Print Report

A4260 Picea mariana / Ledum groenlandicum Southern Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is common throughout upland slopes and inactive alluvial deposits in the boreal region of Alaska. Forest canopies are typically open to closed, ranging from 40 to 80% cover, and are dominated by Picea mariana or a mix of Picea glauca and Picea mariana. Betula neoalaskana or Populus tremuloides may be codominant in post-fire seral stages.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Spruce / Bog Labrador-tea Southern Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: Southern Alaskan-Yukon Black Spruce Mesic Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance is widespread on upland slopes, inactive alluvial deposits, and north-facing slopes in the boreal region of Alaska. Sites are cold, acidic, and may be well-drained to somewhat poorly-drained. Picea mariana is the dominant species in mature stands, although Picea glauca may be codominant. In post-fire seral stages Betula neoalaskana or Populus tremuloides may codominate. Common understory species include Alnus viridis ssp. fruticosa, Ledum groenlandicum, Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Empetrum nigrum, Rosa acicularis, Spiraea stevenii, Calamagrostis canadensis, Equisetum sylvaticum, and Cornus canadensis. Common mosses include Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is defined by high constancy of Picea mariana in the overstory. Stands may be codominated by Betula neoalaskana, Picea glauca, and Populus tremuloides. Total tree cover in mature stands typically ranges from 40 to 80%. Compared to the other forest types within M156, this is the least productive forest; however, of the black spruce forest types, it is the most productive and is the only black spruce type with a post-fire hardwood seral stage. This alliance can be differentiated from other black spruce forests by lack of wetland characteristics or peat formation, the presence of hardwood codominants, and understory indicators such as Rosa acicularis, Spiraea stevenii, Calamagrostis canadensis, and Equisetum sylvaticum.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance has less Sphagnum than ~Western North American Boreal Bog & Acidic Fen Group (G360)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is represented by open to closed forests with needle-leaved evergreen, broad-leaved deciduous or mixed canopies.

Floristics: In mature stands, Picea mariana is the dominant overstory species. Mid-seral stands may be codominated by Betula neoalaskana, Picea glauca, or Populus tremuloides with Populus tremuloides replacing Betula neoalaskana on drier sites (Foote 1983, Chapin et al. 2006). Total tree cover in mature stands typically ranges from 40 to 80%. Common understory shrubs include Alnus viridis ssp. fruticosa, Ledum groenlandicum, Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens, Rosa acicularis, Spiraea stevenii, Vaccinium uliginosum, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, and Empetrum nigrum. Herbaceous species include Calamagrostis canadensis, Cornus canadensis, and Equisetum sylvaticum. Feathermosses such as Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi are common in mature stands (Jorgenson et al. 2003), whereas lichens such as Cladonia spp. (= Cladina spp.) can be an important component in late-seral stages (Klein 1982).

Dynamics:  The disturbance regime in the boreal region is characterized by large crown fires or surface fires with intensity capable of killing the overstory. Mean fire-return interval estimates in boreal Alaska range from 25 to 130 years. The post-fire successional trajectory may be self-replacement, with black spruce following the early-seral herb-shrub stage. Alternatively, hardwood or black spruce-hardwood may follow the early-seral stage before returning to black spruce. Seasonality affects burn severity. An early-season burn can kill the overstory without affecting the ground layer; however, a late-season burn can reduce the duff layer and kill understory plants. In the sub-boreal region, the disturbance regime is also characterized by crown fires or intense surface fires. Infrequent lightning strikes yield a longer fire-return interval than that of the interior boreal. Mean fire-return interval for black spruce-white spruce forests in the sub-boreal Kenai Peninsula was estimated at 130 years +/-66 years (Anderson et al. 2006), but this estimate did not exclude human-caused burns. A "best guess" without human disturbance has been estimated at 170 years.
Environmental Description:  This alliance occurs on upland slopes, inactive alluvial deposits, and north-facing slopes in boreal and sub-boreal Alaska. Soils are well-drained to moderately well-drained. In the continental boreal region, permafrost is usually present but may be at least 60 cm deep (Viereck et al. 1992); permafrost is generally absent in the sub-boreal region. Early-seral sites have a thin organic layer, no peat development, and the active layer is deep; however, once a well-developed feathermoss layer is established, permafrost can build and drainage can become restricted.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the continental and sub-continental boreal regions of Alaska and Yukon. In Alaska, it extends south to the Kenai Peninsula and north and west following the range of black spruce. Its eastern extent in Canada has not been defined.

Nations: CA?,US

States/Provinces:  AK, YT?


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 1 Forest & Woodland Class C01 1
Subclass 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass S15 1.B
Formation 1.B.4 Boreal Forest & Woodland Formation F001 1.B.4
Division 1.B.4.Na North American Boreal Forest & Woodland Division D014 1.B.4.Na
Macrogroup 1.B.4.Na.3 White Spruce - Black Spruce - Kenai Birch Forest Macrogroup M156 1.B.4.Na.3
Group 1.B.4.Na.3.f White Spruce - Resin Birch - Lutz Spruce Forest Group G627 1.B.4.Na.3.f
Alliance A4260 Black Spruce / Bog Labrador-tea Southern Forest Alliance A4260 1.B.4.Na.3.f
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): T. Boucher, K. Boggs, M. Reid, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2011)

Author of Description: T. Boucher

Acknowledgements: Elizabeth Bella, Ken Baldwin, Del Meidinger, Beth Schulz, Mark Hall

Version Date: 01-19-16
  • Achuff, P. L., and G. H. LaRoi. 1977. Picea-Abies forests in the highlands of northern Alberta. Vegetatio 33(2/3):127-146.
  • Anderson, R. S., D. J. Hallett, E. Berg, R. B. Jass, J. L. Toney, C. S. De Fontaine, and A. DeVolder. 2006. Holocene development of boreal forests and fire regimes on the Kenai Lowlands of Alaska. The Holocene 16(6):791-803.
  • Banner, A., W. MacKenzie, S. Haeussler, S. Thomson, J. Pojar, and R. Trowbridge. 1993. A field guide to site identification and interpretation for the Prince Rupert Forest Region. Ministry of Forests Research Program. Victoria, BC. Parts 1 and 2. Land Management Handbook Number 26.
  • Boggs, K. 2002. Terrestrial ecological systems for the Cook Inlet, Bristol Bay, and Alaska Peninsula ecoregions. The Nature Conservancy, Anchorage, AK.
  • Boggs, K., T. Boucher, et al. 2011. List of plant associations for Alaska. 2011 draft. Alaska Natural Heritage Program, Environment and Natural Resources Institute, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage.
  • Chapin, F. S., M. W. Oswood, K. Van Cleve, L. A. Viereck, and D. L. Verblya, editors. 2006. Alaska''s changing boreal forest. Oxford University Press, NY. 354 pp.
  • De Volder, A. 1999. Fire and climate history of lowland black spruce forests, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. M.S. thesis, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. 128 pp.
  • Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
  • FRCC [Fire Regime Condition Class]. 2004. Personal communication. Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) interagency experts'' workshop to develop and review Potential Natural Vegetation (PNV) groups for Alaska. 2-4 March 2004. Anchorage, AK.
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
  • Foote, M. J. 1983. Classification, description, and dynamics of plant communities after fire in the taiga of interior Alaska. Research Paper PNW-307. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 108 pp.
  • Heinselman, M. L. 1978. Fire in wilderness ecosystems. Pages 249-278 in: J. C. Hendee, G. H. Stankey, and R. C. Lucas. Wilderness Management. USDA Forest Service, Miscellaneous Publication 1365. USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC.
  • Heinselman, M. L. 1981. Fire and succession in the conifer forests of northern North America. Pages 374-405 in: D. C. West, H. H. Shugart, and D. B. Botkin. Forest succession: Concepts and application. Springer-Verlag, New York.
  • Jorgenson, M. T., J. E. Roth, S. F. Schlentner, E. R. Pullman, and M. Macander. 2003. An ecological land survey for Fort Richardson, Alaska. ERDC/CRREL TR-03019. U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH.
  • Klein, D. R. 1982. Fire, lichens, and caribou. Journal of Range Management 35(3):390-395.
  • Rowe, J. S., J. L. Bergsteinsson, G. A. Padbury, and R. Hermesh. 1974. Fire studies in the Mackenzie Valley. ALUR Report 73-74-61. Arctic Land Use Research Program, Department of Indian Affairs and Human Development, Ottawa, Canada. 123 pp.
  • Shiflet, T. N., editor. 1994. Rangeland cover types of the United States. Society for Range Management. Denver, CO. 152 pp.
  • Viereck, L. A. 1983. The effects of fire in black spruce ecosystems of Alaska and northern Canada. Pages 201-220 in: R. W. Wein and D. A. MacLean, editors. The role of fire in northern circumpolar ecosystems. John Wiley & Sons Ltd., New York.
  • Viereck, L. A. K. Van Cleve, and C. T. Dyrness. 1986. Forest ecosystems in the Alaska Taiga. Pages 22-43 in: K. Van Cleve, F. S. Chapin, III, and P. W. Flanagan, et al., editors. Forest Ecosystems in the Alaskan taiga: A synthesis of structure and function. Springer-Verlag, New York.
  • Viereck, L. A., C. T. Dyrness, A. R. Batten, and K. J. Wenzlick. 1992. The Alaska vegetation classification. General Technical Report PNW-GTR286. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 278 pp.
  • Willoughby, M. G., C. Stone, C. Hincz, D. Moisey, G. Ehlert, and D. Lawrence. 2006. Guide to range plant community types and carrying capacity for the Dry and Central Mixedwood subregions in Alberta: Sixth approximation (a revision of the fifth approximation, Publication No. T/074). Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Public Lands and Forests Division, Edmonton. 254 pp. ISBN No. 0-7785-4539-3 [online edition].
  • Yarie, J. 1981. Forest fire cycles and life tables: A case study from interior Alaska. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 11:554-562.
  • Yarie, J. 1983. Forest community classification of the Porcupine River drainage, interior Alaska, and its application to forest management. General Technical Report PNW-154. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 72 pp.