Bracken Grassland is mod-low to moderately vulnerable to climate change. This drought tolerant community is generally hardy, occurring on nutrient poor sites. Although changing climate may alter the flora and structure, shifting to more trees and brush.

Submitted by dshannon on

Bracken Grassland is moderately low to moderately vulnerable to climate change (when evaluated in low to high climate change emissions scenarios). This natural community occurs on nutrient poor sites with a history of disturbance, where non-native species are dominant alongside native weedy species. These generalist species may prove to be hardy in the face of a changing climate. Changes in community structure are a significant threat, mainly due to increasing cover from trees and brush. This may occur with CO2 enrichment and nitrogen deposition, as well as from diminishment of summer frost pockets as temperatures become warmer. Conditions that support fire, both wild and prescribed, may expand as dry spells and rising temperatures prime abundant fuels (bracken fern, Pennsylvania sedge, oak leaves). The application of prescribed fire may be altered by wetter springs and could require a shift to earlier burn windows or burning at different times of year. The competitive nature and drought tolerance of this community’s flora may help maintain its open nature. The occurrence of this community within mosaics of Pine Barrens and Northern Dry Forest on similar soils may either allow shifting of this community to new sites or may predispose them to conversion to savanna or forest.