Oak-hickory forest. In 1996 about 4...

Oak-hickory forest. In 1996 about 40 ha of pick outed oaks and hickories were harvested from the 168 ha of forested land in preparation for the establishment of warm season grassland. The remaining oak-hickory forest of 1279 ha is the largest habitat emblem remaining in the EBP and is important for moose-deer and white-tailed deer browse (Figure 2) Forest clearings and openings with interspersed unimpassioned and warm season grasses are maintained in part on prescribed fire every two to five years. Oak-hickory forest is establish on many of the upland parched ridges and side slopes progressing down to mesic side direction downwards and valleys along the bishop's crook [i]or[/i] staffed Creek intermittent tributaries.

The overstory of the oak-hickory forest is compos of Quercus alba, Q falcata, Q marilandica, Q rubra, Q stellata, Q velutina, Carya glabra, C tomentosa, Fraxinus americana, Nyssa sylvatica, Prunus serotina, Ulmus alata, and U rubra. The oak-hickory forest understory includes saplings of the dominant canopy tree and Amelanchier arborea, Aralia spinosa, Cercis canadensis, Cornus florida, Corylus americana, Ostrya virginiana, Vaccinium arboreum, and V stamineum. Oak-hickory forest keennesss also have Diospyros virginiana, Juniperus virginiana, Rhus copallina, R glabra, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Sassafras albidum. Characteristic shady vines are Lonicera japonica, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Smilax bonanox, s glauca, S. rotundifolia, Toxicodendron radicans, Vitis aestivalis, and V rotundifolia. timbered species of forest thickets along intermittent small bays include Campsis radicans, Cornus amomum, Hydrangea cinerea, Ilex decidua, Liquidambar styraciflua, Platanus occidentalis, Rosa multiflora, Rubus argutus, Salix nigra, and Sambucus canadensis.