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CEGL002063 Populus tremuloides / Corylus americana Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen / American Hazelnut Forest
Colloquial Name: Aspen / American Hazel Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This aspen / hazelnut forest type is found along the northern tallgrass prairie-forest border in the United States and Canada. Stands occur on gently rolling, poorly drained topography with a high water table. The mature trees in this community form an open to closed canopy. The canopies of individual trees usually touch, but because of the growth form of the dominant species, Populus tremuloides, significant light penetrates the canopy. Betula papyrifera, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Quercus macrocarpa, Quercus ellipsoidalis, and Tilia americana are minor constituents of the canopy. The understory is dominated by shrubs, especially Corylus americana, Viburnum rafinesqueanum, and Amelanchier spp. The other species that make up the shrub layer vary with site factors such as soil moisture. The herbaceous layer is composed of species that can survive in the shade cast by the taller strata. Among these are Aralia nudicaulis, Carex pensylvanica, Maianthemum canadense, Oryzopsis asperifolia, and Schizachne purpurascens.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: In Wisconsin stands of this description usually are a result of type conversion, especially of Pinus banksiana, Quercus velutina, or Quercus ellipsoidalis forest stands and are not usually tracked for conservation purposes, but natural stands may occur around the margins of glacial Lake Wisconsin in the central sand plains region (E. Epstein pers. comm. 1999). This type is restricted to the prairie-forest border transition and does not occur in the northern hardwood-conifer region where Betula papyrifera is more typically an associate. This type may be the type expected in eastern North Dakota at Pembina Gorge and in the Sheyenne Delta. See also ~Quercus macrocarpa - Populus tremuloides / Aralia nudicaulis Forest (CEGL002065)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The mature trees in this community form an open to closed canopy. The canopies of individual trees usually touch, but because of the growth form of the dominant species, Populus tremuloides, significant light penetrates the canopy. Betula papyrifera, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Quercus macrocarpa, Quercus ellipsoidalis, and Pinus banksiana are minor constituents of the canopy in this community. The understory is dominated by shrubs, especially Corylus americana, Corylus cornuta, and Amelanchier spp. Other species that make up the shrub layer vary with site factors such as soil moisture. The herbaceous layer is composed of species that can survive in the shade cast by the taller strata. Among these are Aralia nudicaulis, Carex pensylvanica, Maianthemum canadense, Oryzopsis asperifolia, and Schizachne purpurascens.
Dynamics: This community is an early successional stage. In the absence of disturbance, most sites of this community will evolve into forest types dominated by what are currently minor components of the canopy (MNNHP 1993, Minnesota DNR 2005b).
Environmental Description: Grimm (1984) reported that aspen forest occurs on gently rolling, poorly drained topography in Minnesota''s prairie-forest border region. The water table is usually high but not high enough to affect the composition of the ground layer or to allow peat formation (MNNHP 1993, Minnesota DNR 2005b).
Geographic Range: This aspen / hazelnut forest type is found along the tallgrass prairie-forest border in Minnesota.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685491
Confidence Level: Low
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.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 | CEGL002063 Quaking Aspen / American Hazelnut Forest | CEGL002063 | 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 / Corylus americana Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001) [Northern Dry-Mesic Forest Aspen Subtype]
- 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.).
- Grimm, E. C. 1984. Fire and other factors controlling the Big Woods vegetation of Minnesota in the mid-nineteenth century. Ecological Monographs 54(3):291-311.
- 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.