Chamaecyparis thyoides
Atlantic white cedar is a member of the Cypress family. Its native range exists from Maine to Georgia, with other populations present in northern Florida and southern Mississippi. This species is not fairly common because it is restricted to coastal regions or wet to swampy areas. Unfortunately, alterations to hydrology and fire disturbance, as well as over-harvesting, have led to great declines in Atlantic white cedar numbers.
This species has significant value historically. It had high commercial value because its timber is lightweight, has low shrinkage, and is decay and weather-resistant. In colonial settler times, this wood was used for shingles, boats, barrels, and more. Today, it is used for telephone poles and pilings.
As it typically lives in freshwater swamps or bogs, it has a high tolerance to saturated soil but cannot grow on dry soil. It cannot tolerate long periods of standing flood water, however. It generally grows on peat but will grow on sandy soil occasionally. Soil conditions are acidic.
Atlantic white cedar typically grows in dense stands of itself. This species has a shallow root system from growing in low-oxygenated, saturated soils, but in areas where the soil is more aerated, the root system can penetrate beyond just one to two feet of soil. The root system is composed of lateral roots anchored in spongy peat, so trees are often felled by wind.
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Atlantic white cedar, though limited in range, is a climate-resilient species because of its ability to handle adverse stresses that many other tree species cannot. While it highly is susceptible to fire, wind, and drought, it can recover somewhat fairly. It responds to fire and browsing disturbance through vegetative shoot production. Atlantic white cedar can exist within a somewhat wide range of temperatures.
The main climate-resilient assets of Atlantic white cedar draws on its ability to tolerate wet soil and flooding. With more frequent flooding events expected under a hotter climate, this species will be useful in maintaining forest ecosystems along the coasts and in wetland areas.
As Atlantic white cedar is not salt tolerant, sea level rise as a byproduct of climate change, threatens this species. Atlantic white cedar is highly prone to death and damage from fire and wind, increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes, storms, and wildfires under a changing climate will also threaten remaining populations.
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As we look to the future of our forests, we must reconcile that some endemic species may not survive in a warmer climate. Therefore, it's important for us to consider growing and planting unconventional species to fill ecological and cultural niches left empty by species that may die out.Â
This infographic series was inspired in part by a presentation given by Jehane Samaha at the 2024 Canopy Conference at Haverford College, where she explored tree species that we may see more of in Pennsylvania as the climate warms. White oak is just one example. For the two range maps, we utilized data from the Community Climate System Model, version 4.0 offered through the USDA Forest Service.
Resources:
Atlantic White Cedar Initiative: Chamaecyparis thyoides. (2019, August 6). Atlantic White Cedar Initiative. Raleigh, NC. https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Atlantic%20White%20Cedar%20Initiative.pdf
Atlantic white-cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides). Climate Change Atlas - Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service. (n.d.-a). https://www.fs.usda.gov/nrs/atlas/tree/43
Little, S. and Garrett, P. W. Chamaecyparis thyoides (L.) B.S. P.: Atlantic White-Cedar. USDA Forest Service. https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_1/chamaecyparis/thyoides.htm
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