Chapter 4 Habitats
4.4.7 Grass and Heath Balds 4.4.7.1 Ecosystem Description
Classification of the Natural Communities of North Carolina, Fourth Approximation (Schafale 2024) has described this natural community as Grass and Heath Balds Theme. There are eight community subtypes in this community (Schafale 2024) . • Grassy Bald (Grass, Sedge, Alder subtypes) • Heath Bald (Catawba Rhododendron, Southern Mixed, Slate, Sand Myrtle, Low Elevation subtypes) Balds are treeless shrub- or herb-dominated communities of the high Mountains. The treeless areas do not represent a climatic timberline and often occur near higher peaks that are forested. The ecological factors creating balds are not well understood. Harsh climate and shallow soil seem to be factors in some, particularly Heath Balds, but many examples of both community types are being invaded by trees and, in the case of grassy balds, shrubs. Fire may have been a factor, but many bald sites do not appear prone to fire and are surrounded by vegetation that apparently did not burn. Grassy Balds are open meadows typically dominated by mountain oatgrass and sedges, with a fairly diverse mixture of other species. They usually occur on broad ridgetops. Heath Balds are dense thickets of tall shrubs with Catawba Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel as the most common dominants. An unusual dominant at Roan Mountain is Green Alder, not found elsewhere in North Carolina. Most Heath Balds are on sharp spur ridges, but some occur on rounded peaks or ridgetops. High-elevation communities are characterized by cool temperatures, relatively high moisture levels within forests, short growing seasons, exposed rock and acidic soils, and extreme weather events. Canopy trees are often misshapen due to persistent strong winds. Open communities (sparse-to-no tree canopy) such as heath or grassy balds and rock outcrops are scattered throughout. Spreading Avens (a federally listed endangered plant species) is endemic to high-elevation grassy balds (Wear and Greis 2012) . It has been discovered that some places that superficially resemble balds were cleared of forest in historical times, but other balds apparently were open throughout history. The presence of disjunct species that require open habitat suggests that some balds have been open since the Ice Age. Large herbivores, such as Elk and Bison may have kept grassy balds open through grazing. Another possibility is that Native Americans worked to keep grassy balds open for game by burning or by other clearing methods.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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