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CEGL002274 Sporobolus airoides Northern Plains Marsh
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Alkali Sacaton Northern Plains Marsh
Colloquial Name: Northern Plains Alkali Sacaton Saline Meadow
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This saline alkali sacaton community type is found in the northwestern Great Plains of the United States. Stands occur in moderately saline sites. This community has low species diversity and is dominated by moderately salt-tolerant graminoids. Total vegetation cover is sparse to moderate, and bare ground is common. The dominant species is Sporobolus airoides. Graminoids of high constancy in Montana include Poa cusickii and Poa secunda. Less common graminoids include Distichlis spicata, Hordeum jubatum, and Pascopyrum smithii. Forbs of highest constancy in Montana include Symphyotrichum falcatum, Plantago eriopoda, and Iva axillaris.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The small patch size of this type complicates its classification. Compare this type with ~Distichlis spicata - Hordeum jubatum - Puccinellia nuttalliana - Suaeda calceoliformis Wet Meadow (CEGL002273)$$, which is more saline and more common in the eastern Dakotas; this type is only reported from the western Dakotas and Montana. Sporobolus airoides does not occur in Minnesota or the eastern Dakotas. This type is replaced southward by ~Sporobolus airoides Southern Plains Wet Meadow (CEGL001685)$$, but diagnostic species that distinguish the two are not known. Southeastward a third type occurs that may also overlap in concept, the ~Distichlis spicata - (Hordeum jubatum, Poa arida, Sporobolus airoides) Wet Meadow (CEGL002042)$$. A possible ranking of salinity tolerance for many of the species in this type could be, from least to most salt-tolerant: Pascopyrum smithii, Poa fendleriana, Sporobolus airoides, Puccinellia nuttalliana, Distichlis spicata.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community has low species diversity and is dominated by moderately salt-tolerant graminoids. Total vegetation cover is sparse to moderate and bare ground is common. The dominant species is Sporobolus airoides. Graminoids of high constancy in Montana include Poa cusickii and Poa secunda (= Poa juncifolia). Less common graminoids include Distichlis spicata, Hordeum jubatum, and Pascopyrum smithii. Forbs of highest constancy in Montana include Symphyotrichum falcatum (= Aster falcatus), Plantago eriopoda, and Iva axillaris (Cooper et al. 2000, S. Cooper pers. comm. 2000).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands occur in moderately saline sites.
Geographic Range: This moderately saline alkali sacaton community is found in small patches in the northwestern Great Plains of the United States, ranging from the western Dakotas to Montana.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MT, ND, SD, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686422
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.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.5 Salt Marsh Formation | F035 | 2.C.5 |
| Division | 2.C.5.Na North American Great Plains Saline Marsh Division | D033 | 2.C.5.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.5.Na.1 Great Plains Saline Wet Meadow & Marsh Macrogroup | M077 | 2.C.5.Na.1 |
| Group | 2.C.5.Na.1.b Western Great Plains Saline Wet Meadow Group | G534 | 2.C.5.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A3904 Alkali Sacaton Great Plains Marsh Alliance | A3904 | 2.C.5.Na.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002274 Alkali Sacaton Northern Plains Marsh | CEGL002274 | 2.C.5.Na.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sporobolus airoides Northern Plains Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- Cooper, S., C. Jean, and B. Heidl. 2000. Plant associations and related botanical inventory of the Beaverhead Mountains Section, Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT.
- Cooper, Steve. Personal communication. Ecologist, Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT.
- 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.).
- Girard, M. [1991]. ECODATA survey of riparian communities of Black Hills National Forest, 1986-1990. Unpublished files, field forms, notes, data analyses and type descriptions. Supervisor''s Office, Black Hills National Forest, Custer, SD.
- Hansen, P. L., R. D. Pfister, K. Boggs, B. J. Cook, J. Joy, and D. K. Hinckley. 1995. Classification and management of Montana''s riparian and wetland sites. Miscellaneous Publication No. 54. Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana. 646 pp. plus posters.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Marriott, H. J. 1985. Flora of the northwestern Black Hills, Crook and Weston counties, Wyoming. Unpublished M.S. thesis, Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie.
- Marriott, H. J., D. Faber-Langendoen, A. McAdams, D. Stutzman, and B. Burkhart. 1999. The Black Hills Community Inventory: Final report. The Nature Conservancy, Midwest Conservation Science Center, Minneapolis, MN.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- RMS. 1998. Unpublished, untitled document containing Black Hills riparian vegetation classification, key and tables of canopy cover and constancy estimates. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Rapid City, SD.
- WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.