Legacy FAR1 strategy/approaches.
This type is common on excessively well-drained soils with steeper slopes than open woodlands. Even if conditions become much drier during the summer or fall, as is projected under some scenarios, the species in the system should be able to adapt to those changes.
This community type is characterized by frequent, low-intensity fires, which are expected to become more common as conditions become warmer and drier later in the growing season. However, if fire severity increases too greatly, fire could have a negative impact.
Flatwoods are strongly tied to geologic and soil conditions that result in seasonal flooding and drought, which make them tolerant of a wide range of disturbances, but also unable to expand to new areas and relatively low in diversity.
Woody plant encroachment, a major stressor in this system, is largely the result of fire suppression. As conditions become more favorable for fire by the end of the century, a reduction in woody plant encroachment could occur, depending on management actions and the fragmented nature of the landscape.
Current stressors to this system include invasion of the understory by woody plants, reed canarygrass, and fescue. In the short term, increases in CO2 could make conditions more favorable for common invasive cool-season grasses like reed canarygrass and fescue in flatwoods. However, increases in temperature coupled with decreases in water availability during summer could have negative impacts on these species toward the end of the century.
The model projections presented for the species that dominate this system are for the entire assessment area, and may not reflect the trajectories of the individuals in this uncommon community type. With that caveat in mind, the projected trajectories are similar across the range of climate models presented.
The model projections presented for the species that dominate this system are for the entire assessment area, and may not reflect the trajectories of the individuals in this uncommon community type. With that caveat in mind, the projected trajectories are similar across the range of climate models presented.
This system is adapted to frequent low- to moderate-intensity fire and should be able to withstand an increase in wildfire frequency. However, if fires are too severe, some species may experience detrimental impacts.
This system is characterized by soils that are saturated during the cool season and dry during the summer. This soil moisture pattern is expected to be intensified in the future as winter and spring precipitation increases and summer or fall precipitation decreases. Although projected changes are in the direction characteristic of flatwoods, if they are too extreme it could be detrimental.
Wet bottomland forests are already at the wettest, lowest elevation areas on the landscape. If conditions become too dry, as are projected for later in the summer or fall under some scenarios, there are no lower, wetter lower places where the species could migrate.
