Print Report
CEGL005191 Great Lakes Basalt - Diabase Cliff Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Great Lakes Basalt - Diabase Cliff Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Great Lakes Basalt - Diabase Cliff
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This basalt - diabase cliff community is found along Great Lakes shorelines in the subboreal regions of the Great Lakes in the United States and central Canada. Stands occur on vertical or near-vertical, south- to west-facing aspects of bedrock. Moisture is derived from precipitation, with severe wave action possible for cliffs along the Great Lakes shoreline. Mosses, lichens, ferns, and liverworts may be found, with occasional graminoids in crevices or shelves that trap soil. In Minnesota, arctic-alpine disjunct plant species (e.g., Moehringia macrophylla, Draba norvegica) and more temperate plant species may be found.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: A cliff may be defined as a vertical or near-vertical rock face at least 3 m high (MNNHP 1993). It is not clear whether a dry versus moist cliff distinction is needed along the Great Lakes shores, where lake moistures may keep the cliffs moist regardless of exposures. Inland basalt/diabase cliffs that are heavily wooded are tracked as Northern (Laurentian) Igneous - Metamorphic Moist Cliff Scrub, ~Acer spicatum - Thuja occidentalis - Betula papyrifera / Taxus canadensis Alkaline Cliff Scrub (CEGL005251)$$, and Inland basalt/diabase cliffs that are open or dry are tracked as Northern (Laurentian) Igneous - Metamorphic Dry Cliff, ~Eastern Boreal & Laurentian Dry Acidic Cliff Vegetation (CEGL002300)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation is often sparse, due to severe wave action. Mosses, lichens, ferns, and liverworts may be found, with occasional graminoids in crevices or shelves that trap soil. In Minnesota, arctic-alpine disjunct plant species (e.g., Moehringia macrophylla (= Arenaria macrophylla), Draba norvegica) and more temperate plant species may be found (MNNHP 1993, Albert et al. 1995).
Dynamics: Cliffs along the Great Lakes shore are exposed to severe wave action, preventing establishment of vegetation.
Environmental Description: This community occurs on vertical or near-vertical, south- to west-facing aspects of basalt or diabase bedrock. In Michigan cliffs range from only 3-6 m to over 60 m tall (Albert et al. 1995). Moisture is derived from precipitation.
Geographic Range: This basalt/diabase cliff community is found along the Great Lakes shorelines and inland areas in the sub-boreal regions of the Great Lakes in the United States and central Canada, including Michigan, Minnesota, and Ontario.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MI, MN, ON, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686857
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class | C06 | 6 |
| Subclass | 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass | S04 | 6.B |
| Formation | 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation | F034 | 6.B.1 |
| Division | 6.B.1.Na Eastern North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division | D051 | 6.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 6.B.1.Na.1 Shrubby Fivefingers - Rock Polypody / Cup Lichen species Eastern North American Cliff & Rock Vegetation Macrogroup | M111 | 6.B.1.Na.1 |
| Group | 6.B.1.Na.1.b Laurentian-Acadian-Great Lakes Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group | G839 | 6.B.1.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A4006 Laurentian-Acadian-Great Lakes Alkaline Cliff Alliance | A4006 | 6.B.1.Na.1.b |
| Association | CEGL005191 Great Lakes Basalt - Diabase Cliff Sparse Vegetation | CEGL005191 | 6.B.1.Na.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Basalt - Diabase Great Lakes Shore Cliff Sparse Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- 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).
- 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.).
- 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.
- TNC [The Nature Conservancy]. 1999b. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Classification of the vegetation of Isle Royale National Park. The Nature Conservancy, Midwest Regional Office, Minneapolis, MN, and International Headquarters, Arlington, VA. 143 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]