Oak-Pine Association

Oak-Pine Association

Oak-Pine Association • NORTHERN RED OAK • WHITE PINE • RED OAK–MIXED HARDWOODS • HEMLOCK AND HEMLOCK–OAK–PINE • RED OAK–WHITE PINE–RED MAPLE Photo: Rob Bryan Selected Oak-Pine Habitat Association Species DENTIFICATION Northern red oak and white pine are FFMB PRIORITY KEY HABITAT the characteristic species, with stands ranging from pure oak to SPECIES FEATURES pure pine. Common associates include red maple, white ash, Blackburnian Warbler Tall spires (above canopy) eastern hemlock, paper and yellow birch, sugar maple, and beech. Beyond the range in which red oak is common, stands Eastern Wood-Pewee Small gaps (< 2 acres) with a significant white pine component should be considered part of the Northern Softwoods association (e.g. white pine- Northern Flicker Snags, open forest mixed northern conifer forests) and stands with a minor red Mature forest, abundant leaf oak component should be classified with the Northern Hard- Ovenbird wood or Northern Mixedwood associations. This association litter, little ground cover currently covers approximately 1.8 million acres in Maine. Forest interior, tall trees Scarlet Tanager (especially oak), closed canopy ECOLOGY Most Oak-Pine sites were cleared in the 17th and 18th centuries for fields or pasture. Stands dominated by Sapling patches and riparian Veery white pine are found on sites that were most recently fields areas and on well-drained to excessively drained sand and grav- el. The driest sites tend toward pitch pine in the southwest Wood Thrush Tall trees, dense leaf litter or red pine further north in Maine. The occurrence of red OTHER WILDLIFE KEY HABITAT maple increases with soil moisture. Under natural conditions, SPECIES FEATURES stand-replacing disturbances caused by fire or wind may have Cooper’s Hawk Large decaying trees been instrumental in maintaining Oak-Pine forests. Burning by Native Americans may have also played a role in maintain- Eastern Towhee Dense, brushy understory; gaps ing this association. Gray squirrels aid regeneration by burying acorns, which Northern Goshawk Mature trees if not recovered, will sprout the following spring. Pine Warbler Tall pines, little undergrowth WILDLIFE Oak–Pine is the Eastern Milk Snake Slash or debris piles primary forested wildlife habitat in many parts of southern and Gray Fox Mix of forest and old fields central Maine. Acorns are a key food for deer, bear, Adequate winter browse, White-tailed Deer conifer cover Wild Turkey, and many (reduced snowpack) other species. Large blocks Hard mast, forest openings of Oak–Pine forest are Wild Turkey important to species such as or gaps Northern Goshawk, Wood Occurrence of Thrush, and Scarlet Tanager Oak-Pine (See Table). Information from Forestry for Maine Birds: A Guidebook for Foresters Managing Woodlots “With Birds in Mind.” Maine Audubon 2017. Available at maineaudubon.org/ffmb..

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