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CEGL005216 Granite - Metamorphic Bedrock Great Lakes Shore Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Granite - Metamorphic Bedrock Great Lakes Shore Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Great Lakes Granite - Metamorphic Bedrock Shore
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This sparsely vegetated granite (metamorphic) bedrock rocky shore community is found along Lake Superior shorelines of the Unites States and Canada. The bedrock is diverse in both age and origin, and includes an acidic group of granite and metamorphic rocks. The vegetation changes with distance from the lake. Wave action and ice-scour are strongest near the shore, producing a wave-washed zone with little or no vegetation. Vegetation cover and height increase towards land. A zone of open, vegetated bedrock occurs first, where the dominant vegetation consists of mosses and lichens. Herbs and shrubs are restricted to bedrock cracks in the lower part of this zone, but increase further inland. Above the zone of wave and ice influence, woody vegetation becomes dominant. Some of the more common vascular plants include Agrostis hyemalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Poa compressa, Vaccinium angustifolium, Betula papyrifera, Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, Achillea millefolium, Chamerion angustifolium, and Scirpus cyperinus. Shrubs, further inland, include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Diervilla lonicera, Juniperus communis, and Physocarpus opulifolius. The more common ferns include Cystopteris fragilis, Woodsia ilvensis, and Polypodium virginianum. Small pools may also occur, containing Calamagrostis canadensis, Deschampsia cespitosa, Lobelia kalmii, and Scirpus cyperinus.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: A Great Lakes granitic bedrock glade community, with similar ground layer species, could be separated from this community [see Albert et al. (1995)], as was done for the Basalt glade community, ~Picea glauca - Abies balsamea Basalt - Conglomerate Woodland (CEGL005214)$$, but for now these Great Lakes near-shore granitic stands are treated as part of a more widespread type on rocky ridges, ~Pinus banksiana / Cladonia spp. Rock Outcrop Vegetation (CEGL002491)$$. Typical tree species in the scattered canopy of the glade include Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa, Pinus strobus, Quercus rubra, and Betula papyrifera. Verification of granitic shores along the Minnesota North Shore is needed.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation cover varies with distance from the lakeshore. Wave action and ice-scour are strongest near the shore, producing a wave-washed zone with little or no vegetation. Vegetation cover and height increase towards land. A zone of open, vegetated bedrock occurs first, where the dominant vegetation consists of mosses and lichens. Herbs and shrubs are restricted to bedrock cracks in the lower part of this zone, but increase farther inland. Above the zone of wave and ice influence, woody vegetation becomes dominant. Some of the more common vascular plants include Agrostis hyemalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Poa compressa, Vaccinium angustifolium, Betula papyrifera, Sibbaldiopsis tridentata (= Potentilla tridentata), Achillea millefolium, Chamerion angustifolium (= Epilobium angustifolium), and Scirpus cyperinus. Shrubs, farther inland, include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Diervilla lonicera, Juniperus communis, and Physocarpus opulifolius. The more common ferns include Cystopteris fragilis, Woodsia ilvensis, and Polypodium virginianum. Small pools may also occur containing Calamagrostis canadensis, Deschampsia cespitosa, Lobelia kalmii, and Scirpus cyperinus (Albert et al. 1995).
Dynamics: Wave action and ice-scour along the shore often prevent vegetation from establishing. Vegetation height and cover increase towards land.
Environmental Description: The bedrock is diverse in both age and origin, and includes an acidic group of granite and metamorphic rocks. Wave action and ice scour are strongest near the shore, producing a wave-washed zone with little or no vegetation (Albert et al. 1995).
Geographic Range: This sparsely vegetated granite (metamorphic) bedrock rocky shore community is found along Lake Superior shorelines of the United States and Canada, particularly in Michigan and Ontario.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MI, ON
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685750
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.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation | F005 | 2.B.4 |
| Division | 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division | D026 | 2.B.4.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.4.Na.1 Eastern North American Coastal Beach & Rocky Shore Macrogroup | M060 | 2.B.4.Na.1 |
| Group | 2.B.4.Na.1.c Great Lakes Coastal Rocky Shore Group | G793 | 2.B.4.Na.1.c |
| Alliance | A3695 Tufted Hairgrass - Bluebell Bellflower Lakeshore Alliance | A3695 | 2.B.4.Na.1.c |
| Association | CEGL005216 Granite - Metamorphic Bedrock Great Lakes Shore Sparse Vegetation | CEGL005216 | 2.B.4.Na.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Granite - Metamorphic Bedrock Great Lakes Shore Sparse Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- Albert, D. A., P. J. Comer, R. A. Corner, D. Cuthrell, M. Penskar, and M. Rabe. 1995. Bedrock shoreline survey of the Niagaran Escarpment in Michigan''s Upper Peninsula: Mackinac County to Delta County. Michigan Natural Features Inventory for Land and Water Management Division (grant # CD-0.02).
- 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.).
- Kost, M. A., D. A. Albert, J. G. Cohen, B. S. Slaughter, R. K. Schillo, C. R. Weber, and K. A. Chapman. 2007. Natural communities of Michigan: Classification and description. Report No. 2007-21, Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing. 314 pp. [http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/reports/2007-21_Natural_Communites_of_Michigan_Classification_and_Description.pdf]
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- ONHIC [Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Unpublished data. Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario, Canada.