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Northern Hardwood Forests <br />Theme Description: <br />Northern Hardwood Forests are found on high mountain slopes with a cool climate and high <br />levels of rainfall. They are dominated by combinations of moist -site hardwoods such as yellow <br />birch, beech, yellow buckeye, and sugar maple. The herb layer is often lush, and may range from <br />low to fairly high diversity. These forests are subject to periodic widespread disturbances, such as <br />ice storms or severe winds, which provide canopy openings, but probably seldom or never remove <br />the whole canopy at once. The name refers to the resemblance of these forests to those in the <br />northeastern United States, which have similar canopies, but the presence of Southern Appalachian <br />endemics makes the community types in North Carolina different from those of the north. <br />The Beech Gap Subtype occurs in high elevation gaps and peaks, where beech trees stunted by the <br />wind predominate. In the most extreme cases, the tree canopy may be reduced to shrub size. The <br />trees may be quite old, although small, as growth and reproduction are relatively slow. <br />The Typic Subtype varies in composition and diversity. Some have a lawn -like ground cover of <br />just a few species of sedges and grasses, while others have a lush and diverse herb layer. Three <br />recognized variants of this community type are determined primarily by topography. Soil <br />chemistry is also an important factor, and additional variants will undoubtedly be recognized in <br />the future. <br />In the Boulderfield Forest, Ice Age freeze -thaw processes have left the ground completely covered <br />with large boulders; very little soil is present. These areas are dominated by yellow birch with a <br />distinctive undergrowth of gooseberries and moss on the rocks. <br />Ecosystem Level Effects: <br />Predicted Impacts of Climate Change: <br />Factor Likelihood <br />Effect: <br />Magnitude: <br />Increased Temperature <br />High <br />Neg <br />Med <br />Wind Damage <br />High <br />Neg <br />Med <br />Phenological Disruption <br />High <br />Neg <br />Med <br />Hot Spells High <br />Neg <br />High <br />Fire <br />High <br />Neg <br />Med <br />Drought <br />High <br />Neg <br />High <br />Comments: <br />Minimum winter temperatures are expected to <br />increase, as well as number of days with freezing temps. <br />Expected climate changes include warmer average temperatures, longer growing season, probably <br />Appendix B 175 <br />