Home/Ecosystems/ West Gulf Coast Moist Hardwood Forest

West Gulf Coast Moist Hardwood Forest

EVT 7323West Gulf Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood Forest

CES203.280GNRTreeHardwood

Summary

This ecological system is found in limited upland areas, including ravines and sideslopes, of the Gulf Coastal Plain west of the Mississippi River. These areas are topographically isolated from historically fire-prone, pine-dominated uplands in eastern Texas, western Louisiana, and southern Arkansas. Sites are often found along slopes above perennial streams in the region. These sites have moderate to high fertility and moisture retention. Soils can be quite variable, ranging from coarse to loamy in surface texture. Most are acidic in surface reactions and less commonly circumneutral. Vegetation indicators are mesic hardwoods such as Fagus grandifolia, Quercus alba, and Ilex opaca, although scattered, large-diameter pines (most often Pinus taeda) are also often present. Spring-blooming herbaceous species are typical in the understory of most examples.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Vegetation

Examples of this forested system can be diverse. Canopy trees can include Fagus grandifolia, Magnolia grandiflora, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus alba, Quercus shumardii, Quercus pagoda, Quercus falcata, Quercus michauxii (in wetter examples), Quercus hemisphaerica (in drier examples), Quercus stellata (in drier examples), Quercus nigra, Fraxinus americana, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Celtis laevigata, Nyssa sylvatica, Ulmus americana, and Pinus taeda. Pinus taeda, and to a lesser extent, Pinus echinata may be present to codominant in the overstory. Quercus rubra is rare and of limited extent in the range of this ecological system but is attributed to an association which occurs in Hempstead, Howard, Little River, and Sevier counties, Arkansas. Understory trees can include Carpinus caroliniana, Prunus caroliniana, Ostrya virginiana, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Cornus florida, Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum), and Acer leucoderme. Arundinaria gigantea may be present in some examples. Other shrubs may include Persea borbonia, Viburnum acerifolium, and Sabal minor. Vitis rotundifolia, Smilax spp., and Parthenocissus quinquefolia are commonly encountered woody vines. Herbs can include Solidago auriculata, Athyrium filix-femina ssp. Asplenioides, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Cynoglossum virginianum, and Trillium ludovicianum. Some occurrences on more calcareous substrates lack Magnolia grandiflora and may contain species such as Tilia americana and Styrax spp., and may have a rich, more calciphilic, vernal forb flora. Such species as Podophyllum peltatum, Arisaema dracontium, Arisaema triphyllum, Sanguinaria canadensis, Erythronium spp., Trillium spp., and Polygonatum biflorum may dominate the ground layer of the forest in the early spring. Later in the year, these species become inconspicuous and are replaced by species such as Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Mitchella repens, Sanicula canadensis, Carex spp., and Dichanthelium spp. Ferns, such as Woodwardia spp., Osmunda cinnamomea, Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, and Polystichum acrostichoides, may be conspicuous.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Environment

Sites are often found along slopes above perennial streams in the region. These sites have moderate to high fertility and moisture retention. Soils can be quite variable, ranging from coarse to loamy in surface texture. Most are acidic in surface reactions and less commonly circumneutral. It is found on Tertiary formations, from the Willis Formation in the south, northward through Eocene formations; it is primarily restricted to fairly rugged landscapes on ravines, steep slopes and low landscape positions, often near streams. It often occupies lower slope positions and adjacent steep slopes, where topographic position results in moisture accumulation and lower solar insolation. These sites may occur adjacent to bottomlands, but on more well-drained soils and/or slightly higher topographic positions (Elliott 2011).

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Dynamics

The mesic nature of sites occupied by this system, along with the topography of the sites and the limited fine fuel production in the system, results in reduced fire frequency.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Distribution

This system is limited to particular upland areas (especially ravines and sideslopes) of the Gulf Coastal Plain west of the Mississippi River, with some occurrences on Macon Ridge (a terrace ecoregion in the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain) in Louisiana.

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

Carya tomentosa, Celtis laevigata, Fagus grandifolia, Fraxinus americana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Magnolia grandiflora, Nyssa sylvatica, Pinus taeda, Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, Quercus hemisphaerica, Quercus michauxii, Quercus nigra, Quercus pagoda, Quercus rubra, Quercus shumardii, Quercus stellata, Ulmus americana

Tree subcanopy

Acer floridanum, Acer leucoderme, Carpinus caroliniana, Cornus florida, Ostrya virginiana, Prunus caroliniana

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Ilex opaca var. opaca, Sabal minor, Tamala borbonia, Viburnum acerifolium

Herb (field)

Arundinaria gigantea, Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Cynoglossum virginianum, Cypripedium kentuckiense, Sanguinaria canadensis, Solidago auriculata, Trillium ludovicianum

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

Ecologically Associated Animals (4)

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.

Reptiles (2)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Common Five-lined Skink	Plestiodon fasciatus	G5
Broad-headed Skink	Plestiodon laticeps	G5

Other Invertebrates (1)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
American Box Turtle	Terrapene carolina	G5

Other (1)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Western Ratsnake	Pantherophis obsoletus	G5

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

At-Risk Species Associated with this Ecosystem (1)

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 Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank	ESA Status
Southern Lady's-slipper	Cypripedium kentuckiense	G3	--

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

Component Associations (14)

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.

Name	G-Rank
Fagus grandifolia - Magnolia grandiflora / Ostrya virginiana / Aesculus parviflora Forest	G2	NatureServe
Fagus grandifolia - Magnolia grandiflora - Quercus alba / Carpinus caroliniana - Ostrya virginiana Forest	G2	NatureServe
Fagus grandifolia - Quercus alba / Acer (floridanum, leucoderme) / Solidago auriculata Forest	G2	NatureServe
Fagus grandifolia - Quercus alba / Ilex opaca / Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides Forest	G3	NatureServe
Fraxinus americana - Celtis laevigata - Nyssa sylvatica - Quercus shumardii - Ulmus americana Forest	G2	NatureServe
Liquidambar styraciflua - Quercus michauxii / Acer rubrum / Packera glabella - Carex tribuloides Wet Ravine Forest	G3	NatureServe
Magnolia grandiflora / Prunus caroliniana - Carpinus caroliniana / Arundinaria gigantea Forest	G1	NatureServe
Quercus alba / Acer leucoderme - Ostrya virginiana / Solidago auriculata Forest	G2	NatureServe
Quercus alba - Carya tomentosa / Chasmanthium sessiliflorum West Gulf Coastal Plain Forest	G3	NatureServe
Quercus alba - Quercus hemisphaerica / Prunus caroliniana - Persea borbonia - Viburnum acerifolium Forest	G2	NatureServe
Quercus alba - Quercus nigra / Ostrya virginiana / Sabal minor Forest	G2	NatureServe
Quercus alba - Quercus rubra / Ostrya virginiana / Arundinaria gigantea / Cynoglossum virginianum Forest	G2	NatureServe
Quercus falcata - Quercus stellata - (Pinus taeda) West Gulf Coastal Plain Forest	G3	NatureServe
Quercus shumardii - Quercus pagoda - Fraxinus americana / Ostrya virginiana / Trillium ludovicianum Forest	G1	NatureServe

State Conservation Ranks (3)

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.

State	S-Rank
AR	SNR
LA	SNR
TX	SNR

Roadless Areas (1)

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.

Texas (1)

Area	Forest	Coverage	Hectares
Big Creek	National Forests in Texas	11.0%	64.44

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.