| Northeastern coastal forests | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Nearctic |
| Biome | Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests |
| Borders | |
| Bird species | 251[1] |
| Mammal species | 63[1] |
| Geography | |
| Area | 89,691 km2 (34,630 sq mi) |
| Country | United States |
| States | |
| Climate type | Humid continental (Dfa andDfb) andhumid subtropical (Cfa) |
| Conservation | |
| Habitat loss | 40.8%[1] |
| Protected | 6.2%[1] |
TheNortheastern coastal forests are atemperate broadleaf and mixed forestsecoregion of the northeast andmiddle Atlantic region of the United States. The ecoregion covers an area of 34,630 sq miles (89,691 km2) encompassing thePiedmont andcoastal plain of seven states, extending from coastal southwesternMaine, southeasternNew Hampshire, easternMassachusetts, andRhode Island, southward throughConnecticut,New York State,New Jersey, southeastPennsylvania,Delaware andMaryland.
The ecoregion is bounded on the east by theAtlantic Ocean. To the north, it transitions to theNew England-Acadian forests, which cover most of northern and inlandNew England. To the west, the ecoregion transitions toAllegheny Highlands forests and theAppalachian-Blue Ridge forests of theAppalachian Mountains. To the south lie theSoutheastern mixed forests and theMiddle Atlantic coastal forests. The ecoregion surrounds the distinctAtlantic coastal pine barrens ecoregion, which covers portions ofNew Jersey,Long Island andCape Cod in southeasternMassachusetts.
The climate in this ecoregion is the broad transition from thehumid continental in the north to thehumid subtropical climate in the south.
Oak forests dominate this ecoregion. American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was formerly important, but its population was devastated by thechestnut blight early in the 20th century.
Northeastern interior dry-mesic oak forests are found throughout this ecoregion. They cover large areas at low and middle elevations, typically on flat to gently rolling terrain. Red oak (Quercus rubra), white oak (Quercus alba), and black oak (Quercus velutina) are common oaks in this habitat. Other trees include hickories (Carya spp.), red maple (Acer rubrum), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), white ash (Fraxinus americana), tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), black cherry (Prunus serotina), black birch (Betula lenta), black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica), and American elm (Ulmus americana). Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is a common understory tree.[2][3]
Common shrubs are maple-leaved viburnum (viburnum acerifolium), spicebush (Lindera benzoin), and witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). In sandier or more acidic soils are mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), and swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum).[2]
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) is a common herbaceous plant.[2]
Hemlock-northern hardwood forests occur in deep coves, moist flats, and ravines. They include sugar maple, yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), and beech. These trees often form a deciduous canopy, but are sometimes mixed with hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) or white pine (Pinus strobus). Other common trees include oaks (most commonly red oak), tuliptree, black cherry, and sweet birch. In the Northeast, red spruce (Picea rubens) can be a minor canopy associate. Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) is frequent but not dominant.[4]
Central Appalachian dry oak-pine forests occur on dry sites with loamy to sandy soils. A mix of oak and pine tree species dominate thecanopy, typically chestnut oak (Quercus prinus), Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana), and white pine (Pinus strobus), but sometimes white oak (Quercus alba) or scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea). Varying amounts of oaks and pines result in oak forests, mixed oak-pine forests, or small pine forests. Shrubs such as hillside blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), and mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) are common in the understory and can form a dense layer.[5]
Central Appalachian pine-oak rocky woodlands occur on lower-elevation hilltops,outcrops, and rocky slopes and have a patchy or open aspect. Pitch pine (Pinus rigida) and Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) are common within their respective ranges. These pines are often mixed with dry-siteoaks such as chestnut oak (Quercus prinus), bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia), northern red oak (Quercus rubra), and scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea). Sprouts of chestnut (Castanea dentata) can also be found. In the northeast, eastern red-cedar (Juniperus virginiana) or hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) are sometimes important. In the understory, some areas have a fairly well-developedheathshrub layer, others agraminoid layer, the latter particularly common under deciduous trees such as oaks.[6]
These occur in formerly cleared land, such as old farms, that have been abandoned. Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) are some of the first trees to occupy these lands.[2]
Marshes occur where standing water is present for most of the year. Common reed (Phragmites australis) and cattails (Typha spp.) are often abundant.[2]
Swamps and floodplains occur where standing water is present for only some parts of the year. Red maple is a common tree, and can be found with swamp tupelo, white ash, American elm, pin oak (Quercus palustris), swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor), and silver maple (Acer saccharinum). Spicebush is a common shrub. Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) is found here.[2]
Some of the animals that live in the Northeastern coastal deciduous forests arewhite-tailed deer,eastern gray squirrels,chipmunks,red foxes,sparrows,chickadees,copperheads,rattlesnakes,northern water snakes,box turtles,snapping turtles,black rat snakes,garter snakes,snails,American toads,coyotes,black bears,bobcats,beavers,woodchucks,skunks, andraccoons. Chickadees, white-tailed deer, and eastern gray squirrels can be seen quite often.Eastern wolves andeastern cougars used to be quite common, but are extirpated, causing endemic growth in deer populations near suburban areas, witheastern coyotes generally taking their place by the mid-20th century.Moose may also be seen in some of the northernmost regions of the Northeastern coastal forests, though this is very, very rare.[7] Other fauna that occupy the area includebog turtles,ducks,rabbits,eagles, and (formerly)Canada lynx andsea mink.[8]
The following natural areas are within this ecoregion[9]
Media related toNortheast United States Coastal Forests Ecoregion at Wikimedia Commons