Print Report
CEGL002466 Populus tremuloides - Betula papyrifera / (Abies balsamea, Picea glauca) Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen - Paper Birch / (Balsam Fir, White Spruce) Forest
Colloquial Name: Aspen - Birch / Boreal Conifer Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This aspen - birch boreal hardwoods forest type is found in the boreal regions of the midwestern United States and in central Canada. Sites occupy a variety of topographic positions, including ridgetops and gentle to moderate upper, mid, and lower slopes. The soils are deep, well-drained to rapidly drained mineral soils (dry to mesic soils). Soil textures are usually clay loamy but can be silt or fine sand. This community is dominated by deciduous trees, with a moderate amount of conifers (<25%). The canopy is dominated by Betula papyrifera and Populus tremuloides, and occasionally Populus grandidentata. Conifer associates include Abies balsamea and Picea glauca, either in the canopy or, more characteristically, in the subcanopy. Abies balsamea and Picea glauca are abundant in the sapling layer. Common shrubs include Acer spicatum, Corylus cornuta, Diervilla lonicera, Linnaea borealis, Lonicera canadensis, Rosa acicularis, Rubus pubescens, Sorbus decora, and Vaccinium myrtilloides. The herbaceous stratum is sometimes dominated by Eurybia macrophylla, but can include a diversity of forbs, such as Anemone quinquefolia, Aralia nudicaulis, Clintonia borealis, Cornus canadensis, Galium triflorum, Maianthemum canadense, Mitella nuda, Pteridium aquilinum, Streptopus lanceolatus var. longipes, Trientalis borealis, and Viola renifolia. Mosses include Plagiomnium cuspidatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, and Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus. Diagnostic features of this type are the dominance by the combination of Populus tremuloides and Betula papyrifera, boreal conifer associates (but very little Picea mariana or Pinus banksiana), and lack of more southern hardwoods (such as Acer saccharum).
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Further north in Ontario, a Populus tremuloides - Betula papyrifera type, ~Populus (tremuloides, balsamifera) - (Betula papyrifera) - Picea mariana / Alnus viridis Forest (CEGL002514)$$, occurs that contains greater proportions of Picea mariana and Pinus banksiana. Acer spicatum drops out of this type in the more western part of the type''s range in Ontario and Minnesota. This type is often an early successional type following fire or logging, and occupies a wide variety of site types.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is dominated by deciduous trees, with a moderate amount of conifers (<25%). The dominant tree species do not have dense leaf layers and allow a significant amount of light to pass through. This promotes the establishment of prominent sapling and shrub layers and a moderately dense herbaceous stratum. The canopy is dominated by Betula papyrifera and Populus tremuloides, and occasionally Populus grandidentata. Conifer associates include Abies balsamea and Picea glauca, either in the canopy or, more characteristically, in the subcanopy. Abies balsamea and Picea glauca are abundant in the sapling layer. Common shrubs include Acer spicatum, Corylus cornuta, Diervilla lonicera, Linnaea borealis, Lonicera canadensis, Rosa acicularis, Rubus pubescens, Sorbus decora, and Vaccinium myrtilloides. The herbaceous stratum is sometimes dominated by Eurybia macrophylla (= Aster macrophyllus), but can include a diversity of forbs, such as Anemone quinquefolia, Aralia nudicaulis, Clintonia borealis, Cornus canadensis, Galium triflorum, Maianthemum canadense, Mitella nuda, Pteridium aquilinum, Streptopus lanceolatus var. longipes (= Streptopus roseus), Trientalis borealis, and Viola renifolia. Mosses include Plagiomnium cuspidatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, and Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus (Sims et al. 1989, Chambers et al. 1997).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community is found on a variety of topographic positions. Ohmann and Ream (1971) found it on ridgetops, upper, mid, and lower slopes. These slopes are gentle to moderate. The soils are deep, well-drained to rapidly drained mineral soils (Sims et al. 1989). The soils are usually loam but can be clay (including lacustrine clays or clayier tills), silt, or sand.
Geographic Range: This aspen - birch boreal hardwoods forest type is found in the boreal regions of the midwestern United States and in central Canada, ranging from Minnesota and Manitoba east to Michigan, Ontario and possibly Quebec.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MB, MI, MN, ON, QC?, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687144
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D008 | 1.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Na.7 Sugar Maple - Yellow Birch - Eastern Hemlock Forest Macrogroup | M014 | 1.B.2.Na.7 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.7.c Balsam Fir - White Spruce - Mountain Maple Subboreal Forest Group | G048 | 1.B.2.Na.7.c |
| Alliance | A3844 Quaking Aspen - Paper Birch Subboreal Forest Alliance | A3844 | 1.B.2.Na.7.c |
| Association | CEGL002466 Quaking Aspen - Paper Birch / (Balsam Fir, White Spruce) Forest | CEGL002466 | 1.B.2.Na.7.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus tremuloides - Betula papyrifera / (Abies balsamea, Picea glauca) Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001) [Boreal Forest Aspen-Birch-Spruce-Fir Subtype]
= Aspen - Birch (Ohmann and Ream 1971)
= Aspen - Birch Forest Spruce - Fir Subtype (MNNHP 1993)
= Paper Birch - Aspen - Balsam Fir - White Spruce (Hansen et al. 1973)
= Aspen - Birch (Ohmann and Ream 1971)
= Aspen - Birch Forest Spruce - Fir Subtype (MNNHP 1993)
= Paper Birch - Aspen - Balsam Fir - White Spruce (Hansen et al. 1973)
- CDPNQ [Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec]. No date. Unpublished data. Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec, Québec.
- Chambers, B. A., B. J. Naylor, J. Nieppola, B. Merchant, and P. Uhlig. 1997. Field guide to forest ecosystems of central Ontario. Southcentral Science Section (SCSS) Field Guide FG-01, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, North Bay, Ontario, Canada. 200 pp.
- 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.
- Hansen, H. L., L. W. Krefting, and V. Kurmis. 1973. The forest of Isle Royale in relation to fire history and wildlife. University of Minnesota, Agricultural Experiment Station, Technical Bulletin 294, Forestry Series 13.
- Heinselman, M. 1996. The Boundary Waters Wilderness Ecosystem. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, MN. 334 pp.
- 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, D. Faber-Langendoen, and J. Dieck. 2010b. National Park Service Vegetation Inventory Program: Grand Portage National Monument, Minnesota. Natural Resource Report NPS/GLKN/NRR-2010/200. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 202 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.
- 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.
- Ohmann, L. F., and P. R. Ream. 1971. Wilderness ecology: Virgin plant communities of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Research Paper NC-63. USDA Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station, St. Paul, MN. 35 pp.
- Sims, R. A., W. D. Towill, K. A. Baldwin, and G. M. Wickware. 1989. Field guide to the forest ecosystem classification for northwestern Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Toronto. 191 pp.
- 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]