Print Report
CEGL002584 Laurentian-Northeast Eroding Bluff Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: Stands consist of steep-sloped to near-vertical exposures of eroded unconsolidated material (glacial drift, clay) or weak rock (shale) in the upper Midwest and northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Laurentian-Northeast Eroding Bluff Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Eroding Clay Bank
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This eroding bluff type is found localized along banks of rivers and lakes in the upper midwestern (Laurentian) and northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. Stands occur on active steep and near-vertical exposures of unconsolidated clays, sands, and mixed glacial drift, that are at least 3 m in height, and up to or over 30 m in height. Stands are subject to active erosional processes. They are typically found along lakes and rivers. Moisture and temperature fluctuations can be extreme. The vegetation varies from moderately sparse to absent, and what vegetation is present is virtually always early-successional relative to the surrounding landscape due to periodic slumpage and soil erosion. Limited information is available on species that persist in this habitat.
In Michigan, characteristic species include Alnus spp., Salix spp., Thuja occidentalis, Betula papyrifera, Hypericum kalmianum, Shepherdia canadensis, Parnassia glauca, Solidago spp., Euthamia graminifolia, Impatiens capensis, Juncus spp., and Equisetum spp. In Vermont, characteristic native plants include Cyperus lupulinus, Dichanthelium depauperatum, Ionactis linariifolius, Toxicodendron radicans, and Polygonella articulata.
Due to the frequency of disturbance and the shifting exposure of substrate, native and non-native ruderal species are common. Clay bluffs are also characterized by very active seepage, and groundwater seepage is a destabilizing factor, causing bluff erosion and the sloughing or slumping of the clay slopes. Active sloughing typically occurs following frost heave, spring thaw, and winter storm events and vegetation varies from year to year. Wind and waves also cause erosion, especially along low bluffs and the toeslopes of bluffs.
In Michigan, characteristic species include Alnus spp., Salix spp., Thuja occidentalis, Betula papyrifera, Hypericum kalmianum, Shepherdia canadensis, Parnassia glauca, Solidago spp., Euthamia graminifolia, Impatiens capensis, Juncus spp., and Equisetum spp. In Vermont, characteristic native plants include Cyperus lupulinus, Dichanthelium depauperatum, Ionactis linariifolius, Toxicodendron radicans, and Polygonella articulata.
Due to the frequency of disturbance and the shifting exposure of substrate, native and non-native ruderal species are common. Clay bluffs are also characterized by very active seepage, and groundwater seepage is a destabilizing factor, causing bluff erosion and the sloughing or slumping of the clay slopes. Active sloughing typically occurs following frost heave, spring thaw, and winter storm events and vegetation varies from year to year. Wind and waves also cause erosion, especially along low bluffs and the toeslopes of bluffs.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is found along lakes and rivers, but much more rangewide information is needed to characterize this type. Edinger et al. (2014a) describes two New York communities that may be classified as CEGL002584: (1) Great Lakes bluff, and (2) Riverside/lakeside bluff. Given the landscape setting and scale of ecological processes that maintain these communities, these two New York communities may warrant separate NVC associations. Vegetation differences between the two types are also likely, but more survey work is needed to confirm that presumption. Josh Cohen (pers. comm. 2017) recommends merging ~Midwest Eroding Bluff Sparse Vegetation (CEGL002315)$$ with this type.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The vegetation ranges from moderately sparse to absent, with sparse cover of trees, shrubs, forbs and graminoids. Little information is available on species that persist in this habitat; ruderal species tend to be common.
Floristics: The sparse vegetation is variable in composition, as the eroding bluffs, when stabilized, are colonized by species from adjacent forests. In Michigan, characteristic species include Alnus spp., Salix spp., Thuja occidentalis, Betula papyrifera, Hypericum kalmianum, Shepherdia canadensis, Parnassia glauca, Solidago spp., Euthamia graminifolia, Impatiens capensis, Juncus spp., and Scirpus spp. (Cohen et al. 2015). In Wisconsin, species include many of those in Michigan, as well as woody shrubs such as Symphoricarpos albus, Cornus sericea, Physocarpus opulifolius, and Diervilla lonicera. Among the more frequent and widespread herbs in Wisconsin are Solidago canadensis, Erigeron strigosus, Symphyotrichum lanceolatum, and Anaphalis margaritacea, and, in sites with more moisture, Carex aurea, Carex eburnea, Equisetum scirpoides, and Equisetum arvense. Both native and exotic weedy pioneers, such as Chamerion angustifolium, Hieracium aurantiacum, Taraxacum officinale, and Cirsium arvense can be common (WDNR 2017). In Vermont, characteristic native plants include Cyperus lupulinus (= Cyperus filiculmis), Dichanthelium depauperatum (= Panicum depauperatum), Ionactis linariifolius (= Aster linariifolius), Toxicodendron radicans, Polygonella articulata (Thompson and Sorenson 2000). Due to the frequency of disturbance and the shifting exposure of substrate, native and non-native ruderal species are common.
Dynamics: Stands are subject to active erosional processes (Lee et al. 1998). These bluffs can be characterized by very active seepage, with a high portion of the slopes percolating groundwater, especially during the rapid spring discharge. Groundwater seepage can be a destabilizing factor within these systems, causing bluff erosion and the sloughing or slumping of clay slopes (Chase et al. 1999, Chase and Kehew 2000). Active sloughing typically occurs following frost heave, spring thaw, and winter storm events and as a result vegetation can vary from year to year. It is thought that periods of high groundwater movement are correlated with large erosion events along bluffs and that when water tables are low and groundwater movement is reduced, woody species encroachment occurs as the bluff faces become drier (Chase et al. 1999, Fuller 2009). In addition to groundwater, wind and waves also cause erosion, especially along low bluffs and the toeslopes of bluffs (Jibson et al. 1994, Chase et al. 1999, Brown et al. 2005, Swenson et al. 2006, Fuller 2009).
Environmental Description: This eroding bluff type is found localized along banks of rivers and lakes in the upper midwestern (Laurentian) and northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, including all Great Lakes shorelines. Stands occur on active steep and near-vertical exposures of unconsolidated clays, sandy clays and mixed glacial drift that are at least 3 m in height. Moisture and temperature fluctuations can be extreme (Lee et al. 1998). In Michigan, bluffs occur infrequently along the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior shorelines and are less commonly found localized along banks of rivers and streams that form deep ravines through clay soils and drain into these Great Lakes (Albert 1995b).
Geographic Range: This eroding bank type is found localized along banks of rivers and lakes in the midwestern and northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MA, MB, MD, ME, MI, MN, NH, NY, ON, QC?, VT, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688837
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class | C06 | 6 |
| Subclass | 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass | S04 | 6.B |
| Formation | 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation | F034 | 6.B.1 |
| Division | 6.B.1.Na Eastern North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division | D051 | 6.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 6.B.1.Na.1 Shrubby Fivefingers - Rock Polypody / Cup Lichen species Eastern North American Cliff & Rock Vegetation Macrogroup | M111 | 6.B.1.Na.1 |
| Group | 6.B.1.Na.1.a Polypody species - Rocktripe Lichen species - Poverty Oatgrass Talus, Bluff & Rock Vegetation Group | G340 | 6.B.1.Na.1.a |
| Alliance | A3992 Eastern North American Erosional Bluff Alliance | A3992 | 6.B.1.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002584 Laurentian-Northeast Eroding Bluff Sparse Vegetation | CEGL002584 | 6.B.1.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Eroding Clay Bank Sparse Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
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