Editing Northeastern coastal forests

{{Short description|Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest ecoregion of the United States}}
{{Infobox ecoregion
| name                        = Northeastern coastal forests
| image                       = Posts Brook from Norvin Green State Forest Lower Trail.jpg
| image_size                  =    
| image_alt                   = 
| image_caption               = [[Norvin Green State Forest]] in [[New Jersey]]
<!-- *** Country etc. *** -->
| country                     = [[United States]]
| state1                      = [[Connecticut]]
| state2                      = [[Delaware]]
| state3                      = [[Maine]]
| state4                      = [[Maryland]]
| state5                      = [[Massachusetts]]
| state6                      = [[New Hampshire]]
| state7                      = [[New Jersey]]
| state8                      = [[New York (state)|New York]]
| state9                      = [[Pennsylvania]]
| state10                     = [[Rhode Island]]
| state11                     = [[Vermont]]
| border1                     = [[New England-Acadian forests]]
| border2                     = [[Eastern Great Lakes lowland forests]]
| border3                     = [[Allegheny Highlands forests]]
| border4                     = [[Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests]]
| border5                     = [[Southeastern mixed forests]]
| border6                     = [[Middle Atlantic coastal forests]]
| border7                     = [[Atlantic coastal pine barrens]]
| bird_species                = 251<ref name = "Atlas">
{{cite book |last1 = Hoekstra |first1 = J. M. |last2 = Molnar |first2 = J. L. |last3 = Jennings |first3 = M. |last4 = Revenga |first4 = C. |last5 = Spalding |first5 = M. D. |last6 = Boucher |first6 = T. M. |last7 = Robertson |first7 = J. C. |last8 = Heibel |first8 = T. J. |last9 = Ellison |first9 = K. |title = The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference |publisher = [[University of California Press]] |editor1-last = Molnar |editor1-first = J. L. |year = 2010 |isbn = 978-0-520-26256-0 |url = https://archive.org/details/atlasofglobalcon0000unse |url-access = registration }}</ref>
| mammal_species              = 63<ref name = "Atlas"/>
| habitat_loss                = 40.8
| habitat_loss_ref            = <ref name = "Atlas"/>
| protected                   = 6.2
| protected_ref               = <ref name = "Atlas"/>
| area                        = 89691
| biogeographic_realm         = [[Nearctic realm|Nearctic]]
| biome                       = [[Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]]
| climate                     = [[Humid continental climate|Humid continental]] (''Dfa'' and ''Dfb'') and [[humid subtropical climate|humid subtropical]] (''Cfa'')
| map                         = Northeastern coastal forests map.svg
| map_size                    = 248
| map_alt                     = 
| map_caption                 = 
}}

The '''Northeastern coastal forests''' are a [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]] [[ecoregion]] of the northeast and [[middle Atlantic]] region of the United States. The ecoregion covers an area of 34,630 sq miles (89,691&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) encompassing the [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont]] and [[coastal plain]] of seven states, extending from coastal southwestern [[Maine]], southeastern [[New Hampshire]], eastern [[Massachusetts]], and [[Rhode Island]], southward through [[Connecticut]], [[New York State]], [[New Jersey]], southeast [[Pennsylvania]], [[Delaware]] and [[Maryland]].

The ecoregion is bounded on the east by the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. To the north, it transitions to the [[New England-Acadian forests]], which cover most of northern and inland [[New England]]. To the west, the ecoregion transitions to [[Allegheny Highlands forests]] and the [[Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests]] of the [[Appalachian Mountains]]. To the south lie the [[Southeastern mixed forests]] and the [[Middle Atlantic coastal forests]]. The ecoregion surrounds the distinct [[Atlantic coastal pine barrens]] ecoregion, which covers portions of [[New Jersey]], [[Long Island]] and [[Cape Cod]] in southeastern [[Massachusetts]].

==Climate==
The climate in this ecoregion is the broad transition from the [[humid continental climate|humid continental]] in the north to the [[humid subtropical climate]] in the south.

==Flora==
[[Oak]] forests dominate this ecoregion. American chestnut (''[[Castanea dentata]]'') was formerly important, but its population was devastated by the [[chestnut blight]] early in the 20th century.

===Dry-mesic oak forests===
[[Northeastern interior dry-mesic oak forest]]s are found throughout this ecoregion. They cover large areas at low and middle elevations, typically on flat to gently rolling terrain. Red oak (''[[Quercus rubra]]''), white oak (''[[Quercus alba]]''), and black oak (''[[Quercus velutina]]'') are common oaks in this habitat. Other trees include hickories (''[[Carya]]'' spp.), red maple (''[[Acer rubrum]]''), sugar maple (''[[Acer saccharum]]''), white ash (''[[Fraxinus americana]]''), tulip tree (''[[Liriodendron tulipifera]]''), American beech (''[[Fagus grandifolia]]''), black cherry (''[[Prunus serotina]]''), black birch (''[[Betula lenta]]''), black tupelo (''[[Nyssa sylvatica]]''), and American elm (''[[Ulmus americana]]''). Flowering dogwood (''[[Cornus florida]]'') is a common understory tree.<ref name = "PlantsNewJersey">{{cite book
  |last1 = Collins
  |first1 = B. R.
  |last2 = Anderson
  |first2 = K. H.
  |title = Plant Communities of New Jersey: A Study in Landscape Diversity
  |publisher = [[Rutgers University Press]]
  |year = 1994
  |isbn = 978-0-8135-2071-1
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchSystemUid=ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.723014 |title = Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest |publisher = NatureServe Explorer |accessdate= 7 October 2012}}</ref>

Common shrubs are maple-leaved viburnum (''[[viburnum acerifolium]]''), spicebush (''[[Lindera benzoin]]''), and witch hazel (''[[Hamamelis virginiana]]''). In sandier or more acidic soils are mountain laurel (''[[Kalmia latifolia]]''), blueberry (''[[Vaccinium pallidum]]''), huckleberry (''[[Gaylussacia baccata]]''), and swamp azalea (''[[Rhododendron viscosum]]'').<ref name = "PlantsNewJersey"/>

Mayapple (''[[Podophyllum peltatum]]'') is a common herbaceous plant.<ref name = "PlantsNewJersey"/>

===Hemlock-northern hardwood forests===
[[Appalachian hemlock–northern hardwood forest|Hemlock-northern hardwood forest]]s occur in deep coves, moist flats, and ravines. They include sugar maple, yellow birch (''[[Betula alleghaniensis]]''), and beech. These trees often form a deciduous canopy, but are sometimes mixed with hemlock (''[[Tsuga canadensis]]'') or white pine (''[[Pinus strobus]]''). Other common trees include oaks (most commonly red oak), tuliptree, black cherry, and sweet birch. In the Northeast, red spruce (''[[Picea rubens]]'') can be a minor canopy associate. Hophornbeam (''[[Ostrya virginiana]]'') is frequent but not dominant.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchSystemUid=ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.723013 |title = Appalachian (Hemlock)-Northern Hardwood Forest |publisher = NatureServe Explorer |accessdate= 7 October 2012}}</ref>

===Dry oak-pine forests===
[[Central Appalachian dry oak-pine forest]]s occur on dry sites with loamy to sandy soils. A mix of oak and pine tree species dominate the [[canopy (biology)|canopy]], typically chestnut oak (''[[Quercus prinus]]''), Virginia pine (''[[Pinus virginiana]]''), and white pine (''[[Pinus strobus]]''), but sometimes white oak (''[[Quercus alba]]'') or scarlet oak (''[[Quercus coccinea]]''). Varying amounts of oaks and pines result in oak forests, mixed oak-pine forests, or small pine forests. Shrubs such as hillside blueberry (''[[Vaccinium pallidum]]''), black huckleberry (''[[Gaylussacia baccata]]''), and mountain laurel (''[[Kalmia latifolia]]'') are common in the understory and can form a dense layer.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchSystemUid=ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.723015 |title = Central Appalachian Dry Oak-Pine Forest |publisher = NatureServe Explorer |accessdate= 3 November 2012}}</ref>

===Pine-oak rocky woodlands===
[[Central Appalachian pine-oak rocky woodland]]s occur on lower-elevation hilltops, [[outcrop]]s, and rocky slopes and have a patchy or open aspect. Pitch pine (''[[Pinus rigida]]'') and Virginia pine (''[[Pinus virginiana]]'') are common within their respective ranges. These pines are often mixed with dry-site [[oak]]s such as chestnut oak (''[[Quercus prinus]]''), bear oak (''[[Quercus ilicifolia]]''), northern red oak (''[[Quercus rubra]]''), and scarlet oak (''[[Quercus coccinea]]'').  Sprouts of chestnut (''[[Castanea dentata]]'') can also be found. In the northeast, eastern red-cedar (''[[Juniperus virginiana]]'') or hophornbeam (''[[Ostrya virginiana]]'') are sometimes important. In the understory, some areas have a fairly well-developed [[heath]] [[shrub layer]], others a [[graminoid]] layer, the latter particularly common under deciduous trees such as oaks.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchSystemUid=ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.723009 |title = Central Appalachian Pine-Oak Rocky Woodland |publisher = NatureServe Explorer |accessdate= 4 November 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Harriman state park.jpg|thumb|center|600px|[[Harriman State Park (New York)|Harriman State Park]] in [[New York (state)|New York]].]]

===Successional plant communities===
These occur in formerly cleared land, such as old farms, that have been abandoned. Eastern red cedar (''[[Juniperus virginiana]]'') are some of the first trees to occupy these lands.<ref name = "PlantsNewJersey"/>

===Freshwater wetlands===
Marshes occur where standing water is present for most of the year. Common reed (''[[Phragmites australis]]'') and cattails (''[[Typha]]'' spp.) are often abundant.<ref name = "PlantsNewJersey"/>

Swamps and floodplains occur where standing water is present for only some parts of the year. Red maple is a common tree, and can be found with swamp tupelo, white ash, American elm, pin oak (''[[Quercus palustris]]''), swamp white oak (''[[Quercus bicolor]]''), and silver maple (''[[Acer saccharinum]]''). Spicebush is a common shrub. Skunk cabbage (''[[Symplocarpus foetidus]]'') is found here.<ref name = "PlantsNewJersey"/>

==Fauna==
Some of the animals that live in the Northeastern coastal deciduous forests are [[white-tailed deer]], [[eastern gray squirrel]]s, [[chipmunk]]s, [[red fox]]es, [[American sparrow|sparrow]]s, [[chickadee]]s, [[Agkistrodon contortrix|copperheads]], [[rattlesnake]]s, [[northern water snake]]s, [[box turtle]]s, [[snapping turtle]]s, [[black rat snakes]], [[garter snake]]s, [[snail]]s, [[American toad]]s, [[coyote]]s, [[American black bear|black bear]]s, [[bobcat]]s, [[beaver]]s, [[woodchuck]]s, [[skunk]]s, and [[raccoon]]s. Chickadees, white-tailed deer, and eastern gray squirrels can be seen quite often. [[Eastern wolf|Eastern wolves]] and [[eastern cougar]]s used to be quite common, but are extirpated, causing endemic growth in deer populations near suburban areas, with [[eastern coyote]]s generally taking their place by the mid-20th century.
[[Moose]] may also be seen in some of the northernmost regions of the Northeastern coastal forests, though this is very, very rare.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patch.com/massachusetts/worcester/moose-comeback-massachusetts-map-shows-sightings-deaths|title=Moose Map Shows Sightings, Deaths In Massachusetts: See Your Town|date=December 4, 2019|website=Worcester, MA Patch}}</ref> Other fauna that occupy the area include [[bog turtle]]s, [[duck]]s, [[rabbit]]s, [[eagle]]s, and (formerly) [[Canada lynx]] and [[sea mink]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ecologicalregions.info/data/vt/new_eng_front.pdf|title=Ecoregions of New England|website=ecologicalregions.info|accessdate=2021-10-10}}</ref>

==Areas of intact habitat==
The following natural areas are within this ecoregion<ref name="terrestrial">{{cite journal |author = Olson |title = Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth |journal = [[BioScience]] |year = 2001 |volume = 51 |issue = 11 |pages = 933–938 |doi = 10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0933:TEOTWA]2.0.CO;2 |author2 = D. M |author3 = E. Dinerstein |display-authors = etal |doi-access = free }}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* New Hampshire
** [[Bear Brook State Park]]
** [[Pawtuckaway State Park]]
* Massachusetts
** [[Douglas State Forest]]
** [[Freetown-Fall River State Forest]]
** [[Great Marsh|Great Salt Marsh]]
** [[Hockomock Swamp]]
** [[Parker River National Wildlife Refuge]]
** [[Frederick Weston Memorial Forest]]
** [[Wompatuck State Park]]
* Rhode Island
** [[Arcadia State Park|Arcadia Management Area]]
** [[Great Swamp Management Area]]
* Connecticut
** [[Meshomasic State Forest]]
** [[Natchaug State Forest]]
** [[Pachaug State Forest]]
** [[Yale-Myers Forest]]
* New York
** [[Bear Mountain State Park]]
** [[Black Rock Forest]]
** [[Clarence Fahnestock State Park]]
** [[Harriman State Park (New York)|Harriman State Park]]
** [[Hudson Highlands State Park]]
** [[Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge]]
** [[Sterling Forest State Park]]
** [[Storm King State Park]]
* New Jersey
** [[Abram S. Hewitt State Forest]]
** [[Cheesequake State Park]]
** [[Great Piece Meadows]]
** [[Jenny Jump State Forest]]
** [[Mahlon Dickerson Reservation]]
** [[Norvin Green State Forest]]
** [[Rancocas State Park]]
** [[Ringwood State Park]]
** [[Troy Meadows]]
** [[Wawayanda State Park]]
* Pennsylvania
** [[Hopewell Big Woods]]
** [[Ridley Creek State Park]]
** [[Evansburg State Park]]
** [[French Creek State Park]]
* Maryland
** [[Patuxent River State Park]]
** [[Elk Neck State Forest]]
** [[Elk Neck State Park]]
* Delaware
** [[White Clay Creek State Park]]
** [[Brandywine Creek State Park]]
** [[Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area]]
** [[Bellevue State Park (Delaware)|Bellevue State Park]]
** [[Auburn Valley State Park]]
** [[Valley Garden Park]]
** [[Alapocas Run State Park]]
** [[Middle Run Valley Natural Area]]
** [[Brandywine Park]]
** [[First State National Historical Park]]
** [[Forwood Preserve]] 
** [[Fox Point State Park]]
** [[Bringhurst Woods Park]]
** [[Rockwood Museum and Park|Rockwood Park]]
** [[Sellers Park]]
** [[Talley Day Park]]
** [[William M. Redd, Jr. Park]]
** [[The Hermitage (New Castle, Delaware)]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==

{{portal|New Hampshire}}
* [[List of ecoregions in the United States (WWF)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/na0411 Northeastern coastal forests (World Wildlife Fund)]
*[http://www.globalspecies.org/ecoregions/display/NA0411 List of species and other data]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Northeastern Coastal Forests}}
[[Category:Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests in the United States]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of the United States]]
[[Category:Flora of the Northeastern United States|*]]
[[Category:Forests of New York (state)]]
[[Category:Forests of Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Plant communities of the Eastern United States]]
[[Category:Plant communities of Maryland]]
[[Category:Plant communities of New York (state)]]
[[Category:Plant communities of Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Flora of Connecticut|*]]
[[Category:Flora of Delaware|*]]
[[Category:Flora of Maine|*]]
[[Category:Flora of Massachusetts|*]]
[[Category:Flora of New Hampshire|*]]
[[Category:Flora of New Jersey|*]]
[[Category:Flora of Rhode Island|*]]
[[Category:Nearctic ecoregions]]