Print Report

CEGL001079 Betula glandulosa / Carex utriculata Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Resin Birch / Northwest Territory Sedge Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This seasonally flooded, cold-deciduous shrubland occurs in marshes in the subalpine and montane riparian zones. Elevations range from 900 m to over 1700 m (990-5580 feet). Stands can occur on beaver ponds, lakes, marshes, seeps, swales, and wet alluvial terraces adjacent to low-gradient meandering streams. They are found in areas where soils are saturated from snowmelt runoff for a significant part of the growing season, often on fens, where the vegetation receives water from seeps and springs. Soils are commonly Histosols, flooded until mid summer and saturated all year in many sites. Quaking mats are typical of many stands. Betula glandulosa dominates the canopy with a range of cover from 5 to 60%. The total shrub canopy ranges from sparse to moderate, and there are often large, open spaces between individual shrub clumps. Other shrubs present include Salix planifolia, Salix geyeriana, Salix wolfii, Rhamnus alnifolia, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Cornus sericea, Alnus incana, and Ribes spp. The herbaceous undergrowth has high cover and is found on small hummocks. The dominant graminoid is Carex utriculata; several other species are typically present, in lower abundance and include Calamagrostis stricta, Carex aquatilis, Carex livida, and Carex lasiocarpa. Forb cover is variable, with occasional species being abundant. Forbs commonly present may include Cicuta maculata, Comarum palustre, Mentha arvensis, Galium spp., Ranunculus sceleratus, Sparganium natans, and Thalictrum alpinum.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Stands from Hansen et al (1995) included areas where Carex aquatilis dominated. The Closed Tall Shrub Birch Shrub and the Closed Tall Shrub Birch-Willow Shrub communities of Viereck et al. (1992) may contain occurrences that belong to this association.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Betula glandulosa dominates the canopy with a range of cover from 5 to 60%. The total shrub canopy ranges from sparse to moderate, and there are often large, open spaces between individual shrub clumps. Other shrubs present include Salix planifolia, Salix geyeriana, Salix wolfii, Rhamnus alnifolia, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda), Cornus sericea, Alnus incana, and Ribes spp. The herbaceous undergrowth has high cover and is found on small hummocks. The dominant graminoid is Carex utriculata (= Carex rostrata var. utriculata); several other species are typically present in lower abundance and include Calamagrostis stricta, Carex aquatilis, Carex livida, and Carex lasiocarpa. Forb cover is variable, with occasional species being abundant. Forbs commonly present may include Cicuta maculata, Comarum palustre, Mentha arvensis, Galium spp., Ranunculus sceleratus, Sparganium natans (= Sparganium minimum), and Thalictrum alpinum.

Dynamics:  This plant association is likely to be a long-lived mid- to late-seral community (Viereck et al. 1992 as cited in Kittel et al. 1999b). As peatland hummocks develop (become more pronounced), they may become more heavily dominated by Salix species (Wendell et al. 1986 as cited in Kittel et al. 1999b). Due to cold temperatures and a short growing season, this process may take several decades to occur (Phillips 1977).
Environmental Description:  This seasonally flooded, cold-deciduous shrubland occurs in marshes in the subalpine and montane riparian zones. Elevations range from 900 m to over 1700 m (990-5580 feet). Stands can occur on beaver ponds, lakes, marshes, seeps, swales, and wet alluvial terraces adjacent to low-gradient meandering streams (Hansen et al. 1995). They are found in areas where soils are saturated from snowmelt runoff for a significant part of the growing season, often on fens, where the vegetation receives water from seeps and springs. Soils are commonly Histosols, flooded until mid-summer and saturated all year in many sites. Organic matter accumulations may form floating, quaking mats as this association encroaches onto open water.
Geographic Range: This association is known from Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Alberta, and possibly occurs in California.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, CA?, ID, MT, OR


Confidence Level: High

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4?

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.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D031 2.C.4.Nb
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nb.5 Sitka Alder - Booth''s Willow / Northwest Territory Sedge Montane Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M893 2.C.4.Nb.5
Group 2.C.4.Nb.5.d Willow species - Alder species - Water Birch Riparian & Seep Shrubland Group G527 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Alliance A3770 Wolf''s Willow - Short-fruit Willow - Resin Birch Wet Shrubland Alliance A3770 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Association CEGL001079 Resin Birch / Northwest Territory Sedge Wet Shrubland CEGL001079 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Betula glandulosa / Carex rostrata Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
= Betula glandulosa / Carex utriculata Plant Association (Jankovsky-Jones et al. 1999)
= Betula glandulosa / Carex utriculata Shrubland (Phillips 1977)
= Betula glandulosa / Carex utriculata Shrubland (Hansen et al. 1991)
= Betula glandulosa / Carex utriculata Shrubland Association (Kittel et al. 1999b)
? I.B.1.c - Closed tall shrub birch shrub (Viereck et al. 1992) [may contain occurrences that belong to this association.]
? I.B.1.e - Closed tall shrub birch-willow shrub (Viereck et al. 1992) [may contain occurrences that belong to this association.]
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: Western Ecology Group

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-23-09
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