Term
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Definition
| The fall line is the boundary between the Coastal Plains region and the central hardwood region. It is where the Appalachians meet the Coastal Plain, and falls and rapids are common where streams cross between the two regions. |
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Term
| What two types of soils make up the Coastal Plains? |
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Definition
Troup series-excessively drained
Mascotte series-poorly drained |
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Term
| define the Troup soil series: |
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Definition
| deep, somewhat excessively drained, moderately permeable soils, with a thick sandy surface and subsurface layers and loamy subsoils. They occur on 0-40% slopes. |
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Term
| define the Mascotte soil series: |
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Definition
| very deep, poorly drained and excessively poorly drained, moderately slowly permeable soils. They are found in low areas of 0-2% slopes. |
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Term
| define the climate of the coastal plains: |
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Definition
| it is a warm, moist climate-humid subtropical (except for southern Florida, which is tropical). Summers are hot and winters are relatively warm. Rainfall is abundant. |
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Term
| What types of pines dominate the dry pine forests? |
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Definition
slash pine, loblolly pine, and longleaf pine
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Term
| Which pine savannah type is almost gone and why? |
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Definition
| longleaf pine savannah, because of extensive harvesting of old-growth trees and fire suppression |
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Term
| describe longleaf pine's fire adapations, especially its two life stages: |
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Definition
Seedlings take the grass stage for about 4-8 years while they accumulate underground energy reserves. This helps protect the buds from fire damage, even if the needles are burned.
When seedlings reach the rocket stage, they quickly sprout and grow up to 6 feet per year so that the terminal bud can get above the fire line as soon as possible. |
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Term
| Which tree species dominate the bottomland hardwood region of the coastal plains? |
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Definition
| black tupelo, sweetgum, Atlantic white-cedar, and bald-cypress |
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Term
| What disturbance types dominate the bottomland hardwood forest region of the coastal plains? |
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Definition
| flooding and blow-down from wind |
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Term
| What are some of the reasons for land cover changes in the coastal plains? |
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Definition
-severe logging of longleaf pine
-fire suppression
-invasive species
-conversion of longleaf pine forests to plantation pines
-draining of wetlands for agriculture
-habitat fragmentation |
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