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CEGL005036 Populus tremuloides - Populus balsamifera - Mixed Hardwoods Lowland Wet Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen - Balsam Poplar - Mixed Hardwoods Lowland Wet Forest
Colloquial Name: Aspen - Balsam Poplar Lowland Wet Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This lowland aspen forest is found in the boreal/subboreal regions of the Great Lakes region of the United States and adjacent Canada. Stands are found on lower slopes and draws, occasionally under seepage conditions. Soils are deep, fresh to moist, poorly drained, and often fine-textured and of lacustrine origin. Stands are dominated by deciduous trees, but can contain a mix of evergreen species. Dominants include Populus tremuloides and Populus balsamifera. Other associates include Abies balsamea, Betula papyrifera, and Picea glauca. The shrub and herb layer are often fairly rich. Typical shrubs/saplings include Abies balsamea, Alnus incana, Amelanchier spp., Cornus sericea, Cornus canadensis, Ribes spp., Rosa acicularis, Rubus idaeus, and Rubus pubescens. The herb layer contains Aralia nudicaulis, Symphyotrichum ciliolatum, Eurybia macrophylla, Anemone quinquefolia, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex spp., Clintonia borealis, Dryopteris carthusiana, Equisetum spp. (including Equisetum sylvaticum), Galium triflorum, Maianthemum canadense, Mertensia paniculata, Mitella nuda, Petasites frigidus var. palmatus, Streptopus lanceolatus var. longipes, and Viola renifolia. Calamagrostis canadensis can be abundant in the herb layer.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type may arise from clearcut sites on moist spruce-fir or spruce-fir-aspen sites. In Wisconsin, this type may arise from widespread logging of spruce-fir stands followed by catastrophic fires that burn the humus out of the soil and prevent spruce-fir regeneration (E. Epstein pers. comm. 1999). It appears that, as result of the cut, soils become very wet because the trees are no longer "pulling" moisture out of the soil horizons. Alnus incana can be common in these situations. In fact the ground layer of spruce-fir types such as ~Picea glauca - Abies balsamea / Acer spicatum / Rubus pubescens Forest (CEGL002446)$$, at its moistest end, can resemble this type [see, e.g., Sims et al. (1989) NWV24, which can contain Alnus incana]. The hydrology of this type may be close to saturated.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands are dominated by deciduous trees, but can contain a mix of evergreen species. Dominants include Populus tremuloides and Populus balsamifera. Other associates include Abies balsamea, Betula papyrifera, and Picea glauca. The shrub and herb layer are often fairly rich. Typical shrubs/saplings include Abies balsamea, Alnus incana, Amelanchier spp., Cornus sericea, Cornus canadensis, Ribes spp., Rosa acicularis, Rubus idaeus, and Rubus pubescens. The herb layer contains Aralia nudicaulis, Symphyotrichum ciliolatum (= Aster ciliolatus), Eurybia macrophylla (= Aster macrophyllus), Anemone quinquefolia, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex spp., Clintonia borealis, Dryopteris carthusiana, Equisetum spp. (including Equisetum sylvaticum), Galium triflorum, Maianthemum canadense, Mertensia paniculata, Mitella nuda, Petasites frigidus var. palmatus, Streptopus lanceolatus var. longipes (= Streptopus roseus), and Viola renifolia. Calamagrostis canadensis can be abundant in the herb layer (Sims et al. 1989, McCarthy et al. 1994).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands are found on lower slopes and draws, occasionally under seepage conditions. Soils are deep, fresh to moist, poorly drained, and often fine-textured and of lacustrine origin (Sims et al. 1989).
Geographic Range: This lowland aspen forest is found in the boreal/sub-boreal regions of the Great Lakes region of the United States and adjacent Canada., ranging from Minnesota east to Michigan and Ontario, and perhaps elsewhere in central Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MI, MN, ON, QC?, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687237
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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.3 <i>Tsuga canadensis - Fraxinus nigra - Larix laricina</i> Flooded & Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M504 | 1.B.3.Na.3 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.3.d Northern White-cedar - Black Ash - Red Maple Swamp Forest Group | G046 | 1.B.3.Na.3.d |
| Alliance | A4462 <i>Acer rubrum - Fraxinus</i> spp. - Paper Birch Laurentian Swamp Forest Alliance | A4462 | 1.B.3.Na.3.d |
| Association | CEGL005036 Quaking Aspen - Balsam Poplar - Mixed Hardwoods Lowland Wet Forest | CEGL005036 | 1.B.3.Na.3.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus tremuloides - Populus balsamifera - Mixed Hardwoods Lowland Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001) [Lowland Aspen Forest]
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- McCarthy, T. G., R. W. Arnup, J. Nieppola, B. G. Merchant, K. C. Taylor, and W. J. Parton. 1994. Field guide to forest ecosystems of northeastern Ontario. NEST Field Guide FG-001, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Northeast Science and Technology, Timmins, ON.
- 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.
- ONHIC [Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Unpublished data. Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario, Canada.
- 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]