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CEGL005250 Basalt - Diabase Cobble - Gravel Great Lakes Shore Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Basalt - Diabase Cobble - Gravel Great Lakes Shore Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Great Lakes Basalt - Diabase Cobble - Gravel Shore
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: The basalt cobble - gravel Great Lakes shore type is commonly found along the northern Great Lakes shores of the United States and Canada. Stands occur between volcanic bedrock exposures composed of both basalt and Copper Harbor conglomerates. Size of the gravel and cobble vary from less than 2 cm to over 20 cm. Size range varies depending on the wave energy acting on the shoreline and the nature of the bedrock being eroded. These steep shores are typically devoid of vegetation. At Isle Royale National Park, this cobble - gravel lakeshore is a sparsely vegetated community on cobble or gravel beaches. This community occurs as a mosaic of sparse grassland with over 25% cover, and sparsely vegetated areas with less than 25% cover. The most abundant herbs are grasses, mostly Elymus trachycaulus (average 29% cover); other characteristic herbs are Lathyrus palustris and Oenothera biennis; characteristic shrubs are Rubus idaeus, Cornus sericea, and Alnus viridis (each with <5% cover). The shrub zone is dominated by low shrubs, which vary from 20-60% cover. The most abundant shrubs are Rosa acicularis, Rubus idaeus, Diervilla lonicera, Physocarpus opulifolius, Ribes oxyacanthoides, Alnus incana, and Sorbus decora. There may be scattered trees (0-5% cover) including Picea glauca, Abies balsamea, Thuja occidentalis, and Betula papyrifera. Cover of herbs varies from 10-40%; the most common herbs are Lathyrus palustris, Oenothera biennis, Cornus canadensis, Calamagrostis canadensis, and Equisetum hyemale. Carex atratiformis, Polygonum viviparum, and Trisetum spicatum have been reported at the inner margin of the island''s cobble lakeshore, near the tree edge. Elsewhere, in Minnesota, Lathyrus japonicus is characteristic.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The alkaline cobble - gravel shorelines are split into two types: basalt - diabase (this type) and ~Limestone Cobble - Gravel Great Lakes Shore Sparse Vegetation (CEGL005169)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: At Isle Royale National Park, this cobble-gravel lakeshore is a sparsely vegetated community on cobble or gravel beaches. This community occurs as a mosaic of sparse grassland with over 25% cover, and sparsely vegetated areas with less than 25% cover. The most abundant herbs are grasses, mostly Elymus trachycaulus (average 29% cover); other characteristic herbs are Lathyrus palustris and Oenothera biennis; characteristic shrubs are Rubus idaeus, Cornus sericea, and Alnus viridis (each with <5% cover). The shrub zone is dominated by low shrubs, which vary from 20-60% cover. The most abundant shrubs are Rosa acicularis, Rubus idaeus, Diervilla lonicera, Physocarpus opulifolius, Ribes oxyacanthoides, Alnus incana, and Sorbus decora. There may be scattered trees (0-5% cover) including Picea glauca, Abies balsamea, Thuja occidentalis, and Betula papyrifera. Cover of herbs varies from 10-40%; the most common herbs are Lathyrus palustris, Oenothera biennis, Cornus canadensis, Calamagrostis canadensis, and Equisetum hyemale (C. Reschke pers. comm. 1999). Carex atratiformis, Polygonum viviparum, and Trisetum spicatum have been reported at the inner margin of the island''s cobble lakeshore, near the tree edge. Elsewhere, in Minnesota, Lathyrus japonicus is characteristic.
Dynamics: These are exposed shores that are regularly disturbed by wave action and winter ice movements from the lake. Most of the shore has little or no vegetation, probably due to regular disturbance by waves washing the shore. The high beach ridge is formed by the most severe storm waves, so the disturbance is irregular and infrequent (C. Reschke pers. comm. 1999).
Environmental Description: This community occupies cobble or gravel shores of Lake Superior. These shores occur in coves and gently curving bays between rocky points. These mostly non-vegetated shores may contain a shrub zone that occurs on the highest beach ridge, which is usually nearly level. There may be little or no soil; the plants are rooted in the cobble or gravel (C. Reschke pers. comm. 1999).
Geographic Range: The basalt cobble-gravel Great Lakes shore type is commonly found in the northern Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada, ranging from Michigan to Minnesota and Ontario.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: MI, MN, ON?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688172
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation | F005 | 2.B.4 |
| Division | 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division | D026 | 2.B.4.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.4.Na.1 Eastern North American Coastal Beach & Rocky Shore Macrogroup | M060 | 2.B.4.Na.1 |
| Group | 2.B.4.Na.1.c Great Lakes Coastal Rocky Shore Group | G793 | 2.B.4.Na.1.c |
| Alliance | A3695 Tufted Hairgrass - Bluebell Bellflower Lakeshore Alliance | A3695 | 2.B.4.Na.1.c |
| Association | CEGL005250 Basalt - Diabase Cobble - Gravel Great Lakes Shore Sparse Vegetation | CEGL005250 | 2.B.4.Na.1.c |
Concept Lineage: This is the basalt/diabase conglomerate part split off from CEGL005169 (limestone).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Basalt - Diabase Cobble - Gravel Great Lakes Shore Sparse Vegetation (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.).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.