Photo by Eric Epstein
- WDNR
State Rank: S3 Global Rank: G4 what are these ranks?
Northern dry-mesic forests are typically found on irregular glacial topography (e.g., heads-of-outwash, tunnel channel deposits) or in areas with mixed glacial features (e.g., pitted outwash interspersed with remnant moraines). Soils are loamy sands or sands, and less commonly, sandy loams, although some are in areas where bedrock is close to the surface. Eastern white pine (Pinus alba) and red pine (Pinus resinosa) are typically dominant, sometimes mixed with northern red oak (Quercus rubra), red maple (Acer rubrum), and occasionally, sugar maple (Acer saccharum). Paper birch (Betula papyrifera), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), and big-toothed aspen (Populus grandidentata) can also be present. Common understory shrubs include hazelnuts (Corylus spp.) and blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium and V. myrtilloides), as well as low-growing species such as wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) and partridge-berry (Mitchella repens). Among the dominant herbs are wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis), Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), and cow-wheat (Melampyrum lineare). Areas of northern dry-mesic forest that were historically dominated by red and white pines (Pinus resinosa and P. strobus) were considered the great "pineries" before the cutover. Today, the extent of red and white pine is greatly decreased, while red maple (Acer rubrum), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), aspen (Populus spp.), and oaks (Quercus spp.) have increased. Historically, fire disturbance of low to moderate intensity and frequency was key to maintaining northern dry-mesic forests.
Three different seral stages are described for northern dry forest, based on the progressive stages of forest regeneration following harvesting or a major natural disturbance from young forest to mid-seral to the attainment of reference conditions as seen in a mature stand. Stands with more than 50% aspen by basal area fall into the aspen-birch habitat type. For stands dominated by planted conifers, refer to the conifer plantation type.
In describing these stages, it is recognized that they exist and persist on the landscape due to a marked range of conditions depending on conservation or production goals and the nature and intensity of management. Even the most basic actions of promoting natural regeneration carry the weight of this reality. In an area where the purpose is strictly forest production, the decision to rotate and replant may be relatively straightforward, but on a site managed all or in part for ecological values the prescription and stand rotation is more complex.
The following Species of Greatest Conservation Need are listed according to their level of association with the Northern Dry-mesic Forest natural community type, based on the findings in Wisconsin's 2015 Wildlife Action Plan.
Scores: 3 = high association, 2 = moderate association, and 1 = low association. See the key to association scores for complete definitions.
Amphibians | Late | Mid | Young | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mink Frog | Lithobates septentrionalis | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Ants, wasps, and bees | Late | Mid | Young | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rusty-patched Bumble Bee | Bombus affinis | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Confusing Bumble Bee | Bombus perplexus | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Yellowbanded Bumble Bee | Bombus terricola | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Sanderson's Bumble Bee | Bombus sandersoni | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee | Bombus insularis | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Aquatic and terrestrial snails | Late | Mid | Young | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Appalachian Pillar | Cochlicopa morseana | 1 | 1 | |
Hubricht's Vertigo | Vertigo hubrichti | 2 | ||
Brilliant Granule | Guppya sterkii | 2 | 1 | |
Sculpted Glyph | Glyphyalinia rhoadsi | 2 | 1 | |
Dentate Supercoil | Paravitrea multidentata | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Ribbed Striate | Striatura exigua | 2 | 1 | |
Black Striate | Striatura ferrea | 1 | 1 |
Beetles | Late | Mid | Young | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle | Cicindela patruela patruela | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Birds | Late | Mid | Young | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Northern Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | 2 | 1 | |
Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | 2 | 1 | |
Spruce Grouse | Falcipennis canadensis | 1 | 1 | |
American Woodcock | Scolopax minor | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Long-eared Owl | Asio otus | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Eastern Whip-poor-will | Antrostomus vociferus | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Red-headed Woodpecker | Melanerpes erythrocephalus | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Black-backed Woodpecker | Picoides arcticus | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Olive-sided Flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | 1 | 1 | |
Golden-winged Warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Kirtland's Warbler | Setophaga kirtlandii | 1 | ||
Connecticut Warbler | Oporornis agilis | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Hooded Warbler | Setophaga citrina | 1 | ||
Evening Grosbeak | Coccothraustes vespertinus | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Butterflies and moths | Late | Mid | Young | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Doll's Merolonche | Acronicta dolli | 1 | 1 |
Grasshoppers and allies | Late | Mid | Young | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blue-legged Grasshopper | Melanoplus flavidus | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Grizzly Spur-throat Grasshopper | Melanoplus punctulatus | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Stone's Locust | Melanoplus stonei | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Bruner's Spur-throat Grasshopper | Melanoplus bruneri | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Huckleberry Spur-throat Grasshopper | Melanoplus fasciatus | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Forest Locust | Melanoplus islandicus | 2 | 2 | 2 |
A Spur-throat Grasshopper | Melanoplus foedus | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Crackling Forest Grasshopper | Trimerotropis verruculata | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Spotted-winged Grasshopper | Orphulella pelidna | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Speckled Rangeland Grasshopper | Arphia conspersa | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Clear-winged Grasshopper | Camnula pellucida | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Mammals | Late | Mid | Young | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Little Brown Bat | Myotis lucifugus | 2 | 1 | |
Northern Long-eared Bat | Myotis septentrionalis | 2 | 1 | |
Silver-haired Bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | 2 | 1 | |
Northern Flying Squirrel | Glaucomys sabrinus | 3 | 1 | |
Woodland Jumping Mouse | Napaeozapus insignis | 1 | 1 | 1 |
American Marten | Martes americana | 3 | 2 |
Reptiles | Late | Mid | Young | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wood Turtle | Glyptemys insculpta | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Blanding's Turtle | Emydoidea blandingii | 1 | ||
Slender Glass Lizard | Ophisaurus attenuatus | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Prairie Skink | Plestiodon septentrionalis | 1 | 2 | |
Gophersnake | Pituophis catenifer | 1 |
Please see Section 2. Approach and Methods of the Wildlife Action Plan to learn how this information was developed.
The Natural Heritage Inventory has developed scores indicating the degree to which each of Wisconsin's rare plant species is associated with a particular natural community or ecological landscape. This information is similar to that found in the Wildlife Action Plan for animals. As this is a work in progress, we welcome your suggestions and feedback.
Scientific Name | Common Name | Late | Mid | Young |
---|---|---|---|---|
Botrychium mormo | Little Goblin Moonwort | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Cypripedium arietinum | Ram's-head Lady's-slipper | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Festuca occidentalis | Western Fescue | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Geocaulon lividum | Northern Comandra | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Leucophysalis grandiflora | Large-flowered Ground-cherry | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Platanthera hookeri | Hooker's Orchid | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Poa wolfii | Wolf's Bluegrass | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Pterospora andromedea | Giant Pinedrops | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Sceptridium oneidense | Blunt-lobe Grape-fern | 2 | 2 | 2 |
The following Ecological Landscapes have the best opportunities to manage for Northern Dry-mesic Forest, based on the Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin Handbook.
Ecological Landscape | Opportunity |
---|---|
Northeast Sands | Major |
Northern Highland | Major |
Northwest Sands | Major |
Central Lake Michigan Coastal | Important |
Central Sand Plains | Important |
Forest Transition | Important |
North Central Forest | Important |
Northern Lake Michigan Coastal | Important |
Northwest Lowlands | Important |
Superior Coastal Plain | Important |
Central Sand Hills | Present |
Southeast Glacial Plains | Present |
Western Coulee and Ridges | Present |
Major (3 on map)
A major opportunity for sustaining the natural community in the Ecological Landscape exists, either because many significant occurrences of the natural community have been recorded in the landscape or major restoration activities are likely to be successful maintaining the community's composition, structure, and ecological function over a longer period of time.
Important (2 on map)
Although the natural community does not occur extensively or commonly in the Ecological Landscape, one to several occurrences do occur and are important in sustaining the community in the state. In some cases, important opportunities may exist because the natural community may be restricted to just one or a few Ecological Landscapes within the state and there may be a lack of opportunities elsewhere.
Present (1 on map)
The natural community occurs in the Ecological Landscape, but better management opportunities appear to exist in other parts of the state.
Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the WWAP because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.
Threats/issues and conservations actions for natural communities
The following are additional considerations for Northern Dry-mesic Forest in Ecological Landscapes with opportunities for protection, restoration, and/or management. For more information, see the Wildlife Action Plan.
Central Lake Michigan Coastal, Northern Lake Michigan Coastal, Superior Coastal Plain, Western Coulees and Ridges, Northwest Lowlands The above Ecological Landscapes contain only a small percentage of northern dry-mesic forest, and opportunities for maintenance or restoration are limited. Individual sites may still be important as components of the larger landscape.
Fragmentation is a major issue in this Ecological Landscape. Patch sizes are small and most are farm woodlots. Invasive plants such as garlic mustard and buckthorns are a problem. Older forests in this Ecological Landscape are desirable, especially if they are contained in or linked with blocks of other forest types, such as the oak forests dominant on areas of the Black River State Forest (Jackson Co), Clark County Forest, Jackson County Forest, and Quincy Bluff (Adams County). Alternative management techniques, including prescribed fire, should be used to restore structure and composition.
Fragmentation is a major issue in this Ecological Landscape, where upland forest is interspersed with farmland, except in the eastern portion of the Ecological Landscape that includes the Menominee Reservation and Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests. Residential development is further fragmenting and changing this community. Invasives such as buckthorns and Asian honeysuckles are a greater problem here than in the Ecological Landscapes further north. Older northern dry-mesic forests in this Ecological Landscape are desirable, especially if they are contained in or linked with blocks of other forest types
Fragmentation is an issue in some parts of this Ecological Landscape, especially where residential development and associated road construction are occurring. This Ecological Landscape has opportunities to maintain the northern dry-mesic forest community within the matrix of other forest types in the Ecological Landscape, and to implement other conservation actions (e.g., encourage representation of pine species, older age-classes, and structural diversity) because of the large public ownership. Linkages with other large forested areas should be maintained or enhanced, including connectivity with the Chequamegon-Nicolet and Ottawa National Forests, and the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest. Depending on landowner objectives, it may be possible to meet many of the needs for early successional habitats on industrial and county forests.
This community type is common in the Ecological Landscape. Motorized recreation is increasing and may contribute to soil loss and sedimentation, and facilitate the spread of invasive species. Fragmentation is currently less of an issue in this Ecological Landscape than in other landscapes where this type occurs.
This Ecological Landscape has a high degree of natural heterogeneity, including complexes of different forest types, wetlands and lakes. Natural ecotones are an important feature. This Ecological Landscape is the best place to maintain or restore large blocks of northern dry-mesic forest. The community type is still widespread within the Ecological Landscape, but due to the lack of natural disturbance combined with deer herbivory, maples are becoming quite competitive. Use adaptive management techniques, including prescribed fire, to restore structure and composition. Opportunities exist to maintain and connect larger blocks in both the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest and the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests. Fragmentation is currently less of an issue in this Ecological Landscape than in other landscapes where this type occurs. Invasives are now becoming a problem, but there is still potential to control smaller infestations if effective measures are taken. Motorized recreation is increasing and may facilitate the spread of invasive species.
Northern dry-mesic forests are widespread throughout this Ecological Landscape, and particularly in the northern portion, though much of it is in red pine plantations. Motorized recreation is increasing and may contribute to soil loss and sedimentation, and facilitate the spread of invasive species. Opportunities exist to maintain and connect larger blocks in both the Brule River State Forest and the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests.
Click to view a larger version. Please considering donating your photos to the Natural Heritage Conservation Program for educational uses. Photo use
Note: photos are provided to illustrate various examples of natural community types. A single photograph cannot represent the range of variability inherent in a given community type. Some of these photos explicitly illustrate unusual and distinctive community variants. The community photo galleries are a work in progress that we will expand and improve in the future.