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CEGL002097 Populus tremuloides - Populus balsamifera / Calamagrostis canadensis - Spartina pectinata Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen - Balsam Poplar / Bluejoint - Prairie Cordgrass Forest
Colloquial Name: Aspen Prairie Lowland Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This lowland aspen forest is found in the aspen parkland region of the United States (Minnesota and North Dakota) and the prairie provinces of Canada. Stands occur on wet, poorly drained soils with high water tables. The tree canopy is most often dominated by Populus tremuloides. Populus balsamifera is a component of most stands and may be codominant on the wettest sites. Other less constant associates include Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Quercus macrocarpa, or Ulmus americana. The abundance of the shrub and herb layers varies, depending on moisture. Generally, Amelanchier spp., Cornus sericea, Cornus racemosa, and Corylus americana are almost always present, the latter preferring somewhat drier conditions. Short shrubs include Rosa blanda and Rosa acicularis. Characteristic herbaceous species include Aralia nudicaulis, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex pensylvanica, Maianthemum stellatum, Fragaria virginiana, Galium boreale, Sanicula marilandica, Thalictrum dasycarpum, Rubus pubescens, and Solidago canadensis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is the aspen-parkland version of ~Populus tremuloides - Populus balsamifera - Mixed Hardwoods Lowland Wet Forest (CEGL005036)$$, found in the more boreal zones of the Midwest and Canada. Further work is needed to clarify the floristic differences between these two types. A prairie variant with mesic to wet species, and a shrubby variant have been described in Minnesota (Minnesota DNR 2005b).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The tree canopy is most often dominated by Populus tremuloides. Populus balsamifera is a component of most stands and may be codominant on the wettest sites. Other less constant associates include Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Quercus macrocarpa, and Ulmus americana. The abundance of the shrub and herb layers varies, depending on moisture. Generally, shrubs include Amelanchier spp. Cornus sericea, Cornus racemosa (= Cornus foemina ssp. racemosa), and Corylus americana are almost always present, the latter preferring somewhat drier conditions. Short shrubs include Rosa blanda and Rosa acicularis. Characteristic herbaceous species include Aralia nudicaulis, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex pensylvanica, Maianthemum stellatum (= Smilacina stellata), Fragaria virginiana, Galium boreale, Sanicula marilandica, Thalictrum dasycarpum, Rubus pubescens, and Solidago canadensis. A prairie variant contains a suite of mesic to wet prairie herbs, including Rosa woodsii, Prunus pumila, Rudbeckia hirta, Helianthus giganteus, Helianthus grosseserratus, Helianthus nuttallii, Solidago nemoralis, Elymus trachycaulus, Muhlenbergia glomerata, Carex pellita, Spartina pectinata, Andropogon gerardii, Hierochloe odorata, and Calamagrostis stricta. A shrubby variant includes the above-mentioned shrubs along with Prunus virginiana, Viburnum lentago, Viburnum rafinesqueanum, and Viburnum opulus var. americanum (= Viburnum trilobum) (Minnesota DNR 2005b).
Dynamics: The aspen forest is an early-successional community. They may currently be more extensive than prior to European settlement in the aspen parkland region, where, due to frequent fires, they were reduced to scattered groves or open woodlands, or even wet brush prairie. In the absence of fire in oak-aspen woodlands, ~Quercus macrocarpa - Populus tremuloides / Corylus spp. Woodland (CEGL002139)$$, that type may succeed to this type (Minnesota DNR 2005b).
Environmental Description: Stands occur on wet, poorly drained soils with high water tables (MNNHP 1993).
Geographic Range: This lowland aspen forest is found in the aspen parkland region of the United States (Minnesota and North Dakota) and the prairie provinces of Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MB, MN, ND, SK
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684974
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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.Ne North American Great Plains Forest & Woodland Division | D326 | 1.B.2.Ne |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Ne.1 Bur Oak - Quaking Aspen / Western Wheatgrass Forest Woodland Macrogroup | M151 | 1.B.2.Ne.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Ne.1.c Quaking Aspen - Bur Oak / Big Bluestem Woodland Group | G146 | 1.B.2.Ne.1.c |
| Alliance | A3249 Quaking Aspen - Balsam Poplar / American Hazelnut Forest Alliance | A3249 | 1.B.2.Ne.1.c |
| Association | CEGL002097 Quaking Aspen - Balsam Poplar / Bluejoint - Prairie Cordgrass Forest | CEGL002097 | 1.B.2.Ne.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus tremuloides - Populus balsamifera / Calamagrostis canadensis Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- Dana, Robert. 1995. Personal communication. County Biological Survey ecologist, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, MN.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.