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Pitch Pine-Oak-Heath Rocky Summit |
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System: Terrestrial
SubSystem: Barrens And Woodlands State Protection: Not Listed Federal Protection: Not Listed State Rarity Rank: S3 
A State Rarity Rank of S3 means: Typically 21 to 100 occurrences, limited acreage, or miles of stream in New York State. Global Rarity Rank: G4
A Global Rarity Rank of G4 means: Apparently secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Did you know? Historically, fires of moderate intensity naturally occurred on pitch pine-oak-heath rocky summits every 5 to 25 years, which maintained the character of this community. Without fire, other woody species become more abundant. Depending on the fire regime, this community may be expressed as a mix of pitch pine, oaks, and heath species such as blueberry and huckleberry; a "scrub oak bald" with little pitch pine or heath species; or a "heath bald" with little pitch pine or oak. |
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| State Ranking Justification | [-] |
Although there may be a few thousand occurrences statewide, there are probably fewer than 100 occurrences left in good condition, and the sizes are often relatively small. Many documented occurrences have good viability and many are protected on public land or private conservation land. This community has a somewhat limited statewide distribution (correlated to slightly acidic to low pH bedrock geology). Most examples are relatively small and disturbed. This community has probably declined substantially from historical numbers and nearly all of the currently documented occurrences are threatened by fire suppression, recreational overuse, and development.
| Short-term Trends | [-] |
The number and acreage of pitch pine-oak-heath rocky summits in New York have probably declined slightly in recent decades as a result of fire suppression, antenna tower construction, recreational disturbances, and to a lesser extent logging.
| Long-term Trends | [-] |
The number and acreage of pitch pine-oak-heath rocky summits in New York have probably declined by a large amount from historical numbers as a result of fire suppression and logging.
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Home | Advanced Search | About Us Animal Guides | Plant Guides | Community Guides © 2004-2012 New York Natural Heritage Program, a partnership between the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Please cite this page as:
New York Natural Heritage Program. 2013. Online Conservation Guide for Pitch Pine-Oak-Heath Rocky Summit. Available from: http://acris.nynhp.org/guide.php?id=9968. Accessed May 23rd, 2013. 
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