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Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests (WWF ecoregion NA0402)

Savage Gulf State Natural Area, Tennessee
Savage Gulf State Natural Area, Tennessee (c) 2005 Carol and Steve Baskauf


Source of bioregions data: Olson, D. M. and E. Dinerstein. The Global 200: Priority ecoregions for global conservation. (PDF file) Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 89:125-126.

Distinctiveness (1=highest,4=lowest): 1 (globally outstanding)
This ecoregion represents one of the most biologically diverse temperate regions in the world.  As many as thirty canopy tree species may be found at a single site.  The freshwater communities are the richest temperate freshwater ecosystems in the world.*

Conservation Status (1=most endangered, 5=most intact): 1 (critical)
95% of the habitat has been converted or degraded.  Conversion and fragmentation through logging and development are primary threats.*

Characteristic species*
 
Magnolia acuminata (cucumber-tree or cucumber magnolia)
 
Oaks:
Quercus montana (chestnut oak)
Quercus alba (white oak)
Quercus rubra (northern red oak)
 
Hickories:
Carya alba (mockernut hickory)
Carya cordiformis (bitternut hickory)
Carya glabra (pignut hickory)
Carya ovata (shagbark hickory)
 
Juglans nigra (black walnut)
Ulmus serotina (September elm)
Betula alleghaniensis (yellow birch)
Fraxinus americana (white ash)
Tillia americana ssp. heterophylla (white basswood)
Acer pensylvanicum (striped maple)
Acer saccharum (sugar maple)
Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)
Pinus virginiana (Virginia pine)
Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree)
Nyssa sylvatica (blackgum)
Tsuga canadensis (eastern hemlock)
Prunus serotina (black cherry)
Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum)
Fagus grandifolia (American beech)
Aesculus flava (yellow buckeye)
 
Castanea dentata (American chestnut) formerly a dominant canopy species, but now nearly extinct
Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel)
 
Savage Gulf State State Natural Area (TN) trees

Some views from the ecoregion

cliffs, Savage Gulf State Natural Area, Tennessee
cliffs, Savage Gulf State Natural Area, Tennessee (c) 2005 Carol and Steve Baskauf  hires

Forest near Monteagle, Tennessee Forest near Monteagle, Tennessee
(Left) Forest, (right) edge of Cumberland Plateau near Monteagle, Tennessee.  (c) 2008 hires  hires

Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee

stream, Fall Creek Falls SP, Tennessee Fall Creek Falls, Fall Creek Falls SP, Tennessee deep ravine, Fall Creek Falls SP, Tennessee
In Tennessee, the mixed mesophytic forest lies in the Cumberland Plateau.  Streams cut through the plateau (left), producing spectacular waterfalls (center) and deep "gulfs" or ravines (right).  hires  hires  hires

mixed deciduous and coniferous forest, Fall Creek Falls SP, TN hemlocks on slope, Fall Creek Falls SP, Tennessee magnolias and hemlocks on slope, Fall Creek Falls SP, Tennessee pines at rim of ravine, Fall Creek Falls SP, Tennessee
The varying aspects of the slopes and microclimatic effects of the ravines (far left) supports a large variety of trees (up to 30 species at a given site).  Elements of adjacent ecoregions such as the higher elevation Blue Ridge forests (such as hemlock [center left] and magnolia [center right]) and lower elevation ecoregions combine to form one of the world's most diverse temperate forests.  Although primarily deciduous, hemlocks and pines (far right) are also present.  hires  hires  hires  hires

 

* Ricketts, T.H., E. Dinerstein, D.M. Olson, C.J. Loucks, et al.  (1999) Terrestrial Ecoregions of North America: A Conservation Assessment.  World Wildlife Fund - United States and Canada.  Island Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 337-340.

Except as noted, images copyright 2002-2005 Steve Baskauf - Terms of use