Field Guides

Late successional forests are forests that have been growing undisturbed for a long time. Late successional forests of the Great Lakes tend to have complex structures, with multiple canopy layers and trees of many ages, sizes, and species. (Late successional forests in other parts of the world may have different characteristics.) Canopy layers are defined by the maximum height of vegetation. For example, forests might have a lower, shrub layer, then medium-sized trees, and another layer of taller trees, resulting in three canopy layers.