The Natural Communities of Georgia

by Bradford Winn (Contribution by), Carlos D. Camp (Contribution by), James Renner (Contribution by), Jerry McCollum (Contribution by), John Costello (Contribution by)

Overview

The Natural Communities of Georgia presents a comprehensive overview of the state’s natural landscapes, providing an ecological context to enhance understanding of this region’s natural history.

Georgia boasts an impressive range of natural communities, assemblages of interacting species that have either been minimally impacted by modern human activities or have successfully recovered from them. This guide makes the case that identifying these distinctive communities and the factors that determine their distribution are central to understanding Georgia’s ecological diversity and the steps necessary for its conservation.

Within Georgia’s five major ecoregions the editors identify and describe a total of sixty-six natural communities, such as the expansive salt marshes of the barrier islands in the Maritime ecoregion, the fire-driven longleaf pine woodlands of the Coastal Plain, the beautiful granite outcrops of the Piedmont, the rare prairies of the Ridge and Valley, and the diverse coves of the Blue Ridge.

The description of each natural community includes Traits that make it interesting and significant Physical factors and ecological processes that determine the distribution and characteristics of each community Typical plant communities Representative or noteworthy animals Sidebars that discuss particularly interesting features
With contributions from scientists who have managed, researched, and written about Georgia landscapes for decades, the guide features more than four hundred color photographs that reveal the stunning natural beauty and diversity of the state. The book also explores conservation issues, including rare or declining species, current and future threats to specific areas, and research needs, and provides land management strategies for preserving, restoring, and maintaining biotic communities.

The Natural Communities of Georgia is an essential reference for ecologists and other scientists, as well as a rich resource for Georgians interested in the region’s natural heritage.

Major support for this project was provided by the AGL Resources Foundation. Additional support was provided by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division. In-kind support was provided by the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center at Ichauway and Georgia State University.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780820330211
Publisher:	University of Georgia Press
Publication date:	02/25/2013
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	800
Sales rank:	346,833
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 11.30(h) x 1.80(d)

About the Author

CARLOS D. CAMP is a professor of biology at Piedmont College.

NATHAN A. KLAUS is a senior wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Nongame Conservation Section.

TIMOTHY S. KEYES is a wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Nongame Conservation Section. He was named the Georgia Project Wild Facilitator of the Year in 2007.

TODD M. SCHNEIDER is a wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Nongame Conservation Section.

CAROL NOURSE, with her spouse and longtime partner, Hugh Nourse, has published photographs and writings about wildflowers in American Gardener, Backpacker, Nature Photographer, and Wildflower magazines. The Nourses have also lectured widely on the subject. Volunteer photographers for the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, they were named Volunteers of the Year for the Garden in 1997.

HUGH NOURSE, with his spouse and longtime partner, Carol Nourse, has published photographs and writings about wildflowers in American Gardener, Backpacker, Nature Photographer, and Wildflower magazines. The Nourses have also lectured widely on the subject. Volunteer photographers for the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, they were named Volunteers of the Year for the Garden in 1997.

Carol Nourse (Photographer)
CAROL NOURSE, with her spouse and longtime partner, Hugh Nourse, has published photographs and writings about wildflowers in American Gardener, Backpacker, Nature Photographer, and Wildflower magazines. The Nourses have also lectured widely on the subject. Volunteer photographers for the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, they were named Volunteers of the Year for the Garden in 1997.

Hugh Nourse (Photographer)
HUGH NOURSE, with his spouse and longtime partner, Carol Nourse, has published photographs and writings about wildflowers in American Gardener, Backpacker, Nature Photographer, and Wildflower magazines. The Nourses have also lectured widely on the subject. Volunteer photographers for the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, they were named Volunteers of the Year for the Garden in 1997.

Table of Contents

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction 1

Chapter 1
Georgia’s Natural Heritage: Conservation Challenges and Management Strategies 7

Chapter 2
The Physical Setting 21

Chapter 3
Blue Ridge Ecoregion 49
Overview 49
Natural communities of the Georgia Blue Ridge 60
Northern hardwood and boulderfield forests 62
Montane oak forests 71
Cove forests 80
Low- to mid- elevation oak forests 89
Pine- oak woodlands and forests 95
Ultramafic barrens and woodlands 104
High- elevation rock outcrops 111
Low- to mid- elevation mafic domes, glades, and barrens 118
Low- to mid- elevation acidic cliffs and outcrops 124
Mountain bogs 129
Seepage wetlands 135
Spray cliffs 141
Floodplains, bottomlands, and riparian zones 146

Chapter 4
Cumberland Plateau/Ridge and Valley Ecoregion 153
Overview 153
Natural communities of the Cumberland Plateau/Ridge and Valley 165
Mesic forests 167
Dry calcareous forests 172
Acidic oak- pine- hickory forests 178
Pine- oak woodlands 184
Montane longleaf woodlands and forests 189
Calcareous prairies and barrens (Coosa prairies) 197
Calcareous glades, barrens, and woodlands (cedar glades) 203
Acidic glades and barrens 210
Calcareous cliffs 215
Acidic cliffs and rock outcrops 220
Flatwoods 226
Calcareous seepage fens 231
Acidic seepage wetlands 238
Sagponds and sinkholes 243
Floodplains, bottomlands, and riparian zones 249

Chapter 5
Piedmont Ecoregion 257
Overview 257
Natural communities of the Georgia Piedmont 271
Mesic forests 273
Oak- pine- hickory forests 279
Pine- oak woodlands and forests 285
Prairies and savannas 292
Glades, barrens, and woodlands 297
Granite outcrops 303
Ultramafic barrens and woodlands 314
Cliffs, bluffs, and outcrops 320
Flatwoods 325
Seepage wetlands 331
Floodplains, bottomlands, and riparian zones 337

Chapter 6
Coastal Plain Ecoregion 347
Overview 347
Natural communities of the Georgia Coastal Plain 365
An overview of upland longleaf pine woodlands 366
Sandhills and river dunes 372
Dry upland longleaf pine woodlands 379
Mesic upland longleaf pine woodlands 387
Dry evergreen oak woodlands 395
Dry deciduous hardwood forests 400
Mesic slope forests 405
Acidic glades, barrens, and rocky woodlands 412
Blackland prairies and woodlands 418
Pine flatwoods 424
Seepage slope herb bogs 430
Seepage slope swamps and shrub bogs 439
Depression marshes and cypress savannas 446
Cypress- gum ponds 456
Depression oak forests 462
Riverine floodplains 466
Cypress- tupelo river swamps 470
Bottomland hardwoods 476
Riverbanks and levees 483
Small stream floodplain forests 489
Okefenokee Swamp 494

Chapter 7
Maritime Ecoregion 511
Overview 511
Natural communities of the Georgia Maritime 526
Intertidal beaches, sand bars, and mud flats 527
Maritime dunes 538
Maritime forests 549
Interdunal wetlands 559
Salt marshes and brackish tidal marshes 567
Freshwater and oligohaline tidal marshes 578
Tidal swamps 587

Chapter 8
Future Conservation Challenges 595

appendix 1. Crosswalk of Community Names with NatureServe (2012) Ecological Systems and Wharton (1978) Natural Environments of Georgia 597
appendix 2. Common and Scientific Names of Plants 604
appendix 3. Common and Scientific Names of Animals 617
appendix 4. County Map of Georgia 624

Literature Cited 625
Photo Credits 664
Index 665

Editorial Reviews

With contributions from scientists who have managed, researched, and written about Georgia landscapes for decades, the guide features more than four hundred color photographs that reveal the stunning natural beauty and diversity of the state. . . . Natural Communities is an essential reference for ecologists and other scientists, as well as a rich resource for Georgians interested in the regions natural heritage.

Southeastern Naturalist

Anyone interested in Georgia’s natural places, plants, and animals will find a treasure trove in this book. But once you open it up, don’t expect to sit around for long. You may find that, like me, you now desperately want to visit all 66 of these natural communities.

Atlanta Audubon - Grant McCreary

Back in the late 1970s, the late Dr. Charles Wharton, one of Georgia's most respected naturalists, published Natural Environments of Georgia. . . . Now, inspired by Wharton's earlier work, three of Georgia's top naturalists—Leslie Edwards, Jonathan Ambrose, and Katherine Kirkman—have led a collaborative effort to update, expand and refine the classifications and descriptions of the state's natural habitats. The result is a magnificent new book, the Natural Communities of Georgia, published by the University of Georgia Press.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Charles Seabrook

The Natural Communities of Georgia is an exciting, detailed portrait of our state’s natural environment. . . . This book, sound in its science, will intrigue readers of every age and interest: from fisherman to hikers to farmers and gardeners.

Northeast Georgia Living - M. C. Tufts

"Back in the late 1970s, the late Dr. Charles Wharton, one of Georgia's most respected naturalists, published Natural Environments of Georgia. . . . Now, inspired by Wharton's earlier work, three of Georgia's top naturalists—Leslie Edwards, Jonathan Ambrose, and Katherine Kirkman—have led a collaborative effort to update, expand and refine the classifications and descriptions of the state's natural habitats. The result is a magnificent new book, the Natural Communities of Georgia, published by the University of Georgia Press."—Charles Seabrook, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Anyone interested in Georgia’s natural places, plants, and animals will find a treasure trove in this book. But once you open it up, don’t expect to sit around for long. You may find that, like me, you now desperately want to visit all 66 of these natural communities.”—Grant McCreary, Atlanta Audubon

“With contributions from scientists who have managed, researched, and written about Georgia landscapes for decades, the guide features more than four hundred color photographs that reveal the stunning natural beauty and diversity of the state. . . . Natural Communities is an essential reference for ecologists and other scientists, as well as a rich resource for Georgians interested in the regions natural heritage.”—Southeastern Naturalist

“The Natural Communities of Georgia is an exciting, detailed portrait of our state’s natural environment. . . . This book, sound in its science, will intrigue readers of every age and interest: from fisherman to hikers to farmers and gardeners.”—M.C. Tufts, Northeast Georgia Living

From the Publisher