FAR2
Forest impact models agree that American beech, eastern hemlock (considered a keystone species where it occurs), and sugar maple are likely to decline through the end of the century. Results are mixed for red maple, tulip tree, black cherry, and white ash, which are projected to lose suitable habitat but maintain potential growth and volume.
Climate change may also alter the gap-phase dynamics that enable the regeneration of many shade-tolerant species if damaging storms, pest outbreaks, or wildfires become more frequent or widespread.
The greatest impacts are expected to occur on southwest-facing slopes or marginal soils.
This forest ecosystem consists of forests, woody wetlands, shrublands, and grasslands on a variety of landforms in the highest elevation zone of the Allegheny Mountains, ranging from 2400 to 4600 feet. It is dominated by combinations of red spruce and balsam fir, and can include yellow birch, eastern hemlock, red maple, sweet birch, cucumbertree, American mountain ash, black cherry, American beech, mountain magnolia, black ash, and sugar maple.
This forest ecosystem is a matrix of uplands and wetlands found along creeks, small streams, and medium rivers with low to moderately high gradients and oxbows. Common species include sycamore, red maple, silver maple, river birch, boxelder, eastern hemlock, black walnut, pawpaw, American hornbeam, and American elm.
"This forest ecosystem is primarily found in the glaciated portion of Ohio, where varying microtopography and moisture regimes create mixed communities of upland and lowland species. Common species include sugar maple, American beech, northern red oak, American basswood, eastern hemlock, black cherry, tulip tree, red maple, white ash, and eastern hophornbeam."
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.
This forest ecosystem occurs as a complex of wetland and upland vegetation associated with medium to large rivers or streams where topography and alluvial processes have resulted in a well-developed floodplain. Common species include silver maple, eastern cottonwood, pin oak, red maple, black willow, sycamore, sweetgum, green ash, bur oak, American hornbeam, black walnut, American elm, boxelder, and black oak.
This forest ecosystem includes two matrix-forming oak-dominated systems that are only weakly differentiated and occupies more area than any other in the Central Appalachians. Common species include white oak, black oak, northern red oak, scarlet oak, red maple, pignut hickory, mockernut hickory, shagbark hickory, sugar maple, chestnut oak, sweet birch, American beech, black gum, tulip tree, and white ash.
This forest ecosystem includes major patch-forming forests and woodlands where soils are generally xeric, sandy, and have low water holding capacity. Common species include white oak, black oak, chestnut oak, mockernut hickory, pignut hickory, scarlet oak, shortleaf pine, pitch pine, Virginia pine, eastern white pine, Table Mountain pine, and scrub oak.
