Classification of the Natural Communities of North Carolina
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4th Approximation
A01=Michael P. Schafale
Author_Michael P. Schafale
Carolina Vegetation Survey
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Category=PD
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forthcoming
National Vegetation Classification
North Carolina Biodiversity
North Carolina Ecological Themes
North Carolina Ecology
North Carolina Ecosystems
North Carolina Habitat Associations
North Carolina Habitats
North Carolina natural communities
North Carolina natural community classification
North Carolina Natural Heritage Program
North Carolina Wildlife Action Plan
Product details
- ISBN 9781469684116
- Dimensions: 25 x 216mm
- Publication Date: 30 Jun 2026
- Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
- Publication City/Country: US
- Product Form: Paperback
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The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program’s Classification of the Natural Communities, now in its fourth edition, is intended as a reference book describing the state’s biodiversity at the community and ecosystem levels. It describes natural patterns of organisms that typically co-occur together in a particular kind of environment. The classification draws on years of use and data collection by North Carolina’s Natural Heritage Program, the extensive vegetation plot data of the Carolina Vegetation Survey, and the National Vegetation Classification. The classification units are intended for detailed conservation planning at the natural community level, for representing the diversity of ecological function, for characterizing the habitats of species, and for contributing to the conservation of the myriad species that are too poorly known to track individually.
The 343 community subtypes are grouped into types and are nested within 30 broader ecological themes that have been recognized in North Carolina for decades, retaining continuity with previous editions. Material to aid in identification of the communities includes concept statements, dichotomous keys, and descriptions of the distinctions from closely related communities. Extensive descriptions of each community and each theme include sections on physical settings, soils, hydrology, vegetation, range, abundance, and ecological dynamics, using scientific nomenclature and terminology. Crosswalks to the National Vegetation Classification and to NatureServe’s ecological systems and listings of rare plant and animal species associated with each community provide additional functionality. While technical in style—mostly providing scientific names instead of common names—this book can offer the educated layperson and scientist alike an expanded appreciation of the diversity of natural settings in North Carolina. It is expected to remain a primary reference for years to come.
The 343 community subtypes are grouped into types and are nested within 30 broader ecological themes that have been recognized in North Carolina for decades, retaining continuity with previous editions. Material to aid in identification of the communities includes concept statements, dichotomous keys, and descriptions of the distinctions from closely related communities. Extensive descriptions of each community and each theme include sections on physical settings, soils, hydrology, vegetation, range, abundance, and ecological dynamics, using scientific nomenclature and terminology. Crosswalks to the National Vegetation Classification and to NatureServe’s ecological systems and listings of rare plant and animal species associated with each community provide additional functionality. While technical in style—mostly providing scientific names instead of common names—this book can offer the educated layperson and scientist alike an expanded appreciation of the diversity of natural settings in North Carolina. It is expected to remain a primary reference for years to come.
Michael P. Schafale has worked as a community ecologist for the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program for forty years and is lead author of all editions of the Classification of Natural Communities of North Carolina. His work has focused on the conservation of the state’s natural communities and natural areas, including tracking occurrences, identifying significant sites, and stewardship of conservation areas.
