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CEGL003232 Tsuga heterophylla / Vaccinium (alaskaense, ovalifolium) - Oplopanax horridus Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Western Hemlock / (Alaska Blueberry, Oval-leaf Blueberry) - Devil''s-club Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: The moderate to dense tree overstory is uneven-aged and dominated by Tsuga heterophylla, although Picea sitchensis may codominate in some stands. Tsuga heterophylla ranges up to 29 m (95 feet) in height. The characteristic shrub layer is dominated by a moderate cover of Oplopanax horridus, Vaccinium ovalifolium, and Vaccinium alaskaense. The forb, graminoid, and fern layers are typically sparse. In many stands, bryophytes form a dense carpet consisting mainly of Sphagnum species, Hylocomium splendens, and Rhytidiadelphus loreus. This type is common throughout Prince William Sound and southeastern Alaska. As described from the Cooper River Delta, this association is a minor type occurring on floodplains, proximal outwash, beach ridges, and spits. It occurs as stringers, broad expanses of forest, or inclusions within forests. Sites occur on alluvial surfaces formed on outwash plains, and on coastal dune crests or uplifted dunes. They are typically well-drained, although on the outwash plains and floodplains during high riverflows, they may be inundated. The surface topography is typically level on outwash plains and undulating on dune systems. On outwash plains and floodplains, the soils are deep, well-drained alluvium, and on dunes, they are deep, well-drained eolian sand.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: First described from the Ketchikan Area, Tongass National Forest (DeMeo et al. 1992). This type described for the Chugach National Forest by Borchers et al. (1989) and DeVelice et al. (1994) and has been reported from the Yakutat Foreland (Shephard 1995), the outer coast of Glacier Bay National Park (Worley 1977), and the Tongass National Forest (Pawuk and Kissinger 1989, DeMeo et al. 1992, Martin et al. 1995). Each regional classification uses separate canopy cover breaks to define the type; consequently, a direct correlation between types is not possible.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The moderate to dense tree overstory is uneven aged and dominated by Tsuga heterophylla, although Picea sitchensis may codominate in some stands. Tsuga heterophylla ranges up to 29 m (95 feet) in height (Shephard 1995). The characteristic shrub layer is dominated by a moderate cover of Oplopanax horridus (= Echinopanax horridus), Vaccinium ovalifolium, and Vaccinium alaskaense. The forb, graminoid, and fern layers are typically sparse. In many stands, bryophytes form a dense carpet consisting mainly of Sphagnum species, Hylocomium splendens, and Rhytidiadelphus loreus.
Dynamics: This is a late-successional type that follows various Picea sitchensis communities.
Environmental Description: As described from the Cooper River Delta, Alaska (Boggs 2000), this association is a minor type occurring on floodplains, proximal outwash, beach ridges, and spits. It occurs as stringers, broad expanses of forest, or inclusions within forests. Sites occur on alluvial surfaces formed on outwash plains, and on coastal dune crests or uplifted dunes. They are typically well-drained, although on the outwash plains and floodplains during high riverflows, they may be inundated. The surface topography is typically level on outwash plains and undulating on dune systems. On outwash plains and floodplains, the soils are deep, well-drained alluvium, and on dunes, they are deep, well-drained eolian sand.
Geographic Range: This type is common throughout Prince William Sound and southeastern Alaska.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AK
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684079
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.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Nd Vancouverian Forest & Woodland Division | D192 | 1.B.2.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nd.3 Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce - Redwood Rainforest Macrogroup | M024 | 1.B.2.Nd.3 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nd.3.h Alaskan Maritime Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce Rainforest Group | G750 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.h |
| Alliance | A3603 Sitka Spruce / Devil''s-club Forest Alliance | A3603 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.h |
| Association | CEGL003232 Western Hemlock / (Alaska Blueberry, Oval-leaf Blueberry) - Devil''s-club Forest | CEGL003232 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.h |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Tsuga heterophylla / Vaccinium ovalifolium - Echinopanax horridum Community Type (Western Hemlock / Tall Blueberry - Devil''s Club Community Type (Boggs 2000)
= Tsuga heterophylla/Vaccinium (alaskaense and ovalifolium)-Oplopanax horridus (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_231]
= Tsuga heterophylla/Vaccinium (alaskaense and ovalifolium)-Oplopanax horridus (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_231]
- 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.
- 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.
- Flagstad, L., and T. Boucher. 2013. Landcover classes: Sitka National Historical Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SITK/NRTR--2013/773. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 100 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.
- Pawuk, W. H., and E. J. Kissinger. 1989. Preliminary forest plant associations of the Stikine Area, Tongass National Forest. Technical Publication R10-TP-72. USDA Forest Service, Alaska Region, Juneau, AK. 126 pp.
- Shephard, M. E. 1995. Plant community ecology and classification of the Yakutat Foreland, Alaska. R10-TP-56. USDA Forest Service, Alaska Region. 213 pp. plus appendices.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Worley, I. A. 1977. Plant community analysis. Pages 126-239 in: G. P. Streveler and I. A. Worley, editors. Dixon Harbor biological survey. Final report on the summer phase of 1975 field work. U.S. National Park Service, Juneau, AK.