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NATURAL HERITAGE

The Natural Communities of Virginia
Classification of Ecological Community Groups
SECOND APPROXIMATION (Version 2.2)


SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO ECOLOGICAL GROUP CLASSIFICATION SINCE THE FIRST APPROXIMATION

Since completion of the First Approximation (Fleming et al. 2001), analysis of several large, regional datasets and ongoing inventory of vegetation across the state have led to a number of changes to the Ecological Group Classification. These changes have been formally implemented in this Second Approximation (currently version 2.2) to increase the clarity of the classification by merging closely related groups and altering a number of names to better reflect the gross physiognomic characteristics and geographic distributions of included vegetation types.

First Approximation Unit

Disposition in Second Approximation

Fraser Fir – Red Spruce Forests merged with the two following groups into a new SPRUCE-FIR FORESTS group
Southern Appalachian Red Spruce Forests merged with the preceding and following groups into a new SPRUCE-FIR FORESTS group
Central Appalachian Red Spruce Forests merged with the two preceding groups into a new SPRUCE-FIR FORESTS group

Southern Appalachian Grassy Balds

merged with the following group into a new SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN SHRUB AND GRASS BALDS group

Southern Appalachian Shrub Balds

merged with the preceding group into a new SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN SHRUB AND GRASS BALDS group

(not represented) a new HIGH-ELEVATION COVE FORESTS group was added to represent high-elevation communities previously included in the Rich Cove and Slope Forests and Acidic Cove Forests groups

Montane Pine Barrens

merged into the Pine – Oak / Heath Woodlands group

Eastern Hemlock Forests

name changed to EASTERN HEMLOCK-HARDWOOD FORESTS

Eastern Arborvitae Slope Forests

name changed to NORTHERN WHITE-CEDAR SLOPE FORESTS

Montane Oak – Hickory Forests

Concept broadened and name changed to MONTANE MIXED OAK AND OAK – HICKORY FORESTS

Mixed Oak / Heath Forests

merged with the following group into a new OAK / HEATH FORESTS group

Chestnut Oak Forests

merged with the preceding group into a new OAK / HEATH FORESTS group

Montane Acidic Woodlands

name changed to MOUNTAIN / PIEDMONT ACIDIC WOODLANDS

Piedmont / Mountain Basic Woodlands

name changed to MOUNTAIN / PIEDMONT BASIC WOODLANDS

Acidic Oak-Hickory Woodlands and Savannas

merged with the following group into a new OAK-HICKORY WOODLANDS AND SAVANNAS group

Basic Oak-Hickory Woodlands and Savannas

merged with the preceding group into a new OAK-HICKORY WOODLANDS AND SAVANNAS group

Xeric Calcareous Cliffs

merged with the two following groups into a new MOUNTAIN / PIEDMONT CALCAREOUS CLIFFS group.

Mesic Calcareous Cliffs

merged with the preceding and following groups into a new MOUNTAIN / PIEDMONT CALCAREOUS CLIFFS group.

Piedmont / Mountain Basic Cliffs

merged with the two preceding groups into a new MOUNTAIN / PIEDMONT CALCAREOUS CLIFFS group.

Piedmont / Mountain Acidic Cliffs

name changed to MOUNTAIN / PIEDMONT ACIDIC CLIFFS

Moss / Lichen Boulderfields

name changed to LICHEN / BRYOPHYTE BOULDERFIELDS

Maritime Scrub

name changed to MARITIME DUNE SCRUB

Maritime Evergreen Forests

merged with the two following groups into a new MARITIME UPLAND FORESTS group.

Maritime Loblolly Pine Forests

merged with the preceding and following groups into a new MARITIME UPLAND FORESTS group.

Maritime Mixed Forests

merged with the two preceding groups into a new MARITIME UPLAND FORESTS group.
Coastal Plain / Piedmont Bottomland Forests split into two new groups: COASTAL PLAIN / PIEDMONT FLOODPLAIN FORESTS and COASTAL PLAIN / PIEDMONT SWAMP FORESTS

Coastal Plain Semipermanent Impoundments

merged with the Piedmont / Mountain Semipermanent Impoundments group into a new SEMIPERMANENT IMPOUNDMENTS group

Piedmont / Mountain Bottomland Forests

name changed to PIEDMONT / MOUNTAIN FLOODPLAIN FORESTS

Piedmont / Low Mountain Alluvial Forests

merged with the following group into a new PIEDMONT / MOUNTAIN ALLUVIAL FORESTS group

Montane Alluvial Forests

merged with the preceding group into a new PIEDMONT / MOUNTAIN ALLUVIAL FORESTS group
Piedmont / Mountain Semipermanent Impoundments

merged with the Coastal Plain Semipermanent Impoundments group into a new SEMIPERMANENT IMPOUNDMENTS group
River-Scour Woodlands merged into the ROCKY BARS and SHORES Group
Montane Basic Seepage Swamps

name changed to MOUNTAIN / PIEDMONT BASIC SEEPAGE SWAMPS

High-Elevation Seeps concept broadened and name changed to MONTANE WOODLAND SEEPS.
Mountain Ponds concept broadened and name changed to MONTANE DEPRESSION WETLANDS
Shenandoah Valley Sinkhole Ponds merged with the former Mountain Ponds group into a broader MONTANE DEPRESSION WETLANDS group
Mafic Woodland Seeps

merged into the Mafic Fens and Seeps group

Natural Lake Draw-Down Shores

merged into the Coastal Plain Depression Wetlands group

Coastal Plain Depression Ponds

name changed to COASTAL PLAIN DEPRESSION WETLANDS

Non-Riverine Pine-Hardwood Forests

merged with the following group into a new NON-RIVERINE SATURATED FORESTS group

Non-Riverine Wet Hardwood Forests

merged with the preceding group into a new NON-RIVERINE SATURATED FORESTS group

Longleaf Pine and Mixed Pine Flatwoods

deleted; vegetation formerly placed in this group is now considered part of the Pine / Scrub Oak Sandhills group

Coastal Plain Basic Seepage Swamps

name changed to COASTAL PLAIN / PIEDMONT BASIC SEEPAGE SWAMPS

Interdune Wet Pine Woodlands

merged into the Maritime Wet Pine Forests group

Estuarine Fringe Pine Forests

name changed to MARITIME WET PINE FORESTS

Estuarine Fringe Swamp Forests merged into the Tidal Baldcypress Forests and Woodlands group



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Table of Contents

Introduction: Summary of Changes to Ecological Group Classification since the First Approximation

Overview of VA Physiography & Vegetation

Glossary

Literature

Format of Descriptions

Terrestrial System

Palustrine System

Riverine System

Estuarine System

Marine System