Page 40 - Interp Book

Short Descriptions and Range Maps

Following are short descriptions for mapped types accompanied by range maps. Short
descriptions are based on data summarized from field points, Ecological Systems
descriptions provided by NatureServe, and descriptions provided in Hoagland (2000)
and Bruner (1931). Modern landscapes are generally disturbed by human activity,
including grazing, timber management, and past cultivation. These disturbed
landscapes where non-native and native ruderal species are important have not been
the focus for ecologists in terms of providing quantitative or even qualitative
descriptions. Thus, ironically, very common types on the modern landscape may be
fairly poorly described in the literature. In addition, mapped types often circumscribe
fairly wide variation in community composition. For these reasons, many of the type
descriptions are quite general, and apply to the majority of the area of the type, but not
all representatives on the landscape. Additional field data will improve these
descriptions over time. Common names follow those in the USDA Plants database
(http://plants.usda.gov/java/). The colors on range maps represent relative abundance
of a type. Pictures were taken as field sampling data points were collected in the field
and reflect this quality, and not all mapped types have photos.

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