| Southeastern Mixed Forests (USA) |
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This ecoregion extends throughout the piedmont zone of the Appalachian Mountains from Maryland to Louisiana. It harbours a diverse fauna of amphibians, reptiles, and gastropods (although many of the endemic gastropod taxa are extinct), and over 3,600 species of native flowering plants. These forests are dominated by oaks, hickories, and pines, including Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata), Loblolly Pine (P. taeda), and Longleaf Pine (P. palustris), with the understorey of dogwoods (Cornus spp.), Red Bud (Cercis canandensis), junipers (Juniperus spp.), and the American Holly (Ilex opaca). This is the most heavily settled ecoregion along the east coast of the United States, and ca. 99% of the natural lands have been heavily logged, and converted to agriculture, tree plantations, and built-up areas. Forest fire suppression threatens the long-term persistence of many fire-dependent species. Presently, only nine blocks of relatively intact forest remain, e.g., Uwharrie, Sauratown Mountains, Brushy Mountains, and South Mountains national forests (North Carolina), Oconee National Forest and Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge (Georgia), Talladega National Forest (Alabama), etc.
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