Nantucket's Endangered Maritime Heaths

by W. N. Tiffney, Jr., Univ of Massachusetts, Nantucket, Field Station, Nantucket, MA, USA,
D. E. Eveleigh, Univ of Massachusetts, Nantucket, Field Station, Nantucket, MA, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastal Zone '85

Abstract:

Heaths, though common in northern Europe, are of disjunct distribution and limited development on the east coast of North America. In contrast, Nantucket Island, Massachusetts supports a well-developed and extensive heath plant formation. European heaths are essentially dominated by one plant, Calluna vulgaris, in association with about six codominant, often Ericaceous, species, while Nantucket formations consist of a mosaic including some six dominant and four associated species not found in European heaths. However, both European and American heath formations are moulded by human activities, including burning, grazing, and timber use. Similar climates may also play a part in their parallel development.

Subject Headings: Islands | Ecosystems | Wood and wood products | Vegetation | Ocean engineering | Human and behavioral factors | Housing | Massachusetts | United States | Europe | North America

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