Once revered as a zone of hardwood forest, the vegetation of Ohio has currently reduced from what it used to be but still boasts of possessing a wide range plant species. Nonetheless, the vegetation remains significant in the Eastern North America despite currently being impossible to form an elaborate picture for the actual appearance of the forest. This can, however, be blamed on human activities that did not see it fit to preserve primeval vegetation section for austerity purposes in the future. The vegetation though is still with diverse natural vegetation with significant forest regions that sometimes can be too complex with extensive, diverse vegetation types with vegetation such as the red oak, white ash, and wild cherry with shrubs and trees that need enough shade and healthy soil. Different species of vegetation, however, occur in the different forest regions with some narrowly focused in one region while other widely focused in the Ohio vegetation. All the species in the vegetation are however influenced by various environmental factors that exist in the region.
The vegetation of Ohio is presented with many environmental factors that among them include atmospheric, edaphic or soil, biotic and physiographic that influences the geographic distribution of the wide range of species in the region. The factors may have individually influenced or still influence the species but in most cases a factor acts incorporation with all the other environmental factors in determining the occurrence of the species. Temperature and precipitation brought about by atmospheric aspects for instance factors in the distribution of the existing species in the vegetation. While temperature may not be highly effective than the periods of less frost and intense colds in winter, it may be harmful in when extremely low thus influencing the occurrence of species. This can be evidenced in the species distribution pattern in the Northern region of the vegetation such as the Nempanthus mucronate and Cornus canadensis (Braun 133). The species represent growth in regions of that have low winter temperatures while also experiencing heavy snowfall with a short growing season. Such conditions lead to the short growth of species such as in Cornus Canadensis, which is shrub with slow growth.
The physiography of the region which in essence is the physical geography also significantly determines how the plant species of Ohio vegetation are spread. Together with the topographic features the physical geography of the region has a significant impact on the range of the types of species. Ohio possesses a myriad of elaborate physiographic areas with each owning a unique topographical and soil features (Braun 174). Land slope often influences run-off and insolation that go further to affect atmospheric factors such as humidity, precipitation, and temperature. As such areas that present strong relief due to physiographical influences enable the occurrences of a wider range of plant habitants and eventually species compared to low relief areas. In this regard, it is common to find more native species in hilly regions compared to flat regions of the same size.
The Ohio vegetation though influenced by human activities is highly dependent on environmental factors to determine the occurrence of its species. Most species are largely found in specific forest regions while missing in others. The fact that temperatures have the ability to influence the growth of species such as Cornus Canadensis is evidence to the dependency of the vegetation on environmental factors. Physical geography also determines the spread and existence of certain species and vegetation such as the native species being more common in hilly areas and minimal in flat areas. Thus, it suffices to suggest that the Ohio vegetation largely depends on the correlation between it and its environment to exist.
Reference
Braun, E L. The Woody Plants of Ohio, Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Climbers, Native, Naturalized, and Escaped: A Contribution Toward the Vascular Flora of Ohio : 'facs : of the. New York, London: Hafner, 2005. Print.
