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CEGL002189 Betula pumila - Salix candida / Carex lasiocarpa - Symphyotrichum boreale Prairie Fen
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bog Birch - Willow species / Woolly-fruit Sedge - Northern Bog Aster Prairie Fen
Colloquial Name: Bog Birch - Willow Prairie Fen
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community type is found in the northern tallgrass prairie and adjacent prairie-forest border regions of the upper midwestern United States, where surface waters are circumneutral to somewhat alkaline and have moderate nutrient levels. Groundwater discharge is not typically present. It is typically found on relatively shallow peat, overlying mineral soil. This community has a variable 0 -55% shrub cover, abundant herbaceous species, and sparse to abundant mosses. The most abundant shrub species are Betula pumila, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Salix petiolaris, and Salix candida. Common herbaceous species include graminoids Calamagrostis canadensis, Calamagrostis stricta, Carex aquatilis, Carex lasiocarpa, Eriophorum angustifolium, and forbs Euthamia graminifolia, Lobelia kalmii, Lycopus uniflorus, Symphyotrichum boreale, and Triadenum fraseri. Where mosses are present, they are dominated by species other than Sphagnum spp.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: In Minnesota (Minnesota DNR 2005b), and elsewhere, the shrub-dominated stands are not separated from herbaceous stands. Carex sartwellii may be an important "prairie fen" diagnostic compared to more boreal bog birch fen types (R. Dana pers. comm. 1999). It is possible that the North Dakota Poor Fen should go with ~Betula pumila / Chamaedaphne calyculata / Carex lasiocarpa Fen (CEGL002494)$$. This requires further review, but there is no Carex lasiocarpa in North Dakota. In Michigan, this type may occur but further verification is needed before listing it (D. Albert, P. Comer pers. comm. 1998). Some stands in northeastern South Dakota (Prairie Coteau) have no shrubs, and Betula pumila is not found in eastern South Dakota. In Minnesota, the Shrub Swamp, seepage subtype may resemble Bog Birch Fen. Type should be compared with ~Carex lasiocarpa - Calamagrostis spp. - (Eleocharis rostellata) Fen (CEGL002383)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community has a shrub layer with 0-55% cover, abundant herbaceous species, and sparse to abundant mosses. The most abundant shrub species are Betula pumila, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda), Salix petiolaris, and Salix candida. Common herbaceous species include graminoids Calamagrostis canadensis, Calamagrostis stricta, Carex aquatilis, Carex lasiocarpa, Eriophorum angustifolium, and forbs Euthamia graminifolia, Lobelia kalmii, Lycopus uniflorus, Symphyotrichum boreale, and Triadenum fraseri. Where mosses are present, they are dominated by species other than Sphagnum spp.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community is found where surface waters are circumneutral to moderately alkaline, with moderate nutrient levels. Groundwater discharge is not typically present. It is typically found on relatively shallow peat, overlying mineral soil or, more rarely, directly on wet mineral soil (MNNHP 1993).
Geographic Range: This community type is found in the northern tallgrass prairie and adjacent prairie-forest border regions of the upper midwestern United States, where surface waters are circumneutral to somewhat alkaline.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MB, MN, ND, SD
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686868
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.b Shrubby-cinquefoil / Dioecious Sedge - Smooth Sawgrass Alkaline Fen Group | G183 | 2.C.2.Na.2.b |
| Alliance | A3704 Shrubby-cinquefoil / Riddell''s Goldenrod - Big Bluestem Graminoid Fen Alliance | A3704 | 2.C.2.Na.2.b |
| Association | CEGL002189 Bog Birch - Willow species / Woolly-fruit Sedge - Northern Bog Aster Prairie Fen | CEGL002189 | 2.C.2.Na.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Betula pumila - Salix spp. Prairie Fen Shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Rich Fen (Transition Section) Shrub Subtype (MNNHP 1993)
= Rich Fen (Transition Section) Shrub Subtype (MNNHP 1993)
- 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.).
- Greenall, J. A. 1996. Manitoba''s terrestrial plant communities. MS Report 96-02. Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, Winnipeg.
- 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.
- NDNHI [North Dakota Natural Heritage Inventory]. 2018. Unpublished data. Vegetation classification of North Dakota. North Dakota Natural Heritage Inventory, North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department, Bismarck.
- SDNHP [South Dakota Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. South Dakota Natural Heritage Program, Pierre, SD.