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West Gulf Coast Small Stream Forest

EVT 9284West Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Forest
CES203.487GNRTreeRiparian
View on NatureServe Explorer
Summary
This is a predominantly forested system of the West Gulf Coastal Plain associated with small rivers and creeks. In contrast to West Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest (CES203.488), examples of this system have fewer major geomorphic floodplain features. Those features that are present tend to be smaller and more closely intermixed with one another, resulting in less obvious vegetational zonation. Bottomland hardwood tree species are typically important and diagnostic, although mesic hardwood species are also present in areas with less inundation, such as upper terraces and possibly second bottoms. As a whole, flooding occurs annually, but the water table usually is well below the soil surface throughout most of the growing season. Areas impacted by beaver impoundments are also included in this system. Stands of this system are typically dominated by hardwood tree species such as Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus nigra, Celtis laevigata, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Betula nigra, Quercus laurifolia, Ulmus americana, Ulmus crassifolia, Ulmus alata, Ulmus rubra, Quercus michauxii, Quercus texana, Quercus pagoda, Quercus falcata, Platanus occidentalis, Diospyros virginiana, Gleditsia triacanthos, and Acer rubrum. Wetter sites tend to be dominated by more flood-tolerant species such as Taxodium distichum, Nyssa aquatica, Gleditsia aquatica, Carya aquatica, Quercus lyrata, Quercus similis, Planera aquatica, and Quercus phellos.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Vegetation
Stands of this system are typically dominated by hardwood tree species such as Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus nigra, Celtis laevigata, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Betula nigra, Quercus laurifolia, Ulmus americana, Ulmus crassifolia, Ulmus alata, Ulmus rubra, Quercus michauxii, Quercus texana, Quercus pagoda, Quercus falcata, Platanus occidentalis, Diospyros virginiana, Gleditsia triacanthos, and Acer rubrum. Wetter sites tend to be dominated by more flood-tolerant species such as Taxodium distichum, Nyssa aquatica, Gleditsia aquatica, Carya aquatica, Quercus lyrata, Quercus similis, Planera aquatica, and Quercus phellos. In addition, Pinus taeda, Pinus elliottii, and/or Juniperus virginiana may be present in the canopy, or occur as a subcanopy stratum. Rarely, Fagus grandifolia, Magnolia virginiana, Quercus alba, Quercus muehlenbergii, and/or Pinus palustris may appear with Chasmanthium sessiliflorum in mesic, upper terrace examples. Shrubs may form dense patches with species such as Cephalanthus occidentalis or Planera aquatica being typical. Other shrubs and understory trees may include (depending on length of hydroperiod) Carpinus caroliniana, Ostrya virginiana, Cornus obliqua, Crataegus marshallii, Ilex opaca, Ilex decidua, Ilex vomitoria, Salix nigra, Morus rubra, Sabal minor, Morella cerifera, Callicarpa americana, Itea virginica, Alnus serrulata, Maclura pomifera, and Vaccinium fuscatum. In addition, Arundinaria gigantea may be present. Woody vines may be conspicuous and may include Berchemia scandens, Brunnichia ovata, Nekemias arborea (= Ampelopsis arborea), Smilax bona-nox, and Toxicodendron radicans. Some herbs may include Ambrosia trifida, Bidens aristosa, Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex cherokeensis, Carex debilis, Carex digitalis, Carex joorii, Chasmanthium latifolium, Chasmanthium laxum, Dichanthelium spp., Elymus virginicus, Geum canadense, Glyceria striata, Leersia virginica, Panicum virgatum, Paspalum floridanum, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Tripsacum dactyloides, and Xanthium strumarium. Early-successional woodlands may be mapped as shrublands, due to reduced woody cover. These sites may be dominated by early-successional species such as Salix nigra, Gleditsia triacanthos, Platanus occidentalis, or Ulmus alata. Non-native woody species that may be present include Triadica sebifera, Lonicera japonica, and Ligustrum spp. Non-native herbs such as Cynodon dactylon, Lolium perenne, Paspalum notatum, and Sorghum halepense may be dominant in disturbed examples (Elliott 2011).
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Environment
This system is associated with small rivers and creeks in the West Gulf Coastal Plain. It largely occurs on Quaternary alluvium, but may also be found on other mapped geologic surfaces on drainages lacking significant alluvial development. This system occupies small rivers, streams, creeks, and upland drainages. These sites tend to be higher in the watershed where less depositional activity occurs. The local geomorphological variation tends to be less than in West Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest (CES203.488). Soils are bottomland soils on small streams. A minority of sites are seasonally or semipermanently flooded (Elliott 2011).
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Distribution
West Gulf Coastal Plain.
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

Betula nigra, Celtis laevigata, Fagus grandifolia, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Gleditsia triacanthos, Liquidambar styraciflua, Magnolia virginiana, Pinus palustris, Pinus taeda, Platanus occidentalis, Quercus alba, Quercus laurifolia, Quercus lyrata, Quercus michauxii, Quercus muehlenbergii, Quercus nigra, Quercus pagoda, Quercus phellos, Quercus texana, Taxodium distichum, Triadica sebifera, Ulmus alata, Ulmus americana, Ulmus crassifolia, Ulmus rubra

Tree subcanopy

Carpinus caroliniana, Diospyros virginiana, Ostrya virginiana

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Cephalanthus occidentalis, Crataegus marshallii, Ilex opaca, Salix nigra, Vaccinium fuscatum

Tall shrub/sapling

Cornus obliqua

Herb (field)

Arundinaria gigantea, Berchemia scandens, Bidens aristosa, Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex cherokeensis, Carex debilis, Carex digitalis, Carex joorii, Chasmanthium latifolium, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Cynodon dactylon, Geum canadense, Glyceria striata, Leersia virginica, Lolium perenne, Lonicera japonica, Paspalum notatum, Persicaria hydropiperoides, Smilax bona-nox, Sorghum halepense, Toxicodendron radicans
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Ecologically Associated Animals (3)

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 (1)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Swamp RabbitSylvilagus aquaticusG5

Reptiles (2)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Diamond-backed WatersnakeNerodia rhombiferG5
Western RibbonsnakeThamnophis proximusG5
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.

NameG-Rank
Andropogon glomeratus var. pumilus Ruderal MarshGNA NatureServe
Betula nigra - Liquidambar styraciflua - Platanus occidentalis - Quercus nigra Floodplain Forest NatureServe
Cephalanthus occidentalis - Cornus obliqua - Salix nigra / Carex joorii - Polygonum hydropiperoides Beaver Pond Shrub Swamp NatureServe
Fagus grandifolia - Magnolia virginiana - (Pinus palustris) / Chasmanthium sessiliflorum Sandhill Streamhead Forest NatureServe
Fagus grandifolia - Pinus taeda - (Liquidambar styraciflua, Magnolia grandiflora, Quercus alba) Small Stream Forest NatureServe
Fagus grandifolia - Quercus (laurifolia, nigra) - Pinus taeda Forest NatureServe
Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Ulmus americana - (Quercus texana) / Bidens aristosa - Leersia virginica Floodplain Forest NatureServe
Maclura pomifera - Diospyros virginiana / Glyceria striata - (Carex cherokeensis) Floodplain Woodland NatureServe
Magnolia grandiflora - Fagus grandifolia - Quercus alba - Pinus taeda Forest NatureServe
Pallavicinia lyellii - Sphagnum spp. Seepage Bluff NatureServe
Pinus taeda - Liquidambar styraciflua - Quercus (nigra, phellos) / Crataegus marshallii Floodplain Forest NatureServe
Pinus taeda - Quercus phellos - Quercus nigra Riparian Forest NatureServe
Pinus taeda Riparian Forest NatureServe
Populus deltoides - Salix nigra / Ilex vomitoria Floodplain Forest NatureServe
Quercus laurifolia - Liquidambar styraciflua - Nyssa biflora - Acer rubrum / Sabal minor Floodplain ForestG3 NatureServe
Quercus michauxii - Quercus nigra - Pinus taeda / Carpinus caroliniana Floodplain Forest NatureServe
Quercus muehlenbergii - Liquidambar styraciflua / (Arundinaria gigantea) / Carex cherokeensis - Chasmanthium latifolium Mesic Riparian Forest NatureServe
Quercus nigra - Liquidambar styraciflua / Ilex opaca - Vaccinium fuscatum / Carex debilis Floodplain Forest NatureServe
Quercus nigra - Quercus phellos / Carya myristiciformis - Sabal minor / Carex cherokeensis Floodplain Forest NatureServe
Quercus nigra - Ulmus alata / Ostrya virginiana Floodplain Forest NatureServe
Quercus pagoda - Liquidambar styraciflua - Pinus taeda Floodplain Forest NatureServe
Quercus pagoda - Quercus similis - Carya glabra - Quercus sinuata var. sinuata / Crataegus triflora Floodplain Forest NatureServe
Quercus pagoda / Ulmus crassifolia - Celtis laevigata / Carex cherokeensis Floodplain Forest NatureServe
Quercus texana - Quercus lyrata Floodplain Forest NatureServe
Taxodium distichum - Fraxinus pennsylvanica Floodplain Forest NatureServe
Taxodium distichum West Gulf Coastal Plain Lakeshore Swamp Woodland NatureServe
Ulmus americana - Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Celtis laevigata / Glyceria striata - (Carex cherokeensis) Riparian Blackland Woodland NatureServe
Ulmus crassifolia - Celtis laevigata - (Ulmus rubra) / Carex digitalis - Geum canadense Floodplain Forest NatureServe
State Conservation Ranks (4)

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
ARSNR
LASNR
OKSNR
TXSNR
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.

Louisiana (2)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
Cunningham Brake Research Natural AreaKisatchie National Forest88.2%641.43
Saline Bayou W & S River CorridorKisatchie National Forest82.3%1,785.33
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.