at ~20m (~60 ft.). More mature has American holly, sassafras, and black occur in Mixed Oak Forests. forest examples tend to have denser gum. White Pine - Oak Forests have canopy cover. Trees in many examples >25% cover of white pine overall (not just Examples with Public Access: are small - young or stunted with broken local patches). Pitch Pine - Oak Forests/ Mt. Tekoa WMA, Russell; Minute Man tops - with diameters 6-8”, and only Woodlands have >25% cover of pitch NHP, Lexington; Douglas SF, Douglas; occasional larger trees >10” diameter. The pine overall (not just local patches). Palmer WMA, Palmer. tall shrub layer may be patchy, over an often extensive lower shrub layer. The American chestnut, often in Mixed Oak as a Habitat for Associated Fauna: herbaceous cover is variable. shrub. Photo: Sergio Harding, NHESP. Mature upland forest types provide Undecomposed oak leaves cover the valuable structural attributes such as tree ground. Differentiating from Related cavity den sites (used by a variety of bird Communities: Mixed Oak Forests/ and mammal species) and large woody Characteristic Species: Canopies in Woodlands are part of a continuum of dry, material (used by various amphibian, Mixed Oak Forests/Woodlands have a acidic communities that contain a variety reptile, and invertebrate species). Mixed variable mix of black, white, red, scarlet, of tree oak and pine species. Mixed Oak Oak Forests/Woodlands may constitute and chestnut oaks, with black and white Forests/Woodlands include more oak only parts of the habitats of many animals birches, and red maple. White Pine, if species (black, scarlet, white, red, and found in them. Acorns in all oak forests present, typically makes up much <25% chestnut oak) than do most other types of are important for wildlife including white- of the canopy. The canopy is generally oak forests, and birches and lack abundant tailed deer, black bear, grey squirrels, and Mixed Oaks with red maple. Photo: Sergio somewhat open. An understory of pines or hemlock. Oak - Hemlock - White other small rodents. Birds include turkeys. Harding, NHESP.

From: Classification of Natural Communities of Massachusetts htthttpp://www;mass;gov/nhesp/://www;mass;gov/nhesp/ Updated: 2016 Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Division of FishFisheeriesries & Wildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd;, Westborough, M! 01581 (508) 389-6360