Plants and Animals
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Plants
Virtually the only things guaranteed to be growing in the Acidic Boulderfield natural community are boulder-hugging lichens--which are actually not plants at all! A lichen is an organism that consists of an alga and a fungus living together symbiotically. Near the edges of the boulderfield you may find a stunted tree such as a sweet birch or some Virginia creeper.
Canopy Trees
The trees whose crowns intercept most of the sunlight in a forest stand. The uppermost layer of a forest.
Understory Trees
Small trees and young specimens of large trees growing beneath the canopy trees. Also called the subcanopy.
- chestnut oak (occasional)
- sassafras (occasional)
- sweet birch (occasional)
Shrubs, Saplings, and Vines
Shrubs, juvenile trees and vines at the right height to give birds and others a perch up off the ground but below the trees.
- Virginia creeper (occasional)
Low Plants (Field Layer)
Plants growing low to the ground. This includes small shrubs and tree seedlings.
Many lichen species (not true plants), probably including these:
- Culberson’s black-parmelia
- golden moonglow lichen
- Pennsylvania toadskin lichen
- toadskin lichen
Non-Native Invasive Plant Species
This habitat is too harsh for most non-native invasive plants.
Animals
Even though natural communities aren’t named after animals, animals do play a crucial role in maintaining natural communities. Plants and animals need each other. To name just a few examples, plants provide food and habitat for animals, and animals help plants reproduce by spreading pollen and seeds. To learn more, see The Role of Animals in Natural Communities in Ecology Basics.
Check out iNaturalist to see photos of animals (and plants!) that people have seen in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.