Print Report
A4377 Alnus incana Shrub Swamp Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance comprises tall alluvial and freshwater tidal shrublands dominated or characterized by Alnus spp. and Cornus spp. in the northeastern United States and temperate regions of eastern Canada.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gray Alder Shrub Swamp Alliance
Colloquial Name: Laurentian-Acadian Alder Shrub Swamp
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance comprises tall alluvial and freshwater tidal shrublands in the northeastern and north-central United States and temperate regions of eastern Canada. These tall shrublands are dominated or characterized by Alnus serrulata, Alnus incana, or Alnus maritima ssp. maritima and Cornus amomum or Cornus sericea. The substrate can be muck overlying mineral soils or cobble, gravel and sandy silt to silt mixes. The soils tend to dry out over the course of the year.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Tall shrublands of medium to large low-energy or tidal rivers, dominated or characterized by Alnus serrulata, Alnus incana, or Alnus maritima ssp. maritima and Cornus amomum or Cornus sericea. The substrate is usually muck overlying mineral soils, or cobble, gravel and sandy silt to silt mixes.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Several associations in this alliance occur in freshwater tidal situations, but they are floristically similar to the other non-tidal freshwater shrublands in this alliance. This alluvial shrubland type is not typically recognized as distinct from other non-alluvial alder types, at least in the Midwest, but is more often done so in the Northeast [see Sperduto and Nichols (2004)], or if it is recognized, it is restricted to mineral soil alluvial shrubland on more actively flooded rivers (Thompson and Sorenson 2000). Thus, care will be needed to distinguish this type from ~Alnus spp. - Salix spp. - Cornus sericea Shrub Swamp Alliance (A3685)$$, which may also occur in back swamp areas of low-gradient streams. More information is needed on herbs and mosses.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Tall, deciduous broadleaf shrubs dominate the vegetation.
Floristics: These tall shrublands are dominated or characterized by Alnus serrulata, Alnus incana, or Alnus maritima ssp. maritima and Cornus amomum or Cornus sericea.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This alliance comprises tall alluvial and freshwater tidal shrublands. The substrate can be muck overlying mineral soils or cobble, gravel and sandy silt to silt mixes. Flooding occurs typically on at least an annual basis, and soils tend to dry out over the course of the year.
Geographic Range: This alliance is currently described in the northeastern United States and temperate regions of eastern Canada. It may be expected to occur in the north-central United States.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: CT, MA, MB, ME, MI, MN, ND, NH, NY, OH, ON, PA, QC?, RI, VT, WI, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1093954
Confidence Level: Proposed (Submitted)
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation | F013 | 2.C.4 |
| Division | 2.C.4.Nd Eastern North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division | D323 | 2.C.4.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nd.2 Broadleaf Cattail - White Snakeroot - Rush species Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup | M069 | 2.C.4.Nd.2 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nd.2.g Laurentian-Acadian Wet Meadow & Shrub Swamp | G904 | 2.C.4.Nd.2.g |
| Alliance | A4377 Gray Alder Shrub Swamp Alliance | A4377 | 2.C.4.Nd.2.g |
| Association | CEGL006062 Gray Alder - dogwood spp. / Devil''s Darning-needles Alluvial Shrub Swamp | CEGL006062 | 2.C.4.Nd.2.g |
| Association | CEGL006158 Speckled Alder - Catberry / Peatmoss species Acidic Peatland | CEGL006158 | 2.C.4.Nd.2.g |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Alluvial shrub swamp (Thompson and Sorenson 2000)
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- 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.
- Sperduto, D. D., and W. F. Nichols. 2004. Natural communities of New Hampshire: A guide and classification. New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau, DRED Division of Forests and Lands, Concord. 242 pp.
- Thompson, E. H., and E. R. Sorenson. 2000. Wetland, woodland, wildland: A guide to the natural communities of Vermont. The Nature Conservancy and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. University Press of New England, Hanover, NH. 456 pp.