ABSTRACT
Oaks are found across the globe. In fact, approximately 600 species have been identified worldwide. Native to the Northern Hemisphere, oaks are found from the cold latitudes of North America to the tropics in Asia and
Introduction ...................................................................................................... 19 From global to local perspective ............................................................... 19 Site quality: Influence on distribution ...................................................... 20 Methods of assessing site quality .............................................................. 20
Geographic distribution of oaks .................................................................... 22 Major regions .................................................................................................... 22
The Northern Hardwood Region .............................................................. 22 The Central Hardwood Region ................................................................. 25
The Ohio Valley ...................................................................................... 27 The Allegheny Hardwoods ................................................................... 27 The Appalachian Hardwoods ............................................................... 29 The Ozark/Xeric Upland Hardwoods ................................................ 30
The Southern Hardwood Region .............................................................. 32 The Bottomland Hardwoods ................................................................ 33 The Coastal Plain Oak-Pine .................................................................. 36
The Oak Savannahs and Prairie Region ................................................... 38 Further suggested reading.............................................................................. 40
the Americas. In North America, oaks are widely distributed and found in both the Western and Eastern United States with only two species (chinkapin and bur oak) common to both regions. Oak species richness (the number of oak species) in the Eastern United States is highest in the South near the shared borders of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia and declines as you travel north and west. At this point, the ranges of many oak species, both common and not so common, overlap. Due to the sheer number of oak species found in the United States, a variety of management strategies are required because each species has individual requirements for proper management. However, an understanding of the influence of site quality or site characteristics helps landowners and managers to manage the diversity of requirements that exist. Environmental conditions not only help define a forested site but will often dictate the species that can be established and flourish. Therefore, an understanding of site conditions equates to an increased probability of successful oak management strategies.
