Northern Hardwood Forest Tree Species
In planning these practices there are many factors to consider including access species composition desired regeneration wildlife habitat needs and environmental concerns.
Northern hardwood forest tree species. Throughout the winter birds can be found foraging in bark crevices and among the green needles of hemlock trees. Northern hardwood forest types can be managed as even or uneven aged stands using a variety of silvicultural practices. Although american beech wood is heavy hard tough and strong the tree is typically left during lumbering and often left uncut to grow. The northern hardwood forest is the common forest type below 2 500 feet in vermont s green mountains.
The overall diversity of species is high in rich northern hardwood forests as is the sheer abundance of biomass on the forest floor. The american beech is a shade tolerant species favoring the shade more than other trees and commonly found in forests in the final stage of succession called a climax forest. The trees and shrub species of the northern hardwood forest are known for their brilliant fall colors making the regions that contain this forest type popular fall foliage tourist destinations. Yellow birch sugar maple american beech eastern hemlock and white pine dominate shading hobblebush several species of ferns shining clubmoss and many species of fungi.
Maple syrup is made from sugar maple sap. The sheltered coves that hemlock northern hardwood forests often inhabit offer a pleasant escape from the leafless deciduous forests in the winter. The northern hardwoods forest type includes many tree species which vary by site and geographic range. Thousands of acres of northern hardwood conifer forests grow on well drained fertile slopes of hillsides in new hampshire typically between 1 500 and 2 500 feet in elevation here sugar maple american beech and yellow birch are the dominant tree species mixed with red maple white ash and patches of hemlock at lower elevations and red spruce and balsam fir at higher elevations.
Sawlogs and veneer logs are the major wood products but some species also are harvested for pulpwood. Wildlife found in a northern hardwood forest may include deer bear squirrel ruffed grouse and woodcock. The northern hardwoods forest type includes numerous tree species. Hemlock northern hardwood forest images.
A study of forests in vermont and new york showed that a representative rich northern hardwood forest in vermont had an average of 48 herb species in one quarter acre while other. Sugar maple yellow birch american beech and white ash are the common key indicator tree and shrub species in the northern hardwood forest. Occasionally aspen paper birch balsam fir and northern red oak are important. Northern hardwood forest the northern hardwood forest is a type of ecosystem found in north america.
Beech and eastern hemlock range from michigan eastward.