Tennessee Bottomland Hardwood Forests

The natural area protects approximately 216 acres of bottomland hardwood forest smaller areas of riparian forest and shrub and herbaceous plant dominated wetlands.

Tennessee bottomland hardwood forests.

Scientists often consider a bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem as an extension ofa river. Forest occurring along semi permanently flooded sloughs and pools and forest occurring on seasonally flooded higher ground. Since the 1800s these forested wetlands have been logged and drained for agriculture. Chickasaw national wildlife refuge has the largest tract of bottomland hardwood forest in tennessee and lies in the lower mississippi river floodplain with eight miles of the refuge s western boundary adjoining the mississippi river.

The 270 acre natural area is part of the 330 acre big cypress tree state park located in weakley county. The natural area protects approximately 216 acres of bottomland hardwood forest smaller areas of riparian forest and shrub and herbaceous plant dominated wetlands. Bottomland hardwood forests are floodplain forests that are periodically inundated or saturated during the growing season. They are found along rivers and streams of the southeast and south central united states generally in broad floodplains.

The 270 acre natural area is part of the 330 acre big cypress tree state park located in weakley county. Description bottomland hardwood forests are river swamps. The bottomland hardwoods consist of two community types. The bottomland hardwood forest is a type of deciduous and evergreen hardwood forest found in us broad lowland floodplains along large rivers and lakes.

These forests are critically important to biodiversity wildlife carbon storage recreation and clean water in the south. In tennessee this ecosystem supports a unique forest community ofbald cypress water tupelo black gum and numerous species ofoak. They are occasionally flooded which builds up the alluvial soils required for the gum oak and bald cypress trees that typically grow in this type of biome. The federal government passed a series of legislative acts that protected wetlands and provided monetary support for restoration.

Abstract hardwood bottomland ecosystems provide critical habitat for various wildlife among numerous ecosystem services.