An Old-Growth Definition for Eastern Riverfront Forests

Abstract

Eastern riverfront forests fall into one of three types: (1) nearly pure eastern cottonwood stands, (2) nearly pure black willow stands, and (3) typical riverfront hardwood stands containing many species, but generally dominated by sycamore, pecan, green ash, sugarberry, and American elm. The eastern riverfront forest represents an intermediate successional stage between the pioneer cottonwood-willow types and the sweetgum-water oaks type on drier sites and the overcup oak-water hickory type on wetter sites. Typical attributes of the living tree component of old-growth eastern riverfront forests are given, but little quantitative data are available for the dead tree component of these forests. The understory in old-growth eastern riverfront forests is a diverse mixture of small trees, shrubs, seedlings, vines, and herbaceous vegetation.

Citation

Meadows, James S.; Nowacki, Gregory J. 1996. An Old-Growth Definition for Eastern Riverfront Forests. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-4. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 11 p.