An Analysis of Oak Habitats in Arkansas Aims to Aid Conservation Efforts

In an online event on August 4, 2021, Dr. Suresh Subedi, Assistant Professor at Arkansas Tech University, presented an ongoing project that analyzes herbarium specimens of oaks collected in Arkansas, USA. Hosted by the Arkansas Native Plant Society, this presentation is now available online.

Arkansas possesses an incredible amount of oak diversity due to its varied physiography and topography, with low lands and swamps in the eastern and southern part of the state, and sizable mountains with steep cliffs and deep, protected valleys in the north and west. Similarly, the climate is also variable, with the northwestern corner of the state usually receiving considerably more snow than the southeast. All of these factors make it possible to find suitable habitats for the many species of oaks in Arkansas. There are more than 25 native species of oak in the state, while many non-native and hybrid species are also present. Based on thousands of herbarium specimens, Dr. Subedi and his team are creating a database for all oak species collected in the state and mapping their collection locations using Geographical Information System (GIS). With the knowledge of oak species’ distribution based on thousands of historical collection records throughout Arkansas, this study may inform conservation and management decisions in response to changes in the future environment for oak forest habitats in the state of Arkansas and in North America as a whole.

The Arkansas Native Plant Society promotes the preservation, conservation, study, and enjoyment of the native plants of Arkansas, the education of the public regarding the value of native plants and their habitats, and the publication of related information. For more information, visit their website at www.anps.org