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This article identifies and describes Section-level ecological units for the state of Alabama.
Sections are smaller and more homogeneous ecosystems that nest within Provinces. Each section is described by the predominant environmental and biological features used in its delineation, along with other pertinent or characteristic factors. These include physiography, geologic formations and naturally occurring vegetative cover types. These descriptions are not intended to be detailed, but rather to present enough information to describe the salient features of the units.
Information was obtained from various sources. Climatic information of provinces was extracted from information presented by Bailey (1995). Physical features and vegetation of many sections were abstracted from descriptions of map units (McNab and Avers, 1995), published sources (such as Garrison et al. 1977, Albert 1995), and other sources (U.S. Department of Agriculture 2000).
See the "Ecoregion Introduction" for complete information about Ecoregions.
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SECTION 223E
INTERIOR LOW PLATEAU-HIGHLANDS RIM SECTION
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Geomorphology (landforms)
This Section is in the Appalachian Piedmont geomorphic province. It consists of an intensely metamorphosed, moderately dissected (cut by erosion) plain consisting of thick saprolite, continental sediments, and accreted terranes. Differential erosion has produced some isolated mountains (monadnocks) which rise above the general land surface. Landforms on about 70 percent of the Section are irregular plains. Landforms on the remaining area are about equally divided; plains with high hills; open low hills; and tablelands of moderate relief. Elevation ranges from 330 to 1,300 ft (100 to 400 m). Local relief ranges from 100 to 300 ft (30 to 90 m).
Lithology (rock types) and Stratigraphy (rock layer types)
Rock units formed during the Precambrian (60 percent), Paleozoic (30 percent), and Mesozoic (10 percent) Eras. Precambrian strata consist of metamorphic complexes with compositions of schist and phylite, and mafic paragneiss. Paleozoic strata consist of about equal amounts of Cambrian (500-544 mya) eugeosynclinal and volcanic rocks. Mesozoic (63-230 mya) strata consist of Triassic marine deposits (sandstone, siltstone, and shale). Soil Taxa (groups) Udults are the predominant soils. Paleudults and Hapludults are on gently sloping uplands. Steeper slopes are dominated by Hapludults, Rhodudults, Dystrochrepts, and Hapludalfs. Dystrochrepts, Udifluvents, and Fluvaquests are on alluvium (river sediment). Soils have a thermic (avg. 15-22°C) temperature regime, and kaolinitic, mixed, or oxidic mineralogy. Soils are generally deep, with a clayey or loamy subsoil. In many areas soils are severely eroded as a result of past intensive agricultural practices, especially for cotton production.
Potential Natural Vegetation
Kuchler mapped this area as oak-hickory-pine forest and southern mixed forest. Predominant vegetation form is evergreen forest with rounded crowns, and about equal areas of cold-deciduous broad-leaved forest with evergreen needle-leaved trees. The oak-hickory forest cover type consists of white, post, and southern red oaks, and hickories of pignut and mockernut. The loblolly-shortleaf pine cover type is common on disturbed areas and usually has an understory component of dogwood and sourwood.
Fauna (animals)
Among the fauna in this Section are white-tailed deer, black bear, bobcat, gray fox, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, eastern chipmunk, white-footed mouse, pine vole, short-tailed shrew and cotton mouse. The turkey, bobwhite, and mourning dove are game birds in various parts of this Section. Songbirds include the red-eyed vireo, cardinal, tufted titmouse, wood thrush, summer tanager, blue-gray gnatcatcher, hooded warbler, and Carolina wren. The herpetofauna include the box turtle, common garter snake, and timber rattlesnake.
Climate
Average annual precipitation ranges from 45 to 55 in (1120 to 1400 mm). Temperature averages 58 to 64°F (14 to 18°C). The growing season lasts about 205 to 235 days.
Surface Water Characteristics
There is moderate density of small to medium size perennial streams and associated rivers, mostly with low to moderate rates of flow and moderate velocity. A dendritic (branching) drainage pattern has developed on moderately dissected (cut by erosion) surface, with some influence from the underlying bedrock. Many rivers drain this Section, including the Chattahoochee, Ocmulgee, Savannah, Saluda, and Yadkin.
Disturbance Regimes
Fire has probably been the principal historical disturbance, previously burning over small to moderate-size areas between natural barriers with low frequency and low intensity. Climatic influences include occasional summer droughts and winter ice storms, and infrequent tornadoes. Insect-related disturbances are often caused by southern pine beetles.
Land Use
Natural vegetation has been cleared for agriculture on most of the area, especially for cotton production in the 1800s.
Cultural Ecology
Reserved.
Data Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
Compiled by Southern Region.
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SECTION 231A
SOUTHERN APPALACIAN PIEDMONT
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Geomorphology (landforms)
This Section is in the Appalachian Piedmont geomorphic province. It consists of an intensely metamorphosed, moderately dissected (cut by erosion) plain consisting of thick saprolite, continental sediments, and accreted terranes. Differential erosion has produced some isolated mountains (monadnocks) which rise above the general land surface. Landforms on about 70 percent of the Section are irregular plains. Landforms on the remaining area are about equally divided; plains with high hills; open low hills; and tablelands of moderate relief. Elevation ranges from 330 to 1,300 ft (100 to 400 m). Local relief ranges from 100 to 300 ft (30 to 90 m).
Lithology (rock types) and Stratigraphy (rock layer types)
Rock units formed during the Precambrian (60 percent), Paleozoic (30 percent), and Mesozoic (10 percent) Eras. Precambrian strata consist of metamorphic complexes with compositions of schist and phylite, and mafic paragneiss. Paleozoic strata consist of about equal amounts of Cambrian (500-544 mya) eugeosynclinal and volcanic rocks. Mesozoic (63-230 mya) strata consist of Triassic marine deposits (sandstone, siltstone, and shale). Soil Taxa (groups) Udults are the predominant soils. Paleudults and Hapludults are on gently sloping uplands. Steeper slopes are dominated by Hapludults, Rhodudults, Dystrochrepts, and Hapludalfs. Dystrochrepts, Udifluvents, and Fluvaquests are on alluvium (river sediment). Soils have a thermic (avg. 15-22°C) temperature regime, and kaolinitic, mixed, or oxidic mineralogy. Soils are generally deep, with a clayey or loamy subsoil. In many areas soils are severely eroded as a result of past intensive agricultural practices, especially for cotton production.
Potential Natural Vegetation
Kuchler mapped this area as oak-hickory-pine forest and southern mixed forest. Predominant vegetation form is evergreen forest with rounded crowns, and about equal areas of cold-deciduous broad-leaved forest with evergreen needle-leaved trees. The oak-hickory forest cover type consists of white, post, and southern red oaks, and hickories of pignut and mockernut. The loblolly-shortleaf pine cover type is common on disturbed areas and usually has an understory component of dogwood and sourwood.
Fauna (animals)
Among the fauna in this Section are white-tailed deer, black bear, bobcat, gray fox, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, eastern chipmunk, white-footed mouse, pine vole, short-tailed shrew and cotton mouse. The turkey, bobwhite, and mourning dove are game birds in various parts of this Section. Songbirds include the red-eyed vireo, cardinal, tufted titmouse, wood thrush, summer tanager, blue-gray gnatcatcher, hooded warbler, and Carolina wren. The herpetofauna include the box turtle, common garter snake, and timber rattlesnake.
Climate
Average annual precipitation ranges from 45 to 55 in (1120 to 1400 mm). Temperature averages 58 to 64°F (14 to 18°C). The growing season lasts about 205 to 235 days.
Surface Water Characteristics
There is moderate density of small to medium size perennial streams and associated rivers, mostly with low to moderate rates of flow and moderate velocity. A dendritic (branching) drainage pattern has developed on moderately dissected (cut by erosion) surface, with some influence from the underlying bedrock. Many rivers drain this Section, including the Chattahoochee, Ocmulgee, Savannah, Saluda, and Yadkin.
Disturbance Regimes
Fire has probably been the principal historical disturbance, previously burning over small to moderate-size areas between natural barriers with low frequency and low intensity. Climatic influences include occasional summer droughts and winter ice storms, and infrequent tornadoes. Insect-related disturbances are often caused by southern pine beetles.
Land Use
Natural vegetation has been cleared for agriculture on most of the area, especially for cotton production in the 1800s.
Cultural Ecology
Reserved.
Data Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
Compiled by Southeastern Forest Experiment Station and Southern Region.
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SECTION 231B
COASTAL PLAINS, MIDDLE
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Geomorphology (landforms)
This Section is in the Coastal plains geomorphic province. The predominant landform on about 80 percent of the area consists of moderately dissected (cut by erosion), irregular plains of marine origin formed by deposition of continental sediments onto submerged, shallow continental shelf, which was later exposed by sea level subsidence. Elevation ranges from 80 to 650 ft (25 to 200 m). Local relief ranges from 100 to 300 ft (30 to 90 m).
Lithology (rock types) and Stratigraphy (rock layer types)
Rock units formed during the Mesozoic (40 percent) and Cenozoic (60 percent) Eras. Mesozoic (63-230 mya) strata consist of Cretaceous marine sediments (sands and clays). Cenozoic strata consist of Tertiary (2-63 mya) marine deposits (siliceous strata with lignitic, sandy, and argillaceous deposits).
Soil Taxa (groups)
Soils are mostly Udults. Paleudults and Hapludults are on level to strongly sloping uplands. Loamy Fragiudults and Paleudults are present on less sloping, moderately well drained areas. Small but significant areas of Quartzipsamments, Paleudalfs, and Glossaqualfs are present in localized areas. Albaquults and Paleaquults are found on low wetlands. Bottom land soils may be dominated by Fluvaquents and Dystrochrepts. The soils have a thermic (avg. 15-22°C) temperature regime, an udic (perpetually moist) moisture regime, a loamy or sandy surface layer, and a loamy or clayey subsoil. Soils generally are deep, well to poorly drained, and have adequate moisture for use by vegetation during the growing season.
Potential Natural Vegetation
Kuchler mapped vegetation as oak-hickory-pine forest, blackbelt, and oak-hickory forest. The predominate vegetation form is evergreen, needleleaved forest with cold-deciduous, broad-leaved trees. The principal forest cover type consists of loblolly and shortleaf pine with hardwoods, including sweetgum, flowering dogwood, elm, red cedar, southern red oak, and hickories. In central Mississippi and Alabama the hardwood component may be dominant, depending on soil moisture regime and past disturbance. A narrow band of oak-hickory forest type occurs along the extreme western edge of the Section, adjacent to flood plains of the Mississippi River and along major river bottoms.
Fauna (animals)
Among the fauna in this Section are white-tailed deer, black bear, bobcat, gray fox, raccoon, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, eastern chipmunk, white-footed mouse, pine vole, short-tailed shrew, and cotton mouse. The turkey, ruffed grouse, bobwhite, and mourning dove are game birds in various parts of this Section. Songbirds include the red-eyed vireo, cardinal, tufted titmouse, wood thrush, summer tanager, blue-gray gnatcatcher, hooded warbler, and Carolina wren. The herpetofauna include the box turtle, common garter snake and timber rattlesnake.
Climate
Precipitation averages 40 to 60 in (1,020 to 1,520 mm). Temperature averages 60 to 68°F (16 to 20°C). The growing season lasts about 200 to 280 days.
Surface Water Characteristics
There is a moderate density of small to medium perennial streams and associated rivers, most with moderate volume of water at low velocity. Dendritic (branching) drainage pattern has developed on this moderately dissected (cut by erosion) plain, largely without bedrock structural control.
Disturbance Regimes
Fire has probably been the principal historical disturbance. Climatic influences include occasional summer droughts and winter ice storms, and infrequent tornadoes. Insect disturbances are often caused by southern pine beetles.
Land Use
Natural vegetation has been cleared for agriculture on about 30 percent of the area.
Cultural Ecology
Reserved.
Data Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
Compiled by Southern Region and the Southeastern Forest Experimental Station.
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SECTION 231C
SOUTHERN CUMBERLAND PLATEAU
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Geomorphology (landforms)
This Section is in the Appalachian Plateaus geomorphic province. It was formed by the broad uplift of gently-dipping strata to a level-bedded plateau, followed by fluvial erosion and mass wasting (landslides). The result of these geomorphic processes is a strongly dissected (cut by erosion) region of dendritic (branching) drainages. About 60 percent of this Section consists of open hills. Other landforms consist of tablelands of considerable relief and open high hills. Elevation ranges from 330 to 1,300 ft (100 to 400 m). Local relief ranges from 300 to 500 ft (90 to 150 m).
Lithology (rock types) and Stratigraphy (rock layer types)
Rock units formed during the Paleozoic Era. Strata consist of 5 percent Mississippian (310-345 mya) marine deposits (shales, limestone, and chert); 90 percent Pennsylvanian (280-310 mya) marine deposits (sandstone, shale, coal, and limestone); and 5 percent other Paleozoic marine deposits.
Soil Taxa (groups)
Soils are mainly Udults and Ochrepts. Hapludults are on plateaus and upper slopes. Deep Hapludults are present on level sites. Hapludults and Fragiudults are found on level uplands. Upper valley slopes and ridgetops are dominated by Dystrochrepts. Hapludults and Paleudults are found on lower side slopes and terraces. Rock outcrops are common, but not extensive. Soils have a udic (perpetually moist) moisture regime, a thermic (avg. 15-22°C) temperature regime, and mixed mineralogy. Most soils are fine textured, deep, and moist during the growing season.
Potential Natural Vegetation
Kuchler mapped vegetation as oak-hickory-pine forest and southern mixed forest. The predominant vegetation form consists of needle-leaved, evergreen trees with cold-deciduous, broad-leaved forest. Principal species include loblolly pine, sweetgum, water oak, red maple, southern red oak, and white oak.
Fauna (animals)
Among the fauna in this Section are white-tailed deer, black bear, bobcat, gray fox, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, eastern chipmunk, white-footed mouse, pine vole, short-tailed shrew, and cotton mouse. The turkey, bobwhite, and mourning dove are game birds in various parts of this Section. Songbirds include the red-eyed vireo, cardinal, tufted titmouse, wood thrush, summer tanager, blue-gray gnatcatcher, hooded warbler, and Carolina wren. The herpetofauna include the box turtle, common garter snake, and timber rattlesnake. Climate. Mean annual precipitation is 50 to 55 in (1,270 to 1,400 mm). Temperature averages 60 to 62°F (16 to 17°C). The growing season lasts for 200 to 210 days.
Surface Water Characteristics
There is a moderate density of small to medium size perennial streams and associated rivers, mostly with low to moderate rates of flow and moderate velocity. Dendritic (branching) drainage pattern has developed, with influence from the underlying bedrock.
Disturbance Regimes
Fire has probably been the principal historical disturbance. Climatic influences include occasional summer droughts, winter ice storms, and occasional tornadoes.
Land Use
Natural vegetation has been cleared for agriculture on about 30 percent of the area.
Cultural Ecology
Reserved.
Data Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
Compiled by Southeastern Forest Experiment Station and Southern Region.
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SECTION 231D
SOUTHERN RIDGE AND VALLEY
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Geomorphology (landforms)
This Section is in the Ridge and Valley geomorphic province. The area is a folded, faulted, and uplifted belt of parallel valleys and ridges, strongly dissected (cut by erosion) by differential erosion, mass wasting (landslides), fluvial erosion, and transport and deposition. About 60 percent of this Section consists of plains with hills and 40 percent consists of open high hills. Elevation ranges from 650 to 2,000 ft (200 to 600 m). Local relief ranges from 300 to 500 ft (90 to 150 m) in areas of plains, with elevation ranging from 500 to 1,000 ft (150 to 300 m) in areas of high hills.
Lithology (rock types) and Stratigraphy (rock layer types)
Rock units formed during the Paleozoic Era. Strata consist of a mosaic of marine deposits of Lower Cambrian clastic rocks (granites), and a mixture of marine deposits of Cambrian (carbonates and shales), Lower Ordovician (carbonates), and Mississippian (310-345 mya) (shales, limestone, and chert) ages.
Soil Taxa (groups)
Soils are mostly Udults with some Ochrepts. Paleudults dominate upland areas underlain by limestone. Hapludults are in valleys underlain by shale. Dystrochrepts are common on side slopes of ridges. Hapludolls and Eutrochrepts are on bottom lands. Soils have an udic (perpetually moist) moisture regime and thermic (avg. 15-22°C) or mesic (avg. 8-15°C) temperature regime. Almost all soils are well drained. Soils range from shallow on sandstone and shales to very deep on limestone formations.
Potential Natural Vegetation
Kuchler mapped vegetation as oak-hickory-pine forest and southern mixed forest. The predominant vegetation form is needle-leaved, evergreen trees with cold deciduous, broad-leaved forest. The principal cover type is oak-hickory, which includes southern red oak, white oak, post oak, red maple, winged elm, flowering dogwood, pignut hickory, and loblolly pine. In some areas, loblolly and shortleaf pines are dominant.
Fauna (animals)
Among the fauna in this Section are white-tailed deer, black bear, bobcat, gray fox, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, eastern chipmunk, white-footed mouse, pine vole, short-tailed shrew, and cotton mouse. The turkey, bobwhite, and mourning dove are game birds in various parts of this Section. Songbirds include the red-eyed vireo, cardinal, tufted titmouse, wood thrush, summer tanager, blue-gray gnatcatcher, hooded warbler, and Carolina wren. The herpetofauna include the box turtle, common garter snake, and timber rattlesnake. Climate. Precipitation averages 36 to 55 in (900 to 1,400 mm) annually. Mean annual temperature is from 55 to 61°F (13 to 16°C). The growing season lasts about 170 to 210 days.
Surface Water Characteristics
This Section has a moderate density of small to medium size perennial streams and associated rivers, mostly with low to moderate rates of flow and moderate velocity. Trellis drainage pattern has developed with bedrock structural control. One of the major rivers draining this Section is the Coosa.
Disturbance Regimes
Fire has probably been the principal historical disturbance, previously burning over small areas between natural barriers with moderate frequency and low intensity. Insect related disturbances have resulted from southern pine beetles. Climatic related influences include occasional droughts and ice storms.
Land Use
Natural vegetation has been cleared for agriculture on over 60 percent of the area.
Cultural Ecology
Reserved. Compiled by Southern Region and Southeastern Forest Experiment Station.
Section 231E—Mid Coastal Plains, Western
Geomorphology (landforms)
This Section is in the Coastal Plains geomorphic province. The predominant landform occupying about 80 percent of the Section consists of moderately dissected (cut by erosion) irregular plains of marine origin. The plains were formed by deposition of continental sediments onto submerged, shallow continental shelf, which was later exposed by sea level subsidence. Other landforms consist of plains with hills and smooth plains. Elevations range from 80 to 650 ft (25 to 200 m). Local relief ranges from 100 to 300 ft (30 to 90 m).
Lithology (rock types) and Stratigraphy (rock layer types)
Rock units formed during the Cenozoic Era. Strata consist of Tertiary (2-63 mya) marine deposits (glauconitic sands and clays with lenses of coquinid limestone; clay and silty clay).
Soil Taxa (groups)
Soils are predominantly Udults. Paleudults, Hapludults, Hapludalfs, Paleudalfs, and Albaqualfs are on uplands. Fluvaquents, Udifluvents, Eutrochrepts, and Glossaqualfs are on bottom lands along major streams. Soils have a thermic (avg. 15-22°C) temperature regime, a udic (perpetually moist) moisture regime, and siliceous or mixed mineralogy. Most soils have formed from sandstone and shale parent materials. Soils are generally coarse textured, deep, and have adequate moisture for plant growth during the growing season.
Potential Natural Vegetation
Kuchler mapped this area as oak-hickory-pine forest, southern mixed forest, and southern floodplain forest. The predominant vegetation form consists of needle-leaved evergreen trees. Belts of cold deciduous, broad-leaved hardwoods are prevalent along rivers. The principal forest cover type is loblolly and longleaf pines. Where hardwoods are prevalent, species consist of post, white, blackjack, and southern red oaks. Species of bottom lands are red maple, green ash, Nuttall oak, sweetgum, and swamp hickory.
Fauna (animals)
The elk, mountain lion, wolf, Carolina parakeet, and ivory-billed woodpecker once inhabited this Section. Presently, the fauna include white-tailed deer, black bear, bobcat, gray fox, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, striped skunk, swamp rabbit, and many small rodents and shrews. The turkey, bobwhite, and mourning dove are game birds in various parts of this Section. In flooded areas, ibises, cormorants, herons, egrets, and kingfishers are common. Songbirds include the red-eyed vireo, cardinal, tufted titmouse, wood thrush, summer tanager, blue-gray gnatcatcher, hooded warbler, and Carolina wren. The herpetofauna include the box turtle, common garter snake, and timber rattlesnake.
Climate
Annual precipitation averages 40 to 54 in (1,000 to 1,300 mm). Temperature averages 61 to 68°F (16 to 20°C). The growing season lasts about 200 to 270 days.
Surface Water Characteristics
There is a moderate density of small to medium size perennial streams and associated rivers, most with moderate volume of water flowing at low velocity. Dendritic (branching) drainage pattern has developed. Major rivers draining this Section include the Red and Ouachita.
Disturbance Regimes
Fire has probably been the principal historical disturbance. Climatic influences include occasional summer droughts and winter ice storms, and infrequent hurricanes. Insect disturbances are often caused by southern pine beetles.
Land Use
Natural vegetation has been cleared for agriculture on about 25 percent of the area. Much of the non-cleared land is managed for forestry.
Cultural Ecology
Reserved.
Data Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
Compiled by Southern Region and Southeastern Forest Experiment Station.
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SECTION 232B
COASTAL PLAINS AND FLATWOODS LOWER
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Geomorphology (landforms)
This Section is in the Coastal Plain geomorphic Province. The predominant landform is a flat, weakly dissected (cut by erosion) river plain was formed by deposition of continental sediments onto a submerged, shallow continental shelf, which was later exposed by sea level subsidence. About 90 percent of this Section consists of irregular or smooth plains. Other landforms include open hills. Elevation ranges from 80 to 660 ft (25 to 200 m). Local relief ranges from 10 to 30 ft (3 to 9 m) on smooth plains, and from 30 to 50 ft (9 to 15 m) in areas of hills.
Lithology (rock types) and Stratigraphy (rock layer types)
Rock units formed during the Mesozoic (30 percent) and Cenozoic (70 percent) Eras. Mesozoic (63-230 mya) strata consist of about equal amounts of Cretaceous marine deposits (sands and clays). Much of the Cenozoic strata consist of Tertiary (2-63 mya) marine deposits (thin fossiliferous layers of sand and shells) and continental deposits (sands and clays). Quaternary (last 2 million years) marine deposits (coarse sands) are present in large bays.
Soil Taxa (groups)
Soils are mostly Udults. Paleudults and Hapludults are on uplands. Fragiudults and Fragiudalfs are associated soils on sites that range from well drained to poorly drained. Localized areas of Quartzipsamments occur in the southern part of the Section, along with Paleudalfs and Glossaqualfs. Ochraquults, Albaquults, and Paleaquults are locally common on low wetlands. Udifluvents, Fluvaquents, and Dystrochrepts are present in bottom lands. These soils have a thermic (avg. 15-22°C) temperature regime, a udic (perpetually moist) moisture regime, and are deep with loamy or clayey subsoil. Soils range from well drained to poorly drained and are fine to moderately fine textured.
Potential Natural Vegetation
Kuchler mapped this area as southern mixed forest and oak-hickory-pine forest, with smaller areas of southern flood plain forest and pocosin (Pinus-Ilex). The predominant vegetation form is evergreen needle-leaved trees with scattered areas of cold-deciduous and evergreen broad-leaved forest. Slash and longleaf pines are prevalent throughout the Section, but loblolly pine is common in the northern areas. Sand pine is prevalent in xeric (extremely dry), deep-sand areas of Florida. The oak-gum-cypress forest cover type is common along flood plains of major rivers and includes Nuttall oak, laurel oak, water tupelo, sweetbay, bald cypress, and pond cypress. Localized areas of mostly hardwoods occur, especially in central Florida; types include laurel oak, water oak, sweetbay, sweetgum, live oak, red maple, and spruce pine. An extensive area of grassland vegetation is present in central Florida, north of Lake Okeechobee.
Fauna (animals)
The elk, mountain lion, wolf, Carolina parakeet, and ivory-billed woodpecker once inhabited this Section. The endangered Florida panther may be encountered rarely. Presently, the fauna include white-tailed deer, black bear, bobcat, gray fox, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, striped skunk, swamp rabbit, and many small rodents and shrews. The turkey, bobwhite, and mourning dove are widespread. Resident and migratory nongame bird species are numerous, as are species of migratory waterfowl. In flooded areas, ibises, cormorants, herons, egrets, and kingfishers are common. Songbirds include the red-eyed vireo, cardinal, tufted titmouse, ruby-throated hummingbird, eastern towhee, wood thrush, summer tanager, blue-gray gnatcatcher, hooded warbler, and Carolina wren. The endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and bald eagle inhabit this Section. The herpetofauna include the box turtle, common garter snake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, and American alligator.
Climate
Precipitation averages 40 to 60 in (1,020 to 1,520 mm). Temperature averages 60 to 68°F (16 to 20°C). The growing season lasts 200 to 280 days.
Surface Water Characteristics
There is a moderate density of small to medium size perennial streams and associated rivers, most with moderate volume of water flowing at low velocity. Few natural lakes occur, except in central Florida where they are abundant. Large, freshwater springs are common in central Florida, especially in areas of limestone rock formations. Major rivers include the Mobile, Chattahoochee, Kissimmee, Flint, and Sewannee. Riverine systems flow into the Carolinian and Louisianian Marine and Estuarine Provinces.
Disturbance Regimes
Fire has been the principal historical disturbance, previously burning over medium to large size areas between natural barriers, generally with moderate frequency and low intensity. Fire occurrence is common in areas dominated by sand pine and is frequent in areas of longleaf pine. Fire intensity can range from moderate to high. Climatic influences include frequent hurricanes. Insect disturbances are often caused by southern pine beetles.
Land Use
Natural vegetation has been cleared for agriculture on about 40 percent of the area in much of the Section. In much of central Florida, almost all forests have been cleared for citrus production.
Cultural Ecology
Reserved.
Data Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
Compiled by Southern Region and Southeastern Forest Experiment Station.
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SECTION 232L
GULF COASTAL LOWLANDS
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Overview
The landscape is flat, weakly dissected alluvial plain of marine (limestones) and terrestrial (sands) deposits. Vegetation is mostly longleaf-slash pine and oak-gum-cypress cover types.
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