oak forest

An oak forest is a plant community with a tree canopy dominated by oaks (Quercus spp.). In terms of canopy closure, oak forests contain the most closed canopy, compared to oak savannas and oak woodlands. Setting Oak forests are categorized as deciduous forests which commonly have dense canopy cover (~70%) on dry soils with large amounts of undecomposed oak leaves over the ground. The forests are commonly found around the Appalachian Mountains and neighboring areas in the Midwest United States. Soils within the forests are highly acidic and dry with habitats existing in low elevation areas as well as large mountainsides, providing resources and an ecosystem for large amounts of common plant and animal species in those regions. Indicated by the large presence of oaks (Quercus spp.), the community is also dominated by inflammable shrubs and different vegetation commonly seen in oak savannas and oak woodlands. This plant life is often credited with assisting in maintaining air, soil, and water quality as well as playing a major role in biodiversity of different state regions. Conservation and Threats