Remnant fire disturbed montane longleaf pine forest in west central georgia

Fire disturbed ecosystems are characteristic of the Southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States. Less well known are fire disturbed mountainous regions of the Piedmont and Appalachian region that support longleaf pine (Pinus palustris P. Mill.) ecosystems. The Pine Mountain Range in the Piedmont of west central Georgia has remnant longleaf pine ecosystems that occupy steep slopes with shallow soils. The montane longleaf ecosystems contain an unusual species composition of coastal plain (Quercus margaretta Ashe) and Appalachian (Vaccinium pallidum Ait.) species. Landscape scale analysis of vegetation and soils revealed four major ecosystems influenced by topography, soils, and fire history.