Print Report
CEGL006420 Arctoparmelia centrifuga - Rhizocarpon geographicum Nonvascular Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Concentric-ring Lichen - World Map Lichen Nonvascular Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Eastern Lichen Fell-field
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These fell-fields are blocky boulderfields on ridges and flats above treeline in the Northern Appalachians. Vascular vegetation is very sparse, confined to pockets among the rocks. Nonvascular species dominate, with a prominent cover of crustose lichens. Dominant lichens include Rhizocarpon geographicum, Arctoparmelia centrifuga, and Umbilicaria hyperborea. Vascular plants scattered in protected pockets include Juncus trifidus, Carex bigelowii, Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, Diapensia lapponica, Picea mariana, Abies balsamea, and Betula spp.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Vegetation studies focusing on vascular plants generally fail to document this association. Appalachian Mountain Club alpine vegetation mapping project has this type mapped [see http://appalachia.outdoors.org/mapping/ and follow links to alpine areas]. This is clearly a distinct type, just poorly documented.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Nonvascular species dominate, with a prominent cover of crustose lichens. Dominant lichens include Rhizocarpon geographicum, Arctoparmelia centrifuga (= Parmelia centrifuga), and Umbilicaria hyperborea. Vascular plants scattered in protected pockets include Juncus trifidus, Carex bigelowii, Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, Diapensia lapponica, Picea mariana, Abies balsamea, and Betula spp.
Dynamics: This association is not well-studied. Hiker traffic is a management concern in some locations.
Environmental Description: This association is found on windswept barrens above treeline (1000-1900 m [3300-6200 feet]) in the Northern Appalachians. Moisture is derived from snow, rain and fog.
Geographic Range: This association is known to occur, but not well-documented, in the higher peaks of the Northern Appalachians from New York east to Maine, and presumably into adjacent Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: ME, NH, NY, ON?, QC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688797
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 4 Polar & High Montane Scrub, Grassland & Barrens Class | C04 | 4 |
| Subclass | 4.B Temperate to Polar Alpine & Tundra Vegetation Subclass | S12 | 4.B |
| Formation | 4.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Alpine Tundra Formation | F037 | 4.B.1 |
| Division | 4.B.1.Na Eastern North American Alpine Tundra Division | D042 | 4.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 4.B.1.Na.1 Eastern North American Alpine Tundra Macrogroup | M131 | 4.B.1.Na.1 |
| Group | 4.B.1.Na.1.f <i>Rhizocarpon geographicum - Carex bigelowii - Carex scirpoidea</i> Temperate Alpine Rock Vegetation Group | G911 | 4.B.1.Na.1.f |
| Alliance | A4003 World Map Lichen - Blistered Rocktripe Lichen Eastern Alpine Fell-field Alliance | A4003 | 4.B.1.Na.1.f |
| Association | CEGL006420 Concentric-ring Lichen - World Map Lichen Nonvascular Vegetation | CEGL006420 | 4.B.1.Na.1.f |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Fellfield (Kimball and Weihrauch 2000)
= Lichen Fellfield Sparse Vegetation (Bliss 1963)
= Lichen Fellfield Sparse Vegetation (Bliss 1963)
- Bliss, L. C. 1963. Alpine plant communities of the Presidential Range, New Hampshire. Ecology 44:678-697.
- CDPNQ [Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec]. No date. Unpublished data. Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec, Québec.
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Edinger, G. J., D. J. Evans, S. Gebauer, T. G. Howard, D. M. Hunt, and A. M. Olivero, editors. 2014a. Ecological communities of New York state. Second edition. A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke''s ecological communities of New York state. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
- Gawler, S. C. 2002. Natural landscapes of Maine: A guide to vegetated natural communities and ecosystems. Maine Natural Areas Program, Department of Conservation, Augusta, ME.
- Gawler, S. C., and A. Cutko. 2010. Natural landscapes of Maine: A classification of vegetated natural communities and ecosystems. Maine Natural Areas Program, Department of Conservation, Augusta.
- Kimball, K. D., and D. M. Weihrauch. 2000. Alpine vegetation communities and the alpine-treeline ecotone boundary in New England as biomonitors for climate change. USDA Forest Service, Proceedings RMRS-P-15 3:93-101.
- Levin, D. E. 2001. Dependence of the fellfield alpine vegetation community on the Littleton Formation in the alpine zone of the Presidential Range, N.H. Geological Society of Maine Newsletter 27(2):6-7. (abstract)
- May, D. E., and R. B. Davis. 1978. Alpine tundra vegetation on Maine mountains and its relevance to the Critical Areas Program. Planning Report #36. State Planning Office, Augusta. 66 pp.
- Sperduto, D. D., and W. F. Nichols. 2004. Natural communities of New Hampshire: A guide and classification. New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau, DRED Division of Forests and Lands, Concord. 242 pp.