Credits

Created by Virginia Pellington, Christina Prehn, and Robert Copus, Explore Natural Communities Interns Summer 2016, NatureServe.   

Sounds: Civil War Drummer, recorded by DrumM8 (soundbible.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0. Bird sounds from xeno-canto.org: Tufted Titmouse, recorded by Antonio Xeira, http://www.xeno-canto.org/313505; White-breasted Nuthatch, recorded by Richard E. Webster, http://www.xeno-canto.org/321977. Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0.

Music: Carpe Diem, by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0.

Photo: Basic Oak - Hickory Forest, by Milo Pyne, courtesy of NatureServe. Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0.

Transcript

Podcast time: 3:10 minutes

The oak tree has long been cherished for its size, longevity, and classic look. It also plays an important role in the natural communities where it lives. The Basic Oak - Hickory Forest is one such community. It can be found at the historic Murphy Farm [Murphy-Chambers Farm] at Harpers Ferry. During the Civil War, this land hosted a pivotal battle for the Confederates that allowed them to capture 12,000 Union troops. Murphy Farm [Murphy-Chambers Farm] was farmed for many decades before and after the war. Today, however, you'll discover that forests, including the Basic Oak - Hickory Forest, blanket the hillsides that lead down to the Shenandoah River. Like many types of forest in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, this natural community has a mixed canopy of hickories (Carya spp.) and oaks (Quercus spp.)!

Below the soil, here, is the rock foundation called “Harpers Formation.” This kind of bedrock contributes important minerals and nutrients to the soil above it. It’s possible that in years past, pastured animals like cows may have also added “compost” to this soil where the Basic Oak - Hickory Forest stands. The fertile soil creates an ideal environment for native plants like wild comfrey (Cynoglossum virginianum) and American lopseed (Phryma leptostachya) that seem a little picky about the soil they grow in, since they aren’t found on many different soils in Harpers Ferry.

White oak   also thrives here along with black oak  and others. As you might have guessed, these oaks don't appear to be black or white! To identify them, look at the shape of the lobes on their leaves. Black oak leaves seem massive, growing up to 10 inches long. They are shiny on top with pointed tips, each one topped with a soft bristle. Flip them over to find tufts of brown hairs where veins come together. In contrast, white oak leaves have rounded, finger-like lobes and a pale underside.

These leafy oaks, part of the tall forest canopy, create a great micro-habitat in their understory for shade-loving plants. The oaks’ acorns are an important food source for wild animals like deer, foxes, squirrels, and even some birds that live in Harpers Ferry all year long like white-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis), tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor), pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), and wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo).

Oaks not only serve this natural community—they also serve many human uses as well. The park doesn’t harvest trees. But, white oak bark is used as an herbal remedy and in the traditional methods of tanning leather. The watertight heartwood of white oak makes excellent material for wine and whiskey barrels. Black oak is largely used in furniture and cabinet making. So, you can see, oaks play a role in things we may use every day, and in other specialty items. Next time you're leaning back in a leather chair or admiring a bottle of aged wine in an oak cabinet, think about the oak trees and their contribution!

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