Shortleaf: the forgotten pine?

摘要

Shortleaf Pine, Pinus echinata, is one of the most widely distributed southern yellow pines and is found growing naturally from southeastern New York, south to northern Florida, and east to eastern Texas. In the early 1900s, shortleaf pine was found as a dominant species in pure or mixed forest stands on over 281 million acres, and was estimated to have made up more than one-fifth of the southern yellow pine lumber supply. Since that time, shortleaf pine acreage has dropped drastically to just over six million acres, due to conversion to other pine species and hardwoods. According to the USDA Forest Service, Alabama has lost more acres of shortleaf pine since 1980 than any other state. Associated with the loss of this acreage is the loss of the short-leaf pine/oak savanna ecosystem which once provided habitat for many wildlife species, including some which are no longer found here such as American bison and elk. The future of this important species is uncertain, but efforts are underway to improveour understanding of this pine and its associated ecosystem.