Terrestrial Ecosystems

Intensive land uses over the past three centuries have altered the structure of the South’s terrestrial ecosystems. Forces of change continue to alter the region’s biota, and pressures are focused especially on several rare forest communities. These rare communities continue to be pressured by loss of area, fire exclusion, and disruption of hydrologic functions. Change has favored certain types of forests, such as loblolly pine and mixed upland hardwoods. Ongoing changes in these forest types also have implications for the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems. We examine abundant and rare communities in the sections that follow. We then examine the effects of land use changes and forest management on terrestrial ecosystems. We conclude the section with a discussion of wildlife species of concern and conservation issues in the South.