Atlantic coastal pine barrens
Encyclopedia
The Atlantic coastal pine barrens is a temperate coniferous forests
ecoregion
of the northeastern United States
.
, and smaller areas of southern Long Island
in New York State, and on Cape Cod
in Massachusetts
. There is also a small area of pine barrens inland near Albany, New York
.
The pine barrens
are underlain by sandy, nutrient-poor soils, which typically support stunted forests dominated by pines (Pinus spp.). The distinct flora of this ecoregion is maintained by the poor soils and frequent fires which revive the pines; surrounding areas with better soils are part of the Northeastern coastal forests
ecoregion.
The understory is thick with shrubs, including black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata
) and early lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum). Staggerbrush (Lyonia mariana), dangleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia
), and sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia
) also occur. Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum
) is abundant.
Black huckleberry and early lowbush blueberry are again common here. Mountain laurel, sheep laurel, and bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
) are also common.
The understory vegetation is similar to that of the pine-dominated forest, with black huckleberry, early lowbush blueberry, and dangleberry common.
) occur along the waterways of the pine barrens. The white cedars often grow from pools of standing water and, in contrast to the surrounding pine forests, considerably darken the understory. Amid the white cedars are red maple (Acer rubrum), sour gum (Nyssa sylvatica), pitch pine, and sweet bay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana). In openings and edges grow highbush blueberry, dangleberry, swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum
), fetterbush (Eubotrys racemosa), and leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata). Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia
), inkberry (Ilex glabra
), and winterberry (Ilex verticillata) are also present.
), and sweet bay magnolia are associates.
Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) and Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) are often abundant and grow in thickets. Shrubs include arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum
), spicebush (Lindera benzoin
), highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), sweet pepperbrush (Clethra alnifolia
), and swamp azalea.
and out at the tip of Long Island that are unique in the United States (see Conscience Point National Wildlife Refuge
for an example).
. The beaches of these coast are important breeding grounds for Piping Plover
(especially on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Long Island) and Roseate Tern
(especially on Bird Island (Massachusetts)
).
in New York
; and Myles Standish State Forest
, Manuel F. Correllus State Forest
on Martha's Vineyard, and parts of Cape Cod National Seashore
in Massachusetts. These areas are now well conserved.
Temperate coniferous forests
Temperate coniferous forest is a terrestrial biome found in temperate regions of the world with warm summers and cool winters and adequate rainfall to sustain a forest. In most temperate coniferous forests, evergreen conifers predominate, while some are a mix of conifers and broadleaf evergreen...
ecoregion
Ecoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
of the northeastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Setting
This ecoregion covers a disjunct area of 8,975 km² including the New Jersey Pine Barrens on the coastal plain of New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, and smaller areas of southern Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
in New York State, and on Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. There is also a small area of pine barrens inland near Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
.
The pine barrens
Pine barrens
Pine barrens, pine plains, sand plains, or pinelands occur throughout the northeastern U.S. from New Jersey to Maine as well as the Midwest and Canada....
are underlain by sandy, nutrient-poor soils, which typically support stunted forests dominated by pines (Pinus spp.). The distinct flora of this ecoregion is maintained by the poor soils and frequent fires which revive the pines; surrounding areas with better soils are part of the Northeastern coastal forests
Northeastern coastal forests
The Northeastern coastal forests are a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion of the northeastern United States. The ecoregion covers an area of 34,630 sq miles encompassing the Piedmont and coastal plain of seven states, extending from northern Maryland and Delaware through southeast...
ecoregion.
Flora
The composition of the flora of the pine barrens is largely determined by fire frequency. Pine-dominated forests are the characteristic forests of this ecoregion, but where fires occur at intervals of 10 years or less, dwarf pine forests develop. Where fires are infrequent, oak-dominated forest develop. In wetland areas grow cedar swamp forests and hardwood swamp forests.Pine-dominated forests
Pitch pine (Pinus rigida) is the most abundant tree here. Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) is also present, but not as abundant. A variety of oaks grow among the pines, including black (Quercus velutina), white (Quercus alba), post (Quercus stellata), chestnut (Quercus prinus), scarlet (Quercus coccinea), and blackjack (Quercus marilandica). These forests tend to be open with widely spaced trees and plenty of sunlight reaching the forest floor.The understory is thick with shrubs, including black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata
Gaylussacia baccata
Gaylussacia baccata, the Black Huckleberry, is a common huckleberry found throughout a wide area of northeastern North America. It closely resembles the blueberry plants with which it grows, but can be readily identified by the numerous resin dots on the undersides of the leaves which glitter when...
) and early lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum). Staggerbrush (Lyonia mariana), dangleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia
Kalmia latifolia
Kalmia latifolia, commonly called Mountain-laurel or Spoonwood, is a species of flowering plant in the blueberry family, Ericaceae, that is native to the eastern United States. Its range stretches from southern Maine south to northern Florida, and west to Indiana and Louisiana. Mountain-laurel is...
), and sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia
Kalmia angustifolia
Kalmia angustifolia is a flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, which is often used like an ornamental plant. It has attractive small, deep crimson-pink flowers that occur early summer. The low shrub, a native plant of North America, may be only six inches high, or it may attain three feet...
) also occur. Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum
Pteridium aquilinum
Pteridium aquilinum is a species of fern occurring in temperate and subtropical regions throughout much of the northern hemisphere....
) is abundant.
Dwarf pine forests
The only trees that can recover from frequent fires are pitch pine and blackjack oak, which are abundant here. Deprived of the opportunity to grow tall, these trees grow as shrubs than may only be 4 feet (121.9 cm) tall.Black huckleberry and early lowbush blueberry are again common here. Mountain laurel, sheep laurel, and bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, with names for this species including Kinnikinnick and Pinemat manzanita, one of several related species referred to as Bearberry...
) are also common.
Oak-dominated forests
Without fires, leaf litter accumulates, creating an environment that favors the establishment of oak seedlings instead of pine seedlings. In time, the pines grow old, die, and are replaced by oaks (Quercus spp.). The most common are black, scarlet, chestnut, white, and post oaks. Pitch and shortleaf pines are scattered among the oaks. The forest canopy tends to be closed.The understory vegetation is similar to that of the pine-dominated forest, with black huckleberry, early lowbush blueberry, and dangleberry common.
Cedar swamp forests
Swamp forests dominated by Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoidesChamaecyparis thyoides
Chamaecyparis thyoides , is a species of Chamaecyparis, native to the Atlantic coast of North America from Maine south to Georgia, with a disjunct population on the Mexican Gulf coast from Florida to Mississippi...
) occur along the waterways of the pine barrens. The white cedars often grow from pools of standing water and, in contrast to the surrounding pine forests, considerably darken the understory. Amid the white cedars are red maple (Acer rubrum), sour gum (Nyssa sylvatica), pitch pine, and sweet bay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana). In openings and edges grow highbush blueberry, dangleberry, swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum
Rhododendron viscosum
Rhododendron viscosum, commonly known as swamp azalea or clammy azalea, is a deciduous shrub which is endemic to the United States.-References:**...
), fetterbush (Eubotrys racemosa), and leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata). Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia
Clethra alnifolia
Clethra alnifolia , is a flowering plant in the genus Clethra, native to eastern North America from southern Nova Scotia and Maine south to northern Florida, and west to eastern Texas....
), inkberry (Ilex glabra
Ilex glabra
Ilex glabra, also known as Appalachian Tea, Dye-leaves, Evergreen Winterberry, Gallberry, Inkberry, is a species of holly native to the Eastern and the South Central United States and southern Canada . This plant is often used as an ornamental plant...
), and winterberry (Ilex verticillata) are also present.
Hardwood swamp forests
Sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) and red maple are the most abundant trees in the hardwood swamp forests. American holly (Ilex opaca), a broadleaf evergreen tree, is common. Pin oak (Quercus palustris), swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor), willow oak (Quercus phellos), tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipiferaLiriodendron tulipifera
Liriodendron tulipifera, commonly known as the tulip tree, American tulip tree, tuliptree, tulip poplar or yellow poplar, is the Western Hemisphere representative of the two-species genus Liriodendron, and the tallest eastern hardwood...
), and sweet bay magnolia are associates.
Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) and Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) are often abundant and grow in thickets. Shrubs include arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum
Viburnum dentatum
Viburnum dentatum — southern arrowwood or arrowwood viburnum or roughish arrowwood — is a small shrub, native to the Eastern United States and Canada from Maine south to Northern Florida and Eastern Texas....
), spicebush (Lindera benzoin
Lindera benzoin
Lindera benzoin is a flowering plant in the family Lauraceae, native to eastern North America, ranging from Maine to Ontario in the north, and to Kansas, Texas and northern Florida in the south.-Characteristics:Spicebush is a medium-sized deciduous shrub growing to 5 m...
), highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), sweet pepperbrush (Clethra alnifolia
Clethra alnifolia
Clethra alnifolia , is a flowering plant in the genus Clethra, native to eastern North America from southern Nova Scotia and Maine south to northern Florida, and west to eastern Texas....
), and swamp azalea.
Grasslands
The region also contains areas of maritime grassland on Martha's VineyardMartha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
and out at the tip of Long Island that are unique in the United States (see Conscience Point National Wildlife Refuge
Conscience Point National Wildlife Refuge
The Conscience Point National Wildlife Refuge was established July 20, 1971 as a land gift from Stanley Howard. The refuge is located in the hamlet of North Sea on the north shore of Long Island's south fork...
for an example).
Fauna
Wildlife adapted to this environment includes the Pine Barrens Tree FrogPine Barrens Tree Frog
The Pine Barrens Tree Frog, Hyla andersonii, is a species of New World tree frog.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Physical characteristics:...
. The beaches of these coast are important breeding grounds for Piping Plover
Piping Plover
The Piping Plover is a small sand-colored, sparrow-sized shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches in North America. The adult has yellow-orange legs, a black band across the forehead from eye to eye, and a black ring around the neck...
(especially on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Long Island) and Roseate Tern
Roseate Tern
The Roseate Tern is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a number of geographical races, differing mainly in bill colour and minor plumage details....
(especially on Bird Island (Massachusetts)
Bird Island (Massachusetts)
Bird Island is a tiny island in Buzzards Bay at the mouth of Sippican Harbor, less than a mile off the mainland coast of the town of Marion, Massachusetts .-Landmarks:The only landmarks on Bird Island are a flagpole and an historic -high lighthouse...
).
Threats and preservation
The pine barrens ecosystems have been severely damaged by urban developments as the east coast has become built up with housing including vacation and retirement properties. Only about 10% of original habitat remains and is very fragmented. Blocks of remaining habitat include: the New Jersey Pine Barrens; Long Island Central Pine BarrensLong Island Central Pine Barrens
The Long Island Central Pine Barrens is a large area of publicly protected pine barrens in Suffolk County, New York, on Long Island, covering more than ....
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
; and Myles Standish State Forest
Myles Standish State Forest
Myles Standish State Forest is state forest located in the towns of Plymouth and Carver in southeastern Massachusetts, approximately 45 miles south of Boston...
, Manuel F. Correllus State Forest
Manuel F. Correllus State Forest
Manuel F. Correllus State Forest is a Massachusetts state forest located on Martha's Vineyard. The forest borders Martha's Vineyard Airport on three sides and is chiefly in the towns of West Tisbury and Edgartown...
on Martha's Vineyard, and parts of Cape Cod National Seashore
Cape Cod National Seashore
The Cape Cod National Seashore , created on August 7, 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, encompasses on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It includes ponds, woods and beachfront of the Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecoregion...
in Massachusetts. These areas are now well conserved.