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White Pine - Oak Forest State Rank: S5 – Secure

White Pine - Oak Forest State Rank: S5 – Secure

White - State Rank: S5 – Secure

White Pine - Oak Forest is a common, Differentiating from extremely variable forest community of Related Communities: mixed dominance with and white White Pine - Oak have pine in the ; It is a common stage >25% cover of white pine of forest succession, indicating overall (not just local patches). widespread past disturbances; They are often in a successional sequence from layer in a variety of proportions. Successional White Pine Associated canopy regularly occur in Forests: the key difference is low numbers: , pine and the >25% of oaks in the sassafras are more likely in southern or WPOF canopy. In southern or coastal areas while white and black very dry areas WPOF may are more northerly. American grade into Pitch Pine - Oak and occur throughout. Forests/ which American is a frequent shrubby have >25% cover of pitch pine and <25% production, an important source of tree. The layer is variable in canopy of white pine. Related forest types , is substantially greater in abundance and . Heaths may form in the oak continuum have <25% white oak forest types than in northern forest a prominent shrub layer with lowbush pine. Coastal Forests/Woodlands are types. Oaks and play a blueberries, black , mountain within a few miles of the at <~60 ft. fundamental role in the organization and laurel, and/or laurel. Maple-leaved elevation and receive storm winds and dynamics of wildlife communities. viburnum and witch- may occur in White Pine - Oak Forest with scattered . spray. The diverse canopies include oaks Examples with Public Access: Photo: Beverly Vucson, DFG. less dry conditions. Typical sparse herb and often American holly, sassafras, and Myles Standish SF, Plymouth; Freetown layer include bracken , wild black gum; white pine may be present. In SF, Freetown; Quabbin Reservation, sarsaparilla, Canada mayflower, partridge the northern areas, WPOF may grade into Description: White Pine - Oak Forest Belchertown; Wachusett Meadow WS -berry, and pink lady's slipper. Northern - Hemlock - White (WPOF) is a widespread successional (MAS), Princeton. community that occurs below 915m (3000 patches of club such as ground- Pine Forests that are dominated by sugar ft.) on slopes or flat to gently rolling pine, southern ground-cedar, and staghorn maple and white ash with <25% canopy moraines, till, or outwash plains. Sites are clubmoss are particularly apparent in the cover of white pine and the only oak is dry (but not very dry) to moist (mesic). winter. red oak. The forest canopy is closed with mixed dominance of and trees in for Associated Fauna: the canopy, often with a super-canopy of There are no species known to be white pine. Indicators of past use restricted to the White Pine - Oak Forest, such as stone walls, old roads, and most animals in the forest are widespread stumps often appear throughout. generalists. All types of upland forest provide valuable structural attributes such Characteristic Species: In White as cavity den sites (which are utilized Pine - Oak Forests white pine (25-75% by a variety of and species) cover) and oak species (25-75% cover) and large woody material (which is (primarily red or black with white, scarlet, White Pine needles and trunk. Photos: Chris utilized by various , , and White Pine Oak Forest on an upper rocky slope. and chestnut oaks) dominate the canopy Evans, University of , Bugwood.org. invertebrate species). Oak Photo: Patricia Swain, NHESP.

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