Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii) COSEWIC update status report: chapter 2

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Executive Summary

Species Information

Shumard Oak is a large tree with massive limbs and an open, wide-spreading canopy. Older specimens have a heavily buttressed trunk that is covered with dark grey furrowed bark. The bark of younger limbs has smooth light grey bark. Branchlets are reddish or greyish brown with terminal buds that are oval, pointed and grey. The leaves are 5-7 lobed, with the lobes cut more than half way to the midrib. The upper leaf surface is lustrous and the lower has conspicuous tufts of hair in the axils of the veins. Leaves turn a deep wine-red in the fall. Acorns are about 2.5 cm long and enclosed by a shallow flat-topped grey cup.

Distribution

The species is found throughout eastern North America from Indiana and North Carolina south to Texas and northern Florida. Isolated outliers occur in southern Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Virginia but it is largely absent from the Appalachians. Its Canadian range is restricted to southwestern Ontario.

Habitat

Shumard Oak prefers rich, moist, poorly-drained clay and clay loam soil in deciduous woodlands.

Biology

Little specific information has been compiled on the biology of this species. Like other oaks, this species requires full sunlight for seedling establishment. These conditions are met, in particular, at sites where the trees occur along fencerows and along roadsides. Shumard Oak also regenerates through its ability to sprout from stumps after brushing activities along fencerows.

Population sizes and trends

Thorough inventories have not been undertaken to determine the full extent and distribution of Shumard Oak within southwestern Ontario, however, several people have searched the five known counties/regional municipalities (see Figure 3) at various times and recorded tree size and numbers of trees (Waldron et al.,1987; Oldham, 1998). Most sites consist of single, relic trees along fencerows or in fields. Regeneration is reported at some sites where the oak occurs in woods or occasionally in open fields. Fencerow trees are sometimes cut down during fenceline brushing operations, but the oak is able to re-sprout from the base and thus at least persist at such locations (Waldron et al., 1987). Fewer than 40 locations are presently known for this tree with the total number likely being <<1000 and possibly only as many as 250.

Limiting factors and threats

Many of the sites of Shumard Oak occur in fencerows, fields, or along roads. Such isolated trees are at risk from fencerow brushing and field clearing. Large forest-grown trees are at risk from logging. Confusion with similar species such as red oak increases this species’ vulnerability from inadvertent loss from the above-named activities.

Special significance of the species

It has the potential for being used as an ornamental and for planting in parks.

Existing protection or other status designations

No specific actions have been taken to protect this species. Three of the sites for this species occur in protected areas.

COSEWIC Mandate

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) determines the national status of wild species, subspecies, varieties, and nationally significant populations that are considered to be at risk in Canada. Designations are made on all native species for the following taxonomic groups: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, lepidopterans, molluscs, vascular plants, lichens, and mosses.

COSEWIC Membership

COSEWIC comprises representatives from each provincial and territorial government wildlife agency, four federal agencies (Canadian Wildlife Service, Parks Canada Agency, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Federal Biosystematic Partnership), three nonjurisdictional members and the co-chairs of the species specialist groups. The committee meets to consider status reports on candidate species.

Definitions

Species

Any indigenous species, subspecies, variety, or geographically defined population of wild fauna and flora.

Extinct (X)

A species that no longer exists.

Extirpated (XT)

A species no longer existing in the wild in Canada, but occurring elsewhere.

Endangered (E)

A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.

Threatened (T)

A species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed.

Special Concern (SC)^Footnote1

A species of special concern because of characteristics that make it particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events.

Not at Risk (NAR)^Footnote2

A species that has been evaluated and found to be not at risk.

Data Deficient (DD)^Footnote3

A species for which there is insufficient scientific information to support status designation.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) was created in 1977 as a result of a recommendation at the Federal-Provincial Wildlife Conference held in 1976. It arose from the need for a single, official, scientifically sound, national listing of wildlife species at risk. In 1978, COSEWIC designated its first species and produced its first list of Canadian species at risk. Species designated at meetings of the full committee are added to the list.