Great Lakes Pine-Hemlock-Hardwood Forest

EVT 7241Laurentian-Acadian Pine-Hemlock-Hardwood Forest
CES201.563GNRTreeConifer-hardwood
Summary
This north-temperate forest system ranges from the northeastern U.S. and adjacent Canada west to the Great Lakes and upper Midwest. The mesic to dry-mesic forests usually occur on low-nutrient soils at low elevations, mostly less than 610 m (2000 feet). Canopy dominants include Pinus strobus, Tsuga canadensis, and Quercus rubra in varying percentages. Acer rubrum is also quite common; Betula lenta may be common at the southern periphery of this system's range. Quercus velutina and Quercus alba are essentially absent from this system, being more representative of systems in the Central Interior-Appalachian Division to the south. This is a widespread, matrix forest type for the more temperate portions of this division. Gap replacement and infrequent fire are the major natural regeneration modes.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Distribution
New England west to the Great Lakes and northern Minnesota.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Ecologically Associated Plant Species

Plant species that characterize this ecosystem type, organized by vegetation stratum. These are species ecologically associated with the ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific area.

Tree canopy

Acer pensylvanicum, Acer rubrum, Betula lenta, Pinus strobus, Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Quercus velutina, Tsuga canadensis

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Corylus cornuta, Viburnum acerifolium

Short shrub/sapling

Rubus beamanii

Herb (field)

Dendrolycopodium obscurum, Erythranthe michiganensis, Maianthemum canadense
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Ecologically Associated Animals (18)

Animal species ecologically associated with this ecosystem type based on NatureServe assessment. These are species whose habitat requirements overlap with this ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific roadless area.

Mammals (3)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
North American PorcupineErethizon dorsatumG5
Indiana MyotisMyotis sodalisG2
North American Red SquirrelTamiasciurus hudsonicusG5

Birds (4)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusG5
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusG5
Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillusG5
Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensisG5

Butterflies & Moths (7)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Eastern Pine ElfinCallophrys niphonG5
White Underwing MothCatocala relictaG5
Once-married Underwing MothCatocala unijugaG5
Comstock's Sallow MothFeralia comstockiG5
Jocose Sallow MothFeralia jocosaG5
Green CommaPolygonia faunusG5
Canadian Tiger SwallowtailPterourus canadensisG5

Insects (1)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
American Burying BeetleNicrophorus americanusG3

Other (3)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
White AdmiralLimenitis arthemis arthemisG5T5
Hemlock Angle MothMacaria fissinotataG4
Northern Variable Dart MothXestia badicollisG5
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
At-Risk Species Associated with this Ecosystem (4)

Species with conservation concern that are ecologically associated with this ecosystem type. G-Rank indicates global conservation status: G1 (critically imperiled) through G5 (secure). ESA status indicates U.S. Endangered Species Act listing.

Common NameScientific NameG-RankESA Status
Michigan MonkeyflowerErythranthe michiganensisG1Endangered
Indiana MyotisMyotis sodalisG2Endangered
American Burying BeetleNicrophorus americanusG3Threatened; Experimental population, non-essential
Beaman's DewberryRubus beamaniiG2?Q--
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Component Associations (22)

Plant community associations that occur within this ecological system. Associations are the finest level of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) and describe specific, repeating assemblages of plant species. Each association represents a distinct community type that may be found where this ecosystem occurs.

NameG-Rank
Acer rubrum - Nyssa sylvatica - Betula alleghaniensis / Sphagnum spp. SwampG3 NatureServe
Acer saccharum - Pinus strobus / Acer pensylvanicum ForestGNR NatureServe
Betula alleghaniensis - Acer rubrum - (Tsuga canadensis, Abies balsamea) / Osmunda cinnamomea SwampG4 NatureServe
Pinus strobus / Acer spicatum - Corylus cornuta ForestG3 NatureServe
Pinus strobus - (Pinus resinosa) - Quercus rubra ForestG4 NatureServe
Pinus strobus - Quercus alba / (Corylus americana, Gaylussacia baccata) ForestG3 NatureServe
(Pinus strobus, Quercus rubra) / Danthonia spicata Acidic Bedrock Scrub GrasslandG3 NatureServe
Pinus strobus - Quercus (rubra, velutina) - Fagus grandifolia ForestG5 NatureServe
Pinus strobus - Tsuga canadensis Great Lakes ForestG3 NatureServe
Pinus strobus - Tsuga canadensis - Picea rubens ForestGNR NatureServe
Quercus rubra - Acer rubrum - Betula spp. - Pinus strobus Ruderal ForestGNA NatureServe
Quercus rubra - Acer saccharum - (Betula alleghaniensis) ForestG4 NatureServe
Quercus rubra - Acer saccharum - Fagus grandifolia / Viburnum acerifolium ForestG4 NatureServe
Quercus rubra - Acer saccharum / Viburnum acerifolium - Lindera benzoin ForestG4 NatureServe
Quercus rubra - Quercus alba - (Quercus velutina, Acer rubrum) / Viburnum acerifolium ForestGNR NatureServe
Symplocarpus foetidus - Mixed Forbs SeepG4 NatureServe
Thuja occidentalis - (Betula alleghaniensis, Tsuga canadensis) ForestG3 NatureServe
Tsuga canadensis - Acer saccharum - Betula alleghaniensis ForestG4 NatureServe
Tsuga canadensis - (Betula alleghaniensis) ForestG3 NatureServe
Tsuga canadensis - (Betula alleghaniensis) - Picea rubens / Cornus canadensis ForestGNR NatureServe
Tsuga canadensis - Fagus grandifolia - (Acer saccharum) Great Lakes ForestG4 NatureServe
Tsuga canadensis - Fagus grandifolia - Acer saccharum / (Hamamelis virginiana, Kalmia latifolia) ForestG3 NatureServe
State Conservation Ranks (8)

Subnational conservation status ranks (S-ranks) assigned by Natural Heritage Programs in each state where this ecosystem occurs. S1 indicates critically imperiled at the state level, S2 imperiled, S3 vulnerable, S4 apparently secure, and S5 secure. An ecosystem may be globally secure but imperiled in specific states at the edge of its range.

StateS-Rank
MASNR
MESNR
MISNR
MNSNR
NHSNR
NYSNR
VTSNR
WISNR
Roadless Areas (15)

Inventoried Roadless Areas where this ecosystem is present, identified from LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type spatial analysis. Coverage indicates the proportion of each area occupied by this ecosystem type.

Maine (1)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
Caribou - Speckled ExtWhite Mountain National Forest8.6%208.17

Michigan (1)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
Norwich Plains Revised Roadless AreaOttawa National Forest5.3%93.96

New Hampshire (8)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
KearsargeWhite Mountain National Forest6.2%114.21
Carr MountainWhite Mountain National Forest2.3%157.5
WatervilleWhite Mountain National Forest2.1%36.72
Presidential - Dry River ExtWhite Mountain National Forest1.9%81.99
Mt. Wolf - Gordon PondWhite Mountain National Forest1.0%47.88
Wild RiverWhite Mountain National Forest0.9%176.04
Kinsman MountainWhite Mountain National Forest0.9%31.14
Sandwich RangeWhite Mountain National Forest0.7%49.95

Wisconsin (5)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
09186 - Shelp LakeChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest5.7%6.48
09012 - Round Lake Study AreaChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest3.3%48.87
09011 - Flynn Lake Study AreaChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest2.7%65.61
09162 - MooseChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest1.1%28.62
09159 - ThornappleChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest1.1%42.84
Methodology and Data Sources

Ecosystem classification: Ecosystems are classified using the LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) layer, mapped to NatureServe Terrestrial Ecological Systems via a curated crosswalk. Each EVT is linked to the USNVC (U.S. National Vegetation Classification) hierarchy through pixel-level co-occurrence analysis of LANDFIRE EVT and NatureServe IVC Group rasters across all roadless areas.

Vegetation coverage: Coverage percentages and hectares are derived from zonal statistics of the LANDFIRE 2024 EVT raster intersected with roadless area boundaries.

Ecosystem narratives and community species: Sourced from the NatureServe Explorer API, representing professional ecological assessments of vegetation composition, environmental setting, dynamics, threats, and characteristic species assemblages.

IVC hierarchy: The International Vegetation Classification hierarchy is sourced from the USNVC v3.0 Catalog, providing the full classification from Biome through Association levels.

Component associations: Plant community associations listed as components of each NatureServe Ecological System. Association data from the NatureServe Explorer API.

State ranks: Conservation status ranks assigned by NatureServe member programs in each state where the ecosystem occurs.