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CEGL005252 Acer spicatum - Alnus viridis - Picea glauca / Polypodium virginianum Talus Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Acer spicatum - Alnus viridis - Picea glauca / Rock Polypody Talus Shrubland
Colloquial Name: Laurentian Basalt - Diabase Talus Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This paper birch - white spruce talus scrub shrubland is found in the northern Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. The following description is based on its occurrence at Isle Royale National Park, Michigan. This community occupies steep to very steep talus slopes at the base of basalt cliffs facing northwest. This talus scrub type is an open canopy, mixed evergreen and deciduous shrubland. Stands occur on steep to very steep talus slopes at the base of basalt cliffs facing northwest. Canopy cover of trees over 5 m tall is typically 30-50% cover. The most abundant trees are Betula papyrifera and Picea glauca. Cover of tall shrubs varies from 10-70% cover; the most abundant tall shrubs are Acer spicatum and Alnus viridis. Cover of short shrubs (including dwarf-shrubs) varies from 5-40%; the most abundant low shrubs are Taxus canadensis and Rubus pubescens. Herbs usually have about 30-40% cover; the most abundant herbs are Polypodium virginianum and Dryopteris expansa. Cover of nonvascular plants is usually about 30-40%; mosses, such as Pleurozium schreberi and foliose lichens are common in the ground layer.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type has a mixed evergreen-deciduous physiognomy on Isle Royale (TNC 1999b) , but rangewide review with Ontario''s Paper Birch Talus type is needed (Dry-Fresh White Birch Carbonate Treed Talus Type) (Lee et al. 1998). Distinctions between this type and ~Eastern Boreal & Laurentian Granite - Metamorphic Talus Vegetation (CEGL002409)$$, need review, as well as with ~Eastern Boreal & Laurentian Basalt - Diabase Dry & Moist Acidic Talus Vegetation (CEGL005247)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: At Isle Royale National Park in Michigan, this paper birch - white spruce talus scrub type is an open canopy, mixed evergreen and deciduous shrubland. Stands occur on steep to very steep talus slopes at the base of basalt cliffs facing northwest. Canopy cover of trees over 5 m tall is typically 30-50% cover. The most abundant trees are Betula papyrifera and Picea glauca. Cover of tall shrubs varies from 10-70% cover; the most abundant tall shrubs are Acer spicatum and Alnus viridis. Cover of short shrubs (including dwarf-shrubs) varies from 5-40%; the most abundant low shrubs are Taxus canadensis and Rubus pubescens. Herbs usually have about 30-40% cover; the most abundant herbs are Polypodium virginianum and Dryopteris expansa. Cover of nonvascular plants is usually about 30-40%; mosses, such as Pleurozium schreberi and foliose lichens are common in the ground layer (C. Reschke pers. comm. 1999).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: At Isle Royale National Park, this community occupies steep to very steep talus slopes at the base of basalt cliffs facing northwest (C. Reschke pers. comm. 1999).
Geographic Range: This talus scrub type is found in the northern Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MI, ON
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686955
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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 | A4226 Laurentian-Acadian Acidic Talus Alliance | A4226 | 6.B.1.Na.1.b |
| Association | CEGL005252 <i>Acer spicatum - Alnus viridis - Picea glauca</i> / Rock Polypody Talus Shrubland | CEGL005252 | 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: = Betula papyrifera - Picea glauca / Acer spicatum - Alnus viridis / Polypodium virginianum Talus Shrubland [Provisional] (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- 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.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- ONHIC [Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Unpublished data. Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario, Canada.
- Reschke, Carol. Personal communication. Ecologist, New York Natural Heritage Program. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Latham, NY.
- 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.