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CEGL002197 Populus tremuloides - Quercus (ellipsoidalis, macrocarpa) / Andropogon gerardii Scrub Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen - (Northern Pin Oak, Bur Oak) / Big Bluestem Scrub Grassland
Colloquial Name: Aspen - Oak Scrub Barrens
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This scrub aspen - oak community type occurs in the upper midwestern United States in the pine barrens region of Wisconsin. Stands occur on sandy, somewhat acidic soils. Frequent fires reduce the woody vegetation to a scrub layer. The vegetation comprises a scrubby, fire-tolerant woody layer between 1 and 3 m tall, with a rich herbaceous layer. The scrub or brush layer contains Quercus macrocarpa, Quercus ellipsoidalis and Populus tremuloides. Various shrub species may also occur, including Corylus americana, Gaylussacia baccata, Rosa spp., Vaccinium angustifolium, and Salix spp. The herbaceous layer resembles that of open pine barrens, with species such as Comptonia peregrina, Gaultheria procumbens, Pteridium aquilinum, and other prairie forbs present.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Type occurs in northwestern Wisconsin in pine barrens habitat. Type may have increased due to very frequent burning of pine barrens stands to manage for sharp-tailed grouse (E. Epstein pers. comm. 1997).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation comprises a scrubby, fire tolerant woody layer between 1 and 3 m tall, with a rich herbaceous layer. The scrub or brush layer contains Quercus macrocarpa, Quercus ellipsoidalis and Populus tremuloides. Various shrub species may also occur, including Corylus americana, Gaylussacia baccata, Rosa spp., Vaccinium angustifolium, and Salix spp. The herbaceous layer resembles that of open pine barrens, with species such as Comptonia peregrina, Gaultheria procumbens, Pteridium aquilinum, and other prairie forbs present.
Dynamics: Frequent fires maintain the oaks as grubs and the aspen as young suckers. It is possible that some of these stands may originate from hot crown fires that eliminate the Pinus banksiana and Pinus resinosa tree layer in a pine barrens, followed by frequent surface fires that prevent their regeneration.
Environmental Description: Stands occur on sandy, somewhat acidic soils. Frequent fires reduce the woody vegetation to a scrub layer.
Geographic Range: This scrub aspen - oak community type occurs in the upper midwestern United States in the pine barrens region of Wisconsin.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687188
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.6 Eastern White Pine - Jack Pine - Northern Pin Oak Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M159 | 1.B.2.Na.6 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.6.d Jack Pine - Northern Pin Oak Barrens Group | G160 | 1.B.2.Na.6.d |
| Alliance | A1499 Jack Pine - Pine species - Oak species Barrens Woodland Alliance | A1499 | 1.B.2.Na.6.d |
| Association | CEGL002197 Quaking Aspen - (Northern Pin Oak, Bur Oak) / Big Bluestem Scrub Grassland | CEGL002197 | 1.B.2.Na.6.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus tremuloides - Quercus (ellipsoidalis, macrocarpa) / Andropogon gerardii Shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001) [Pine Barrens Aspen-Oak Brush Prairie Subtype]
- 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.).
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- 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]