Pine-Dominated & Mixed Uplands

Pine-dominated or mixed uplands typically occur on mid to upper slopes, ridgetops, and on broad, rolling upland interfluves. Most natural plant communities are dominated either by pines or by a mixture of pines and deciduobus angiosperm (hardwood) trees. This is the main landscape in most locales. Natural wildfires were often important in maintaining natural communities in the past. Suppression of fires on the modern landscape has allowed many areas formerly dominated by longleaf pine communities to succeed to mixed loblolly pine-shortleaf pine-hardwood forests. Natural forest openings (prairie inclusions) and recently disturbed (ruderal) upland ecosystems are also featured here. Select the desired ecosystem types in the menu on the left.