These forests tend to have fairly high species diversity, which may increase the number of ways in which the ecosystem can adjust to changing conditions while maintaining important ecosystem functions. These forests are also found across a variety of landforms and local conditions and contain a mix of shade and moisture tolerances and reproductive strategies (e.g., seeding, sprouting). Species composition may change over time to reflect future conditions, and may ultimately transition to oak-pine forests in some locations. At the same time This suggests the potential for changes in the relative abundance of different species within this community, altering the “character” of forest composition.