Print Report
CEGL005227 Betula pumila - Alnus incana - Salix spp. / Chamaedaphne calyculata Fen
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bog Birch - Gray Alder - Willow species / Leatherleaf Fen
Colloquial Name: Bog Birch - Willow Shore Fen
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This bog birch - willow shore fen is found in the northern regions of the midwestern and possibly northeastern United States and in central Canada. Stands occur most commonly along the minerotrophic margins of confined basin peatlands, associated with peatland lakeshore complexes or on "lagg" zones at edges of peatlands where periodic exposure to flooding occurs from groundwater runoff. The substrate is deep fibric to mesic peat. The water regime is saturated to seasonally flooded. Hummock-and-hollow microtopography is well-developed. The shrub layer of this type is dominated by Betula pumila var. glandulifera, with Alnus incana and Salix spp. as codominants (including Salix pyrifolia, Salix planifolia, Salix pedicellaris, and Salix petiolaris). Other less constant tall shrubs include Cornus sericea and Rhamnus alnifolia. Shrubs are typically 1.5-3 m tall and coverage ranges from 30-80%. Chamaedaphne calyculata dominates the dwarf-shrub layer, with lesser amounts of Ledum groenlandicum, Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla, Kalmia polifolia, Rubus arcticus ssp. acaulis, Rubus idaeus, and Rubus pubescens. Cover of these dwarf-shrubs is typically 60-90%. Often being shaded out by this dense dwarf-shrub layer, the cover of herbaceous plants is variable (20-60%). The most abundant species are Carex lacustris, Carex leptalea, Carex rostrata, Carex trisperma, Maianthemum trifolium, and Comarum palustre. Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex chordorrhiza, Carex lasiocarpa, Eriophorum vaginatum var. spissum, and Viola spp. are also common at low density. The nonvascular stratum in northern Minnesota is dominated by Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum angustifolium, Sphagnum centrale, Sphagnum girgensohnii, and Sphagnum fallax. These species typically comprise 90-100% cover.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Type concept is that of a tall-shrub shore fen, as described by W16 of Harris et al. (1996). Rangewide review is needed.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The shrub layer of this type is dominated by Betula pumila var. glandulifera (= Betula glandulifera), with Alnus incana and Salix spp. as codominants (including Salix pyrifolia, Salix planifolia, Salix pedicellaris, and Salix petiolaris). Other less constant tall shrubs include Cornus sericea (= Cornus stolonifera) and Rhamnus alnifolia. Shrubs are typically 1.5-3 m tall and coverage ranges from 30-80%. Chamaedaphne calyculata dominates the dwarf-shrub layer, with lesser amounts of Ledum groenlandicum, Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla (= Andromeda glaucophylla), Kalmia polifolia, Rubus arcticus ssp. acaulis (= Rubus acaulis), Rubus idaeus, and Rubus pubescens. Cover of these dwarf-shrubs is typically 60-90%. Often being shaded out by this dense dwarf-shrub layer, the cover of herbaceous plants is variable (20-60%). The most abundant species are Carex lacustris, Carex leptalea, Carex rostrata, Carex trisperma, Maianthemum trifolium, and Comarum palustre (= Potentilla palustris). Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex chordorrhiza, Carex lasiocarpa, Eriophorum vaginatum var. spissum (= Eriophorum spissum), and Viola spp. are also common at low density. The nonvascular stratum in northern Minnesota is dominated by Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum angustifolium, Sphagnum centrale, Sphagnum girgensohnii, and Sphagnum fallax. These species typically comprise 90-100% cover (Harris et al. 1996, M. Smith pers. comm. 1999).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This type is most commonly found along the minerotrophic margins of confined basin peatlands, associated with peatland lakeshore complexes or on "lagg" zones at edges of peatlands where periodic exposure to flooding occurs from groundwater runoff. The substrate is deep fibric to mesic peat. The water regime is saturated to seasonally flooded. Hummock and hollow microtopography is well-developed (Harris et al. 1996).
Geographic Range: This shrub shore fen is found in the northern Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MI, MN, ON, QC?, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686852
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.2 Temperate to Polar Bog & Fen Formation | F016 | 2.C.2 |
| Division | 2.C.2.Na North American Bog & Fen Division | D029 | 2.C.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.2.Na.2 Shrubby cinquefoil - Woolly-fruit Sedge / Star Campylium Moss Alkaline Fen Macrogroup | M877 | 2.C.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 2.C.2.Na.2.e Shrubby-cinquefoil - Woolly-fruit Sedge Eastern Boreal Alkaline Fen Group | G804 | 2.C.2.Na.2.e |
| Alliance | A4400 Smooth Sawgrass - Needle Beaksedge - <i>Solidago ohioensis</i> Shore Fen Alliance | A4400 | 2.C.2.Na.2.e |
| Association | CEGL005227 Bog Birch - Gray Alder - Willow species / Leatherleaf Fen | CEGL005227 | 2.C.2.Na.2.e |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Alnus incana - Salix spp. - Betula pumila / Chamaedaphne calyculata Shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001) [Shore Fen Tall Shrub Subtype]
= Tall shrub shore fen: Speckled Alder-Willow/Dwarf Birch/Ericaceous Shrub (Harris et al. 1996) [(W16)]
= Tall shrub shore fen: Speckled Alder-Willow/Dwarf Birch/Ericaceous Shrub (Harris et al. 1996) [(W16)]
- 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.).
- Harris, A. G., S. C. McMurray, P. W. C. Uhlig, J. K. Jeglum, R. F. Foster, and G. D. Racey. 1996. Field guide to the wetland ecosystem classification for northwestern Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Northwest Science and Technology, Thunder Bay, Ontario. Field guide FG-01. 74 pp. plus appendix.
- 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.
- Hop, K., S. Menard, J. Drake, S. Lubinski, and J. Dieck. 2010a. National Park Service Vegetation Inventory Program: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin. Natural Resource Report NPS/GLKN/NRR-2010/199. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 310 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]
- 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.
- ONHIC [Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Unpublished data. Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario, Canada.
- 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]