PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 

Southern Dry Forest

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Photo by Eric Epstein

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Oaks are the dominant species in this upland dry forest community. White oak (Quercus alba) and black oak (Quercus velutina) are dominant, often with northern red and bur oaks and black cherry. In the well-developed shrub layer, brambles (Rubus spp.), gray dogwood, and American hazelnut are common. Frequent herbaceous species are wild geranium, false Solomon's-seal, hog-peanut, and rough-leaved sunflower. This community type intergrades with oak woodland, which has similar canopy composition but a more open forest floor due to relatively frequent ground fires and perhaps grazing by elk, bison, or deer prior to European settlement.

 
 
 

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.