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Questions and Answers: 2021

Question: Hello, I have often used the key and been confused by some of the distinctions in the "specific habitat" section-- …

• Question

  Hello, I have often used the key and been confused by some of the distinctions in the "specific habitat" section-- particularly, the distinction between shores of rivers and floodplains, and between forests and woodlands, and I was wondering about how and why they are differentiated. Thank you.

  Answer

  Dear ljalos, good morning. Briefly, a river shoreline is an open natural community immediately adjacent to the river channel, while the floodplain is typically forested (at least in New England) and sits behind the open shoreline (if one exists). A forest is a closed canopy wooded setting with greater than 2/3 canopy closure. This contrasts with a woodland, which has trees more spaced out and usually with less than 2/3 canopy closure. If these explanations don't assist, let me know (please).