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CEGL000657 Populus deltoides / Cornus sericea Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern Cottonwood / Red-osier Dogwood Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is found in the Great Plains of central and eastern Montana, southern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, and possibly western North Dakota, generally between 550 and 1100 m in elevation. It occurs primarily in the floodplains of major alluvial streams and rivers but may also occur around the margins of lakes and ponds. This is a seral community associated with fluvial processes such as flooding and substrate deposition. It colonizes moist, freshly deposited alluvium and in the absence of further flood disturbance will often develop into Fraxinus pennsylvanica- or Acer negundo-dominated associations. Populus deltoides dominates the overstory, forming an open to closed canopy (average cover is 60%). Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa, Populus angustifolia, and Salix amygdaloides may be present as subordinate canopy species. The shrub layer is diverse and well-established. Cornus sericea is the diagnostic species, and its cover value may vary from 1-90%. Other common shrubs are Prunus virginiana, Salix lutea, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, and Rosa woodsii. Exotic grasses, such as Bromus inermis and Elymus repens, often dominate the herbaceous layer. Common native herbaceous species include Pascopyrum smithii, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Maianthemum stellatum, and Solidago canadensis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Hansen et al. (1995) base their description of this community on 11 plots. However, only six of these plots would key to ~Populus deltoides / Cornus sericea Floodplain Forest (CEGL000657)$$. Godfrey et al. (2000) documented an additional 11 plots in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. This community is delimited from ~Populus deltoides / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Floodplain Woodland (CEGL000660)$$ by the presence of Cornus sericea at a cover value greater than 1% (Hansen et al. 1995). Cornus sericea is a very palatable shrub, and Hansen et al. (1995) contend that mature stands of Populus deltoides that lack or only have trace amounts of Cornus sericea cover are grazing disclimaxes. While grazing is certainly an important influence, it is unclear from their research how other factors, such as soils or depth to groundwater, might influence the distribution of Cornus sericea.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Populus deltoides dominates the overstory, forming an open to closed canopy (average cover is 60%). Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa, Populus angustifolia, and Salix amygdaloides may be present as subordinate canopy species. The shrub layer is diverse and well-established. Cornus sericea is the diagnostic species, and its cover value may vary from 1-90%. Other common shrubs are Prunus virginiana, Salix lutea, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, and Rosa woodsii. Exotic grasses, such as Bromus inermis and Elymus repens (= Elytrigia repens), often dominate the herbaceous layer. Common native herbaceous species include Pascopyrum smithii, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Maianthemum stellatum, and Solidago canadensis.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association is found generally between 550 and 1100 m in elevation. It occurs primarily in the floodplains of major alluvial streams and rivers but may also occur around the margins of lakes and ponds. This is a seral community associated with fluvial processes such as flooding and substrate deposition. It colonizes moist, freshly deposited alluvium and in the absence of further flood disturbance will often develop into Fraxinus pennsylvanica- or Acer negundo-dominated associations.
Geographic Range: This community is restricted to the northern portion of the Northern Great Plains Steppe ecoregion of eastern Montana, southern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, and probably western North Dakota, where it occurs primarily on alluvial terraces along major rivers.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, MT, ND?, SK
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689191
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.4 Eastern Cottonwood - Green Ash / Willow species Flooded & Swamp Forest | M028 | 1.B.3.Na.4 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.4.a Eastern Cottonwood - Green Ash / Western Wheatgrass Floodplain Forest Group | G147 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
| Alliance | A3423 Eastern Cottonwood Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3423 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
| Association | CEGL000657 Eastern Cottonwood / Red-osier Dogwood Floodplain Forest | CEGL000657 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus deltoides / Cornus stolonifera (Allen 2005)
= Populus deltoides / Cornus stolonifera Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
= Populus deltoides / Cornus stolonifera Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
- Allen, L. 2005. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre Preliminary Plant Community Tracking List. Alberta Community Development, Edmonton, Alberta. 94 pp.
- Allen, L. 2012-2013. Alberta Conservation Information Management System Ecological Community Tracking List. Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Edmonton, AB. [http://tpr.alberta.ca/parks/heritageinfocentre/default.aspx]
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- Godfrey, S., P. L. Hansen, and W. H. Thompson. 2000. Classification and management of riparian and wetland sites of the Saskatchewan Prairie Ecozone and parts of adjacent subregions. Unpublished draft version prepared for Riparian and Wetland Research Program, Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana. 294 pp.
- Hansen, P. L., R. D. Pfister, K. Boggs, B. J. Cook, J. Joy, and D. K. Hinckley. 1995. Classification and management of Montana''s riparian and wetland sites. Miscellaneous Publication No. 54. Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana. 646 pp. plus posters.
- Hansen, P., K. Boggs, and R. Pfister. 1991. Classification and management of riparian and wetland sites in Montana. Unpublished draft version prepared for Montana Riparian Association, Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana, Missoula. 478 pp.
- Kudray, G., P. Hendricks, E. Crowe, and S. Cooper. 2004. Riparian forests of the Wild and Scenic Missouri River: Ecology and management. Report to the Lewistown Field Office, Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 29 pp. plus appendices.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.