Mixed mesophytic and cove forest | Adaptation Workbook

This forest is mostly limited to West Virginia and consists of hardwood or hemlock-hardwoods in sheltered topographic positions, often on concave slopes or in areas with high precipitation. Common species include sugar maple, white ash, American basswood, yellow buckeye, tulip tree, red maple, eastern hemlock, cucumbertree, American beech, sweet birch, northern red oak, black cherry, mountain magnolia, and black oak.

Climate Impact Statements

Suitable habitat for many common species is projected to decline in the mixed mesophytic and cove forest ecosystem.

The complex topography in the Central Appalachians will potentially provide refugia for the mixed mesophytic and cove forest ecosystem where some disjunct populations may persist.

Soil conditions will become even drier late in the growing season and the risk of drought will increase in the mixed mesophytic and cove forest ecosystem.

Increased drought conditions in the mixed mesophytic and cove forest ecosystem may increase susceptibility of trees in this system to hemlock woolly adelgid, forest tent caterpillar, beech bark disease, and other insect pests and diseases.

Many invasive plant species currently threaten the mixed mesophytic and cove forest ecosystem and are expected to be able to take advantage of climate change to outcompete native species.

Climate change may intensify interactions among multiple stressors in the mixed mesophytic and cove forest ecosystem.

The mixed mesophytic and cove forest ecosystem is often already impacted by a number of anthropogenic stressors.

Vulnerability

Moderate

Adaptive Capacity

Moderate-High