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CEGL002220 Carex atherodes Wet Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Wheat Sedge Wet Meadow
Colloquial Name: Wheat Sedge Wet Meadow
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This wheat sedge wet meadow occurs in the northern tallgrass prairie region of the United States and Canada. Stands occur on lowland sites that have standing water for several weeks each year. These sites are typically in depressions or basins but can be along streams and rivers. The water may be fresh or moderately saline. Soils can be mineral but mucks often form through the buildup of organic material. Vegetation cover is usually high but can vary in wet or dry years. Dominant species are herbaceous and typically between 0.5 and 1 m tall. Forb diversity is moderate to high. Carex atherodes may form essentially monotypic stands or just be the dominant species. Common associated species include Alisma triviale, Symphyotrichum lanceolatum, Eleocharis palustris, Glyceria grandis (in drier stands), Mentha arvensis, Phalaris arundinacea, Polygonum amphibium, Scolochloa festucacea, Sium suave, and Sparganium eurycarpum. Shrubs, including Salix spp., can invade this community, especially in the eastern portions of its range.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: See Dix and Smeins (1967) for a discussion of the hydrology of this type, which borders on temporarily vs. seasonally flooded. See also Stewart and Kantrud (1972, including photos on pp. 34-35). Brotherson (1969) performed an ordination of pothole and drainage communities on a prairie in northwestern Iowa and found a community with 55% cover by Carex atherodes. The only other species with more than 4% cover was Polygonum amphibium, at 30%. Bolboschoenus fluviatilis, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex lasiocarpa, Spartina pectinata, and Carex aquatilis all had between 1 and 3% cover. This community occurred as a narrow band around potholes or sometimes in wide patches.
The relationship of this community and Scolochloa festucacea Herbaceous Vegetation needs to better defined. Carex atherodes tends to be on non-saline sites while Scolochloa festucacea tends to do better on mildly to moderately saline sites (Walker and Coupland 1970). However, the two can co-occur or codominate on mildly saline sites. Carex atherodes tends to occur on drier sites (Smith 1973).
The relationship of this community and Scolochloa festucacea Herbaceous Vegetation needs to better defined. Carex atherodes tends to be on non-saline sites while Scolochloa festucacea tends to do better on mildly to moderately saline sites (Walker and Coupland 1970). However, the two can co-occur or codominate on mildly saline sites. Carex atherodes tends to occur on drier sites (Smith 1973).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation cover is usually high but can vary in wet or dry years. Dominant species are herbaceous and typically between 0.5 and 1 m tall. Forb diversity is moderate to high (MNNHP 1993). Carex atherodes can form almost monotypic stands or it may be dominant. Common associated species are Alisma triviale, Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (= Aster lanceolatus), Eleocharis palustris, Glyceria grandis (in drier stands), Mentha arvensis, Phalaris arundinacea, Polygonum amphibium, Scolochloa festucacea (especially on mildly saline stands), Sium suave, and Sparganium eurycarpum. Shrubs, including Salix spp., can invade this community, especially in the eastern portions of its range. Beckmannia syzigachne often is an indicator of disturbance (Walker and Coupland 1970).
Dynamics: Fire may have been important to prevent the invasion of this community by woody species, especially in the eastern part of its range (MNNHP 1993).
Environmental Description: This community is found on lowland sites that have standing water for several weeks each year. These sites are typically in depressions or basins but can be along streams and rivers (MNNHP 1993). The water may be fresh or mildly saline. Soils can be mineral but mucks often form through the buildup of organic material (Looman 1982).
Geographic Range: This awned sedge wet meadow occurs in the northern tallgrass prairie region of the United States and Canada, from Minnesota and Iowa, north and west into the Dakotas, Manitoba and perhaps other provinces.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, CO, IA, MB, MN, MT, ND, SD, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683843
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G5
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.5 Prairie Cordgrass - Cattail species - Bulrush species Great Plains Marsh, Wet Meadow, Shrubland & Playa Macrogroup | M071 | 2.C.4.Nd.5 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nd.5.b Prairie Cordgrass - Slimstem Reedgrass - Sedge species Great Plains Wet Prairie, Wet Meadow & Seepage Fen Group | G336 | 2.C.4.Nd.5.b |
| Alliance | A3493 Prairie Cordgrass Great Plains Wet Meadow Alliance | A3493 | 2.C.4.Nd.5.b |
| Association | CEGL002220 Wheat Sedge Wet Meadow | CEGL002220 | 2.C.4.Nd.5.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Carex atherodes Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Carex atherodes Herbaceous Vegetation (Reid et al. 2004)
= Carex atherodes association (Looman 1982)
= Groups 9, 10, 17, 25, and 26 (Walker and Coupland 1970)
< Meadows (Dix and Smeins 1967)
>< Seasonal ponds and lakes, fresh, central shallow marsh phase (Stewart and Kantrud 1971)
>< Seasonal ponds and lakes, slightly brackish, central shallow marsh phase (Stewart and Kantrud 1971)
= Carex atherodes Herbaceous Vegetation (Reid et al. 2004)
= Carex atherodes association (Looman 1982)
= Groups 9, 10, 17, 25, and 26 (Walker and Coupland 1970)
< Meadows (Dix and Smeins 1967)
>< Seasonal ponds and lakes, fresh, central shallow marsh phase (Stewart and Kantrud 1971)
>< Seasonal ponds and lakes, slightly brackish, central shallow marsh phase (Stewart and Kantrud 1971)
- ANHIC [Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Community database files. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Parks and Protected Areas Division, Alberta Community Development, Edmonton.
- Brotherson, J. D. 1969. Species composition, distribution, and phytosociology of Kaslow Prairie, a mesic tallgrass prairie in Iowa. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Iowa State University, Ames. 196 pp.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- Dix, R. L., and F. E. Smeins. 1967. The prairies, meadows, and marsh vegetation of Nelson County, North Dakota. Canadian Journal of Botany 45:21-58.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Greenall, J. A. 1996. Manitoba''s terrestrial plant communities. MS Report 96-02. Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, Winnipeg.
- Hop, K., M. Reid, J. Dieck, S. Lubinski, and S. Cooper. 2007. U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. 131 pp. plus Appendices A-L.
- IDCDC [Idaho Conservation Data Center]. 2005. Wetland and riparian plant associations in Idaho. Idaho Conservation Data Center, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise. [http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/tech/CDC/ecology/wetland_riparian_assoc.cfm] (accessed 14 June 2005).
- INAI [Iowa Natural Areas Inventory]. 2017. Vegetation classification of Iowa. Iowa Natural Areas Inventory, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines.
- Looman, J. 1982. The vegetation of the Canadian prairie provinces. III. Aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation, Part 2. Freshwater marshes and bogs. Phytocoenologia 10(4):401-423.
- MNNHP [Minnesota Natural Heritage Program]. 1993. Minnesota''s native vegetation: A key to natural communities. Version 1.5. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, St. Paul, MN. 110 pp.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Minnesota DNR [Minnesota Department of Natural Resources]. 2003-2005a. Field guide to the native plant communities of Minnesota. Three volumes: The Laurentian Mixed Forest Province (2003), The Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province (2005c), The Prairie Parkland and Tallgrass Aspen Parklands provinces (2005b). Ecological Land Classification Program, Minnesota County Biological Survey, and Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.
- Minnesota DNR [Minnesota Department of Natural Resources]. 2005b. Field guide to the native plant communities of Minnesota: The Prairie Parkland and Tallgrass Aspen Parklands provinces. Ecological Land Classification Program, Minnesota County Biological Survey, and Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.
- NDNHI [North Dakota Natural Heritage Inventory]. 2018. Unpublished data. Vegetation classification of North Dakota. North Dakota Natural Heritage Inventory, North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department, Bismarck.
- Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
- SDNHP [South Dakota Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. South Dakota Natural Heritage Program, Pierre, SD.
- Smith, A. L. 1973. Life cycle of the marsh grass Scolochloa festucacea. Canadian Journal of Botany 51:1661-1668.
- Stewart, R. E., and H. A. Kantrud. 1971. Classification of natural ponds and lakes in the glaciated prairie region. USDI Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Resources, Publication 92. Washington, DC. 77 pp.
- Stewart, R. E., and H. A. Kantrud. 1972. Vegetation of prairie potholes, North Dakota, in relation to quality of water and other environmental factors. USDI Geologic Survey Professional Paper 585-d. 36 pp.
- WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
- Walker, B. H., and R. T. Coupland. 1970. Herbaceous wetland vegetation in the aspen grove and grassland region of Saskatchewan. Canadian Journal of Botany 48:1861-1878.