Investigate Alabama’s Ecoregions

An ecoregion is a major ecosystem defined by its distinct geographic region and environmental conditions such as solar radiation and moisture and its natural communities.

Alabama contains a diverse set of geographic features including ridges and valleys, Appalachian foothills, cave systems, rivers, lakes, swamps, flat plains, and coastal habitats. The more mountainous regions in the northeastern part of the state are separated from flat plains in the southern part of the state by the fall line. The fall line is a visible geographic feature characterized by a change in elevation and rock structure. The diversity in the geographic features of Alabama has resulted in a high diversity of species in the state. Alabama has 6 distinct ecoregions, each characterized by a set of physical characteristics and biological communities.

Investigate
Alabama’s Ecoregions

An ecoregion is a major ecosystem defined by its distinct geographic region and environmental conditions such as solar radiation and moisture and its natural communities.

Little River Canyon
flickr – Alby Headrick

Learn More About...

Click the ecoregions below to learn more about them!

1. Interior Plateau

2. Southwestern Appalachians

3. Ridge and Valley

4. Piedmont Fall Line

Fall Line

5. Southeastern Plains

6. Southern Coastal Plain

To explore more ecosystems and biomes across the world, visit The Wild Classroom’s Explore Biomes page or NASA Earth Observatory’s Mission: Biomes page.

Interior Plateau

Description:

Also called the Highland Rim region
Northernmost ecoregion in Alabama
Elevation ranges from 420 to 900 feet and is lower than the Appalachian ecoregions of Alabama
Tennessee River runs through this ecoregion
Characterized by flat plains with some hills
Deeper valleys along larger streams or where limestone has been eroded away
Rock cliffs in this region are some of the oldest in Alabama

Geology:

This region’s rocks are primarily limestone, sandstone, and shale
Limestone erosion leads to rich, red soils
Limestone erosion also leads to a karst landscape (one in which limestone underneath has eroded away, forming caves, ridges, and sinkholes)

The Tennessee River Valley plays an important role in Alabama’s agricultural crops including cotton, corn, and soybeans. The rich red, soils created from erosion of limestone is beneficial for growing these crops.

Habitats:

Forests are mostly oak-hickory
Includes areas with shallow soil where limestone bedrock can be exposed forms cedar glades
Praries of little bluestem
Other habitats include springs, sinks, seeps, caves, and rock shelters

Geology Freatures at Cane Creek Nature Preserve
flickr – Michael Hicks

Notable Landmarks and Species:

Canecreek Canyon Nature Preserve in Tuscumbia
Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville

In Alabama, the Swamp Metalmark butterfly and Bell’s Roadside Skipper can only found in the Interior Plateau ecoregion. The population of the Tall Thisle plant serves as a host species where the Swamp Metalmark can lay its eggs.

Swamp Metalmark
flickr – Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

Southwestern Appalachians

Description:

Also called the Cumberland Plateau region
Landscape described as low mountains
Flat topped plateaus with higher elevations are separated by either steep cliffs or more gradual valleys
Elevation ranges from 500 feet in the southwest region up to 1,800 feet in the northeast section
Characterized by more precipitation than other ecoregions and lower annual temperatures than surrounding ecoregions
The northeast portion contains steep-sloped forests and streams

Geology:

Northeast region contains sandstone, siltstone, shale, and conglomerate (smaller sized rocks held together by a natural “cement”)
The central portion of this region is composed of rocks that contain layers of coal
The southwest region has more shale and less sandstone than the other portions of this region
Landforms are created as a result of erosion
- Sandstone is resistant to erosion
- Streams have carved valleys in softter limestone and dolomite rocks

Bankhead National Forest
flickr – Outdoor Alabama – Keith Bozeman

Habitats:

Habitats in this ecoregion contain well-drained and acidic soils
Areas of higher elevations have mostly mixed oak forests
Forests in valleys and gorges include American beech, tulip poplar, sugar maple, and buckeye

Little River Canyon
flickr – Alby Headrick

Notable Landmarks:

Little River Canyon in Fort Payne
- Largest canyon in the eastern United States
- Tall sandstone canyon walls surround large waterfalls
Bankhead National Forest in Double Springs
- Public recreation and scenic wilderness area
- Includes the Sipesy wilderness area
Desoto State Park in Fort Payne
Rickwood Caverns State Park in Warrior
Lake Guntersville State Park in Guntersville
Black Warrior River
Tennessee River

Little River Canyon
Wikimedia – Richard A. Weaver

Bankhead National Forest
Wikimedia – Fredlyfish4

Ridge and Valley

Description:

Characterized by long regions of tall, crested ridges and deep, steep valleys
Ridges and valleys were created due to folding and faluting of the landscape
Sometimes called the Coosa Valley after the broadest valley in the region

Geology:

Contains various rock types throughout the region including limestone, dolomite, shale, siltstone, sandstone, and marble
Ridges are mainly made of sandstone
Valleys are composed of shale, limestone, and dolomite
Some areas contain higher amounts of iron or marble
Soils are made from weathered rock types including shale, shale/limestone, and clay and can be acidic

The City of Birmingham is located in one of the valleys in this ecoregion. In this area, there is exposed iron ore, giving the rocks a reddish color. The availability of iron and coal seams provided the materials for the successful iron and steel industry in Birmingham. Because of the rapid growth of the industry and city, Birmingham became known as “The Magic City”.

Habitats:

Ridges contain mixed hardwood or mixed oak and pine forests
Valleys contain mostly mixed forests with species that are adapted to moist environments
Natural springs and freshwater streams are abundant
Caves are found in this region
Freshwater fish diversity in this region is extremely high
- Drained by the Coosa River, Cahaba River, and Black Warrior River System

Desoto Caverns
flickr – Roger Smith

Notable Landmarks and Species:

Red Mountain Park in Birmingham
- A red iron-oxide mineral called hematite is responsible for the red color
Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham
Desoto Caverns in Childersburg
Cahaba Lily
- White flowers that reach three inches in width
- Only grows in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina
- Restricted to habitats with fast flowing water over a rocky surface
- Require abundant sunlight

Red Mountain
Wikimedia – Greg Willis

Cahaba Lily
flickr – Andy Montgomery

Piedmont

Description:

Provides a transition between the mountainous reigions to the north and the flat coastal plain to the south
Mostly rolling plains or hills with steeper ridges and higher elevations in the northern portion of the ecoregion
Elevation where it meets the flat coastal plain is around 500 feet while upper sections are over 1,000 feet
Cheaha Mountian, the highest point in the state, is in the upper section and reaches 2,407 feet

Geology:

Contains some of the oldest surface rock in the state
Outcrops of metamorphic rock (rock that is created from older rocks that have been melted under extreme temperatures and pressures before cooling and hardening into new rock)
Rock types include granite outcorps, quartz, mica, gneiss, marble, and schist
Higher ridges are formed from quartzite (such as Mount Cheaha), sandstone, or conglomerate (smaller sized rocks held together by a natural “cement”)
Soils are mostly clay mixed with rocks and are well-drained and fertile

The word “Piedmont” is derived from the French word meaning “foot of the mountains”. The piedmont region is on the edge or “foot” of the Applalchian Mountains, giving the region the characteristics of rolling hills with some ridges and valleys

Habitats:

Ridges are mostly pine forests or mixed forests
Valleys are mostly hardwood forests
The piedmont region was once cleared for cotton production but has been converted back to more natural forests

Mount Cheaha
Wikimedia – Brian Collins

Notable Landmarks and Species:

Chewacla State Park in Auburn
- Oldest rock known in Alabama is located in Chewacla State Park
Cheaha State Park in Delta
- Highest point in Alabama
Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City

Chewacla State Park
flickr – Outdoor Alabama

Fall Line

The boundary between the Southeastern Plains and the four ecoregions in the northeast part of the state (Interior Plateau, Southwestern Appalachians, Ridge and Valley, and Piedmont) is called the fall line
Visible change in landscape and elevation occurs at the fall line
Northeastern part of the state is characterized by harder rock and higher elevation
Southeastern and southern part of the state is lower in elevation and composed of softer rock and characterized by sand and gravel
Rivers and streams that flow over the fall line result in waterfalls, white water rapids, and have a distinct change in elevation

Fall Line
Image from the online Encyclopedia of Alabama
(courtesy of Mike Neilson)

Southeastern Plains

Description:

Largest ecoregion in Alabama
Relatively flat with some rolling hills
Gradual decline in elevation from the fall line to the coast
Streams are characterized by having a low gradient (little change in elevation) with sandy bottoms

Geology:

Rock is mostly sedimentary including chalk, sandstone, limestone, and claystone
Soils are composted of gravel, sand, silt, and red clay
Blackbelt Region: a strip of land that runs horizontally through the state contains white chalk under the soil which interacts with the soil components to form a rich, black, fertile soil

Conecuh River
Photograph by Alan Cressler

Habitats:

Mix of cropland, pasture, wetland, woodlands, and forests
Forests include oak, hickory, and pine
Wiregrass is the most common herbaceous plant that grows in this region
Flatlands, swamps, and river bottomlands are abundant in low, flat areas
Includes floodplains of Alabama River, Tombigbee River, and Black Warrior River
Cedar trees grow in the fertile soils of the blackbelt

Wiregrass
flickr – FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

Notable Landmarks and Species:

The southern section of this ecoregion is home to many endangered species including the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, gopher tortoise, eastern indigo snake, and Florida pine snake.
Longleaf pine was once the dominant tree species in the southern section of the southeastern plains
Splinter Hill Bog in Bay Minette
- Seepage bog community with some of the largest bogs of white-topped pitcher plant bogs
Conecuh National Forest in Andalusia
Sipsey River Swamp
- Bottomland hardwood forests and swamps along the floodplain of the Sipsey River
Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge in Eufaula
- Includes wetlands, woodlands, fields, and open water areas that provide habitat for waterfowl (birds) and other wildlife

Splinter Hill Bog
photo by Allison Mathis

Southern Coastal Plain

Description:

Smallest ecoregion in Alabama
Located near the coast
Mostly flat with swamps, lakes, and marshes
Warmer weather than other ecoregions
Receives drainage from various rivers and is constantly taking in new sediment
Often affected or altered by weather including hurricanes, floods, and erosion
Includes white sand beaches and swamp lands

Geology:

Soils and sediments are younger/newer than other ecoregions in the state
Flat, sandy areas
Soils are made of coarse material

The beautiful white sand beaches along the gulf coast are made of tiny grains of quartz. These grains were once washed from the Appalachian mountains and moved toward the coast through erosion and the flow of the rivers before being deposited near what is now the shore.

Habitats:

Lagoons, bayous, wetlands, and swamps
Estuaries and salt marshes
Oak-gum-cypress forests
Pine scrub, cordgrass, and saltgrass
River swamp forests dominated by bald cypress
Sand dunes

Bald Cypress Swamp
Image from the online Encyclopedia of Alabama – Manfred Mielke

Notable Landmarks and Species:

Dauphin Island
- Barrier Island
- Migratory birds can be seen on the island in the spring and fall
Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores
- Area of undeveloped white sand beaches along with natural freshwater lakes
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Gulf Shores
- Includes natural beaches, scrub forests, longleaf and slash pine forests
- Provides habitats for the endangered gopher tortoise and nesting sites for the threatened loggerhead sea turtle
Mobile Tensaw River Delta
- North of Mobile Bay
- 2nd largest delta in the U.S. and largest wetland in Alabama
- One of the most diverse marsh ecosystems
- Provides habitats for black bears and alligators

Sand Dune at Dauphin Island
flickr – Michael McCarthy

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
flickr – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region

INFORMATION SOURCES

Ecoregions of Alabama and Georgia

FOLLOW US

JOIN/RENEW

SHOP

HABITAT LEARNING LAB: