Glade Systems of the Southeastern United States Kim Norton Taylor Botanical Research Institute of Texas

What is a glade? Historically: an opening in a forest Dominated by herbaceous vegetation Restrictive layer near the surface Extreme soil chemistry Cedars of Lebanon SNA, Lebanon, Tennessee

What is a glade? Surrounded by matrix of regional climax vegetation forest tall grass prairie

What is a glade? Local conditions create edaphic climax communities Sunnybell SNA, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Glade Structure Cyclical change in vegetation Heavy rainfall= continuous soil erosion as water moves soil over impenetrable layers

Glade Structure Soil washed from rocks collects in crevices= accumulation of soil on surface

Glade Structure Woody plant growth in now deeper soils further stabilizes soil

Glade Structure Fire, drought, & tree removal loosen soil and keep in open state

Vegetation Zones Bare Rock Soil Depth

Vegetation Zones Bare Rock Soil Depth Bare Rock Soil Depth

Vegetation Zones Soil Depth Trees Shrubs Perennial Grasses Perennial Dicots Medium Herb dicots Annual Grasses Cryptograms Small Herb Dicots Soil Depth Bare Rock Nostoc Mosses Lichens Sedum Phemeranthus Heliotropium Croton Hypericum Sporobolus Symphyotrichum Solidago Echinacea Dalea Schizachyrium Andropogon Bouteloua Forestiera Juniperus Pinus Quercus Carya Acer

Island Glades Ware 2002

Outcrop Margin Ware 2002

Blufftop Glade Ware 2002

Hillside Glade Ware 2002

Glade Systems Many glade systems throughout the SE United States Cedar Glades Texas Limestone Glades Weches Glades Ozark Glades Granite Flatrock Glades Saline Prairies

Limestone Cedar Glades Outcrops of primarily Ordovician or Mississippian limestone Central TN, South- Central KY, Northern AL

Limestone Cedar Glades Mostly flat outcrops at lower elevations Shallow, rocky soils Surrounded by matrix of mixed cedar-hardwood forest Seasonal vegetation Saturated in winter and early spring Dry in summer

Limestone Cedar Glades Endemics: 28 species Leavenworthia (8 spp.) Echinacea tennesseensis Paysonia lyrata (AL) Dalea gattingeri Pediomelum subacaule Characteristic species: Sporobolus vaginiflorus Eleocharis bifida Minuartia patula

Limestone Cedar Glades Endemics: 28 species Leavenworthia (8 spp.) Echinacea tennesseensis Paysonia lyrata (AL) Dalea gattingeri Pediomelum subacaule Characteristic species: Sporobolus vaginiflorus Eleocharis bifida Minuartia patula

Texas Limestone Glades

Texas Limestone Glades Fort Worth Prairie/West Cross Timbers Lampasas Cut Plain Edwards Plateau Distribution of Isoetes butleri in Texas

Texas Limestone Glades Fort Worth Prairie/West Cross Timbers Lampasas Cut Plain Edwards Plateau

Texas Limestone Glades Endemics: Dalea reverchonii Characteristic species: Sporobolus vaginiflorus Eleocharis occulta Physaria engelmannii Minuartia michauxii var. texana Distribution of Dalea reverchonii in Texas

Texas Limestone Glades Endemics: Dalea reverchonii Characteristic species: Sporobolus vaginiflorus Eleocharis occulta Physaria engelmannii Minuartia michauxii var. texana

Weches Glades

Weches Glades Gulf Coastal Plain Outcrops of marine sediment and glauconitic clays of the Weches Formation San Augustine, Nacogdoches, and Sabine counties, TX FWS

Weches Glades Outcrops exposed by erosion of hillside slopes Shallow, rocky soils Seasonal vegetation Saturated in winter and early spring Dry in summer

Weches Glades Endemics Characteristic species Physaria pallida Leavenworthia texana Characteristic species Sedum pulchellum Clinopodium arkansanum Sporobolus vaginiflorus Bioimages

Ozark Glades

Ozark Glades Limestone, dolomite, sandstone, granite, chert, or shale Hillsides in Ozark Mountains

Ozark Glades Strongly sloping Soil erosion exceeds weathering of bedrock Shallow, rocky soils Mosaic of different soil depths Seasonal vegetation Saturated in winter and early spring Dry in summer

Ozark Glades Endemics: Characteristic species: Scutellaria bushii Penstemon cobaea var. purpureus Characteristic species: Sporobolus ozarkanus

Granite Flatrock Glades

Granite Flatrock Glades Granitic Domes Piedmont Region Enchanted Rock Wichita Mountains

Granite Flatrock Glades Depressions in rock outcrops Soil accumulates in depressions and cracks Seasonal vegetation Dry in summer Saturated in winter and early spring=vernal pools

Granite Flatrock Glades Endemics: Diamorpa smallii Cyperus granitophilus Gratiola amphiantha Isoetes melanospora Isoetes lithophila Characteristic species: Schoneolirion croceum Senecio tomentosus

Granite Flatrock Glades Endemics: Diamorpa smallii Cyperus granitophilus Gratiola amphiantha Isoetes melanospora Isoetes lithophila Characteristic species: Schoneolirion croceum Senecio tomentosus

Saline Prairies

How do Saline prairies fit this mold? Edaphic climax communities Openings in forest matrix Bare soil areas called slicks Restrictive layer limiting woody plant growth and restricting water penetration Dense clay pan Seasonal hydrology and vegetation Endemic plants

How do Saline prairies fit this mold? Edaphic climax communities Openings in forest matrix Bare soil areas called slicks Restrictive layer limiting woody plant growth and restricting water penetration Dense clay pan Seasonal hydrology and vegetation Endemic plants

Conclusions Learn more about a system by comparing it to similar systems Predictive power

Questions?