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CEGL006363 Chamaecyparis thyoides - Picea rubens / Gaylussacia baccata / Gaultheria hispidula Swamp Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Atlantic White-cedar - Red Spruce / Black Huckleberry / Creeping Snowberry Swamp Forest
Colloquial Name: Subboreal Atlantic White-cedar Swamp Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: Atlantic white-cedar swamp at the northernmost range of Chamaecyparis thyoides that is distinguished by the presence of boreal species. It occurs in Maine, New Hampshire, and northern Massachusetts in poorly-drained depressions with cooler microclimates where standing water is often present for a significant portion of the growing season. Chamaecyparis thyoides is present in the canopy, but is not necessarily dominant. Additional canopy species include Picea rubens, Picea mariana, Abies balsamea, Larix laricina, or Acer rubrum. The shrub layer is characterized by Nemopanthus mucronatus and Ledum groenlandicum with Ilex verticillata, Ilex laevigata, Vaccinium corymbosum, Gaylussacia baccata, Kalmia angustifolia, or Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides usually present. Herbaceous species commonly include Gaultheria hispidula, Carex trisperma, Coptis trifolia, Maianthemum canadense, Osmunda cinnamomea, Trientalis borealis, and Aralia nudicaulis. The nonvascular layer is well-developed into hummocks and hollows with Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Hypnum imponens, and Bazzania trilobata. Diagnostic characteristics of this association is the presence of boreal indicators with Chamaecyparis thyoides including Picea rubens, Abies balsamea, Ledum groenlandicum, Clintonia borealis, Gaultheria hispidula, and Cornus canadensis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Chamaecyparis thyoides is present in the canopy, but is not necessarily dominant. Additional canopy species include Picea rubens, Picea mariana, Abies balsamea, Larix laricina, or Acer rubrum. The shrub layer is characterized by Nemopanthus mucronatus and Ledum groenlandicum with Ilex verticillata, Ilex laevigata, Vaccinium corymbosum, Gaylussacia baccata, Kalmia angustifolia, or Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides usually present. Herbaceous species commonly include Gaultheria hispidula, Carex trisperma, Coptis trifolia, Maianthemum canadense, Osmunda cinnamomea, Trientalis borealis, and Aralia nudicaulis. The nonvascular layer is well-developed into hummocks and hollows with Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Hypnum imponens, and Bazzania trilobata.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs in poorly-drained depressions with cooler microclimates where standing water is often present for a significant portion of the growing season. There is usually shallow peat over mineral soil. Water and soil are nutrient-poor, especially low in nitrogen and phosphorus, and high in iron.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in New Hampshire, Maine, and northern Massachusetts.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MA, ME, NH
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684571
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?
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.Nb Southeastern North American Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D062 | 1.B.3.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Nb.3 Sweetbay - Swamp Bay - Pond Pine Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M032 | 1.B.3.Nb.3 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nb.3.b Atlantic White-cedar - Pitch Pine Swamp Group | G039 | 1.B.3.Nb.3.b |
| Alliance | A3400 Atlantic White-cedar Northern Peat Swamp Forest Alliance | A3400 | 1.B.3.Nb.3.b |
| Association | CEGL006363 Atlantic White-cedar - Red Spruce / Black Huckleberry / Creeping Snowberry Swamp Forest | CEGL006363 | 1.B.3.Nb.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Chamaecyparis - Picea / Gaylussacia baccata / Gaultheria hispidula (Type 1) (Sperduto and Crowley 2002b)
= Boreal Evergreen Swamp Forest (Motzkin 1991)
= NNE Acidic seepage swamp, Atlantic white cedar association (Rawinski 1984a)
= Boreal Evergreen Swamp Forest (Motzkin 1991)
= NNE Acidic seepage swamp, Atlantic white cedar association (Rawinski 1984a)
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Gawler, S. C. 2002. Natural landscapes of Maine: A guide to vegetated natural communities and ecosystems. Maine Natural Areas Program, Department of Conservation, Augusta, ME.
- Gawler, S. C., and A. Cutko. 2010. Natural landscapes of Maine: A classification of vegetated natural communities and ecosystems. Maine Natural Areas Program, Department of Conservation, Augusta.
- Laderman, A. D. 1989. The ecology of the Atlantic white cedar wetlands: A community profile. USDI Fish and Wildlife Service. Biological Report 85(7.21). 114 pp.
- Motzkin, G. 1991. Atlantic white cedar wetlands of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Massachusetts. Research Bulletin 731. 53 pp.
- Rawinski, T. 1984a. Natural community description abstract - southern New England calcareous seepage swamp. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA. 6 pp.
- Sperduto, D. A., and K. F. Crowley. 2002b. Atlantic white cedar in New England: Analysis and proposed classification. New Hampshire Natural Heritage Inventory. DRED Division of Forests & Lands and The Nature Conservancy, Concord, NH.
- Sperduto, D. D., and N. Ritter. 1994. Atlantic cedar wetlands of New Hampshire. Environmental Protection Agency, Boston, MA.
- Swain, P. C., and J. B. Kearsley. 2014. Classification of the natural communities of Massachusetts. Version 2.0. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Westborough, MA. [http://www.mass.gov/nhesp/http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/natural-communities/classification-of-natural-communities.html]