Home/Ecosystems/ Atlantic Coastal Plain Longleaf Pine Woodland

Atlantic Coastal Plain Longleaf Pine Woodland

EVT 7347Atlantic Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland

CES203.281GNRTreeConifer

Summary

This system of upland Pinus palustris-dominated vegetation is found in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of the United States, where it ranges from southern Virginia (where it is nearly extirpated and of very limited extent) to northeastern Florida. This system does not include Pinus palustris stands found in the Fall-line Sandhills, which are accommodated by another ecological system. Examples and associations share the common feature of upland (non-wetland) moisture regimes and natural exposure to frequent fire. They occur on a variety of well- to excessively drained soils, and on the higher parts of upland-wetland mosaics. The vegetation is naturally dominated by Pinus palustris. Most associations have an understory of scrub oaks. The herb layer is generally well-developed and dominated by grasses, with legumes and composites. Aristida stricta primarily dominates in the northern part of its range, and Aristida beyrichiana in the southern part. Frequent, low-intensity fire is the dominant natural ecological force.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Vegetation

Vegetation is a set of associations that are most naturally woodlands or savannas dominated by Pinus palustris and having a well-developed grassy herb layer. A few associations have sparse herb layers due to excessively drained soils, and a few are dominated by scrub oaks. Other pine species may sometimes be present. Scrub oaks (Quercus laevis, Quercus incana, Quercus margarettae, Quercus hemisphaerica, and others) form an understory in most associations, all but the mesic ones. Low shrubs, most ericaceous, are often an important component. In most of the range, Aristida stricta is the dominant herb. In the southern and northern parts of the range, it is absent, and various other grass species dominate. Forbs, especially composites, are usually also an important herb component, and lichens are abundant in some associations. Many associations have moderate species richness, with most of the species in the herb layer. Some mesic associations have very high species richness, among the highest values ever measured at the 1/10-hectare scale. Associations on deep, coarse sands may have low species richness but have a distinct set of xerophytic herbs and dwarf-shrubs.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Environment

This system occurs on upland sites of the Middle to Outer Atlantic Coastal Plain, on landforms that include loamy to sandy flats, relict beach system deposits, eolian sand deposits, Carolina bay rims (Bennett and Nelson 1991), and occasional low rolling hills. Soils range from mesic to xeric and from sandy to loamy or occasionally clayey. Most natural remnants are on coarse sands, but most examples probably once occurred on loamy soils but have subsequently been converted to agricultural uses since the time of European settlement. Soils are largely acidic and infertile, and the coarsest sands are excessively drained and sterile. The unifying feature of this system is non-wetland sites that naturally supported frequent fire. As such, it once covered much of the landscape of the Coastal Plain. Variations in soil texture and drainage appear to be a primary driver of differences between associations within the system, with biogeography also important as there is considerable floristic turnover along a northeast-to-southwest gradient paralleling the coast. In addition, soil texture varies dramatically along this gradient with finer-textured soils predominating north of the Neuse River (in North Carolina), and again south of the Great Pee Dee River and north of the Savanna River (in South Carolina).

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Dynamics

Frequent fire is the predominant natural disturbance in this ecological system, except on the most excessively drained coarse sands, where the sparse ground cover vegetation limits low intensity fire. Component communities naturally burned every few years, many averaging as often as every 3 years. Fires are naturally low to moderate in intensity. They burn above-ground parts of herbs and shrubs but have little effect on the fire-tolerant trees. Vegetation recovers very quickly from fire, with live herbaceous biomass often restored in just a few weeks. Many plants have their flowering triggered by burning. In the absence of fire, less fire-tolerant species increase and others invade the system. The scrub oaks and shrubs, kept to low density and mostly reduced to shrub size by fire, become tall and dense and can suppress Pinus palustris regeneration as well as dramatically reducing the herbaceous layer. Only on the most excessively drained coarse sands does the vegetation not undergo substantial structural alteration and reduction in species richness after just a few years without burning.

Canopies are believed to naturally be multi-aged, consisting of a fine mosaic of small even-aged patches driven by gap-phase regeneration. Pinus palustris is shade-intolerant and slow to reach reproductive age but is very long-lived.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Threats

Reduced fire frequency is a major threat for all Pinus palustris ecosystems, even those on conserved lands. The development of a closed forest canopy and lack of fire can lead to declines, and eventual loss, of the native herbaceous ground cover vegetation. For unprotected examples, the greatest threat is destruction by commercial and residential development, and fragmentation of habitat by roads. These threats limit prescribed burning due to urban interface, safety and smoke management concerns. Logging without deliberate conversion (such as high grading) is also a serious threat, because it can destroy the natural vegetation structure, and because Pinus palustris often fails to regenerate at all if not carefully managed, for instance by retaining enough Pinus palustris seed trees, and using prescribed fire to prepare the seed bed for Pinus palustris regeneration. Invasive exotic plant species are generally not major threats, with certain exceptions. Invasive exotic species threats include Imperata cylindrica (Brewer 2008), Lespedeza bicolor, Lespedeza cuneata, Lonicera japonica, or Triadica sebifera and feral pigs (Sus scrofa), which root up Pinus palustris seedlings (Wahlenberg 1946) and in the process numerous herbaceous plant species with thick roots. Pinus palustris woodlands have also declined due to conversion to intensively managed pine plantations.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Distribution

This system is found in the Atlantic Coastal Plain (exclusive of the Fall-line Sandhills) from southern Virginia to northeastern Florida.

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

Pinus palustris, Quercus hemisphaerica, Quercus incana, Quercus laevis, Quercus margarettiae

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Elliottia racemosa, Gaylussacia dumosa, Lindera melissifolia, Lindera subcoriacea

Short shrub/sapling

Amorpha georgiana, Rhus michauxii, Vaccinium tenellum

Herb (field)

Agrimonia incisa, Allium sp. 1, Aristida beyrichiana, Aristida mohrii, Aristida stricta, Balduina atropurpurea, Berlandiera subacaulis, Calopogon multiflorus, Calydorea coelestina, Carex lutea, Cirsium lecontei, Coreopsis integrifolia, Ctenium floridanum, Cuscuta harperi, Dicerandra radfordiana, Dichanthelium cryptanthum, Eupatorium mohrii, Eupatorium paludicola, Eurybia mirabilis, Gentiana autumnalis, Hartwrightia floridana, Hymenocallis pygmaea, Hypericum erythraeae, Lilium pyrophilum, Linum sulcatum var. harperi, Lobelia boykinii, Macbridea caroliniana, Marshallia ramosa, Matelea alabamensis, Monotropsis odorata, Orbexilum lupinellus, Orbexilum virgatum, Packera crawfordii, Penstemon dissectus, Pityopsis graminifolia, Portulaca umbraticola ssp. coronata, Pteridium aquilinum var. pseudocaudatum, Pteroglossaspis ecristata, Rhynchospora pleiantha, Rhynchospora punctata, Rudbeckia heliopsidis, Ruellia pedunculata ssp. pinetorum, Schwalbea americana, Scleria bellii, Scutellaria altamaha, Scutellaria ocmulgee, Solidago villosicarpa, Sporobolus teretifolius, Stylisma pickeringii var. pickeringii, Thalictrum cooleyi, Tiedemannia canbyi, Tridens carolinianus, Tridens flavus var. chapmanii, Trillium pusillum var. pusillum, Verbesina heterophylla, Zephyranthes simpsonii, Zephyranthes sp. 1

Nonvascular

Bruchia fusca, Campylopus carolinae, Fuscocephaloziopsis connivens var. bifida

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

Ecologically Associated Animals (23)

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.

Birds (1)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Red-cockaded Woodpecker	Leuconotopicus borealis	G3

Reptiles (5)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Eastern Indigo Snake	Drymarchon couperi	G2G3
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake	Heterodon platirhinos	G5
Southern Hog-nosed Snake	Heterodon simus	G2G3
Outer Banks Kingsnake	Lampropeltis getula sticticeps	G5T2Q
Eastern Fence Lizard	Sceloporus undulatus	G5

Amphibians (4)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Frosted Flatwoods Salamander	Ambystoma cingulatum	G1
Striped Newt	Notophthalmus perstriatus	G2
Savannah Slimy Salamander	Plethodon savannah	G2G3
Broad-striped Dwarf Siren	Pseudobranchus striatus striatus	G5T1T3

Fish (1)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Oconee Burrowing Crayfish	Cambarus truncatus	G2

Butterflies & Moths (2)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Eastern Arogos Skipper	Atrytone arogos arogos	G2G3T1T2
Grisatra Underwing	Catocala grisatra	G2

Insects (5)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Little Eastern Grasshopper	Eotettix pusillus	G2G3
Slender-bodied Spur-throat Grasshopper	Melanoplus attenuatus	G2G3
Larger Sandhill Grasshopper	Melanoplus querneus	G2G3
Stegocercus Short-wing Grasshopper	Melanoplus stegocercus	G1G3
Say's Spiketail	Zoraena sayi	G3

Molluscs (1)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Cape Fear Threetooth	Triodopsis soelneri	G2

Other Invertebrates (1)

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

Other (3)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Pyxie Moth	Agrotis carolina	G2G3Q
Coachwhip	Coluber flagellum	G5
North Carolina Gabara Moth	Gabara sp. 1	G1G3

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

At-Risk Species Associated with this Ecosystem (77)

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
Incised Groovebur	Agrimonia incisa	G3G4	--
Pyxie Moth	Agrotis carolina	G2G3Q	--
Savanna Onion	Allium sp. 1	G1G2	--
Frosted Flatwoods Salamander	Ambystoma cingulatum	G1	Threatened
Georgia Leadplant	Amorpha georgiana	G1	Under Review
Mohr's Three-awn Grass	Aristida mohrii	G3	--
Eastern Arogos Skipper	Atrytone arogos arogos	G2G3T1T2	--
Purple Balduina	Balduina atropurpurea	G2	--
Dusky Bruchia Moss	Bruchia fusca	G1?	--
Many-flower Grass-pink	Calopogon multiflorus	G3	--
Bartram's Ixia	Calydorea coelestina	G2G3	--
Oconee Burrowing Crayfish	Cambarus truncatus	G2	--
Savanna Campylopus Moss	Campylopus carolinae	G2	--
Golden Sedge	Carex lutea	G2	Endangered
Grisatra Underwing	Catocala grisatra	G2	--
Le Conte's Thistle	Cirsium lecontei	G3	--
Ciliate-leaf Tickseed	Coreopsis integrifolia	G2	Under Review
Florida Orange-grass	Ctenium floridanum	G2	--
Harper's Dodder	Cuscuta harperi	G2G3	--
Radford's Dicerandra	Dicerandra radfordiana	G1Q	--
Hidden-flower Witchgrass	Dichanthelium cryptanthum	G3Q	--
Eastern Indigo Snake	Drymarchon couperi	G2G3	Threatened
Georgia Plume	Elliottia racemosa	G2?	--
Little Eastern Grasshopper	Eotettix pusillus	G2G3	--
Bay Boneset	Eupatorium paludicola	G2	--
Dwarf Aster	Eurybia mirabilis	G3	--
a liverwort	Fuscocephaloziopsis connivens var. bifida	G5T1Q	--
North Carolina Gabara Moth	Gabara sp. 1	G1G3	--
Pine Barren Gentian	Gentiana autumnalis	G3	--
Florida Hartwrightia	Hartwrightia floridana	G2G3	Under Review
Southern Hog-nosed Snake	Heterodon simus	G2G3	Proposed threatened
Waccamaw River Spider-lily	Hymenocallis pygmaea	G2Q	--
Georgia St. John's-wort	Hypericum erythraeae	G2	--
Outer Banks Kingsnake	Lampropeltis getula sticticeps	G5T2Q	--
Red-cockaded Woodpecker	Leuconotopicus borealis	G3	Threatened
Sandhills Lily	Lilium pyrophilum	G2G3	--
Pondberry	Lindera melissifolia	G3	Endangered
Bog Spicebush	Lindera subcoriacea	G3	--
Harper's Grooved-yellow Flax	Linum sulcatum var. harperi	G5T2	--
Boykin's Lobelia	Lobelia boykinii	G2?	Under Review
Carolina Birds-in-a-nest	Macbridea caroliniana	G3	--
Southern Barbara's-buttons	Marshallia ramosa	G2G3	--
Alabama Anglepod	Matelea alabamensis	G2	--
Slender-bodied Spur-throat Grasshopper	Melanoplus attenuatus	G2G3	--
Larger Sandhill Grasshopper	Melanoplus querneus	G2G3	--
Stegocercus Short-wing Grasshopper	Melanoplus stegocercus	G1G3	--
Sweet Pinesap	Monotropsis odorata	G3	--
Striped Newt	Notophthalmus perstriatus	G2	--
Lupine Scurfpea	Orbexilum lupinellus	G3G4	--
Pineland Scurfpea	Orbexilum virgatum	G1	--
Bog Ragwort	Packera crawfordii	G2	--
Dissected Beardtongue	Penstemon dissectus	G2	--
Savannah Slimy Salamander	Plethodon savannah	G2G3	--
Wingpod Purslane	Portulaca umbraticola ssp. coronata	G5T2	--
Broad-striped Dwarf Siren	Pseudobranchus striatus striatus	G5T1T3	--
Michaux's Sumac	Rhus michauxii	G2G3	Endangered
Brown Beakrush	Rhynchospora pleiantha	G2G3	--
Dotted Beakrush	Rhynchospora punctata	G1?	--
Sun-facing Coneflower	Rudbeckia heliopsidis	G2	Under Review
Stalked Wild Petunia	Ruellia pedunculata ssp. pinetorum	G5T2T3	--
American Chaffseed	Schwalbea americana	G2	Endangered
Smooth-seeded Hairy Nutrush	Scleria bellii	G3	--
Pineland Skullcap	Scutellaria altamaha	G2G3	--
Ocmulgee Skullcap	Scutellaria ocmulgee	G2	Endangered
Coastal Goldenrod	Solidago villosicarpa	G2	--
Wireleaf Dropseed	Sporobolus teretifolius	G2	Under Review
Pickering's Morning-glory	Stylisma pickeringii var. pickeringii	G4T3	--
Cooley's Meadowrue	Thalictrum cooleyi	G1	Endangered
Canby's Dropwort	Tiedemannia canbyi	G2	Endangered
Carolina Fluffgrass	Tridens carolinianus	G3G4	--
Chapman's Redtop	Tridens flavus var. chapmanii	G5T3	--
Least Trillium	Trillium pusillum var. pusillum	G4T3	--
Cape Fear Threetooth	Triodopsis soelneri	G2	--
Diverseleaf Crownbeard	Verbesina heterophylla	G2	--
Rain Lily	Zephyranthes simpsonii	G2G3	--
Carolinas Atamasco Lily	Zephyranthes sp. 1	G1G2Q	--
Say's Spiketail	Zoraena sayi	G3	--

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

Component Associations (28)

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
Pinus palustris / Amorpha herbacea var. herbacea / Aristida stricta - Sorghastrum nutans Woodland	G2	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Aristida stricta - Sorghastrum nutans - Anthaenantia villosa Woodland	G2	NatureServe
(Pinus palustris) / Bigelowia nuttallii - Phemeranthus teretifolius - Allium cuthbertii - Penstemon dissectus Altamaha Grit Grassland	G1	NatureServe
Pinus palustris - Pinus (echinata, taeda) - Quercus (incana, laevis) Woodland	G4	NatureServe
Pinus palustris - Pinus serotina / Quercus laevis / Gaylussacia frondosa / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland	GNR	NatureServe
Pinus palustris - Pinus taeda - Pinus serotina / Quercus pumila / Aristida stricta Woodland	G1	NatureServe
Pinus palustris - Pinus taeda / Quercus laevis / Gaylussacia frondosa - Gaylussacia baccata Woodland	G1	NatureServe
Pinus palustris - (Pinus taeda) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Rhynchosia reniformis Woodland	G1	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus geminata - Quercus hemisphaerica / Osmanthus americanus Woodland	G2	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus hemisphaerica / Gaylussacia dumosa / Aristida beyrichiana - Dyschoriste oblongifolia Woodland	G2	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus incana / Aristida stricta - Sorghastrum nutans - Anthaenantia villosa Woodland	G2	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus laevis / Aristida stricta - Baptisia cinerea Woodland	G3	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus laevis / Chrysoma pauciflosculosa / Aristida purpurascens Woodland	GNR	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus laevis - Quercus geminata / Aristida stricta Woodland	G2	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus laevis - Quercus geminata / Rhynchospora megalocarpa Woodland	G2	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus laevis - Quercus geminata / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland	GNR	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus laevis - Quercus incana / Gaylussacia dumosa / Aristida stricta Woodland	G3	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus laevis - Quercus margarettae / Licania michauxii / Aristida beyrichiana Woodland	G3	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus laevis / Schizachyrium scoparium - Stipulicida setacea Woodland	G2	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus laevis / Stipulicida setacea - Selaginella acanthonota Woodland	G2	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus margarettae - Quercus incana / Schizachyrium scoparium Atlantic Woodland	G2	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus margarettae / Toxicodendron pubescens / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland	GNR	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus marilandica / Aristida beyrichiana - Tephrosia virginiana Woodland	G2	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus marilandica / Gaylussacia dumosa / Aristida stricta Woodland	G2	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus marilandica - Quercus laevis / Aristida beyrichiana - Nolina georgiana Woodland	G2	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus pumila - Gaylussacia dumosa / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland	G2	NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Quercus stellata / Quercus pumila / Sporobolus junceus Woodland	G2	NatureServe
Quercus laevis / (Andropogon virginicus, Aristida spp., Schizachyrium scoparium) Ruderal Woodland	GNA	NatureServe

State Conservation Ranks (5)

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
FL	SNR
GA	SNR
NC	SNR
SC	SNR
VA	SNR

Roadless Areas (2)

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.

North Carolina (2)

Area	Forest	Coverage	Hectares
Pocosin Addition	Croatan National Forest	4.9%	5.67
Pond Pine B	Croatan National Forest	2.2%	26.55

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.