Print Report
CEGL005248 Rubus parviflorus Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: This Rubus parviflorus shrubland may be an early-successional stage following disturbance by burning or clearing. It occurs on Isle Royale, Michigan, and perhaps more widely in the subboreal regions of the upper midwestern United States and Canada.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Thimbleberry Shrubland
Colloquial Name: Thimbleberry Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This thimbleberry shrubland occurs on Isle Royale, Michigan, and perhaps more widely in the boreal regions of the upper midwestern United States and Canada. At Isle Royale, stands occupy gentle to moderate slopes at fairly low elevations (190-230 m [620-750 feet]). It seems to be a short-lived successional stage following disturbance by burning or clearing. The vegetation forms a deciduous shrubland. There may be a sparse tree layer with 10-20% cover; the most common trees are Betula papyrifera, Picea glauca, and Populus tremuloides. A tall-shrub layer may be present, and cover of tall shrubs varies from 0-40%; the most abundant tall shrubs are saplings or browsed scrub of Abies balsamea. The short-shrub layer (including dwarf-shrubs) has from 40-80% cover; Rubus parviflorus is the most abundant shrub (usually 25-50% cover). Rubus idaeus may also be present. Cover of the herbaceous layer varies from 20-90% cover; the most abundant herbs are Aralia nudicaulis, Streptopus lanceolatus, Eurybia macrophylla, Clintonia borealis, Equisetum arvense, Galium triflorum, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, and Linnaea borealis. There may be up to about 10% cover of lichens. This shrubland seems to be a successional type following disturbance (for example, disturbance by fire or clearing) that will develop into a mixed or deciduous woodland or forest. Standing dead snags of Betula papyrifera are common in several examples.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Type concept is taken from studies on Isle Royale (TNC 1999b) and needs rangewide review.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Thimbleberry shrubland is a deciduous shrubland. There may be a sparse tree layer with 10-20% cover.
Floristics: At Isle Royale National Park, the most common trees in the sparse tree layer are Betula papyrifera, Picea glauca, and Populus tremuloides. A tall-shrub layer may be present, and cover of tall shrubs varies from 0-40%; the most abundant tall shrubs are saplings or browsed scrub of Abies balsamea. The short-shrub layer (including dwarf-shrubs) has from 40-80% cover; Rubus parviflorus is the most abundant shrub (usually 25-50% cover); Rubus idaeus may also be present. Cover of the herbaceous layer varies from 20-90% cover; the most abundant herbs are Aralia nudicaulis, Streptopus lanceolatus (= Streptopus roseus), Eurybia macrophylla (= Aster macrophyllus), Clintonia borealis, Equisetum arvense, Galium triflorum, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, and Linnaea borealis. There may be up to about 10% cover of lichens. This shrubland seems to be a successional type following disturbance (for example, disturbance by fire or clearing) that will develop into a mixed or deciduous woodland or forest. Standing dead snags of Betula papyrifera are common in several examples (C. Reschke pers. comm. 1999).
Dynamics: At Isle Royale National Park, this type seems to be successional following disturbance by burning or clearing. It is probably a fairly short-lived successional stage (C. Reschke pers. comm. 1999).
Environmental Description: At Isle Royale National Park, this community occupies gentle to moderate slopes at fairly low elevations (from 190-230 m [620-750 feet]) (C. Reschke pers. comm. 1999).
Geographic Range: This thimbleberry shrubland occurs on Isle Royale, Michigan, and perhaps more widely in the subboreal regions of the upper midwestern United States and Canada.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: MI, ON?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685594
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D024 | 2.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nc.4 Laurentian -Acidic Rocky Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M505 | 2.B.2.Nc.4 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nc.4.a Laurentian-Acadian Acidic Scrub & Grassland Group | G788 | 2.B.2.Nc.4.a |
| Alliance | A3361 Mountain Maple - White Spruce / Bluebead Scrub Alliance | A3361 | 2.B.2.Nc.4.a |
| Association | CEGL005248 Thimbleberry Shrubland | CEGL005248 | 2.B.2.Nc.4.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Rubus parviflorus Shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Rubus parviflorus Shrubland (TNC 1999b)
= Rubus parviflorus Shrubland (TNC 1999b)
- 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.).
- Farrand, W. R., and D. L. Bell. 1982. Quaternary geology of northern Michigan. University of Michigan, Lansing.
- Hop, K., S. Menard, J. Drake, S. Lubinski, and J. Dieck. 2010c. National Park Service Vegetation Inventory Program: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan. Natural Resource Report NPS/GLKN/NRR-2010/201. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. 358 pp.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Reschke, Carol. Personal communication. Ecologist, New York Natural Heritage Program. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Latham, NY.
- TNC [The Nature Conservancy]. 1999b. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Classification of the vegetation of Isle Royale National Park. The Nature Conservancy, Midwest Regional Office, Minneapolis, MN, and International Headquarters, Arlington, VA. 143 pp.