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CEGL001774 Festuca rubra Stabilized Dune Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red Fescue Stabilized Dune Grassland
Colloquial Name: Red Fescue Stabilized Dune Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is found in the sand dunes that exist in scattered localities along the northern Pacific coast. It occurs where the movement of sand is generally slight to moderate, such as on sheltered sand plains, old blowouts or deflation plains. It is especially well-developed on deflation plains where moisture is ample, but without standing water. It is a sparse to moderately dense, herbaceous association dominated by perennial grasses and forbs. The grass Festuca rubra is commonly present and spreading by long rhizomes. Most of the species have low to mounding statures or, in the case of silver moss (Racomitrium canescens), spreading. Silver moss is intolerant of sand burial and so is an indicator of relatively sheltered and/or stable dune forms. This association is rich in forb species. Most of the species occurring in the association are not found in unstabilized dune forms. Other species common to this grassland include Cardionema ramosissimum, Hypochaeris radicata, Lupinus littoralis, Polygonum paronychia, Polypodium glycyrrhiza and Solidago simplex var. spathulata.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This is a sparse to moderately dense, herbaceous association dominated by perennial grasses and forbs. The grass Festuca rubra is commonly present and spreading by long rhizomes. Most of the species have low to mounding statures or, in the case of silver moss (Racomitrium canescens), spreading. Silver moss is intolerant of sand burial and so is an indicator of relatively sheltered and/or stable dune forms. This association is rich in forb species. Most of the species occurring in the association are not found in unstabilized dune forms. Other species common to this grassland include Cardionema ramosissimum, Hypochaeris radicata, Lupinus littoralis, Polygonum paronychia, Polypodium glycyrrhiza and Solidago simplex var. spathulata (= Solidago spathulata).
Dynamics: Sand dunes exist in scattered localities along the north Pacific coast, from northern California to southern Washington. Their formation is due to a complex interaction of prevailing winds, ocean currents and wave action, local topographic features, and sediment discharge from rivers. These dunes have formed since the last Pleistocene glaciation. The sands are primarily arkosic (feldspar and quartz). Sand plains and deflation plains are flat to undulating plains created by wind erosion. In the case of the deflation plain, the sand has been removed to the level of the water table, which is at the surface year-round.
Environmental Description: Sand dunes exist in scattered localities along the north Pacific coast, from northern California to southern Washington. Their formation is due to a complex interaction of prevailing winds, ocean currents and wave action, local topographic features, and sediment discharge from rivers. These dunes have formed since the last Pleistocene glaciation. The sands are primarily arkosic (feldspar and quartz). Sand plains and deflation plains are flat to undulating plains created by wind erosion. In the case of the deflation plain, the sand has been removed to the level of the water table, which is at the surface year round. Deflation plains are characterized by the water table near the surface, stabilizing the sands such that wind erosion does not occur. During the rainy season, the plain will be covered by standing water.
This community is found where the movement of sand is generally slight, such as on sheltered sand plains, old blowouts or deflation plains. It is especially well-developed on deflation plains where moisture is ample, but without standing water. The soils have been described by Wiedemann (1984) as composed of fine sands throughout the profile, though each has a surface horizon of 2-8 cm of partially or fully decomposed plant material. The stabilized low dune area soils have some brown mottles, generally in the top 50 cm of the profile.
This community is found where the movement of sand is generally slight, such as on sheltered sand plains, old blowouts or deflation plains. It is especially well-developed on deflation plains where moisture is ample, but without standing water. The soils have been described by Wiedemann (1984) as composed of fine sands throughout the profile, though each has a surface horizon of 2-8 cm of partially or fully decomposed plant material. The stabilized low dune area soils have some brown mottles, generally in the top 50 cm of the profile.
Geographic Range: This association is restricted to a few scattered localities within the mosaic of plant associations of coastal dune system primarily in northern Oregon and Washington.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686676
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.Nb Pacific North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division | D027 | 2.B.4.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.4.Nb.2 Pacific Coastal Beach & Dune Macrogroup | M059 | 2.B.4.Nb.2 |
| Group | 2.B.4.Nb.2.b American Dunegrass - Sand Ryegrass - Coastal Sand-verbena Dune Grassland & Beach Group | G498 | 2.B.4.Nb.2.b |
| Alliance | A2066 Seashore Bluegrass - American Dunegrass - Red Fescue Sand Dune Grassland Alliance | A2066 | 2.B.4.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001774 Red Fescue Stabilized Dune Grassland | CEGL001774 | 2.B.4.Nb.2.b |
Concept Lineage: This type (CEGL003290) is the same as CEGL001774.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Festuca rubra - Ambrosia chamissonis Herbaceous Vegetation (Copass and Ramm-Granberg 2016a)
> Festuca rubra - Ambrosia chamissonis Herbaceous Vegetation Association (Rocchio et al. 2012)
= Festuca rubra - Grindelia integrifolia community (Kunze 1984)
> Festuca rubra Stabilized Dune Herbaceous Vegetation Association (Rocchio et al. 2012)
= Festuca rubra community (Kunze 1984)
= Red Fescue Herbaceous Vegetation (Festuca rubra) (Christy et al. 1998) [(p.94)]
> Festuca rubra - Ambrosia chamissonis Herbaceous Vegetation Association (Rocchio et al. 2012)
= Festuca rubra - Grindelia integrifolia community (Kunze 1984)
> Festuca rubra Stabilized Dune Herbaceous Vegetation Association (Rocchio et al. 2012)
= Festuca rubra community (Kunze 1984)
= Red Fescue Herbaceous Vegetation (Festuca rubra) (Christy et al. 1998) [(p.94)]
- Alpert, P. 1984. Inventory and analysis of Oregon coastal dunes. Unpublished manuscript prepared for the Oregon Natural Heritage Program, Portland, OR.
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- Christy, J. A., J. S. Kagan, and A. M. Wiedemann. 1998. Plant associations of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area - Siuslaw National Forest, Oregon. Technical Paper R6-NR-ECOL-TP-09-98. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 196 pp.
- Copass, C., and T. Ramm-Granberg. 2016a. Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve vegetation inventory and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCCN/NRR--2016/1127. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 194 pp.
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
- Kunze, L. M. 1984. Puget Trough coastal wetland sanctuaries: A summary report of recommended sites. Report to Washington Department of Ecology, Contract No. C-83061. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Olympia.
- Pickart, A. 1987. A classification of northern foredune and its relationship to Menzies'' wallflower on the North Spit of Humboldt Bay, California. The Nature Conservancy, Arcata, CA. 14 pp.
- Rocchio, F. J., R. C. Crawford, and C. C. Thompson. 2012. San Juan Island National Historical Park vegetation classification and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCCN/NRR--2012/603. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 188 pp.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Wiedemann, A. M. 1966. Contributions to the plant ecology of the Oregon coastal sand dunes. Ph.D. dissertation, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 255 pp.
- Wiedemann, A. M. 1984. The ecology of Pacific Northwest coastal sand dunes: A community profile. USDI Fish and Wildlife Service Report FWS/OBS-84/04. 130 pp.
- Wiedemann, A. M. 1990. The coastal parabola dune system at Sand Lake, Tillamook County, Oregon, U.S.A. Proceedings of the Canadian Symposium on Coastal Sand Dunes 1990:171-194.
- Wiedemann, A. M. 1993. Dry coastal ecosystems of northwestern North America. Pages 341-358 in: E. van der Maarel, editor. Ecosystems of the World 2B: Dry Coastal Ecosystems - Africa, America, Asia and Oceania. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.