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CEGL002086 Betula nigra - Platanus occidentalis Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: River Birch - American Sycamore Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: River Birch - Sycamore Small River Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This river birch - sycamore forest community is found throughout the east-central United States. Stands commonly occur along stream and small riverbanks, shores of ponds, and in swampy forests. Alluvial soils which support this natural community are relatively deep, moist, well-drained, and often sandy on the surface. Betula nigra and Platanus occidentalis are the typical dominants. They are fast-growing, relatively short-lived, and do not tolerate excessive shade at any stage of growth. Betula nigra prefers acidic soils and is often the dominant tree found along streams affected by acidic mine drainage. A wide range of canopy species are present, both common bottomland species (e.g., Ulmus americana, Acer rubrum, Acer negundo, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Quercus spp., and Celtis laevigata) and mesophytic species from nearby uplands and terraces (e.g., Juglans nigra, Prunus serotina, and Fraxinus americana). Vines that may reach into the canopy include Toxicodendron radicans and Vitis aestivalis var. bicolor. A variety of wetland species may be found on more poorly drained sites. Stands are subjected to frequent, fast, short-duration flooding, which contributes to a typically thin understory. Native species in the shrub layer include Carpinus caroliniana ssp. virginiana, Lindera benzoin, Alnus serrulata, and Cornus amomum; the exotic Rosa multiflora may be prevalent at some sites. Commonly encountered herbaceous species include Saururus cernuus, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Arisaema dracontium, Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex amphibola, Glyceria striata, Impatiens capensis, Leersia virginica, Onoclea sensibilis, Symphyotrichum ontarionis, Pilea pumila, Polygonum virginianum, Verbesina alternifolia, and Verbesina occidentalis. Exotic herbs are abundant at some sites and include Lysimachia nummularia, Alliaria petiolata, and Urtica dioica ssp. dioica.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: As currently described, this association and ~Betula nigra - Platanus occidentalis / Alnus serrulata / Boehmeria cylindrica Floodplain Forest (CEGL007312)$$ appear to be conceptually overlapping regional variants (north versus south). These two defined associations need to be reconciled. In Kentucky, this association (CEGL002086) would be found on the northern part of Daniel Boone National Forest, in contrast to CEGL007312, which is more southern. Other bottomland hardwood communities contain river birch in the canopy but at lower densities. It may be helpful to require that Betula nigra contribute at least 50% (80%?) of the tree density to be placed in this community. This forest harbors a number of ubiquitous species and tends to extend into and mix with adjacent communities, resulting in numerous transitional variants. Both Betula nigra and Platanus occidentalis are also associated with highly disturbed sites: the former with coal mine drainage, and the latter with strip mine sites. The community described herein is naturally occurring on largely undisturbed sites, although it may occur under an artificial flooding regime created by reservoir backup (e.g., the Bluestone River in West Virginia). Backwater stands of Betula nigra have also been observed along other West Virginia waterways, but the natural status of hydroperiods affecting these stands has not been determined. Along the Bluestone, Gauley, and New rivers, Betula nigra is also an important component of ~Platanus occidentalis - Betula nigra / Cornus amomum / (Andropogon gerardii, Chasmanthium latifolium) Floodplain Forest (CEGL003725)$$, which occurs along river shorelines subject to frequent high-energy flooding.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vine/liana layer is 0-35 m tall and herbaceous 0-2 m.
Floristics: Betula nigra and Platanus occidentalis are the typical dominants in this association with other disturbance-tolerant, wetland indicator species. They are fast-growing (especially as young trees), relatively short-lived, and do not tolerate excessive shade at any stage of growth. Betula nigra prefers acidic soils and is often the dominant tree found along streams affected by acidic mine drainage. A wide range of canopy species are present, both common bottomland species (e.g., Ulmus americana, Acer rubrum, Acer negundo, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Quercus spp., and Celtis laevigata) and mesophytic species from nearby uplands and terraces (e.g., Juglans nigra, Prunus serotina, and Fraxinus americana). Vines that may reach into the canopy include Toxicodendron radicans and Vitis aestivalis var. bicolor. A variety of wetland species may be found on more poorly drained sites. Stands are subjected to frequent, fast, short-duration flooding, which contributes to a typically thin understory. Native species in the shrub layer include Carpinus caroliniana ssp. virginiana, Lindera benzoin, Alnus serrulata, and Cornus amomum; the exotic Rosa multiflora may be prevalent at some sites. Commonly encountered herbaceous species include Saururus cernuus, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Arisaema dracontium, Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex amphibola, Glyceria striata, Impatiens capensis, Leersia virginica, Onoclea sensibilis, Symphyotrichum ontarionis (= Aster ontarionis), Pilea pumila, Polygonum virginianum, Verbesina alternifolia, and Verbesina occidentalis. Exotic herbs are abundant at some sites and include Lysimachia nummularia, Alliaria petiolata, and Urtica dioica ssp. dioica. This forest harbors a number of ubiquitous species and tends to extend into and mix with adjacent communities, resulting in numerous transitional variants. Occurrences may have a rather high percentage of standing dead trees. There may be remnant snags from previous earlier successional communities of cottonwood - black willow forests (TNC 1995a).
Dynamics: Flooding is seasonal and/or occasional and shallow, but never prolonged. This community experiences seasonal inundation or groundwater saturation for approximately 12.5-25% of the year, usually during spring and early summer with a frequency of 51-100% (the Zone IV community of Clark and Benforado 1981). Large stream sections with longer flooding durations are more strongly dominated by Betula nigra and Acer saccharinum alone. On these sites, Betula, being less shade-tolerant than maple, commonly is more restricted to narrow zones immediately adjacent to the streambank. The smaller streams on narrow floodplains of younger valleys have greater canopy mixtures. Here Betula is less important, Acer saccharinum is often absent, and Platanus occidentalis, Liriodendron tulipifera, and other more mesic species are more prominent (Anderson 1996). This community often succeeds from riverfront forests dominated by Salix spp. and Populus spp. It probably succeeds to forests dominated by Celtis spp., Ulmus spp., Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and Liquidambar styraciflua.
Environmental Description: Betula nigra requires soils near field capacity throughout the year but is relatively intolerant of flooding. Platanus occidentalis is also intolerant of flooding during the growing season and will die if the entire tree is inundated for more than two weeks. The absence of this community in the lower Mississippi River Alluvial Plain is attributed to this intolerance, as is its most common location on levees of smaller rivers. Depending on hydroperiod, the community may be found on natural levees or on flats behind the levee. The community is more common along small streams and blackwater streams than along alluvial floodplains, largely because of the higher sustained flow rates of these larger rivers. It is also found along flowages of larger rivers. Flooding is seasonal and/or occasional and shallow, but never prolonged.
Along the Bluestone River in West Virginia, where the community is influenced by reservoir backup as well as the usual seasonal flooding, soils in plots are described as temporarily flooded, deep, dark-colored, poorly to well-drained silty loam and sandy loam derived from alluvium. Hydric soil indicators include saturated soil, high water table, low soil chroma, and oxidation-reduction features. Soils from plots tested extremely to strongly acidic (mean pH = 4.87) with relatively high levels of organic matter, estimated N release, S, B, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Na, P, and Zn, and relatively low levels of Al, K, and Mn, compared to average values in the area.
These soils are deep, nearly level, well-drained, and moderately well-drained soils on bottomlands along streams throughout southern Illinois. They have low organic matter content, moderate permeability, and moderate to high available water capacity. A layer of sand is often deposited at the surface when streams overflow their banks during flash floods. Little or no clay is present in soils which support this community. The most frequently encountered soil series in Illinois are Burnside and Sharon. Bedrock is deeply buried (>175 cm), consisting of Paleozoic deposits and stratified Cenozoic marine deposits. Shale or sandstone bedrock can occur at about 175 cm.
Along the Bluestone River in West Virginia, where the community is influenced by reservoir backup as well as the usual seasonal flooding, soils in plots are described as temporarily flooded, deep, dark-colored, poorly to well-drained silty loam and sandy loam derived from alluvium. Hydric soil indicators include saturated soil, high water table, low soil chroma, and oxidation-reduction features. Soils from plots tested extremely to strongly acidic (mean pH = 4.87) with relatively high levels of organic matter, estimated N release, S, B, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Na, P, and Zn, and relatively low levels of Al, K, and Mn, compared to average values in the area.
These soils are deep, nearly level, well-drained, and moderately well-drained soils on bottomlands along streams throughout southern Illinois. They have low organic matter content, moderate permeability, and moderate to high available water capacity. A layer of sand is often deposited at the surface when streams overflow their banks during flash floods. Little or no clay is present in soils which support this community. The most frequently encountered soil series in Illinois are Burnside and Sharon. Bedrock is deeply buried (>175 cm), consisting of Paleozoic deposits and stratified Cenozoic marine deposits. Shale or sandstone bedrock can occur at about 175 cm.
Geographic Range: This river birch - sycamore forest community is found throughout the east-central United States, ranging from south-central Ohio west to Iowa, south to Arkansas and Mississippi, and east to West Virginia.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: AR, IA, IL, IN, KY, MO, OH, OK, ON?, TN?, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684535
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.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.1 Silver Maple - American Sycamore - Hackberry species Floodplain Forest Macrogroup | M029 | 1.B.3.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.1.a Silver Maple - Green Ash - American Sycamore Floodplain Forest Group | G652 | 1.B.3.Na.1.a |
| Alliance | A3712 American Sycamore - River Birch Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3712 | 1.B.3.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002086 River Birch - American Sycamore Floodplain Forest | CEGL002086 | 1.B.3.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: covers this type
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Acer negundo - Platanus / Rhus [Toxicodendron] radicans community (Voigt and Mohlenbrock 1964) [Perhaps this type should go with ~Platanus occidentalis - Acer saccharinum - Juglans nigra - Ulmus rubra Floodplain Forest (CEGL007334)$$, a Platanus type, which has not yet been described for Illinois.]
= Betula nigra - Acer saccharinum / Pilea community (Voigt and Mohlenbrock 1964)
= Betula nigra - Platanus occidentalis Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
? Platanus occidentalis - Betula nigra Forest (Walton et al. 1997)
< Eastern Broadleaf Forests (Küchler 1964) [No equivalent Kuchler Potential Natural Vegetation Type.]
= IIA7b. River Birch - Sycamore Riverfront Forest (Allard 1990)
? R13cII4a. Betula nigra - Platanus occidentalis (Foti et al. 1994)
= River Birch - Sycamore: 61 (Eyre 1980)
= River Birch Floodplain Forests (Anderson 1996)
= Betula nigra - Acer saccharinum / Pilea community (Voigt and Mohlenbrock 1964)
= Betula nigra - Platanus occidentalis Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
? Platanus occidentalis - Betula nigra Forest (Walton et al. 1997)
< Eastern Broadleaf Forests (Küchler 1964) [No equivalent Kuchler Potential Natural Vegetation Type.]
= IIA7b. River Birch - Sycamore Riverfront Forest (Allard 1990)
? R13cII4a. Betula nigra - Platanus occidentalis (Foti et al. 1994)
= River Birch - Sycamore: 61 (Eyre 1980)
= River Birch Floodplain Forests (Anderson 1996)
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