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CEGL002088 Fraxinus pennsylvanica - (Ulmus americana) / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Green Ash - (American Elm) / Western Snowberry Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: Great Plains Ash - Elm / Snowberry Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This ash - elm forest type is found in the northeastern Great Plains of the United States and Canada. Stands are found on nearly level floodplains and lower terraces of rivers and streams, generally away from the river on older, stabilized sites. The water table may be relatively deep on higher terraces, allowing drier species to establish. Soils are typically clays or silty clays. The tree layer is variable in structure, ranging from open (25-50%) to closed (50% or more) canopy. Fraxinus pennsylvanica is the leading dominant. In some parts of the range Juniperus scopulorum is present in the subcanopy, particularly where the canopy is still open. Populus deltoides may be present as an emergent. Emergent Populus deltoides may also occur under a canopy of Fraxinus pennsylvanica, reflecting a successional shift in some stands. Fraxinus pennsylvanica is common in the subcanopy and sapling layer, and, in some stands, Ulmus americana may be an associate. Acer negundo may only be occasionally present in some parts of the range. The dominant shrub is Symphoricarpos occidentalis. Other shrub species may be present, including Cornus sericea, Rosa woodsii, and Rhus aromatica. A variety of herbs may be present, none at high cover values, including Elymus canadensis, Maianthemum stellatum, Melilotus officinalis, Muhlenbergia racemosa, Parthenocissus vitacea, Poa pratensis, Thalictrum dasycarpum, and Toxicodendron rydbergii.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Where stands occur on higher terraces and the water table is deep, Prunus virginiana may be more common, and stands may resemble ~Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Ulmus americana / Prunus virginiana Woodland (CEGL000643)$$. This type is placed under a temporarily flooded hydrologic regime, but because of the arid climate, the floodplain may be relatively dry. Type is conceptually equivalent to the Fraxinus pennsylvanica / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Habitat Type of Hansen et al. (1984) and Girard et al. (1989), at least in the western Dakotas. The relative importance of Acer negundo across the range of this type is not clear, nor whether stands with Acer negundo have been impacted by human activity to a greater degree.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The tree layer is variable in structure, ranging from open (25-50%) to closed (50% or more) canopy. Fraxinus pennsylvanica is the leading dominant. In some parts of the range Juniperus scopulorum is present in the subcanopy, particularly where the canopy is still open. Populus deltoides may be present as an emergent. Emergent Populus deltoides may also occur under a canopy of Fraxinus pennsylvanica, reflecting a successional shift in some stands (Girard et al. 1989). Fraxinus pennsylvanica is common in the subcanopy and sapling layer, and, in some stands, Ulmus americana may be an associate. Acer negundo may only be occasionally present in some parts of the range. The dominant shrub is Symphoricarpos occidentalis. Other shrub species may be present, including Cornus sericea, Rosa woodsii, and Rhus aromatica. A variety of herbs may be present, none at high cover values, including Elymus canadensis, Maianthemum stellatum, Melilotus officinalis, Muhlenbergia racemosa, Parthenocissus vitacea, Poa pratensis, Thalictrum dasycarpum, and Toxicodendron rydbergii (Hansen et al. 1984, Girard et al. 1989).
Dynamics: This type is usually found away from the river on older, stabilized floodplains. Proceeding towards the river, other more pioneer successional forest stages may occur, including, in the Little Missouri River drainage, ~Populus deltoides - Fraxinus pennsylvanica Floodplain Forest (CEGL000658)$$ and ~Populus deltoides / Juniperus scopulorum Floodplain Woodland (CEGL002152)$$. The latter community colonizes the freshly deposited alluvial substrates on the meanders of the streams and rivers. As the stream continues to move away from these deposits, the stand may eventually succeed to the Fraxinus pennsylvanica type, a process that could take 100 years (Girard et al. 1989).
Environmental Description: Stands are found on nearly level floodplains and lower terraces of rivers and streams, generally away from the river on older, stabilized sites. The water table may be relatively deep on higher terraces, allowing drier species to establish (Girard et al. 1989). Soils are typically clays or silty clays.
Geographic Range: This ash - elm forest type is found in the northeastern and north-central Great Plains of the United States and Canada, ranging from the Dakotas and northern Ontario to Saskatchewan.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MB, ND, SD, SK
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683094
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4?
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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.4 Eastern Cottonwood - Green Ash / Willow species Flooded & Swamp Forest | M028 | 1.B.3.Na.4 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.4.a Eastern Cottonwood - Green Ash / Western Wheatgrass Floodplain Forest Group | G147 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
| Alliance | A4131 Green Ash - American Elm - Eastern Cottonwood Floodplain Forest Alliance | A4131 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
| Association | CEGL002088 Green Ash - (American Elm) / Western Snowberry Floodplain Forest | CEGL002088 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Fraxinus pennsylvanica - (Ulmus americana) / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Fraxinus pennsylvanica / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Habitat Type (Girard et al. 1989)
= Fraxinus pennsylvanica / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1984)
= Fraxinus pennsylvanica / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Habitat Type (Girard et al. 1989)
= Fraxinus pennsylvanica / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1984)
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