ust 259 lecture 5 hill country, glaciated plateau, & till plains: chapters 10 - 12 november 3,...

UST 259UST 259Lecture 5Lecture 5

Hill Country, Glaciated Plateau, & Till Hill Country, Glaciated Plateau, & Till Plains:Plains:

Chapters 10 - 12Chapters 10 - 12

November 3, 2012November 3, 2012

Unglaciated Appalachian Unglaciated Appalachian PlateauPlateau

Hill countryHill country

ForestedForested Pioneers clearcut for fuel (iron industry)Pioneers clearcut for fuel (iron industry) Mining for bituminous coal (strip Mining for bituminous coal (strip

mining)mining) Much is reforestedMuch is reforested Ohio’s oldest landscapeOhio’s oldest landscape Old river system and valleys still Old river system and valleys still

evident – not altered by glaciersevident – not altered by glaciersSee Notes Page View for more

Unglaciated Appalachian Unglaciated Appalachian Plateau Plateau

Appalachian HighlandsAppalachian Highlands Rock LayersRock Layers

Middle to late Paleozoic acidic sandstonesMiddle to late Paleozoic acidic sandstones ShaleShale CoalCoal Limestone, seldomLimestone, seldom

Knobs predominate along Ohio River & Knobs predominate along Ohio River & along Appalachian escarpmentalong Appalachian escarpment

¾ of Hill country streams were once a ¾ of Hill country streams were once a part of the ancient Teays River systempart of the ancient Teays River system

See Notes Page View for more


Glacial impactGlacial impact Unglaciated…yes, Unaffected…no.Unglaciated…yes, Unaffected…no. Profound glacial impactProfound glacial impact

Redirected river systemsRedirected river systems Filled valleys with waterFilled valleys with water Impacted plant/animal populations by Impacted plant/animal populations by

genetically & physically isolating themgenetically & physically isolating them Unusual drainage patterns & Unusual drainage patterns &

constituentsconstituents Alkaline watersAlkaline waters Glacial outwash (sand or gravel carried by Glacial outwash (sand or gravel carried by

glaciers)glaciers)

Rosyside Dace



Climate & WeatherClimate & Weather Variety of microclimates present due Variety of microclimates present due

to topographic variationto topographic variation Frost pocketsFrost pockets Wind, humidity, evaporationWind, humidity, evaporation Sun exposure, surface temperatureSun exposure, surface temperature

Microclimate (along with varied soil Microclimate (along with varied soil and land surface types) have and land surface types) have encouraged biological diversity in encouraged biological diversity in the Hill countrythe Hill country



3 Plant/ Animal 3 Plant/ Animal Communities Predominate Communities Predominate

Hill countryHill country Upland Mixed Oak ForestsUpland Mixed Oak Forests

Mixed Mesophytic ForestsMixed Mesophytic Forests

Lowland ForestsLowland Forests


Upland Mixed Oak ForestsUpland Mixed Oak Forests Widespread in unglaciated Appalachian Widespread in unglaciated Appalachian

plateauplateau Canopy tree communitiesCanopy tree communities

White Oak is dominant speciesWhite Oak is dominant species Oak-Hickory communitiesOak-Hickory communities Loose, open tree canopyLoose, open tree canopy

http://www.oplin.org/tree/index.html Flower communitiesFlower communities

Wood rush, fire pink, dittany Wood rush, fire pink, dittany Beggar’s ticks, thorny greenbriarBeggar’s ticks, thorny greenbriar



Upland Mixed Oak ForestsUpland Mixed Oak Forests Understory tree Understory tree

communitiescommunities SassafrasSassafras

Provide food for Provide food for promethea silk promethea silk moth larvaemoth larvae


Upland Mixed Oak ForestsUpland Mixed Oak ForestsUnderstory tree Understory tree

communities, communities, continuedcontinued

serviceberry serviceberry Provide early summer Provide early summer

berries consumed by berries consumed by birds, & nesting sitebirds, & nesting site

DogwoodDogwood Chestnut oaksChestnut oaks

Mixed pines Mixed pines interspersedinterspersed Virginia PineVirginia Pine Yellow Pine, White Yellow Pine, White

PinePine Both native & Both native & Reforested pinesReforested pines



Upland Mixed Oak ForestsUpland Mixed Oak Forests Small MammalsSmall Mammals

Gray squirrelsGray squirrels Flying squirrels (rarely seen)Flying squirrels (rarely seen) Hairy-tailed molesHairy-tailed moles Short-tailed shrewShort-tailed shrew Fox shrewFox shrew Pygmy shrew (rare)Pygmy shrew (rare) Eastern wood ratEastern wood rat


Upland Mixed Oak ForestsUpland Mixed Oak Forests Larger MammalsLarger Mammals

RaccoonsRaccoons OpossumsOpossums SkunksSkunks WoodchucksWoodchucks WeaselsWeasels BatsBats Cottontail rabbitsCottontail rabbits Gray foxesGray foxes

Other AnimalsOther Animals Turkey vultures, Black Turkey vultures, Black

vulturesvultures Swifts (fence lizards)Swifts (fence lizards) Large-headed skinkLarge-headed skink

SnakesSnakes Puff addersPuff adders Poisonous copperheadPoisonous copperhead Timber rattlesnakeTimber rattlesnake


Mixed Mesophytic ForestsMixed Mesophytic Forests Mesophytes: plants growing in area with Mesophytes: plants growing in area with

average water supply average water supply Trees (20-25 spp primarily)Trees (20-25 spp primarily)

White & red oak, tuliptree, sugar maple, beech, White & red oak, tuliptree, sugar maple, beech, wild black cherry, white ash, blackgum, red wild black cherry, white ash, blackgum, red maple, shagbark hirckory, bitternute, white maple, shagbark hirckory, bitternute, white basswood, black walnut, cucumber tree (north), basswood, black walnut, cucumber tree (north), yellow buckeye (south)yellow buckeye (south)

Less common: hemlockLess common: hemlock Mainly moderate climateMainly moderate climate Moist, well-drained, moderately acidic soilsMoist, well-drained, moderately acidic soils


Mixed Mesophytic ForestsMixed Mesophytic Forests High tree and plant High tree and plant

diversitydiversity 1000’s of types of 1000’s of types of

plants, mosses, fungi, plants, mosses, fungi, lichenslichens

Undercanopy treesUndercanopy trees Hornbeam Hornbeam

(musclewood or (musclewood or ironwood)ironwood)

DogwoodDogwood RedbudRedbud pawpawpawpaw

WildflowersWildflowers HepaticasHepaticas AnemonesAnemones MayappleMayapple PhloxPhlox Indian-pipe flowerIndian-pipe flower SullivantiaSullivantia

Non-native flowering Non-native flowering plantsplants Bigleaf magnoliaBigleaf magnolia Umbrella magnoliaUmbrella magnolia SourwoodSourwood Flame azaleaFlame azalea Great rohododendronGreat rohododendron


Mixed Mesophytic ForestsMixed Mesophytic Forests FaunaFauna

Deer, gray squirrels, raccoons, skunk, weasels, Deer, gray squirrels, raccoons, skunk, weasels, batsbats

Black rat snakes, box turtles, wild turkey Black rat snakes, box turtles, wild turkey gobblers, ruffed grouse, great horned owlsgobblers, ruffed grouse, great horned owls

Zebra swallowtail butterfly (eats pawpaw leaves)Zebra swallowtail butterfly (eats pawpaw leaves) Cecropia moth (largest in US 6inch wingspan)Cecropia moth (largest in US 6inch wingspan) Leaf miners, ticks, mites, centipedes, sowbugsLeaf miners, ticks, mites, centipedes, sowbugs Salamanders (vernal pools)Salamanders (vernal pools) Red-tailed hawk, screech & barred owls, Red-tailed hawk, screech & barred owls,

pileated & downy woodpeckers, chickadees, pileated & downy woodpeckers, chickadees, tufted titmouse (permanent residents)tufted titmouse (permanent residents)


Lowland Forests & StreamsLowland Forests & Streams Trees (must survive on floodplains)Trees (must survive on floodplains)

Black willow, non-native white willow, sycamoreBlack willow, non-native white willow, sycamore River birch (south & in acid-mine drainage streams)River birch (south & in acid-mine drainage streams) Cottonwood, silver maple, box elder (limey soils)Cottonwood, silver maple, box elder (limey soils)

Origin of “Buckeye state” nicknameOrigin of “Buckeye state” nickname Michaux, 1818 botanist 1Michaux, 1818 botanist 1stst called Ohio’s 2 called Ohio’s 2ndnd buckeye tree buckeye tree

species (after the yellow buckeye) the Ohio buckeyespecies (after the yellow buckeye) the Ohio buckeye W.H.Harrison used buckeye wood to create walking W.H.Harrison used buckeye wood to create walking

sticks for his presidential campaignsticks for his presidential campaign Species differ: Species differ:

yellow buckeye= smooth seedsyellow buckeye= smooth seeds Ohio buckeye= prickly, bumpy seedsOhio buckeye= prickly, bumpy seeds

Rathbone elmRathbone elmSee Notes Page View for more


Lowland Forests & StreamsLowland Forests & Streams Common animalsCommon animals

Mink, muskrats, beaver, rarely river ottersMink, muskrats, beaver, rarely river otters Birds (waterfowl)Birds (waterfowl)

Kingfisher, phoebes, wood ducksKingfisher, phoebes, wood ducks Aquatic speciesAquatic species

Northern water snake, painted turtle, Northern water snake, painted turtle, snapping turtle, brown soft-shell turtle, snapping turtle, brown soft-shell turtle, hellbender (salamander)hellbender (salamander)

Muskellunge, fresh-water mussels (importantMuskellunge, fresh-water mussels (important historic food source)historic food source)

Unglaciated Appalachian Unglaciated Appalachian Plateau Plateau MiningMining

Coal & clay miningCoal & clay mining Why damaging?Why damaging?

Bound with sulfur…causes Bound with sulfur…causes environmental damage when environmental damage when released during miningreleased during mining

Acid mine drainageAcid mine drainage If abated, waterways may If abated, waterways may

recover (didn’t begin until recover (didn’t begin until post-WWII)post-WWII)

Many are not abated due to Many are not abated due to costscosts

Small scale strip-mining Small scale strip-mining (pre-WWI) gave way to (pre-WWI) gave way to larger scale mining efforts larger scale mining efforts over timeover time

Unglaciated Appalachian Unglaciated Appalachian Plateau Plateau ApplesApples

Rome BeautyRome Beauty 18171817 Named 1848Named 1848

Gallia BeautyGallia Beauty From a Rome Beauty seedlingFrom a Rome Beauty seedling Named 1865Named 1865


Glaciated Plateau (Allegheny Glaciated Plateau (Allegheny plateau) plateau)

GeologyGeology Glacial till weathered into rich agricultural soilGlacial till weathered into rich agricultural soil Bedrock (visible in roadcuts)Bedrock (visible in roadcuts)

Limestone, shale, sandstone, conglomerate & coal, Limestone, shale, sandstone, conglomerate & coal, Pennsylvanian period Pennsylvanian period

e.g. Sharon Sandstonee.g. Sharon Sandstone Shale & Sandstone, MississipianShale & Sandstone, Mississipian

e.g. Berea Sandstonee.g. Berea Sandstone Oldest rocks, Devonian Oldest rocks, Devonian

e.g. Chagrin Shalee.g. Chagrin Shale

Human utility of materials?Human utility of materials? Quarried bedrock for building materialQuarried bedrock for building material Clay & shale are also taken for brick, tile, potteryClay & shale are also taken for brick, tile, pottery Lesser presence of coal & gasLesser presence of coal & gas Rock salt miningRock salt mining


Glaciated PlateauGlaciated PlateauGlaciers & LandscapeGlaciers & Landscape

How did glaciers impact landscape?How did glaciers impact landscape? Influence on soilInfluence on soil Influence on topographyInfluence on topography Influence on waterInfluence on water


Glaciated PlateauGlaciated PlateauPlants Plants

Historic meeting point between N. Allegheny & Historic meeting point between N. Allegheny & Central Appalachian forests (noted during last Central Appalachian forests (noted during last 200 yrs)200 yrs) White oak, like AppalachiansWhite oak, like Appalachians N. Hemlock forests similar to Allegheny woods in NY and N. Hemlock forests similar to Allegheny woods in NY and

PAPA Most forests are 2ndary, regrownMost forests are 2ndary, regrown Association of Northern and Southern species Association of Northern and Southern species

together on rare ecological islandstogether on rare ecological islands Deep glacial till deposits support widespread Deep glacial till deposits support widespread

beech-maple forest growthbeech-maple forest growth Maple syrup production (Geauga county)Maple syrup production (Geauga county) Blueberries, clubmoss, pink ladyslipper like the Blueberries, clubmoss, pink ladyslipper like the

acidic soilsacidic soils See Notes Page View for more

Glaciated PlateauGlaciated Plateau PlantsPlants WildflowersWildflowers

Painted trillium (very rare)Painted trillium (very rare) Purple trilliumPurple trillium Spring ephemeralsSpring ephemerals

Spring beauties, anemones, Dutchman’s breeches, Spring beauties, anemones, Dutchman’s breeches, purple cressespurple cresses

MayapplesMayapples Wild phloxWild phlox

Signal TreeSignal Tree Bur OakBur Oak N. of Akron off of Peck Rd.N. of Akron off of Peck Rd. Native Americans used it to designate crossing of Native Americans used it to designate crossing of

Cuyahoga-Tuscarawas Portage & Cuyahoga FallsCuyahoga-Tuscarawas Portage & Cuyahoga Falls


Glaciated PlateauGlaciated PlateauFauna (Animals)Fauna (Animals)

Settlers saw vast forests populated withSettlers saw vast forests populated with Wolf, elk, bear, mountain lion (mainly predatory)Wolf, elk, bear, mountain lion (mainly predatory)

Today, remaining forests populated withToday, remaining forests populated with Cottontail rabbit, red fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk, Cottontail rabbit, red fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk,

deer, woodchucks, weasel, muskrats (hearty, non-deer, woodchucks, weasel, muskrats (hearty, non-predatory to human species)predatory to human species)

Birds, both resident and migratoryBirds, both resident and migratory Robin, wood thrush, warblers, ruffed grouse, red tailed and Robin, wood thrush, warblers, ruffed grouse, red tailed and

coopers hawks, owls, bald eagles, tree swallows, veery…live coopers hawks, owls, bald eagles, tree swallows, veery…live on forest edges. Why?on forest edges. Why?

Reptiles & amphibiansReptiles & amphibians Red-bellied snake, Mountain dusky salamandersRed-bellied snake, Mountain dusky salamanders

Greater variety of landscape = greater diversityGreater variety of landscape = greater diversity

Till PlainsTill PlainsGeologyGeology

Sedimentary bedrock (Ordovician through Sedimentary bedrock (Ordovician through Devonian) (500 to 350 million years old)Devonian) (500 to 350 million years old) Mainly limestoneMainly limestone Smaller areas of shale (youngest rocks present here)Smaller areas of shale (youngest rocks present here) Fossil-rich (particularly Ordovician rocks)Fossil-rich (particularly Ordovician rocks)

Marine invertebratesMarine invertebrates Mainly primitive fish in Devonian rocksMainly primitive fish in Devonian rocks

Cincinnati Arch was created during Late Cincinnati Arch was created during Late Ordovician formation of Appalachian mtns Ordovician formation of Appalachian mtns (gently slopes, exposing bedrock, particularly in (gently slopes, exposing bedrock, particularly in highest areas of arch)highest areas of arch)

Most bedrock covered by thick glacial tillMost bedrock covered by thick glacial till Massive erosion (by the Teays River) eroded Massive erosion (by the Teays River) eroded

away large portions of bedrockaway large portions of bedrockSee Notes Page View for more about Marine

invertebrates and the Teays River

Till PlainsTill PlainsGlaciationGlaciation

Wisconsinan was most recent (peaked 20,000 Wisconsinan was most recent (peaked 20,000 years ago), traveling southward across the years ago), traveling southward across the regionregion

Advanced & retreated several times, leaving Advanced & retreated several times, leaving layers of impactlayers of impact

Created rolling hillsCreated rolling hills Campbell Hill, Ohio’s highest point, an end Campbell Hill, Ohio’s highest point, an end

morainemoraine Kames & Eskers are extensive in some areasKames & Eskers are extensive in some areas Boulder beltsBoulder belts Illinoian glacier (older) left mainly ground Illinoian glacier (older) left mainly ground

moraine in its wakemoraine in its wakeSee Notes Page View for more

Till PlainsTill PlainsSoilsSoils

Miamian soilsMiamian soils Loam/Clay loam till (south)Loam/Clay loam till (south) Clay rich till (Blount soils) (north)Clay rich till (Blount soils) (north)

Both high-lime & found in Wisconsinan tillBoth high-lime & found in Wisconsinan till Low-lime tills resulting in Alexandrian soils to Low-lime tills resulting in Alexandrian soils to

easteast Cincinnati soils, from Illinoian till (deeply Cincinnati soils, from Illinoian till (deeply

weathered areas)weathered areas) Eden soils present where bedrock exposed (erosion) Eden soils present where bedrock exposed (erosion)

Soils here are formed primarily by parent Soils here are formed primarily by parent material & timematerial & time

Till PlainsTill PlainsVegetation (plants)Vegetation (plants)

Settlers saw woodlands, forests & wet Settlers saw woodlands, forests & wet prairiesprairies

Today 95% of land is farm or urbanToday 95% of land is farm or urban Agriculture mainly seen todayAgriculture mainly seen today

Corn, soybeans, wheatCorn, soybeans, wheat 11stst growth vegetation almost non- growth vegetation almost non-

existentexistent Cedar Bog still remains…white cedar Cedar Bog still remains…white cedar

wetlandwetland

Till PlainsTill PlainsFauna (Animals)Fauna (Animals)

Intense farming has led to less diversityIntense farming has led to less diversity FishFish

Brook trout, chubBrook trout, chub Amphibians Amphibians

Striped chorus frog, small-mouth & tiger salamanders, Striped chorus frog, small-mouth & tiger salamanders, cave salamandercave salamander

ReptilesReptiles Eastern garter snake, Butler’s garter snake blue racer, Eastern garter snake, Butler’s garter snake blue racer,

northern copperbelly, eastern massasauga, painted turtlenorthern copperbelly, eastern massasauga, painted turtle Birds (attracted to open fields & plains with forest Birds (attracted to open fields & plains with forest

nearby)nearby) Kestrels, eastern meadowlark, horned lark, savannah Kestrels, eastern meadowlark, horned lark, savannah

sparrow, song sparrow, woodcocksparrow, song sparrow, woodcock Region is also a large migratory path for multitudes of Region is also a large migratory path for multitudes of

birdsbirds Small MammalsSmall Mammals Insects (Invertebrates)Insects (Invertebrates)See Notes Page View for more

ust 259 lecture 5 hill country, glaciated plateau, & till plains: chapters 10 - 12 november 3,...

Documents

hill country microclimate

glaciated plateau

appalachian escarpment

ohio river

glaciers old river system

notes page view

dominant species white

open tree canopy http