Natural Communities

Defined: Natural Community (MN’s St. Croix River Valley and Anoka Sandplain, Weaver, et al): An assemblage that tends to reoccur over time and space, of native plants and animals species. Natural communities are classified and described according to their vegetation, successional status, topography, hydrological conditions, landforms, substrates, soils, and natural disturbance regimens (such as wildfires, windstorms, normal flood cycles, and normal infestations by native insects and microorganisms).

Regional Examples:     Algific Talus Slope, Calcareous Fen, Cedar Glade, Dry Cliff, Dry Prairie, Dry-Mesic Prairie, Emergent Aquatic, Ephemeral Pond, Floodplain Forest, Forested Seep, Hemlock Relict, Mesic Prairie, Moist Cliff, Oak Barrens, Oak Opening, Oak Woodland, Pine Barrens, Pine Relict, Sand Barrens, Sand Prairie, Shrub-Carr, Southern Dry Forest, Southern Dry-Mesic Forest, Southern Hardwood Swamp, Southern Mesic Forest, Southern Sedge Meadow, Submergent Aquatic, Talus Forest, Wet Prairie, Wet-Mesic Prairie