Blackjack oak, though found throughout the eastern and central United States, has a sparse distribution that is expected to increase under anthropogenic climate change, especially under more extreme atmospheric warming scenarios. Blackjack is present in southeastern Pennsylvania, but under more moderate and extreme climate change regimes, Pennsylvania will gain more suitable habitat for this species. However, this species may not colonize new habitat within the next 100 years so well. Â It is predicted to fill in gaps for lost niches of other species where its range does occur.
Blackjack oak, like most oak species, is prized for its value for wildlife. It is a host species of many butterflies, and its acorns are a high-fat food source. It is not a valuable timber species, but its wood is sometimes used for fencing and fuel. Blackjack can be a competitive species in some habitats, encroaching on grasslands and prairies in the central U.S., and is often managed with herbicides.
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.
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. For the two range maps, we utilized data from the Community Climate System Model, version 4.0.
Sources:
Blackjack Oak - Quercus marilandica. North Carolina State University Extension. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/quercus-marilandica/common-name/blackjack-oak/
Blackjack Oak (quercus marilandica). Climate Change Atlas - Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service. https://www.fs.usda.gov/nrs/atlas/tree/824
Blackjack Oak. Natural Resource Stewardship. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/forestry/iowa_trees/trees/blackjack_oak.html
Quercus marilandica. Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) Index of Species Information. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/quemar/all.html#FIRE%20ECOLOGY
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