Print Report
CEGL002491 Pinus banksiana / Cladonia spp. Rock Outcrop Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Jack Pine / Cup Lichen species Rock Outcrop Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Laurentian Rocky Outcrop
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This granite/metamorphic rock outcrop is found in rocky openings on and near the subboreal regions of the Canadian Shield in the northern Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada, and possibly in northern New England. Stands are typically composed of granite or metamorphic rock, and possibly basalt. They occur on relatively level or rounded areas of exposed bedrock, sometimes along lake shorelines, including the Great Lakes shorelines. Soil development is minimal, and pH is typically acidic. Occurrences are typically a mosaic of exposed bedrock with patches of low vegetation dominated by fruticose lichens and mosses (which cover about 40% of the area) and scattered trees and shrubs (which rarely exceed 20% cover). Bare rock (with crustose lichens) covers about 30% of the area. Lichen species include Cladonia rangiferina and Cladonia arbuscula ssp. mitis. Mosses include Dicranum spp., Pleurozium schreberi, and Polytrichum spp. The vascular vegetation is typically sparse. Scattered trees and shrubs include Amelanchier spp., Diervilla lonicera, Juniperus communis, Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa, Pinus strobus, Prunus pensylvanica, Quercus rubra, Salix bebbiana, and Vaccinium angustifolium. The sparse herbaceous layer includes Agrostis hyemalis, Aralia hispida, Campanula rotundifolia, Corydalis sempervirens, Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Chamerion angustifolium, Poa compressa, and Sibbaldiopsis tridentata.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is defined broadly to include a number of granitic and other igneous and metamorphic rock outcrop types. Further study may make clear where further divisions are needed. This type bears some strong resemblance to the Mixed Conifer-Hardwood woodland type, Quercus ellipsoidalis - Quercus macrocarpa - (Pinus banksiana) Rocky Woodland that also occurs on granitic shoreline outcrops in Minnesota, but that type contains a dominant woodland canopy. It is distinct from the more boreal Great Lakes Shore basaltic/metamorphic glades, ~Picea glauca - Abies balsamea Basalt - Conglomerate Woodland (CEGL005214)$$, which is more spruce-fir-dominated. In Wisconsin, the type may be found in the Penokee Range, the Lake District of the Nicolet National Forest, Oconto County, and the Menominee Reservation but see also ~(Pinus strobus, Quercus rubra) / Danthonia spicata Acidic Bedrock Scrub Grassland (CEGL005101)$$. See also ~Juniperus communis - (Quercus rubra) / Juniperus horizontalis - Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Shrubland (CEGL005065)$$, which may be the shrubby equivalent of this type. A plant of special interest in Michigan is Trisetum spicatum (Albert et al. 1995).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Occurrences are typically a mosaic of exposed bedrock with patches of low vegetation dominated by fruticose lichens and mosses (which cover about 40% of the area) and scattered trees and shrubs. Bare rock (with crustose lichens) covers about 30% of the area. Lichen species include Cladonia rangiferina (= Cladina rangiferina) and Cladonia arbuscula ssp. mitis (= Cladonia mitis). Mosses include Dicranum spp., Pleurozium schreberi, and Polytrichum spp. The vascular vegetation is typically sparse and variable from location to location. Scattered trees and shrubs, rarely exceeding 20% in cover, include Amelanchier spp., Diervilla lonicera, Juniperus communis, Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa, Pinus strobus, Prunus pensylvanica, Quercus rubra, Salix bebbiana, and Vaccinium angustifolium. The sparse herbaceous layer may include Agrostis hyemalis, Aralia hispida, Campanula rotundifolia, Corydalis sempervirens, Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Chamerion angustifolium (= Epilobium angustifolium), Poa compressa, and Sibbaldiopsis tridentata (= Potentilla tridentata) (Ohmann and Ream 1971, Grigal and Ohmann 1975, MNNHP 1993).
Dynamics: Fire appears to be important in maintaining this community. In the absence of fire, these rock outcrops are invaded by trees from surrounding forest types, especially Pinus banksiana and Pinus strobus and (in more southern examples) Quercus rubra (MNNHP 1993).
Environmental Description: Stands are typically composed of granite or metamorphic rock, and possibly basalt. They occur on relatively level or rounded areas of exposed bedrock. Soil development is minimal, and pH is typically acidic (Ohmann and Ream 1971, Grigal and Ohmann 1975, MNNHP 1993). In the Great Lakes, these rock outcrops (or glades) occupy upper portions above the granitic bedrock shorelines (Albert et al. 1995).
Geographic Range: This lichen- and moss-dominated rock outcrop community type is found on and near the Canadian Shield in the northern Great Lakes region and elsewhere in Canada, as well as possibly in rocky openings of northern New England.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MB, MI, MN, ON, QC?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686125
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G5
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 | A3908 Common Juniper - Mixed Scrub / Poverty Oatgrass Acidic Bedrock Alliance | A3908 | 2.B.2.Nc.4.a |
| Association | CEGL002491 Jack Pine / Cup Lichen species Rock Outcrop Vegetation | CEGL002491 | 2.B.2.Nc.4.a |
Concept Lineage: This type overlapped considerably in concept.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus banksiana - Pinus strobus - (Quercus rubra) / Cladina spp. Nonvascular Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001) [Bedrock Glade Boreal Mixed Pine-(Oak) Subtype]
= Lichen (Grigal and Ohmann 1975) [Uncertain if equivalent]
= Lichen (Ohmann and Ream 1971) [Uncertain if equivalent]
= Rock Outcrop (Northeast Section) (MNNHP 1993)
= Lichen (Grigal and Ohmann 1975) [Uncertain if equivalent]
= Lichen (Ohmann and Ream 1971) [Uncertain if equivalent]
= Rock Outcrop (Northeast Section) (MNNHP 1993)
- 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).
- CDPNQ [Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec]. No date. Unpublished data. Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec, Québec.
- 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.
- Grigal, D. F., and L. F. Ohmann. 1975. Classification, description, and dynamics of upland plant communities within a Minnesota wilderness area. Ecological Monographs 45:389-407.
- Hop, K., D. Faber-Langendoen, M. Lew-Smith, N. Aaseng, and S. Lubinski. [1999]. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. USDI U.S. Geological Survey, La Crosse, WI. 210 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]
- Lee, H., W. Bakowsky, J. Riley, J. Bowles, M. Puddister, P. Uhlig, and S. McMurray. 1998. Ecological land classification for southern Ontario: First approximation and its application. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Southcentral Science Section, Science Development and Transfer Branch. SCSS Field Guide FG-02.
- 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]. 2003. Field guide to the native plant communities of Minnesota: The Laurentian Mixed Forest Province. Ecological Land Classification Program, Minnesota County Biological Survey, and Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.
- ONHIC [Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Unpublished data. Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario, Canada.
- Ohmann, L. F., and P. R. Ream. 1971. Wilderness ecology: Virgin plant communities of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Research Paper NC-63. USDA Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station, St. Paul, MN. 35 pp.
- WDNR [Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources]. 2015. The ecological landscapes of Wisconsin: An assessment of ecological resources and a guide to planning sustainable management. PUB-SS-1131 2015. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison. [http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/landscapes/Book.html]