Print Report
CEGL003265 Picea sitchensis - Tsuga heterophylla / Vaccinium (alaskaense, ovalifolium) / Lysichiton americanus Swamp Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sitka Spruce - Western Hemlock / (Alaska Blueberry, Oval-leaf Blueberry) / American Skunk-cabbage Swamp Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This swamp forest is found in Alaska and British Columbia. The relatively open Picea sitchensis overstory is uneven-aged. Lysichiton americanus, the diagnostic undergrowth species, grows from the wetter microsites including standing water. Species composition on the drier hummocks is variable and includes Vaccinium ovalifolium or Vaccinium alaskaense, Cornus canadensis, Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata, Hylocomium splendens, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, and Sphagnum species. This association is a minor type occurring on outwash plains, floodplains, or dune edges. It often forms a mosaic within or at the edge of larger sites composed of drier Picea sitchensis or Tsuga heterophylla types. The surface topography typically consist of hummocks interspersed with small depressions containing standing water. The hummocks are either deep and somewhat poorly drained mineral soils or decaying logs and tree bases. The soils in the depressions are deep, poorly drained with moderate to thick organic layers; sites are often complexes of two or more soils.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The first published account for this type is from the Ketchikan Area on the Tongass National Forest (DeMeo et al. 1992). These forests also occur in the Chatham Area (Martin et al. 1995), the Chugach National Forest (DeVelice et al. 1999), and in the Copper River Delta area (Boggs 2000).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The relatively open Picea sitchensis overstory is uneven-aged. Lysichiton americanus, the diagnostic undergrowth species, grows from the wetter microsites including standing water. Species composition on the drier hummocks is variable and includes Vaccinium ovalifolium or Vaccinium alaskaense, Cornus canadensis, Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata (= Alnus crispa ssp. sinuata), Hylocomium splendens, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, and Sphagnum species.
Dynamics: Two hypotheses are proposed for the development of the site and vegetation characteristics of this community: (1) on moist (possibly wet) sites, hummocks form from either alluvial deposition or root wads; the hummocks eventually support Picea sitchensis or (2) well-drained sites supporting Picea sitchensis are flooded because of a general elevation in the water table level, as often occurs with beaver activity. The understory vegetation composition will then change from mesic-tolerant species to wetland species, such as Lysichiton americanus. This type is seral to ~Tsuga heterophylla / Vaccinium ovalifolium / Lysichiton americanus Woodland (CEGL003231)$$.
Environmental Description: This association is a minor type occurring on outwash plains, floodplains, or dune edges. It often forms a mosaic within or at the edge of larger sites composed of drier Picea sitchensis or Tsuga heterophylla types (DeMeo et al. 1992). The surface topography typically consist of hummocks interspersed with small depressions containing standing water. The hummocks are either deep and somewhat poorly drained mineral soils or decaying logs and tree bases (Borchers et al. 1989, DeMeo et al. 1992, Shephard 1995). The soils in the depressions are deep, poorly drained with moderate to thick organic layers; sites are often complexes of two or more soils.
Geographic Range: This swamp forest is found in Alaska and British Columbia.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AK, BC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684062
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5
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.Ng Vancouverian Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D193 | 1.B.3.Ng |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Ng.1 Vancouverian Flooded & Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M035 | 1.B.3.Ng.1 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Ng.1.g Western Hemlock - Mountain Hemlock / American Skunk-cabbage Swamp Forest Group | G854 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.g |
| Alliance | A4286 Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce Alaskan Swamp Forest Alliance | A4286 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.g |
| Association | CEGL003265 Sitka Spruce - Western Hemlock / (Alaska Blueberry, Oval-leaf Blueberry) / American Skunk-cabbage Swamp Forest | CEGL003265 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.g |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovalifolium / Lysichiton americanum (Sitka spruce/tall blueberry/yellow skunk-cabbage) Community Type (DeVelice et al. 1994)
? Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovalifolium / Lysichiton americanum (Sitka spruce/tall blueberry/yellow skunk-cabbage) Community Type (Borchers et al. 1989)
? Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovalifolium / Lysichiton americanum (Sitka spruce/tall blueberry/yellow skunk-cabbage) Community Type (DeMeo et al. 1992)
? Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovalifolium / Lysichiton americanum (Sitka spruce/tall blueberry/yellow skunk-cabbage) Community Type (Martin et al. 1995)
? Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovalifolium / Lysichiton americanum Community Type (Sitka Spruce/Tall Blueberry/Yellow Skunk Cabbage Community Type (Boggs 2000)
= Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovalifolium / Lysichiton americanus Forest (DeVelice et al. 1999)
= Picea sitchensis-Tsuga heterophylla/Vaccinium (alaskaense and ovalifolium)/Lysichiton americanus (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_083]
= CWH wm /09 (Green and Klinka 1994)
= CWH wm /09 (Banner et al. 1993)
? Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovalifolium / Lysichiton americanum (Sitka spruce/tall blueberry/yellow skunk-cabbage) Community Type (Borchers et al. 1989)
? Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovalifolium / Lysichiton americanum (Sitka spruce/tall blueberry/yellow skunk-cabbage) Community Type (DeMeo et al. 1992)
? Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovalifolium / Lysichiton americanum (Sitka spruce/tall blueberry/yellow skunk-cabbage) Community Type (Martin et al. 1995)
? Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovalifolium / Lysichiton americanum Community Type (Sitka Spruce/Tall Blueberry/Yellow Skunk Cabbage Community Type (Boggs 2000)
= Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovalifolium / Lysichiton americanus Forest (DeVelice et al. 1999)
= Picea sitchensis-Tsuga heterophylla/Vaccinium (alaskaense and ovalifolium)/Lysichiton americanus (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_083]
= CWH wm /09 (Green and Klinka 1994)
= CWH wm /09 (Banner et al. 1993)
- BCMFRB [British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Branch]. 2003a. Vegetation classification hierarchy: BECMaster May 2003. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, BC.
- 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. 1996. Forested plant communities of maritime southcentral and southeast Alaska. Unpublished report of the Alaska Natural Heritage Program, University of Alaska, Anchorage.
- Boggs, K. 2000. Classification of community types, successional sequences and landscapes of the Copper River Delta, Alaska. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-469. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. March 2000. 244 pp.
- Borchers, S. L., J. Wattenbarger, and R. Ament. 1989. Forest plant associations of Montague Island, Chugach National Forest. Unpublished report. USDA Forest Service, Alaska Region, Chugach National Forest, Anchorage, AK. 5 pp.
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- DeMeo, T., J. Martin, and R. A. West. 1992. Forest plant association management guide, Ketchikan Area, Tongass National Forest. R10-MB-210. USDA Forest Service, Alaska Region. 405 pp.
- DeVelice, R. L., C. J. Hubbard, K. Boggs, S. Boudreau, M. Potkin, T. Boucher, and C. Wertheim. 1999. Plant community types of the Chugach National Forest: South-central Alaska. Technical Publication R10-TP-76. USDA Forest Service, Chugach National Forest, Alaska Region. 375 pp.
- DeVelice, R., C. Hubbard, M. Potkin, and T. Boucher. 1994. Preliminary classification of vegetation types of Prince William Sound. Unpublished report on file USDA Forest Service, Alaska Region. Chugach National Forest, Anchorage. 40 pp.
- Green, R. N., and K. Klinka. 1994. A field guide to site interpretation for the Vancouver Forest Region. British Columbia Ministry of Forests. ISSN 0229-1622 Land Management Handbook 28. 285 pp.
- Martin, R. R., S. J. Trull, W. W. Brady, R. A. West, and J. M. Downs. 1995. Forest plant association management guide, Chatham Area, Tongass National Forest. R10-RP-57. USDA Forest Service, Alaska Region.
- Meidinger, D., C. Chappell, C. Cadrin, G. Kittel, C. McCain, K. Boggs, J. Kagan, G. Cushon, A. Banner, and T. DeMeo. 2005. International Vegetation Classification of the Pacific Northwest: International correlation of temperate coastal forest plant associations of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. Contributors: B.C. Ministry of Forests, USDA Forest Service, B.C. Conservation Data Centre, Alaska Natural Heritage Program, Washington Natural Heritage Program, and Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.