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CEGL002447 Picea mariana / Pleurozium schreberi Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Spruce / Schreber''s Big Red-stem Moss Forest
Colloquial Name: Black Spruce / Red-stem Moss Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This black spruce / feathermoss forest is found widely throughout the subboreal regions of Canada and into adjacent areas of the midwestern United States, especially Minnesota. Stands occur on level to gently sloping ground. Soils are typically moderately well-drained, coarse loams, sands, and silts. The canopy of this community is closed and heavily dominated by Picea mariana with small amounts of Abies balsamea, Betula papyrifera, Picea glauca, Pinus banksiana, and Populus tremuloides. The shrub and herb layers are poorly developed. Species that are most abundant in these layers include the shrubs Corylus cornuta, Gaultheria procumbens, Ledum groenlandicum, Rosa acicularis, Vaccinium angustifolium, and Vaccinium myrtilloides and the herbs Eurybia macrophylla, Cornus canadensis, Equisetum arvense, and Maianthemum canadense. Feathermosses, particularly Pleurozium schreberi, are very abundant.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Portions of this type (as described by Sims et al. 1989, V34) can be somewhat poorly drained, bordering on wetland types, such as ~Picea mariana - (Larix laricina) / Ledum groenlandicum / Sphagnum spp. Swamp Forest (CEGL005271)$$ (Sims et al. 1989, V35 or V37). There is a sparse vascular cover and few shrubs. The distribution of the type may be more fire-related in the southern part of range and less fire-dependent further north. These forests are not well understood in the northeastern United States. The abundance of black spruce and the often small stature of the canopy trees suggest that hydrological and soil conditions may be limiting for many "upland" species.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The canopy of this community is closed and strongly dominated by Picea mariana with small amounts of Abies balsamea, Betula papyrifera, Picea glauca, Pinus banksiana, and Populus tremuloides. The shrub and herb layers are poorly developed (Grigal and Ohmann 1975). Species that are most abundant in these layers include the shrubs Corylus cornuta, Gaultheria procumbens, Ledum groenlandicum, Rosa acicularis, Vaccinium angustifolium, and Vaccinium myrtilloides, and the herbs Eurybia macrophylla (= Aster macrophyllus), Cornus canadensis, Equisetum arvense, and Maianthemum canadense. Feathermosses, particularly Pleurozium schreberi, are very abundant. Mosses may cover from 23% (Grigal and Ohmann 1975) to over 85% (Sims et al. 1989) of the forest floor.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community is found on level to gently sloping ground. Soils are typically moderately well-drained, coarse loams, sands, and silts (Sims et al. 1989).
Geographic Range: This black spruce / feathermoss forest type is found widely throughout the hemi-boreal regions of Canada, and into adjacent areas of the midwestern United States.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MB, MI, MN, ON, QC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688759
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.6 Eastern White Pine - Jack Pine - Northern Pin Oak Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M159 | 1.B.2.Na.6 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.6.c Jack Pine - Red Pine - Black Spruce Subboreal Forest Group | G047 | 1.B.2.Na.6.c |
| Alliance | A3838 Jack Pine - Black Spruce / Blueberry species Subboreal Forest Alliance | A3838 | 1.B.2.Na.6.c |
| Association | CEGL002447 Black Spruce / Schreber''s Big Red-stem Moss Forest | CEGL002447 | 1.B.2.Na.6.c |
Concept Lineage: CEGL002453, a transition between uplands and wetlands, was split between Picea mariana / Pleurozium schreberi Forest (CEGL002447) (upland) and Picea mariana / Ledum groenlandicum / Sphagnum spp. Forest (CEGL002454) (wetland). CEGL002510 concept was taken from Man
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Picea mariana / Pleurozium schreberi Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Black Spruce - Feathermoss Forest (MNNHP 1993)
= Black Spruce - Feathermoss Forest (Grigal and Ohmann 1975)
= Black Spruce / Feathermoss Forest (Zoladeski et al. 1995)
= Black Spruce - Feathermoss Forest (MNNHP 1993)
= Black Spruce - Feathermoss Forest (Grigal and Ohmann 1975)
= Black Spruce / Feathermoss Forest (Zoladeski et al. 1995)
- CDPNQ [Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec]. No date. Unpublished data. Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec, Québec.
- 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.).
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- 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.
- Reschke, C. 1990. Ecological communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Latham, NY. 96 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.
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