Author: Norris, Russell Taplin

Title: An ecological study of the relationships between forest

types and the wildlife species found thereon

Place of Publication:

Copyright Date: 1941

Master Negative Storage Number: MNS# PSt SNPaAgOl 1 .8

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008 ENT: 971023 TYP: s DT1: 1941 DT2: LAN: eng

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245 13 An ecological study of the relationships between forest types and the wildlife species found thereon $ba thesis $cby Russell Taplin Norris.

246 30 Relationships between forest types and the wildlife species found thereon.

260 $c1941.

300 72 leaves $bill. $c28 cm.

502 Thesis (M.S.)'-Pennsylvania State College.

504 Bibliography: leaves 71-72.

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Tlie Pennaylvania State College

Til© Gimdiiate School

Department or Forestry

All ECOLOGICAL STUDY OP THE REIATIOKSHIPS

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FOREST TYPES AliD TilE WILi:?LIFK SFEGISS FOUHD TIimiSON

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r;UbirJLttcd In ixirtial riiLfillrK^nt of tlie requlrorionts Tor tlie decree of Llastor of Gclence

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Associate Trofosoor of Poresti»y

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Acknowledc^nents

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This study was made possible by Tlie Pennsylvania Cooperative wildlife Research Unit at The Pennsylvania State College* Tlxls research organisation Is financed and sponsored by the Pish and V/lldllfe Service (V. S# Department of Interior, The Pennsylvania State College^

iio Pennsylvania Game Cormnlsslon and The American Wildlife

Institute • The writer was enployod as a Graduate assistant under tlils progran In the Dopartnont of Forestry, Tlie Pennsylvania State College, tliroughout the course of tills study •

Tills Investigation was Gupervisod by Dr. Logan J# Bennett, Biologist, Pish and v/ildlife Service, Dr# u. C# Bramble, Associate Professor, Department of Forestry, The Pennsylvania State College, and Dr# ?• F. Enc^lish, Associate Professor, Department of Zoology and I^ntomology, The Pennsylvania State College •

Tlirougliout tlie course of tlio study, the writer liad the benefit of the advice and counsel of Professor Victor Beede, 'cad. Department of Forestry, The Pennsylvania State College*

Joi'in D# r>eulo and Allan T# Studliolme, graduate assist- ants of The Pennsylvania Cooporatlvo v:iidlifo Research Unit, provided the v/ritor with valuable information on gam© populations in the liarrens Area.

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Table of Contents

!• Introduction II • Review of Literature III# Terminology

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General Plan of Or^ani nation A# General Description

B# History

C« Vegetation Types

1# Oak-Hickory Climax Aasociation

2. Scrub Oak-Pitch Pine Dovolop- montal Association

3* Aspen Devclopnontal Association

D. Animal Populations

VI • The Seven Ilouatains 3tudy Area

A« General Description

B» Vecetation Types

1. C/iestnut Oak-Pitch Pine Assoc- iation

2« Oak-Iiickory Association 5. noinlock-Illiododondron Association 4. Old lUold Type G. Animal Populations VII. Litcratm'o Cited

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Introduotlan

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One of the niajor projects undertaken by The Pennsyl- vonla Cooperative V/Udllfe Research Unit shortly after Its establishTMnt In 1953 was entitled ^An Economic and Ecolocical Survey of Pennsylvania •'* Under tlmt compre- hensive project this forest type-gaine range study was conducted # During the two decades since the appearance of the wildlife research worker^ a vast amount of work 1ms been done on the ecology and management of farm-^c^^^:^ species, but ecoloclcal relationships and distribution of the respective forest-wlldllfo species in relation to cover types, however, Imve not been studied to any great extent* There 1ms been a definite need for an adequate classification of forest cover types in relation to wild- life species, and it is tlie piu*pose of this study to attempt such a classification for Pennsylvania^ If a satisfactory method of cover type evaluation la found, it is believed tlmt the combinations of types, ace classes, antl densities of f orostc that provide tlie optimum for c^^^^^ and other wildlife species may bo detominod*

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Review of Iilteratia?e

In the pact the only attempts to olaaslfy cover types in relation to wlldlir© species In this coimtry Imv© been based on ecological succession^ Wl^ht (1934) classiried cover type© In Mlclilgan on a basis of origin and succession* lie Ims since used tlxat classification to vox^^ c^od ad- vantage on farcwgaino species and their ranc© in southern Mlcldgan* No doubt the nethod can also be used on the forest lands of Michigan, v/hero the plant succession is clearly understood*

Dalko (1937) used a similar mothod In Connecticut and apparently found it very satisfactory* Ho beliovos tlmt cover types based on ecolocical succession are well adapted to other eastern localities* Hot all States, however, are so fortunate in tills respect as Connecticut whore Klchols (1915, 1914, 1915, 1916) 1ms described tlie voretation of tlmt State in ijreat detail* In such an area v'^oro the ecological Ruccossion lias been worked out, tliat lias proven to bo a fine basis for a type classlflca** tlon* Dalko is now workinc on a oiriilar systera in ITlssourl, and the method is beinc attempted in several other parts of the country*

wir^ht spent thi*ee suinmers Invostijjatin^ the forest types in various parts of Pennsylvania* In his -unpublished Tianuscript (V/i^^ht, 1958), he canmonts on the lack of in- rormation and published natcrial on the ecolocical suoces-

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alon of vecetatlori In Pennaylvonla^ and Iw attributes tills condition to the Tact that no plant ecoloclsta Imve been developed who could give consideration to plant succession^ He reviews wliat little literature Is avail- able^ most of which concerns v;ork done In adjoining States* IIo attempt at a class If Icat Ion Is tmde^ and It is obvious tliat none can bo made until plant succession in the Commonwealth is landerstood more clearly*

Both foresters and plant ecoloclsts Ixave £;one far In classlfylnc the natural vecetatlon according; to types and plant communities* The C<»amlttee on Forest Types of the Society of American Foresters (1952) compiled a list of forest-cover types of eastern United States^ and tills classification lias been used by many writers in describ- ing the vegetation of forest areas* Only major forest t;;;'pe3 were considered, however, and they were not broken do\'?n into cor;irtunitios small onouc'i to be of value in forost-GC^^^-^^ancc descriptions* The plant ecolorists of tao United State o an-a ixcpopc Iiavo studied the ve(-etation in greater detail and liavo broken dov/n the larger divisions of forest land into small xinits tliat are much more applic- able Tor the wildlife riOnacer* From the published works of the latter c^oup, the writer lias obtained valuable Information relative to the fereak-down of forest areas into smaller units*

Tiiere are two c^^eat schools of plant ecolorists ^ whose principles of classifying plant communities vary

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oonslderftbly» Weaver and Clenjente (1929) ore leaders In

the Araerlcan school and base their classification entirely on plant sxxocesslon* Clements lias woi*ked extensively on tlio prairie land of the United States and lias developed In rmny areas excellent methods of classlfylne coOTnunltles on the basis of ecolocloal succession • This inetliod 1ms been used by many others In the United States, and It lias been very successful In rer;lons where the dynamics of plant oonniunltles are relatively siniple* In Pennsylvania, how- ever, ecological succession is quite complex and has been so retarded by tlie activities ox naii tliat such a system is not practicable •

The European school is based alonr- quite different lincQ, as oxonpliricd in tlio text by Braun-Blanquet (1952)# lie liac developed a ncthod of claosifylnc: plant coi:inunlties rxiinly on tho basis of florist ic composition and cives succession very little empiiasio* 'I'lio syston of caver and Clomcnts is criticized Imrsiily by Braun-Blanquet because their classification is baaed entirely on the concept of the climax formation^ Draun-I lanquet maintains tliat areas occux^ied by climax stages liave become greatly reduced In slse and that develoimental stacca occupy lar^c areas. Braun-Blanquet believes that Clements' assooiatlons are lar^e and difficult to ^rasp and tliat his subdivisions are indefinite • Thouc;h those arc tlio sentiments of a rival school of thou;^;ht— and therefore prejudiced- Clements* system is ratlicr difficult to apply in enouch

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detail to b© of {^aat use for evalxiatluG wildlife environ-* ment in oentral Pexmsylvanla ♦

Mchols (1&23) di8CU3S03 at soma lenctii the ecolocical claQciflcatlon of plant comnunltlas# He writes about tli© plant association as the fundanantal \mit of vegetation and its relation to the Imbltat* He discusses tlie classifi-* cation of associations on the basis of pliyslognoKiy and ecological structure^ on the basis of c^OGraphic relations^ and on tlie basis of successloxial relations*

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ferralnology

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Prom the work of IJlchola and Bratm-Dlanque t tho present wrltor lias adopted a few terms • In devoloplnc a iiiiethod of clasalfylnc tho plant cotxumltlos of central Pennsylvania in sufficient detail to be of use In evalu- ating animal liabitats, terms Iiad to be selected for various vo£:;etational units* Hone of the plant ecolocists liad used a series of terms timt fitted tlie scliene of classification tills writer wished to follow; tliereforoi it became necessary to adopt parts of diverse systems ♦ The method of Clements was unsatisfactory because of the basis of classificationj his tominolory was likewise unsulted to this study •

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Clcr.ients' association was too larre and unwieldy a tinit to be of nuc!i value in tliin t^^ioe of v;orl:, and tlio subdivisions based entirely on succession could not easily be applied In tills roclon* Clements and Gliolford (1959) produced caiotlicr series of terms in relation to communities^ both plant and animril. Those, hov/over, v/crc based on the prin-» ciples Clements always followed and were not catisfact02?y«

The cons Idex^at ion of tho biome as a plant aiid aiali:iQl forir^ation was of Interest, however, and was londoubtedly a step in the ri^jlit direction— tliat of conslderlnc plant and aiiimal conmunlties as a unlt#

A term was needed to apply directly to plant commun- ities that occurred repeatedly over an area# In other words, some plirase was desired to describe a croup of

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plants tlmt were uaually associated •The wo2?d Maoclatlon'^ seemed the most appropriate, but It Imd been xised in so tMiny different ways tliat the cliolce was not an easy one to make# Wlill© Clements' interpretation certainly did not fit the desired use, Braun-Blanquet * s use of the term seemed more adequate • He used the definition of P'lahault and Schroter (1910): ^A plant community of definite floristic composition^^ lllcliols (1923) described an even inoro suitable concept of an association as a plant community "essentially similar tlirouchout In physiognomy, in ecoloc- ical structure and in floristic coni-)osltion." lie also quoted Ratznlclaer (1912) and ITordlmcen (1919) as saying a plant association is "qualitatively and quantitatively a hono-^eneous plant community •" In following; tlio definitions of Draun-Blanquot and Ilichols, tlic proeont writer bolloves tiiat his interpretation of the term association can be clearly understood • The association need not bo of any certain slse or clxaractor, but it must Imve a definite floristic coLiposltlon and be essentially aomoronoous*

Nlcliols discussed associations from botli the concrete aiid the abstract aspects:

Viewed in the concrete, a plant association may bo defined as a plant community cliaracterlzed by its essentially Iiomo;^:onoous pliyslocnomy and ecolo;i:lcal structux-o and by its essentially homogeneous floristic composition, at least with regard to dominant species. Viewed in the ab- stract, the association may bo defined as a vegetation unit ciiaractcrizod by an essentially constant plxyslognc»ny and ocoloclcal structiire and by an essentially constant floristic composition, at least with regard to dominant species •

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Hlchols also introduced the term i(4Biaoclatlon*^type ^ wlilch may be of some use In tills study* He defined It as follows:

All associations which resenible one anotijer in physiO{:nomy and ecological structure, re- gardless of thalr florist ic compositions, may be referred to a coinmon ecological associa- tion-type •

The association concrete is an example both of the association abstract and of the associa- tion-type ♦ As an example of the first it is considered nore especially with reference to its f lor is tic conposltlon* As an example of the second it Is considered with reference to its pliysioenomy and ecolocical structure alone • Thus an individual pitch pine forest (associa- tion concrete) is an example of pitch pin© forest (association abstract) j it la also an example of wlmt mlrfit be temned xerophytlc coniferous forest (association-type).

After the association of Ilicholc Imd been selected ac the most suitable term to use in describiiir; the larger vo^;etation units, some simple subdivisions of the associa- tion were deemed necessary in order tliat smaller units mlcht bo well defined and fairly easy to recocnize in the field. The writer felt, however, tliat the more simple tlie classification adopted, tlie more easily it could be applied to iriapplnc and evaluatln;:; forest cover for wildlife. The fades as described by Draun-Blanquet (1927) was chosen aa a major subdivision of the association. Braun-Blonquet's facios is "dlstin(:ulG:iOd wliolly by differences in the quantity or clistribution of species, especially by the prodomlnance of certain companion 35)ecicc of the associa- tion." This lonlt of vegetation can vai^ a {;roat deal in

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sls« and, of course, can vary conalderably In ctMnpoaitloQ* It may not bo the best subdivision of an association, but It seems a very workable term and one that can be easily applied to this i?eglon#

Two terras used by Illcliols (1925) as subdivisions of Ills association imve been selected to subdivide tlie racles# In tills study these terns can be used to better advantace

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bj oJianclnG their deflniticms sllchtly and applylnc them to subdivide each facics of an association. Tlie first ^ a layer society^ may be defined as a plant community tlmt results witliin a fades from the texidency of various species of smaller size tlmn the dominant life-fom to display their foliaf;e at more or less definite levels # A layer society tends to bo distributed more or less unirormly over the entire area occupied by the fades • The otiier subdivision^ a c^^oup society, nay be defined as a plant comnunlty tliat results from the acj.recation within a fades to fern more or less well defined clunks or nasses of any species other tlian those which predomin*- cto in the fades as a v;hole#

In retrospect tliis classification nay soon a little difficult to comprehend, but in reality it Is quite 5imple# f!iere are but six temns or units of voce tat ion employed: the as sec iat ion- type, the association abstract, the assoc- iation concrete, the fades, the layer society, and tlio roup society. As the first two are too lar^e for (;;oneral

use, only the last four of these will bo used extensively.

10 Aaaoclation concrete is uaiially referred to slnply as an association, moaninG «» individ\ial, in contrast to the collective term ftfifJO^iftt^on abstract.

Just how practical this classification will be renalns

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to be soon, but it seems that lii central Pennaylvanla, at least ^ tills system can be used quite easily ojnd to cood advantage* The value of this system rnay be niore accurately detcmlned after It lias been applied to a few areas • It may become necessary to make a few alterations or even to clmnce the entire system*

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General Plmi or Ornanlzatlon

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Two forost tracts liavo been selected for study, each of wlilch will be considered separately and described in some detail* Subjects such as size, elevation, top^ ocrrphy, cllnrnte, soil typoo, location, owiershlp, history, and sxxrroundinG territory will be discussed • The vege-^ tation will be evaluated and described in detail under several difrerent plant associations common to each tract • Plant succession will not be considered except in special instances, as tlie writer is interested primarily in the cover type on the site at the present tine. It is, of course, important to knov/ the dynamics of the vecetation; but the present forest cover is the main issue and will thoroforc bo tiic cliier topic of the vocotation description*

The aniroa.! poxrolatlonG of each area will be consid- ered, special reference being civen tlic <:ai;ie species* Gonio of the ;;ai:ae birds and inannals will be censusod, and ostli:iate3 of otiior animal populations will be attempted* Ilovcncnts (especially in co:inection with various cover types) will bo recorded, and all other ecological relation- sliips on the area will be considered of paramount import- ance* V'inter and siairjmer photoeraplis of the cover t;^^es are iiicluded for each area discussed*

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General Description.

In broad, Tortile IJittany Valley— between tJie Bald Eacle Mountains on one side and tho llltteny and Seven Iloxir.talns on the otlior— there lies a strip or land known locally as "tla© IJarrens." This huce aroa extends from Altro (near State Oolleco In Centre County) to Blrnilncliam (near Tyrone In Iluntlncdon County) and Incliides more tlian 50,000 acres. In the past some of this land lias been cleared for acrlctiltiu'e but lias produced only nea-or rctiimo. In the niidst of tills area just west of State Colloce, about 5,000 acres of noro sandy subrnarclnal land

i2ac occn selected ae a study aroa, Tlic stiody area :;my bo rouciay bounded by Ccotia, Circlevlllc, J'onlata Junction, raid ?ov/ ;iill. Per clarity, tho f/ord "liarrcns" In tills report will refer only to tho area dollciltcd by those po '.ntc •

A Study area was ostabllshod in the Darrens because

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0- u:io aoundance of .ja:-.:o opocioc and tlie Inportance of :ic forost t;/pea found thoi^oon In central Pcnnss-lvanla,

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Tlio area also presented an oxcelleut opportunity to study the effects of fire and of itian»s activities on forest cover, Tlio Darrens is ej.treinely interest Inc from tlie plant ecolo^lst's viewpoint for tho vegetation Is quite conplex and nany stages of plant succession aro repre- ccntod. It liao been ai^c^od in tlio past tliat the tyi)es

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found in tlio Barrens are not of enouch liaportanco In

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Pennsylvania

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very unproductive of timber, tills land nevertheless merits wildlife research* The Barrens is not "barren" or wildlife; -ather. It is very productive of wildlife* It 1ms been estimated that two nlllion acres, or approximately one alxth of the forest land of Pennsylvania, are occupied by wlmt are Icnown as scrub oak barrens (McIntjTc, 1932)* If this flr^ure is correct — and tlie writer Iiac no reason to believe it is not— ntuch time should bo devoted to wildlife research on tVxe barrens of Pennsylvania*

Tlie study area, a fov; miles west of State Colloro, lias a rather complex topor;raphy niado up of many sniall loiobs and irrojular rldrec* Hoot of the tract ranc;0Q from 1,300 to 1,400 foot above sea level, tills elevation belnc 100 to 2O0 feet hl,-her tl^an the avera::e of the surroundln^' a-'rl- cultural areas* The clian,':e from one elevation to another, however, is not abrupt.

Tlie coils of the liirrens are closely i^elated to the llriestonc soils of the acrlcultural valleys* They are sandy and are derived from a riixtiu^e of sandstones, clays, and soric llricstonos v/hose exact c^olonlcal horlson 1ms never been ostablls^iod, They occupy Irro ;ular and rmch- eroded ridces and Iiavo little v/ator-iioiain:; capacity and liave boon classified in the Tuorrlson series* The rorrlson sandy loan Is the soil t^-pc tluit is found over noct of the

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Darrens region. It occupies rldcos and rolllnc-to-Mlly areas and Is very well drained. The surface soil consists of 0 to 12 Inches of fine to raedltin J-ellowlsl^-broTOl heavy sand or ll^ht sandy loan. The subsoil Is a yellow or reddlsh-yollow, sticky sandy loan, wlilch grades to a reddish clay at 56 Inches, In the more loany areas the surface soil is sticky when wet. Both soil and subsoil contain nrnnj sandstone fra^^tnents. The subsoil is porous Dxid, thouch soric water can be round at 30 to CO feet, wollG must bo driven rtach deex)er (SOO to GOO foot) to obtain a satisfactory- supply* The soil is derived from T/eathorGd sandstones and quartr;ltes» The rocks and soil contain lar{;;o anoxmts of Iron ore^ and several surface v;orI:in{;s Imve been OT)eratod on the area* Otlier soil types in localities scattered throughout the Barrens are Ilorrlson

loan, stony loan, sand and clay loan, Ilar-erstown cla

loan, clay and silt loam* These are of very little import- an'-o, however, as tlie luorrison sandy loan Is the major soil * jB of tlie Barrens re^^ion*

"Zho s\imnor clli:mto of tills study tract is quite

xfroront fron that of any other part of central Pennsyl- vania* Tlie QTcmlnc season is very short | the scrub oaks In the flats sho-^ no sicno or life until very late in the

prli\;, yet tiiose same oaks txini rod in the fall several

T^ceks before frost appears in the curroiindinc coimtry* j^hc nunnor season (between tlio last killing frost in the sprlnc cind the first killing; frost in the fall) is probably

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not much more than 60 daye* Durlnc J^lj and Aucust the noon temperattiros are very hleh, whereas the mlniEaan each nl^ht is clooe to tho freezlnc point. In winter the cliioRte of the Barrens lo quite similar to tlrnt of the surroxmdine;

valley.

Til© area 1ms an abundance of roads, soino of wlilcii are jmssable Tor autonoblloQ and some of which liavo nearly disappeared. Most of these are old logging roads, and a row are built on old railroad Gi'*a<3los wliere tho ties Imve been removed. Those roads rialco travel possiblo to all ooctions of the Darrens, and thoy r.ialco tho area accessible

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o a c^^eat nuirJaer of luintors. In that tiioy create oponincs :in t}iG dense growth of vegetation, the rwids are of groat value to the wildlife sxxjcies.

The area is liandicappod soaov/Iiat by tho aL'nost conplete absence of water. A sprinc of soft water 1ms been re- ported (V/esterfeld, 1959) near Tov/ Hill in tho western j»rt of trie study tract. It is the only water In tho Barrcr.vT, with, tho 02cception of a few partly filled oro :)lts (rijvj:»es 1 and 2) and slnliioloo, Sor.ic of tlioso hold mtor throughout the year, but tnost of then dr:,^ up con- plctoly durixig tlie sunnier. tistor^;.

The original fox*ost cover and the conditlo:i3 that brought about tho present bai'rcnc 'cy'^q nay bo partly de- torr-ilned frori tha faaclnatlne; history of tho :3arrens. Tlie accounts of early sott;lcrs toll of iixo splendid growth of

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PlCiiro 1* Ope pit noar 3cotia. Sept. 7, 1939

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.TITO 2. Ore pit near Scotia. Jan. Zl, 1940

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17 oaks, cloeatnuts, and plnos tliat the Barrens supported ♦

Some sections were once well stocked with oak and cliestnut, and others supported heavy Growths of white pine. Pine specimens of pitch pine and some Vlrclnla plno were scattered tlirouchout the area (West erf eld, 1959), Tiie uiidercrowth of ground oak, sweet fern, blueberry, and other slirubs was dense (Mooney, et al,, 1910),

file Barrens was first settled In 1784, when Abraiiaia Ider built a homo In Half Iloon Townslilp. Snail settle- rients soon ber;an to spring up all throu£;h the region, li!any of these settlers purcliased their claims directly from the Coanonwealth, Sone of the land Is still In tlie possession of tlie descendants of tliese first settlers, but the lar:;est part of the area was bou:;ht by the Pennsylvania Piimo.co Conpany, Tac Hoarinc Sprln^; Paper Conpany boucht

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ho land for Ixjinborlxir; purposes and held ov/norslilp until about 1900, v/hen they cold to the Iluyett and I'cIIltt Luriber Company of Belief onto. In 1923 Col. Theodore Boal of Boalsbxar- pxircliased the tract for v8 an acre. He expected to sell the land to the Govornricnt for a nilltaiy reserva- tion for the national c-uard, but the deal did not aaterlal- lae, and at present tills land bcloncs to the Doal estate.

tllnlnc imd bei',-un before IGOO, and It Increased stead- ily for over a hundred years. Furnaces were started In every part of tlie Barrens area, and these, of course, caused a tremendous drain on tlio timber supply for clmrcoal, ?Iic local ore went to Plttsburch to be manufactured Into

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Ironi this broivght about an increased coal oonsiimptlcai^ wlilch In ttxm caueed a great demand for mine props* The , timber o£ the Darrens was soon exliaxistcd^ and second (growth ims cut In many seotlone* Most of the wood was used for clmrcoal and mine props ^ %ut much went into rall«* roads, building materials ^^ and teleplione construotlon*

The annual fires of the region began shortly after the Pennsylvania Railroad opened a branch to Scotia Benore* luany of the fires were small, but some (such as the "Big Fire" of 1906, wlilch tlireatened the town of Scotia for noro tlmn a day) did a c^^^^^ deal of daraace. The only vegetative growth able to persist after these repeated fires was the fire-resistant pitch pine and the rapid- sprout ixv: scrub oak.

Scotia vrac a iDrosperous town durlix; the i:iinii\j days and \mo inliabited by 400 people in 1095 • Tliis area is believed to have been the headquarters of Andrev/ Car- negie *s first big nininc venture • Fifty fa::iilies remained in 1910, but ininin^, liad stopped tlic year before • ?!any houscG were removed in 1911, and the railroad was taken up in 1921 • A few families remained until 1924; the last bulldin^js were torn down in 1937 • All tiiat remains of this oxice-prosperous commimity is a tumbled-^down ore washer— a delapidated relic passed over by the wrecking; crows •

Thou(;li minor lumbering: operations were probably carried on by Indians and early settlers, the first bi£;-

S

■.-f^'

19 aoale cutting operation started diirlne the Civil War In the Pennoylvanla Pumace section • Before 1900 th© Roaring Sprixi^s Paper Company cut extensively in tlie ^yellow pine area" from, Scotia to Palrbrook. Iluyett and KcITltt of liellefonte clear-cut between 1908 and 1918 all that was left on the area^ Tlie lo(^8 were transported over tliie tramroad to waddle and manufactured Into luriberj mine timber^ and staves* It was reported that the timber had to be cut to save the trees from fires caused by tiie rail- road, the situation finally becominr^ serious enough to warrant the liirin^- of a man to follow the trains and report fires*

After rovlewinc sone of tho history of this tract j^ It loos not soon straix";o tliat tho E^arrons exists todayt The

L.

roroGt was cut acaln and ar;ain and burned repeatedly xmtil tho present X*oi*ost cover created an area alnost %7ortliless fron a forostcr's point of vlev/# In time the land may be "brou-ht back to tlniber-produclnG trees , but now the great value of t'iis area Hog in v/lldllfe production* Vonotation Types*

TliQ ve-:etation on tlio study tract la rather dirfioult to describe because most of it is in a developmental stage* 9he area ir*ay be broken down into thi»ee niajor forest types: tho oak-hickory clliiiax association^ the scrub oak-pitch plno developmental association^ and the aspen develop- mental association* In the present study, plant succession \vao not of major importance because a description of tlie

iJ*-l^

ao

t-<M

•%

H

^'>-

forest cover currently occupyinc the c^otind nas suffle- lent* But In an area like the Barrens, nhere the ve^e-

clmncinCf the dynamics

cmnnnmity should be Imomi*

In discussing the iilstory of this timet, the many fires end repeated cuttlncs in the i3arrens were mentioned* Analysis of the forest types of this region shows that inost of the area is still covered with temporary conimuni** ties and tlmt the effects of the past have not yet disa* ppeared* In fact, it will be inany years before tlie Barrexis acain supports a clinmx forest*

?he oak-hickory association occurs In several sections of the area, mostly on the }iiHior land* Within this association there are several variations based on d.ifforonce in qiiantity and distribution of trie doriinant species* Tliis tj^o does, however, appear honoconeous in floristlc ccra^ position t}iroii:jhout the area*

The scrub oak-pitch pine association covers more acrcac;e tliaii either of the other two major types • It is a temporary plant conffnunlty tliat follows heavy cutting; and repeated fires in central Pennsylvania* Superficially exanlned, the association seems homogeneous tlirouchout tlie area; but closer study reveals that species may predominate ill one locality and be absent from another* The scrub oak-pitch pine association has therefore been broken down Into several fades*

The aspon association covers only a small acreage and

m

}.

V

dtjfJi

Is iistmlly in vei^* small stands* Th© writer la not siire Just wlmt place the aspen aasoclatlon occupies In tho 8ucoe0dlon of tlic pine barrens • Apparently, however, this association oories In with the acrub oak^pltch pine type and will eventually be crowded out by the oalc-^hlckory cllriiax type* Many stands or aspen occur In tho scrt:ib oal.'*.pltch plno aBsociation and likewise In the oak-^hlckory typo# In tho oak*»hlckory type the aspen Is rapidly belnc ovorslmdowed by the larger oaks^ and a dead eorub-oak ci:iderstory seenii to Indicate tliat not lonr arc t!\c area

O '-*k„>

v/ac covered witli Gcrub oa].: and pitch plne# A pure oalc- liickori^ foreot will result If no more cuttln^^s are rmde (uiCi if rireo arc ccntr oiled •

Tills area can bo broken down Into tliroo associations, but tlie boundaries of these are not always well defined^ In many cases one typo gradually cixan;;;e2^ into ajiotlier, and t}io region where tlie ciian{;o takes place can be classified as neltlier one typo nor the other • eaver and Clenonts (1929) have used the torn ocotone" for areas of this nature, and it v/tll be ::ood to use for those transitional areas in the Ba2?rens»

Oak^ilickory Climax Association #-• On the studrr tract

mummmmmm

'^

tills association Imr been broken lowii into foiu? fades, three of wlilch definitely beloiv> in t::ls najor t;^c.

One of tlio most well-defined subdivisions of t'lis

r.ssociation is tho wiilto oak-scarlet oak fades • V-hite <*lc (Queroi:^? alba) and scarlet oal: (C>aercus coccl;n,oa) arc

p

22

the dtwalnant tree species » c<»aprisinc ^ vojrj lar^e per- centac© of tlie stand. In sone localities red oalc (Querous ^?9J=:?fi,^^s var. niaxliqa) is fairly coi^tnon, lait noiphere is It 30 abundant as the otlier two specien. Cliostmit ool: (Quercua oontana) and black oak (Quercus velutina) occur occasionally, the Tomer boln^; on tlie hlrjiest olovations. Otb-er tree apecloa tlmt are found scattered tliroiirh this facics are rod maplo (j^oer rubrma) . iilckory (llicorl^g app.), ijlaclc clierry (Prj^jia serotim) , larretooth aspen (Populus •yarKlidentata) , and pitch pino (Plnus ri/-ida) . Most of the area is fully stocked and even-a^ed, 'v"ith the exception of two s:73all sections that are 40 to GO and 60 to 00 years old (Plcures 3 and 4), the entire facies falls Ijito the 20- to 40-year a^e class (Fi;;ures G and 6), There are a few older trees t-iat were left wh.on tixe aroc. was last cut, hixt nost of the oaks ranr;© in afo from 27 to 32 years.

In this white oak-scarlet oaJc raclec thoro are two intisual coirauunities. One, found on the roclcy points tlmt -irc cornon to tlais territory, is nado up of banswooc! ^Ziiia rilabra) , hop homboam (Ostrya virr.iniana ) , and occasionally slipper^'- oln (U3faus fulvg) . These ore so distinct from the rest of the fades tliat !;hev }io.ve been

i.

u*

oriied "rra(;?nontary association**' Thoy arc very snail, t>ut their occurrence in so many places dosorvoc recoc- riltion* Another cocTrrunity that occurs in th.is facies frequently and tliat may bo called a fracnentary associa- tion is the combination of blaclc c*^! (Nyssa sylvatica) .

Plr^ura 3% Wlxlte oak^^scarlet oak faciec*

GO- to 80*.year a(3e class #

Plcurc 4# ^fhlto oak-Gcarlet oak racleo#

CO- to 00-yoar a^o clasG^

24

m

Fl£;;:ure 5* Wliite oak-scarlet oak fades In curlier,

20- to 40-yeax» aco class #

Fi^'upo 6# White ook-Qcarlot oal: fcicicG In v/lnter^

20- to 40-year ago class •

25

^

Green brier (Smilaa; sp.), and buttonbuah (Cepha3.anthua " occldentalls ) -"-a combination that la often fotind around sinldioles» This rrowth is a distinct coraniunlty and doea

not reseiable the surrotindlne vegetation in any way.

The understory is very sparse throii^hout tliie fades except in a few places wliere the scmib oaks (Qtiercxis illclfolia and o. prlnoldes) Imve persisted. Dead scrub oaks may "bo seen almost anywhere^ btit only a few live ones arc left# Occasionally, in an open area where the canopy Ic not completely closed, a few scrub oaks renain to form c. c2^oup society* Tan£;leG of cp^apo (Vitis spp#) are Gcattored over the area, but tliey are never very abundant* The crxaller trees f omin ; the understory are sassafras (Sassafras variif olium) ^ a few oaI:s, blaci: Ciieri*;-, pitch plno, '.ind an occas'oiuil aiieill lilcI:ory.

The r'voxmd cover is not r.b-andant over nost of tlio

.?acioc, but roany c^ovtlis ol" deorberry (Vacciniun stanlneuja) r.r.d blueberry (VaccinluCT vacillans and V. pentisylvanicum) ocour in sono sections. Where there ic li::,ht, sweet ferrx (Hyrlca asplenifolia) fonis dense stands.

In siu^riary, thi^ raclos Is mostly coinposod of cven- arod stands tliat arc stocked predordnantly wltlx oalcs. Tliopo ic very little xinderstory, and the croxina cover is V3r- snarso exce-ot in certain limited areas.

The second subdivision of the oak-hickory association le the chestnut oai.-liickory fades, which occ^irs only on t'lo :iijher ridces in one part of t!ac study tract. Oiestnut

3

4l

i

26

aalc Is the predominant species, always tnal^lnc up at least SO percent of the stand and sotaetlmea a great deal more. On the rld{^;etops chestnut oak Is in practically pure stands, and In otlier sections it is niixed with white oal:, scarlet oak, and iiickory# Red oalc, black oak, black cherry, largetooth aspen, red maple, sassafras, and pitch pine occiir less frequently. Almost the entire fades belongs In the 20* to 40«»-year age class, but an occasional large white oak, scarlet oak, hickory, or |)itch pine may be seen. Most of the area Is fuller stocked, but on tlie rldgetops and on the west slope the canopy is much tliinner and the stand is understocked.

x'lie black gum-green brier-buttonbush f rar^nentary c.Gsociatlon often occiu's within this facios and Is pract- ically identical to the corrrrimlty tlmt ir. found in the \7}ilte oak-scax^let oak type.

The understox^y is thin over most of this area and almost absent from places where the chestnut oak is abtond*

int. In the lower ro::lons there are a few sr.iall oal:, red

r;iax)lo, sassafras, hiclcory, wild apple ( Ivlalus sr>»), simdbush (Ar^Qlar>chie^ sp.), and cliestnut (Castanea dentata) anrouts. Oil the rldgetops and on tlie west slope, vdiere the canopy is quite open, inach scrub oak still persists; on most of tlio rocky points tiiroughout the area tliere are grape tanfles (usually not very dense).

Tlic ground cover is not abundant except on the rldge- tops, v/lvere deerberry, 'luckloberry ( Ga;i^ltia sac la bac cata ) .

I

27

and blueberry ocoiir in dense stcmds* Tliese rld^etops have a canopy tlmt Is not closed , and the various species of l^acclniugi ^eom to do very well in this stronc llcht^

The third subdivision of the oak^hickory association ic called the nixed oa2:-hickory facies* It .Includes imich r'^ore Iiickory than any other type in the i:^rrens# Hickory is one of the donlnant species, alone: ivitli scarlet oak^^ white oak, red oak, and some cliestnut oak* Thic facles differs fro!n tlio cliestnut oak-hickory in t!mt hiclrory is :nich :aaorc al)imdant and c!^stiiut oah is less connon* This nliced oak-:iicI:ory facie s occiirs on the Iii^liest rid^o of ti)j3 Darrens area and Ig probably closer to t'/ie true oak- liichory cllina:?: forest tlian any otlier of the facies do- ijcribed horo# In addition to tho cpccicG just nontioned.

*» II

lock clierry, red naile, lar :otooth aspen, anc! ^itch pine occ-ar occasionally In tlxis fades •

The stand is even-acod and Is in tlie 40- to GO-year af;c class, boin,-;: sllcl^tly older t!ian nost of tlxc other rer^ions of t;ie study tract* There arc a fevr very lar^e oldoi^ treoD tliat were spo.red -^lix):! the iirec. \^7ac la.:! cut, Imt tlicso are too scattered to ho of much liripoptrinco •

In this type are included a fe^; slnldioles sia?rounded by tlic sai'ie black {;u:.:i-crecn brier-hut tonbiish fraiji.ie2itary o.rsociatlon* Other sinldxoloo iiave a different oo:?::!nity, vdtkL solid stands of Icatherloaf ( Clianiaedaphaio calyculata)

in the centei* and donee /;:rowt:iG of blaci: aider* (lie

MmMMV

vert Ic ilia ta) and cholieberri- (Piyrus i-iulanoc^.rpa} around

28

the outalde. Tills slnlchole oomtninlty laay bo considered another fragmentary association, as It certainly Is no part of the mixed oak-lilckory fades*

This fades Is fiilly stocked In most places, but In some areas it Is understocked. The xmderstory Is usually very dense, younc oalcs, hickory, red maple, and sassafras fornlnc the small-tree layer. Scrub oak Is dense In some sections, and althou{:h much of it Is dead, some still persists under the more open canopy. Ilasolnut (Corylus omericana) Is common on the south slope; chestnut sprouts, doorberry, laackleberry, blueberry, azalea ( Rliododendron nudlf lorum) . sweet fern, ant! an occaclonal clump of prairie willow (Sallx humills) f or2;i the rest of tlio slirub layer In the undorstory. I\irther, all the roclcy polnto Imvc dense crape tanclos. As ground cover there is a condderablo aaount of dewberry (Rubus vlllosua) , wintercreen (Gaul- ^^^Qrla procuribens ) , trailing arbutus (Bplr.aea re pens ) , and club moss (Lycopodlum sp.).

'i'ho fourth and last subdivision of tiie oak-hickory association does not really belong; hero, as it io a trans- itional stc^G or ocotono, whore two associations arc blcndlnr;. It is, however, closest to the oak-liickory typo and will therefore be included as a subdivision. ?lils

jft

acics, wliicli will be called pitch plno-nixed oak. Is the

noat complex typo on this study tract. It forms tl

le

cranoltlonal stage botv/een tlie oak-hickory and tlie scrub oak-pitch pine associations j it can bo classified as

29

neither one nor the other. It will develop Into the oak- lilokory eventixally, however, axid la belnc treated as a subdivision of It for that reason.

Pitch pine Is the dominant species tlirotichout this typo. Scarlet oak is very consaon, and in some sections cliBstnut oak 1g th© most abiixKlant species* A f ow sriall Iilckories occurs and there are some wlilte and red oaka^i althoiic^i they aro not at all comnaon# Red maple and black oak are very raro^ but tliere 1g much larce tooth aspen occurring both sincly and In snmll stands. This t^rpc is iineven-aeed , tlie pines bcln^ older tlxan the liardwoods. Wie former are In tlie 40- to CO-yoar a^e class, whereas the Imrdwoods are about 50 years old#

T:\(:^ undorstory Is fairly dense In nost places and Is conposed largely of scrub oaks# The side of this area nearest the scrub oak-pitch pine association lias tlia tlilckest scrub-oak r^owth; and the area closest to tlie oak-Iilckory association has much less scrub oak, nost of i*ilch Is dead or dyln,'::# Tlierc Is a rreat deal of sassafras and cliestnut-sprout rrov/tli tlirouchotit t!ic area, and the youiv: oaks, red maple, VlX\^ hickory form part of the undor- story* The [ground cover is also very dense, beln^; conposed of deerberry, huckleberry, blueberry, sweet fern, and wlntercreen.

Gcxnib Oak-Pitch Pine Developraental Assoc latlon.— Tlio l^rrens received Its name fron tlils association and its outward appearance. This type occupies the largest part of

30 the study tract « There la, however, a great variation in the scrub oak-pitch pine type, owlnc to soil differences and varyin{3 age classes* The association ims been broken down into sevei^l facies, and each will be discussed separately.

At one end of tlie study tract a large flat in covered by one of tlie most typical facies of tlie scrub oalc-pitch pine association. It is called the scrub oak-pitch pine fades and is composed alnost entirely of tli© two species of scrub oak and pitch pine. The oolcs ran^e In heicht from 5 to 6 feet and cive the appearance during the summer of bolnc veiry denae^ llftny btpjxII oponln^js, liov/over, covered with grasses and other herbaceous £;rowt!i, are scattered tlirouch tiiG area. luost of the pines are even-a^ed, bcl In the 20- to 40«^year a^c class • An occasional black ciiorry na^ be seen (Figure 7)^ and tlierc are a few small stands of trembling aspen ( Fojyalus tremuloldes) in tills t^^e* The ::round cover is, of co\irse|» very dense where the scrub oaI:s are small; and tliere Is some blueberry, although It is not nearly so abundant as in ot:ior sections of t'iis association*

The second subdivision of the scrub oaI:-»pitch pine -ssoclation is called the scrub oal: facies; it consists of pure stands of lar^o scrub oal: and lias vcr;;;^ fev/ otlior cpecloc present (Fi^jure 8)* Tliis typo is found alone tlie sides of the ridces, between tlao oak-hickory association aiKl tiio raain body of tlie scrub oak-pitch pino association.

^nc

51

PlG«r« 7. Sixigle bXaok cherry trees are fouxici ti\roti{:hout

the scrub oak-pitch pino association. Sept, 23, 1939,

Plcure 8» Dense stand of lar;;e scrub oak.

•I

32

and could be classified as an eootone but really belongs In the latter association* The scrub oaks vary somewhat in ace aiKi ran^^e froni 5 feet in lieicht to an extreme of 12 X*et in height and 3 inches in diameter on scmie locations • Tlxrou^^hout tills fades the scrub oaks svow in such dense stands tlmt It is very difficult for a nian to force Ms way fron one point to another* It is easy to understand why there is little ground cover under so dense a oano'pjp but In some of the more ox^en areas t^^intercreen and trailing arbutus appear^ beinc especially noticeable alone the trails • An occasional pitch pine or sliadbush (Amelanchier

mmmmmtmmmmmmmMtmmmmm

canadensis or A# oblQnr:ifolia) rmj occur in these dense stands of scrub oak#

The next tlireo facies of the scrub oak-pitch pine association are quite closely allied, and all occur at the sane elevation and on similar sites* There is, how- ever, sufficient difference in the quantity and distri- bution of the species to vrarrant their separation into t!ircc distinct facies*

Tlic first is the scrub oaI:-panlcled docwood fades, v;hicli occurs in the lower rocions and extends up the draws onto the ridges for sliort distances* In this facies

the two scrub oaks and panic led dor:wood (Cornus paniculata) arc t:io dorrdnont spociec and coinprise a. lar^e percentace of the stand (Pl^^ures 9 and 10)* The scrub oalvs ran^e In ^lei^ht fron 2 to 4 feet and are scattered over tlie area in groups, not in solid stands* The docwood is about tlie

33

.%^^T^

.•>f.'r::v ■<•

■^. .^ >.i^ '. ■■■■■:

Flcur© 9. Scrub oak-pitch pine association*

Sept. 0, 1959,

Flcure 10, Scrub oaI:-pltch plno aosoolation.

Jan. 31, 1940,

X,

34

r

saae size and is found nlxad with tJxe scrub oaks tlirouchout tho area. Many open aroaa arc scattered tha-ou^;ii this t:,-pe (rirure 11), and tlieso are covered with rrasses and other htruaceous plants. A few biishes of American Imselnut are rJL.-'-od with these dor.iinant spocies. Sr.mll stasids of ^lore

tronblln^' aspen are very noticeable an;

a fonn a definite

pftTt of this GOEimmlty, althou-h they are class if io

od in

s

miot!ter association. Black clierry and slmdbush are re-o-

Ml

rcsGn*«« by individvuil trees occurring occasionally in thl facioG. A ^QTj few Imwthorn (Crataefois sp.) bucries c-oncar. and Pointer's plm (Primus allerMniensis) is also quite rare. Sr.iall donso stands of prairie willow arc alonj tho roads and in all tiore or less oijon areas (Picurc 12) ; and tho-a-h this apociGc is not scattered over the typ« |5tn»«illy, it is of :;reat i:,iportance where it dooc appear. Anot:,i.or imch sinallor siX)cies, the low willov/ (Sali:c tristis) . is found in two draws but is of no ii-aportauco beoauGc of Its rarity. Sweet fern is very corxion in certain •€c"io;ic and forrriS dense stands v/h.orc it occurs (usually alone roadv/aya and trails).

In tills fades are nany sinJdioles, nost of v/hich dry m;> in sur-jnor. Around tliose there io a coira~tuiiity of plaaits

souov;.:r.;. c_;:illar to tlio fi»ac::nentary associations already described under '..lie oal:-]iickory association. BlacI: -un. eroon brier, and buttonbush occur; in addition there i

s

considerable blacJ: alder, riiilc berry (Lyonla liiistrlna) . cranberry (Vaceiniuri r,mcrocarr.)on) , cl-olceberry, and meadow

'1

S5

Pl2:uro 11, Many snmll opon areas occ-or tiirov^-'iout the

scrub oak-pitch plzio typo, Sept. 20, 1939.

PlCiiTo 12. Prairie willov; alone tlio jfmAs Ic heavily

brov/ood by door uiur'.n- the w.liitor.

*'

'(

56

6v/cot (£ .raeg latlfolia) •

::aolst sites to fom vcr^ d

These species (;row on thos© sc stands.

•Pho croimcl covoi- li: tills t^-po ic dense over nont of tlic aroa. Two species of blueberry coicl dcorbci-r^' occur almost iiriiversallir over the fades and uctially fom dense fflfttG Of cz*"und cover. Hew Jersey tea (Ceanothus amoricanus) aix". v/ild rose (Hoaa Iiucllls ) arc conmon, and alor<; the old railroad c^'adee and roads there Is a oi*cat deal of dev;- bewry «nd sand clierr-- (Prunua puaila) in addition to small ctandc or prairie v/lllow.

The ner.t tv/o s-audivlsions arc so closel;- allied to tl Ecr-ab oek-paulclcd doc:wood facies that detailed doscrlp-

.le

tlons Ox tluDi-i will not bo aeccssary. *':.e rirst ic

Lie

ncrub oc::-i'mselrru.t Taciec (ri^iircc 13 and 14) • This is

at the oupCGitc vnC, of tho acGOci

I* J. C^ L/ .^ O 4. i C^IaCa U - C* I/.^-AC

elevation as tl^t at which the scrub oa::-pa:ilclou docwood type is iovjid. 'Tho z^^'-'-^ dirrorcncc bctv;cc,i these tv;o facics is the c:ir-i\:o In tlic doriln^uio n: ocleo. In thin^ lixxnclnut tahcc thu iilaco or panicle.: dorv;ood anA the tlirco

doinincnt rrpecloc arc :.}io scrub oahc "an:- }La2;elnut» Tl.c

c

Qupocltion or the loss oorrion ox)Gcics lo about the oano, the aanc Glxildiolo consnunitloc occui% ancl tl.c ^roand cover ia quite cl^allar. The variation in the quantlt- and die-

"f- :-» • 1 ^ . 1 <?

tr^ouuiuOii oP txic domiiiant opcciec, liov/ovcr, vmrrantod th.1,

brcahdo^7n»

T!io oecoiid of thcco cIogcI- allied oubdlvlGlonc i

culled t]ic scrub oah-broon scc<-o facicG (hi^jurcs lb and IG).

37

Figure 13 • Scrub oak-pitch pUio association mi^omtnc, crmll

area of oak-hickory tjpo on ridge top»

Plgparc 14 # Sci^Ab ocl.-pitch pine ac g oc iati on •

Jan. 31, 1Q40«

38

Pl-;ure 15. Scrub oaIc«broor.i eedco facloc V7lt]i occasional

aspon 8tand. Sopt. 22, 19C9.

Plc^-irc IG. Scrtib oah-broord oodGC r««loc -vVLh ocociclontil

aapcn otancl, Jan. Zl, 1040,

■I

I-

39

neither panlcled dogwood not liazelnut occtirs In any abtind-

ance, and the scrub oaks are the dominant specloo. Their else does not exceed 3 feet in helcht, and they are in scattered clumps, never in dense stands, Iluch of the area is open, and broom sedge (Andropof^on acoparlus) is the dominant }aerbaceous species in the open part. I^roon sedce is prominent enough to be used in naralnc the Tacles but, or ceurse, does not enter into competition with the wood^' plants. The ground cover is essentially the saine as tl-oat described under the scrub oak-panlcled doGwood fades, but t'als type has none of the sinJciiole coi7]r,iuiilties.

Pitch pine does not usually occur in tills re- ion, but other conponion spoclos of the scrub oalc-docwood raclec do.

Tlio last aubdlviaioii or the scrub oah-pltch plno ;:.w;,oclation is called tho scrub oal:-nixod oal: raclos. It iG an ocotone but 'las boon Inclvidod In t:d.s accociation bocaviso t:ic -lonlnant species are the two scrub oa!:s. ThoGG scrub oaks are in very dense stands over nost of the ai^oa caid renco fron 4 to 10 feet in helcht. There tiro also riTiny younc wliite, scarlet, red, and c'lestnut oalrs throughout tills type. They are Gradually conlnr in and will eventually fom tho forest covor there, scrub oaks beln': forced out. These oaks are about 20 years old. Rod r.iaple, f lower inc docwood (Comus florida) . and stac- horn sunac (Rhus typJiina ) also occur, but they are not coiinon. In certain sections pitc'i pines are abrmdant (Ficuros 17 and 18) , but tliey are absent froin .,^„f ^^ ^.. „

TIfvl

Fl(:n:ir0 17 1 Scrub oak-pitch pine association

Sept.* 14^ 10o9«

*> .

Plcurc 13 • Gcrub oa3c*»pltcl pine aGaoclation.

Jan# 31, 1940.

41

area

ITJl

The underatory and crotuid cover In tMs fades are

very dense. 8»«(Barras, 3imll hickory, and sliadbiieh are associated with the scrub oaks. At a lower level dense growths of huckleborry^ blueberry^ and deerberry cover tiio c3:*o\md# There is also a little moimtaln latirel (lialniia latlfolAa)# vantercreen, trailing arbutus, and dewberry are common •

Aspen Developmental Aa30clatlon#^i»^ This association doo3 not cover a ^roat deal of acreace on tlie study tract , but It ic or surricicnt importance to warraiit classifica- tion as an association* Its iiTiportancc in the plant succession of the area lias already boon considered, and its nrernt value to •:ane species v/ill bo discussed. This association differs from those previously described in tlrnt it does not stand alone, separate fron other conmun- Itios. It ax:>pears v/ithin tlie other two associations, not •• a part of tliori, but as either a pioneer or a relic comunity of enough i:?ixjortance to be classified as a separate association.

In the scrub oak-pitch pine association the aspen cornrtunity is represented by tlie many small stands of trenblin^ aspen that r^rovi tliroto^^iiout tiiat t;q>o (F:..[;arOB 19, 20, and 21). All those are fully stoclrod and usually ovon-aced, bein^; about 20 years old. Very little under- Gtory or ::round covex^ can bo found under those stands, "but occasionally there ax^c a few snail aspens. Tub

42

Wfjure 19 • Aspon stand in scrub oak-pi tcli pine t^^o.

Sept* 14 f 1939.

Pi^iire 20. Aspon stand ia ocrub oak-i/itc"- pt»e typo.

Jan. 31, 1940.

43

Pi^;iiro 21 • One oX' tho cliu.ipa of aspen wl.ich ocoui'

tlirou^iiout tlic ocirab oal:-pltcIi pine typo. Sept* 22, 1939 •

writer Is of the opinion that those small stands of aspen In the scrub oak-pitch pine association are pioneer coxnimm- ities tliat will cradiially Increase in size and niainbor and will eventually force out the scrub oak and pitch pine* 0£ course, the aspens will in turn bo pushed out and re- placed by the oak-hickory forest*

The other facies of the ast>3n association consists of solid stands of lar^etooth aspen ^rowin^: on liieher eleva- tions in tlio oak-Ixickory cliniax type (Picaire 22) • These pure stands of aspen are usually small, but on one of tlie hlj:;her ridres there is an extensive area where only lar^^e- tooth aspen occurs • In these stands there is little or no undorstory or c^ounci cover, as the canopy In completely clo£ied# L'licy are oven-aced, mostly between 20 and 40 years old* One fades, where these asi>en stands constitute a lar::c part of the area, is the transitional type of pitch pine and mixed oak* Tlierc solid stands of aspen can be coen, cjnO.. their position in the plant succession of tlie ciroa can easily bo doterriiined* Tliey are relic cormminities of ohc once-dense scrub oak-pitch piioe association, and nov/ tixey too are beinc puslied out by the larger oaks* Undoubtedly, the larnetooth aspen stands over the whole tract Ixave a similar status in the succession, but in tlie pitcli plnc-i:iizcd oak ecotonc tlielr position is nost oacily seen* Ani.^ml Populations*

It is impossible to state in definite tcniis tlie

45

Icuro 22 • Aspon stand in v/lnter.

46

abundance of most of the cone species In the Barrens study tracts and eatiinatos may sometln^s be subject to consider*- able error • There are nine game birds and iimimnals In this ai^ea, and some population ri^ures are available for six of them*

The Darrens is considered fine wliite-tailed deer (Odocoileus yirninianus vix*nlnianus and 0# v* boroalis) ran^e because ^ood cover and plenty of low ve£;etation J^umlsh food* Diirinc. the siiBrjer of 1050 it v/as estimated that this tract supi)ortod 1 door to ID acres; and mmn the area v/as censused by airplane after the ant lories s- deor season of thiit ycar^ the tract showed 1 deer to every IG acres (Bennett, i:nrlish, raid IlcCain, 1940) • The deer uerd s;afrcrod severely durin-; the winter of 1S59-40, however, and the population now is probably below tliat level ♦

Durin; : oiimmer tlie doer feed in the low scrub oal:- pitch pine association only at ni^ht and in the early morning • Thoy sxDond a c^^^^t deal of time durinr the day in the oak-liickory association on tlie rid(je-tops and in the ilon^e scrub-oal: growth on t;ie sides of the ridges (Picurc 25) • In July end Aujust rmuy deer were jumped froin their "beds" v;hoii the v/ritor walhcd t^o^oujh tliese tyrxss* Tlie winter montlis after the hui'itin^: season are the r;i0st serioUwS for the door; tlicn doer nay frequently ba GOon reodii\; in the low scrub oaI:-pitch pine associa- tion at any time of day. Diirin{; those months the willow

47

flrtire 25. Low scrub oak in valley, lil'jh scrub oak on side

Ox ridge, and oak-Iilckory typo on rldgo top. Jan» 15, 1940.

48 along tae roads and trails Is browsed heavily^ perhaps T>ecauae It la easy to reach and Is located aloanc the travel lanes, or j)orlmps because it Is a preferred food# In years of cood rmst crop, scrub«»oak acorns are tindoubt- odly an Inportant item in a door's diet ;intil the supply is exiiausted# Tlien tlu^ouchout the winter the scriil> oaks, dO(7wood, Imselnut, swoet fern, and willow on the flats rtirnlsli the food supply* During the severe winter of 1940 doer v/ore frequently observed foodlnc on the lower branches of pitch pine In preference to riany Imrdv/ood species • The Barrens study tract is excellent cottontail- rabbit ( Syly ilaft;\xs floridanus nxeamsl) ranee, probably supporting as niany rabbits as any slniilar area open to nliootinc in Pennsylvania • On a small 15-acre study area In the scrub oak-pitch pine association, Jolin D* Beule, of The Pe:insylvanla Cooperative 'Vildlife ?.esearch Unit, found 1*4 rabbits to ah acre* If tliis sample can be taken

representative of the reriainder of that association.

it indicates a V±:;)\ popijJLation of cottontails • Beule c::pros3od the boiler t-iut the rabbits moved up the sides of the rid^'cs into tJic dorioo acrub-oal: stands diu*inr: tlio v/intor coad spent niost of tlioir tinie in the lower reclons during suOTner* How inportant the aspen association 1*3 to

tho rabbit population, the v/r»iter docs not know« Habblts do, however, soon find a felled aspen tree ajid clean the barh from It in a very short time. Though aspen Is a preferred food when available, tills type probably does not

49

i' I

Influence Hw rabtolt population to any extent ♦ The cottontail Is not nearly so alnmdant In thB oalr-Iilckory association as in tlw scrub oal:-pltch plnu lands •

Bl£;ht woodohucko (I^Iarnota nontuc monax) wore on tlie same 15-acre study tract tliat supported 1.4 rabbits to an acro# Probably tliis figure of 1 woodchuck to 2 acres ooiaa not bo applied to tho entlro scrub oak-pitch pine association^ but if it is at all sic^iiricant, it would indicato tlxat tlie woodchuck is one o.f the most abuiidant rnanirmls of t'lat typc^ The v/oodcliuck is coriinion tlxrouchout the lower rer:lon3 and is not a rare aniiml in the ml:ted oak**hickory association. The latter, however^ does not sux^iDort nearly so many woodchucks as are foimd in tlio scrub oak-pitch pine areas •

The cr^y squirrel (Sclurus carolinonsis) occurs only rarely in tho scrub oal:-pltc.h pine association; the writer observed only one in tliat type durinc 2 years. Oray squirrels are quite coixion in t]io older oalc-Iilckory associations. ITo accia^aLc oensuG r.l;;ires are available^ but a ::ainc-rriana;:oi^ont class riiado a loaf-and-twi^: nest coiiut in the oak-hickory tyi^e and observed 2.C nests an

acre. This ri-ure serves only for conparison with

a

siriilar count rmde in a chestnut oak-pitch Dine forest t-ji^ in central Pennsylvania vrbjoro 3.5 nests on acre were observed •

The r^oTf ed ^;rouse (Donasa unbellus urgbellus) is tlie :iost coinrion came bird on the Barrens study tract* Popula-

50

iGiaros

census area* TMs census area Includes all tlie niajor cover types of the Darrens and lo a very i^ood sarnie or tliat territory. Ulan T. ">tiKLhol^no and tlic writer censuaed tlio area by i:1a-»s strip-count nothod on October 27, 1939, before the shootlnc seaoonj on Decoribcr 17, 1959, after tli© ohootln^c season; and on April 10, 1040, after tlio winter season. Tl:e pre-lmntir^-oeason census revealed a popula- tion of 142 birds, or 1 c^'O'-icg to about 10 acres. After tlic hunt in,:; season the population dropped to 100 birds, or 1 bird to about 13 acres. In sprln.r-;, after the winter losses had been dotcmined, there were 03 birds, or 1 grouse to about IG acres. Tli© population is expected to bo iiichor In October 1040 tlian It was in 1039 before tiie shootin,3 season.

Part of the census area in in the oak-IiicI:ory associa- tion, and part ic in the scr^ib oalc-pltch nine association: and a doflnite ■lovoi.iont from one tyi>e to tlio other and back

■^r^ *

,^ «

ream was noticed both In lOSG-GO end In 13S0-40. Ti

lie

birds r.iovo Into the dense scrub-oak :jro-i7th just before and

during ■"'■"■^

oilO

huntin^.; season, and tiiey x-oir.aln ther'C or close

o it d-arin,3 the v;lnter. In sprin:. Just before t!

le

i-,-^

broedln.^ season begins, the Grouse novo back into the more open oak-lilckory forest, v;hcrc most of the nests are located and r^sany of the drunr.inf: lo^s are found. Iliey ror^ln there -with their broods until fall, and tloen the same r.ovenent takes place a-uin. Tl.ore are two conrounltles

51 tliat rppous© frequent a groat deal diu'lnc certain tliaea of tlio yoor. In tho fall, when tlio pGnlclod-docwood berries are ripo, crouso will always bo fluslied noar tlioso do£:wood thickets, Ijeinc: fotmcl In or near tlieri until tho fruit Ima aisapponred, Durinc winter c.r)d carl-j spr.ljic, t/hen crouae Imvo to resort to buddinc ^or their food, they will usixally be riusliod near aopen stands. Orouso my bo aeon bxiddlng in aspon late In the afternoon or early in tho nomine.

and xmdoubtodly the lar^o arrant of aspen on tho area la vory i:nportant to tlv^ niffed crouoc, Tl^cy seen to prefer aspen buds to t';ioso of all other trees on tho at-udy area.

The scrub oalc-pltoh plno association mi::ht not be c::. octed to nako rood woodcock (Philoloela minor) nostlnc territory, but t:-.o /jnorlcan v/oodcock was quite coraiion

t.ierc during t'le breedin,'; season in lOCO and arjaln in 1940 ('or- 1.-,, roulo, Ctu^iriolne, 10<LO), in 1030 tlacro wre

=o c-lr. :*.:.\, rmlo v/oodcocks, a?id in 1040 onl" 27 wore re-

^-. 't ^J^

corae . l.ieso oirds vitiliaod only the scirab oak-nitch

pino i.. ;v.ociation c.s clivlnc territorion, no woodcocks bol^:- fountl in the o.iIr-!iickory forest. ?l^cy sane fron openlncc In the scrub oak-broon eedcc fades in tlio lowont areas of tho ::arrens rcclon. The' writer believes t^at thoir diurnDl territories were ".siially in the nearby aspen stands and in the dense ccinxb-ocdc thickets, althoxich this lias not boon proved. They -use tho scrub-oak thickets as noctlnr, cover, however, for in the sprin of 1959 one nost \ms fourxd in this type on the top of one of tlie

52

ermller ridc©s. Tlieso scrub oak-pitch pliie lpjad.s do not serve as flight coverts for ijyoodcoclas In tho Tall; tlie

i>j?

bxrcTs leave durlni:: t'le latter ]mrt of tho stu:inei' ancl are

never soon t.icre rlurinc tlxo hujitlnij season.

t:.io wild turkey (-I!elear.riG nallopavo sllvostrig) xms a ra5.rly coraion rasw bird in tho I^arrens diirinr tho Tall end winter of 1938-39, eivl several broods were aeer. diirlne the svrTMP of 1950, In Au-ust of tliat jqcv two liens wore

ouscr'/od feedinc in an open field u-ith 15 Iialf-crovni poults. Otlicr broods were observed tlrrou^;hout tliju surjnor, and ei-ht birds were flushed In tlie oak-hickory forest tjT>o Z days before the opening of the huntin.:; season ii^ 1959.

■". j-ov; were, sliot duirlnj the 1D3C riuntln^ season, bul; not

o-iaasa to affect tlu: popvartlon ,;rcatly. Tivltc- 'obblors

*» <--•

covild be heard every r.ay diir'nc -h.o spr^.n^j of 1930, but during t]ic past sprli\; tlio -v77.-itor hearc: oiUy tv;o blrc's i^

'Uiio larrons aroa«

nnl: '

laj iiap:^one(/ to uhe rcr::i:rilcr or tlie

t-tir!:c;re 1q not laiowi^ ?hc ;yTltor 1:; of tlic opinion timt

Goriet}i2.nj -lappcncd tc Pebruapv 1940 •

> *

t'.iGin uofore tae Iioav

snowri:.!! of

Pulii^; -nocked plioa-antc (Ki^islanuc cqIgIxIcug torcniatus) v/ero coi3:ion in the scnib oak-pltc!i pine association of tlio

%

I^rrens area d^orlnc; 19o9, but the past winter 'w.a greatly Icsscr.ed ohclr number. In the sprin,: of 1939 t]^e cocks coi;ld bo :ioari't crowlnj t}rpouchout the area, but In trie sprin^; of 1940 It was unus'oal to h.oar a -Pheasant crow.

r-t'*

10 m^xjcr picked xxp a cock plicr.sant In riarcii 1940 aftor

53

thB lieavy snowfall— and found It still alive but In an Omaclated condition. There vms very llttlo flesh on cither side of the breastbone, and the bird could Imrdly walk. Undoubtedly, this was typical of what Ixappenod to a large number of the piieasants on this area.

The Eastern raournln-: ^iove (Zenaldura macroura caro« linensls) , though not a cQiae bird in Pennsylvania, la lield in hirh esteem In the South, It is a very comon species in the scrub oalt-pitcii pine forest type and fre- quently breeds there. Ilests Iiave been found on the r^round and in pitch-pine trees at various heights. The birds arrive very early in sprin, and re:min tlirou-hout the

suEimor

There are very few injurious avian predators resident in this rc-ion. I'any Cooper «s Imwks (Accipiter cooperi) and slmrp-sliinned Iiawhs (Accipiter velox volox) utilise tlie area durln- sprin.:; r.nd fall nirrations. Sparrow Imwics (Folco sparverius sparvorius) and r d-shouldorod liawhs (Buteo linoatus lineatus ) Irnve boc.. rocn during nir-ration, but no nests Irnve boon f oun;" . Jwo pairs of red-tailed Imwks ( Duteo bore^J^ boreaJ^ ) , two pairs of broad-winced liawks (Buteo platypterus platyptemifl) , and four pairs of mrsh Iiawks (Circus hudsonlus) were resi- dent in tlie Larreno ro(;ion diirin,; the summer of 1940. Several creat horned owl (Bubo vir/:inianun vlr^lniams) pellets were found durin;; the winter of 1950-39, but tiio birds wore not observed. The writer lias seen barred owls

•^'

54

.&n}x»

and screech owls (Qtvia aalo naevius) on the study area.

Poxes are not a serious predator, but durinr- the past 2 years there have boon two pairs of red foxes (Vulpes fulva) and at least one pair of crey foxes (l^rpcyoti cinereoarnenteus ) traveling on the study area . The writer lias seen their tracks several times but lias never observed tiie aniinals, wlilch have, however, been soon b; otliers. The riany old roads and trails make

excellent travel lanes, alon- wiach they do most of their

hunt In^* •

Several Tarn docs Irnvc been soon on tlio area, and I'our were sliot durinr the sprln- of 1940, Several were

seen c-.^sin^: <^oer. Those docs probably did noro daina-e t:x.n any othoi^ cln;:lG predator. In 19o9 four foral liouse cat a were observed on tlie area. Tlicy liave disappeared, however, and In tlic Gprln,: of 1940 only one was loiown to bo present.

The striped slomlc (r.ephltis ni/.ra ) is a vei- conraon aiiliTal in both tlie oak-Iilckory and tlic scrub oak-pitch pine associations. There are probably more slcunlcs in the latter type, but no preference of o-vironinent was ob-

he opossum (Dldelphie vir/:iniana) is very conmon in t]ic oali-liickory association near the rocky points and dense .-rape tar^jles, lone imvo been observed in the scrub oak-pitch pine typo.

Red squirrels (Sciurus hudsonicua) are not comon

eorved. T

55

»

on tiie area, but a few occur In the scrub-oak flats where pitch pine has coEie In tlilckly. Only In those restricted areas has the writer observed any red squirrels. Chlp- ^^^"^3 (yawlas strlatus) are quite uncoiaraon and liave been observed on a very few occasions in the same type of vocetatlon. Flying squirrels (Glauconys volane ) occur on the area In the larcer oak-hickoz*y forest, but the writer has no idea as to their abxmdance because of their secretive liablts.

The common weasel (MUstela noveboracensls) , tnuskrat (Ondatra zibetliica) , c^nd the x»accoon ( Procyon lotor) luave hoen recorded from tlie study tract, but Infomatlon rel- ative to Ihclr nuabors is lacking . The nusla*at is found aroxonil one pond on the area, and thc.t is tho only avail- able record of tliis ani.'nal. Two raccoons were taken by a trapper durln- tho past winter from the older oak- liiclcory typo, where nany slradioles occur. Although the writer Imo seen only tliree on the area, the weasel is probably a fairly connion anl^ial. Weasel tracks :mve boon seen, arvJ. several scats Iiave been collected. Weasels are found in botli the oak-Iiickory and tlio scrub oak-pitch pine association.

Jev-j little trappin; for small naj^nnals 1ms been done on the study tract, but tJic following: are laiow:i to occur: V/hi to-footed nov.se (Feromyscus) . noadow riouoc (Hicrotus). Ioi^htiIa: (SynaptoKrrs). rod-back nouse (Svotorrys) . coinnon »olc (Scalogus), liairy-tailed nolo ( Farascalops ) . lone-

56

taUed shrew (Sorex), plgj^y shrew CMlorosore^) . and moXo shrew (Blarlna) . The little hrown bat (Myotis IucITuphs) is also a coromon avunmer resident of the r>arrens,

A completG list of the sonr; and insectivorous birds tliat Imve been seen on tlie study area Is unnecessary hero, but a few birds are so abundant tliat they may be of lia- portance as buffer species. In axamnBr tlio towliee {Plpllo

atlialntus

(to^qstoaa rufun) occur in larce nurabors in tho scrub oak.pltch pine association; the flicker (Colaptes auratus luteua) and the wlilp-poor-will (Antros tonus vociforus voclferus) are only oli.jhtly less cocTion. The blue Jay (Cjs^anocitta cristata criatntn^ and the r,lP.t:«-n^i«,,«^

junco (Jiaico liyemlis hyemlis) are tho nost concion Gmll birds seen there auriA'-; the winter. Avian predators liave left rer^ins of all those species; and tlio towJieos, brown t2u>ae]iers, and blue jays are undoubtedly Liiportant itoris in the diet of resident liawks and owls.

57

Tlie Seven Mountains* SttuJy Area

A second sttuly area was established In the Seven I.'ountalns, about six miles south of State Collece, This tract of land Included the first tliree parallel mountain rldccs timt conprlso the Tussey rani:e and Is about seven thousand acres In area, a^ils region was selected for stud;- because of the £;reat contrast between it and tlie Darrons area, Tiic t\vo ro{;ion3 represent widely different vc ctatlon types; one boln<- riade up of low scrub rrowth

-XI c dcvclopriontcil stac©, and the otlior belnc raalnly conpoGcd of tlitibor trees. Tlieso two tracts also offer a riarlwd coixtrast as j;ane rajiros — the i,arrons area beinc cxccllcat ra:.xc cover fuid the Govon T'o\intains not nearly as productive.

The topo-rapliy of t:ae Seven Iloxmtains tract is

rUGCoc, oQ^i^ located in the nidst of a series of par- allel rldres. The elevation varios from 900 to 2100 foot. T}xe upper slopes are steep and in tnany instances precipitous, anO. vhc sixrimlts are narrow. '2ho lower slor)es

luorjjinc Into the valleys are us'oally Ion- and ;:ontle. The Mountain ridges of this study area owe their presence to Lho i-osistance of the sandstones of wliich they £u>c composed , The sides of these nountains are flan:-ed by slialc and slats foi-^natlons, wliich fom the gentle clopoc frou the foot of the steep or precipitous part of t!ic rlciGOs to tao valleys below.

50

S-'

I

On til© lower slopes of tlie nountalns, the Dolxilb clay loam usxmlly marks the uppor linit of cleared land, the Dokalb stony loan and Rouch stony land above It beln^ timbered. This soil type formerly supported a fair Growth of chestnut and other hardwoods and plno. At present it Is mostly devoted to pasture.

The surface soil of the Delcalb clay loor.i, to a depth of six to 0lc;ht inciies, varies from a lieavy silt loan to silty clay loan:, the latter texture beln^ the more c«noral.

Tlie color cliances from drab or brownish on the irnodiato surface to pale yellow beneath. The first few Inches of the subsoil is conpoood of a pale-yellow heavy cilty clay loan which cenorally crades v/lth deptli into heav-- -.lastic silty clay, usiially yellow conewhat mottled v/lth red and white or drab and brown,

I:^nd3 of Dokalb stony loan are founu alo:\: the slopes of tlie mountain ridcos in the valley sections, The areas lie between the loaii and clay loam typos of the lower slopes and the Rourii stony land of the crests and steep upper slopes. The surface soil of Dekalb stony loan varies from a lioav;'^ sandy loam to a clay loam, with the prodominatinc texture a medium loam. The color is brown or yellow brown. Tiie subsoil is Iieavier, ranrinr from a clay loam to a clay, at deptiis of from 0 to 10 Indies,

T'xrouchout tills region tlao many steep tree-covered slopes Imvo been mapped as Rou^h stony land, Tlxc agencies of erosion liave been so active in tlioso areas as to remove

59

practically all of the surface soil and to preclude the pocslblllty of ever uslnc this land for agricultural

p-orposes •

The cll:nato of tills mountain area is quite sisillar to t:iat or the surroundlnc territory In the broad valleys

0

T.-..0 snowfall 1g slichtlr heavier on tho ridcos, and in the cprinc anott persists on the north elopes until lone after it l:xxs cllcappoarod froii all otlier oiirroiondiaG territory. '

T'lore are several first class :::^avel roads tl-rouc-h the study area, nakin- it very accessible to htinters. Those ror.r!s usually follow the valleys i^nd cross the ridces only in the lower caps. ?}aerc are linny foot- trails crossing tlie no-ontains t!-roiv:hout fio area, liow-

evc"^

■i- .

In contrast to th.e lYirrens area, thds re^.lon Iirs plenty oC water. Each valley contains a ';ood slncd

stroar., and In t^vo of the valleys these strearis Imve been da-.ciod. Concldcrablo water loas been Iripo-oaidcd in each case, txxul the rosultln;.; ponds attract a cood nany waterfowl d-arlnc miration. There arc also v^livj cprincs on ihc upper slopes of the nountains, which contain T^'ator tlir ou^,:iouo the suioner.

i:o sue:; detailed Iiistor, of this area Is avaUahlo •s was the case with the ]^rrens tract. However, the area l^s been cut over and tloe existing; tlnber is con- pocou or second rrowtli trees. :,'o extensive cutting

60 operations Iiave been carried on In the tract since the latter part of the nineteenth century, and, therefore, the iorest c^^^^owth Is entirely In the tl2Tfl5er producing stace^ Bocauso of tJils and the lack of an adequate understory, this region is not as productive from the cairiG stan<ipolnt as tlie I3arrens area. y©.:otatlon Types*

During the course of this study ntuch more time was spent on the i3arrens area tlian on the Seven Ilountalns tract, and, tlierefore, tlie vegetation and animal popu« latlons of the latter are not as well laiown# TXie to a c:uii\;c In plans, the \Tritor was not able to devote the tine needed to correctly evaluate the vecetatlve types of the mountain rcrjlon*

Tlic ve^:otation of the Seven Mountains Is much less coinplox t;mn tluit of tho Barrens # The forest ci*owth Is

noc ^n a ni,;:ily dcvclopriontal stare as Is the I^arrens

V^GOuUGion, or coursG, all the types are not In climax

1,

acec, but t-ic succGssion lo noro slmplo and Ims not

boo:i constantly i-otarcled by tao activities of rrAn,

There arc t:iroe i;iu*or forest types of t:ils mountain re;;lon: the cliostnut oak-pitch pine aaaoclatlon, the ocik-hickor- association, and the honlock-rhododendron r.G a Delation, In addition to tlioso types, sone of tho area is in old fields wltli Vlr-lnla plno scattered tlor oil, •] lout , a'^tcoe tJiroo associations are quite well defined on tlio txroa and aro closely correlated with the

61 topography^ The chestnut oak-pltch pine association occurs only on the ride© tops and sonatimos a short dis- tance down the slopes* Tlilo type^ together with the hemlock-rhododendron association docs not cover a croat portion of the area# Tlio main forest typo Is the oak- iilckory association wlxlch covers the entire slope of evorj ridse from the chestnut oak-pitch pine type of the summits to the hemlock-rhododendron type of the bottom lands. This latter type is £oxmd oray alone the streams in the narrow valleys of this mountain region • Occasional old fields are to be found scattered tiiroucliout these valleys •

These association boundaries arc not always well defined, but the types terKi to foiTi ratlier definite lines of demarcation. There are only a fe?/ ecotones on this area, whereas in the Darrens region a i.il:;turo of types is quite common.

Cliestnut Oak-Pitch Pine Association.— The chestnut oa]:-pltch pine association Is a cllimi:: t;^>G and is essentially the same t]iro\:i(::icut tliis inountain re-Ion. The nost si(;2iiricant variation Ic in Its ace class, and a vory lar^o pei'centacc o£ it is in tlio GO- to OO-yoar ace croup. Son© ai»o oldox^ and occasionally yonnror stands inay bo i'oxAnd, Por the j,iost isart, however, tills tyi>o consists of inasslve cliostnut oaI:s with crookod trunks. Pitch pine is the next species in abundance, but the cliestnut oak outnumbers all other species combined.

62

Larce black blrciies are fairly common In some sections, with oonc jrollow and whlto blrchoo scattered tlirotic^ut tliG area. Black c:un, sliadbusii, butternut, ciiostnut sprouts arul an occasional striped rmple conrplet© tho list of tree species to bo found in tlala type. In most ooctlonc tho cround Is covered with a dense layer society of deerberry and mountain laurel, A groat deal of ll^ht reaches tho c^^ound tlirouch the very open chestnut oak canopy raid the nountaln laurel seems to tlirlve on the rocky rid^e tops,

_Oak»IIlcIcory Association,— Tlie oalt-hickory association la the Injportant clLmx type of this re -ion (Ficxires 24, 25, and 2C), covering a lar-:;o percentace of tiie area. It ir, lar-ely in the 40- to GO-ycar n-e class, Imvin^ bean cut ovor uurlnc tho latter i.)art or tho nineteenth centxiry, TliG noot lmportr.nt species are hicl:or;r, red naple, white

t, Gcarlot oak, chestnut oal:, red oal: and black oak, Thcac ror:,: nearly tho entire stand and other species are

Lierci- scattered jacro anC. tliere. These additional tree

#

speclcr. Include saasarras, black cui.i, tulip poplar, sliad- buGh, black clierry, white ash, flowcrint^; docwood and cliestnut sprouts, Tho canopy Is quite well closed and the miderstory is -enerally sparse, biit occasionally snail stands of nountaln laurel nay be found as well as some doorberry and considerable witch iiazel, Tlirou-hout tills association tliore are riany croup societies of large- toothed aspen and also a few clncle aspens scattered over

G3

mm

'-■■: :>-c

'! «?■■'-

^^I--^

■>■'■■ ■ "''f'- '-'zi

,.'*-•*

<^L

Picure 24. Prodorilimnt type or rscven I'oiintalno area

no oa!:-hic!:ory aosoclatlon— Goptcribor, 1040,

Fl(7v,irc CG. rr»Ovloi::.laaiit type of Hcvcii Ko-'ritr-.lii

roa'

tho or.::-:dc;:or;- acGoclatlon — ,_o:Jtcr:bor, 1040.

64

.♦•.-^■-*'

.'^•W

Plr:-aro 2G. Prodoiilnc-nt t;-oc of v^.cvon I,:o',aitaui

G aroa--

. the oalc-Iilclcory asaoclcillon — r.ei^toubor, 1940 •

65

tho aroa#

Ileplock^Rxiododeiidron Assoo3.ation..« Tills association is coiii'lned to the bottorolands and. usimlly 1g fovxid bordering a otrean or sironp. Tae honlock is the donlnant

roe opoclos and in s(»no sections Individualfs roach htice siso. Over raost of the area covorod by tills association, hov/cvor, the hemlock is small and associated with dense

crowthG or rhododendron (Piciiros 27, 23, and 29). Tiaip poplar, blaci: (^ua, red maple and sassafras are foxind in close association T?ith it -asuallj. In some places dense clxirips or moiintain laurel are i'ound, cjid vritch Ixasel and erccn brier are occasionally present,

^^ OM n^2M 2222— Alt}iou,,h too small to be of •«ch Inportanco, c. portion oi' tliie area is covered with

1 ,^ ^

d riold t^■7)o v;-lt:i Virginia anu table noiuitaln pines c cat tared tlu-oiiclxout . TIioso ol.I rioldo arc usuall- *-i th« bottoraandc adjacent to dense -rowtlis or horaocl: and r I iQ > 1 od 0 nd r on •

Anl-Tal lobulations.

ThB Gevon fountains area supported two or t-^oc black bear, but those traveled a c^oat deal, of co^urse. and v/cro constantly movln- on and on the tract.

Tho deer population was estirxitod to bo about 1 doer to i>) acres during t!ie 3uns:ier or 195<3, and a cons;;s fron an airplane al'tor tho antlcrless deer season sheared a population of 1 deer to 72 acres. Pellet- -roup coimto wore nadc in 1950 and 1939, ai^l before tho hunting: coason

66

Pl^jiipc 27 • Dense stands of rhododoixiron under hcraocl:

&^

^v, <»>

••t*-J

«if^;^

wlit^' ,

'^^i^

Fl

euro 20,

I)onGC atanclo or r^o^odondron under \iorXoc\zz.

,f .v*»i,«v

67

FiiS^Q 29, Ilocaoclcs tliat 'invo been browsod by doer

offer no food dui>ln^ t;ic winter.

CO or 1939 th© area was bollevod to support 1 door to GO acres (Boruiott, Unrliah and I'oCain, 1940),

Dupiix; the siKcier door food a c^eat deal In t!io few open .fields tliat are In the valloyc. I'oGt of this ToGdinc iG cono at nlclit, and diirln- the da^ tho;- rest on tho rldr;es. In a noKnal winter tlie^ unToally raAijO over tlie entire r.roa In soarch or the little food they can find, btit In a winter like 19ii9-40 nost of the deer concre-. gttod in tlic donee Jieraock anl rhododendron staiidc in t:ie vclloTs. Tlicrc tho J- arc forced to food on rliododendron leaves and twlrs and the honlock boi^iic which they cma reacli— foods tliat will not mlntain the wol:;ht of a deer iinleoa mipplenentod by additional nutrients,

lie crouso census area lias been sot up Ir. tills re-ion, IMM: C-'ouoc ai'o not vov^ connon over- the tract as a v/hole, Where c,ood food and cover occiu? in certain scctionE of the valleys, a fe\T -ro-aso riay be found. Occasionally a croup r^y be flusl^^od fron the laurel or deerborry t:iic!:ots on the ri.:ron, b-at these coveys are scattered. Tho rrouso population on tlio aror. v;oul.:; not bo noro t^ian a bird to 50 acres, and tliis fl:;arc 1:; imdoubtodly Iiich. !!atiire ^ tl.ibor and a bare forest floor cover too r.rach of the area to prodiico riany -.rouse. Tliosn t:.r.t do occur arc only local concentrations.

t

This ruxintain area lo rruch bettor -ray squirrel rai^o tlui:. the Barrens region. As prox-lously Mentioned, a loaf-anfl-tv/i- nest count in the chestnut oak-pitch loin©

60 type or th5.8 area rovealod a Ticure of 3.3 nests per aero.

7i\o abundance or the eldest nut ocdz acoi'iic Is to t3xo ;lr llkliiC end In rtiost ccotiono cra-j sqnlrpoln arc very co;:ir.on.

«r

C?he Seven rioiuitalns area lias pascocl uo--ond tlio n-ha-o uoefuLnosc Tor nont gpocIgs of wildliro, but tlie huco Blast troon anc! rather opexi ^/oodland conbino to :?om fine v/lld tnrliej raiice. Thic area rnlntalnci aovoral lar-o flocirs of wild turlceyB, ;,ml tliey cliould do very well tliere Tor "icny yearc to cor.io. The larce chestnut oa.::a produce a rroat rmiiy acorns, w'lic-. arc £Xxie turkey food, and the open co-ojitry le also well aultod to turlroyc, as they trr.vcl crcr.': distancoo a::.d :,mvc won«er.ful vision.

Tli^ cottontail ai>d v/oodchuch "ooth occ-oi^ oii the area. but, belae rialnly forest land. It docs not su')nort a^^-roo-

iGble :iu::; crc of elt::cr cpcclcc. Tlic woodcoch -^vc boon Cftiaspve^ f«cdlnr on the area, btit no •:"5cordo of its Iwcchln^- t^:acrc arc available, rkmcvov, ncvoral palrc do breed and nc.ot clono by In the r.ore open adjacent valleys!

It IG lEipocc^iblo for tlie \,Tltcr to -recent an-r no-xx- lation data on avian or ,^^niiallan pro .ators or crnll birds «nA fRarTTJ.s. The oorinon Vuiv;!:e and owly of Vac :;oncral reclon have all boor, obocrvod on the otr.-iy ..poa, aiid at Inaat a few of then breed there, not^x r^poclcs of foxoa occ-,u- and arc r.oro cora.on tluan in t^io I^arrons c^ro... Skunks ami opoocrj;iG arc not ar. covr^n an in t'lo latter rc^ lor-., but t:o.c nountaln area oupportc jood poiKilations

of woasela. raccoons, and a Tew nlnl: and melcrats.

70

71

Literature Cited

American Ornitliolo;;istst Union

19ol^ Clieck List or llortli Ancrlcan Lirds.

i.:.dition#

Poiirth

Be I me

ibn^^^''";^ t''.^' ^' nnr;iisi;, and Xi>4-u, A ^.tuay oi Deer Populatl-

Ranual UcCaln scriptT '^''''^' '^'"^''' l-^npubllclxecl imnu-

Boulo, Joim D,

1040. '^^^^'OaLorMcil HclatlonaMips r>otwoen tlio

m°?«;'^°'' ^l"- ^^'^ cottontails Their Lire

Braiui-Blaiiqiiet, Dr. J.

1952, Plant OOCiolo-- ^ - Thr- -'.-'rT'- -.-■' -11 J- ..

n--7<^o '"■".':-^"<'«," ■^-}C' ooucl^ o^ Plant cJorirum- Itloc. ..ranclatod b- Geor-o b. ;viier. n4i

Cloncritc, I^oderlck S. and Victo- -^ nr-r^i-^,,. Xv^.^j. ijlo-,;colo: ■".

Corjilttco on Forest Tvdog o^ ^nr^ '«+•■(- ^- <■

lOv-.. Forest Covo^' ^'— ic- n" f' r v,„.- - ^, °^®°^cr3

o.cuo.. ilopr^ntod fron Joiirnra or Pore 0 try GO (4),

Dalkc, Paiil D.

13o7. Tho Cover !.Iap in r;ild.liro Ifenn c-crt

»iou-i..,i o.. .v.luliro I.^aia,,o;.iont 1 (:j.4) .

^""''"i'ni^ "•' •^ ^* Sclirotor

IJIO. Pn:'to,;co,.rapulGchc roncn-latiu.. Bcp-c'-to

- w, '''^^-•'^-■—-■.^^^» 111 Oon; p. Intern. • ol -

^®11.'# tTancG Fetor

Pcim'- T--::. 'o^ loyerin; i-lants of Central ^c.i.io^ Ivuiixa. Vol. II. :;o, i. w,-

^j.ir«.ixx^ .a.c.^C UOJ.10^0 StlldiOG.

Mclntyre, Artliur

Lcavec^

Oak Type in ronm-lvtm vol. 23, Ho. 5, 74-.77^

ForcGt

X «... X '.J #

^•p Ct 0.1.

of Centre

^-•oil v.^irvc

County, PoniiG-lvaxiia*

72

Nichols, Geoi'ge U*

1915 • The Vccotation of Connecticut •

'orroya, 13: 09-112, 199-215

A.

1914.

The Vegetation of Connecticut. Torreya, 14: 1G7-194.

Nichols, (^-eorco E.

1915, The Vecotatlon of Connecticut, Bull,

Torroy liot. Gluu, 42: 167-217,

1910, "ho Voce tat ion of Cormecticut, Bull,

Torrer T

>ot. Club, 45? 255-264,

1920,

The Vonotatlon of Connecticut, Bull, Torres' Bot. Club, 47: 09-117,

xJ^o •

A Workii\^j Basis for t^io 2colo,;ical ClaoGi- flcatlon of Plant Jorrtunitles* Part I, Ecolo,:^y, Vol* 4, IIo. !•

A Vorlilnpj Basic Tor tlxo ::colo,;lcal Glasol- fication of Plant GormranitloG. Part II,

Ecoio,:7, Vol* 4, ::o* 2.

Morric, ^iiggcII T., Jolm D^ Beulc, and Allan T. Ctudliolno 1940 # lianclliir v/oodccc!:s on Poniicylvaiiia Zlriclnc

Groiindc* Jouriuil oP IVilPlirc ::aiiar;ciioiit* 4 (1).

PiT.tt, 'oni^ Shorrinc

A Manual o„ Lan4 ^nd Presh ^mto; AnirialG or the United Ctateo*

1r^ T n

Vertebrate

Weaver, Jolm E*, aiid rredcrlck E. Olenents 1029* Plant •:^colo::y*

WeBtorfcLI, alter :'.

19o9. '::!]\Q Pino larronc of Centre Jo"antv^ Pennsylvania*

The Penn Ptate Gylvan* Pp* 12-20, Ijolj, 1959 • V/lcht, Howard V.

1954.

1938*

The Cover Txixj and Ganc Censuo in Plieaoant Llanacoiricnt * Prana* 20tP. Anorlcan Pane Coni'ercnce*

Ecological Classiricatlon of Cover Types* lienor a nduri to Rlcliard ('orstcll^ Unpubliohed*