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CEGL005253 Sorbus decora - Acer spicatum / Dryopteris carthusiana Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Northern Mountain-ash - Mountain Maple / Spinulose Woodfern Shrubland
Colloquial Name: Mountain-ash - Mountain Maple Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This type is only known from Isle Royale National Park in Michigan, where it is restricted to a few outer islands in Rock Harbor at the northeastern end of the park. Stands occupy sites on gentle to moderate slopes at low elevations (under 200 m [650 feet]). Soils are moderately well- to well-drained loam to sandy loam. The vegetation is an unusual type of deciduous forested scrub. Canopy cover varies from 40-90% cover; Sorbus decora is the most abundant canopy tree. Acer spicatum may be codominant, and other less common trees include Abies balsamea, Picea glauca, and Betula papyrifera. Cover of shrubs varies from about 10-70%. Oplopanax horridus may be a common understory shrub (but is absent in some places); other common shrubs are Rubus idaeus, Sambucus racemosa, and Taxus canadensis. Dryopteris carthusiana is the most abundant herb; other common herbs are Gymnocarpium dryopteris and Maianthemum canadense. Cover of nonvascular plants is about 5-25%; the most abundant nonvascular plant is the epiphytic lichens called "old man''s beard" or "hairy lichens" (Usnea spp.).
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type needs extensive rangewide review. The physiognomy of this type is variable. It may be more tree-dominated than shrub-dominated, but at this time Acer spicatum is placed in the shrub category. Physiognomy needs to be resolved with Ontario type ~Acer spicatum Carbonate Talus Shrubland (CEGL005067)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: At Isle Royale National Park in Michigan, mountain-ash - mountain maple forest is an unusual type of deciduous forested scrub. Canopy cover varies from 40-90% cover; Sorbus decora is the most abundant canopy tree, Acer spicatum may be codominant, and other less common trees include Abies balsamea, Picea glauca, and Betula papyrifera. Cover of shrubs varies from about 10-70% cover; Oplopanax horridus may be a common understory shrub (but is absent in some places); other common shrubs are Rubus idaeus, Sambucus racemosa, and Taxus canadensis. Dryopteris carthusiana is the most abundant herb; other common herbs are Gymnocarpium dryopteris and Maianthemum canadense. Cover of nonvascular plants is about 5-25%; the most abundant nonvascular plant is the epiphytic lichens called ''old man''s beard'' or ''hairy lichens'' (Usnea spp.) (C. Reschke pers. comm. 1999).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: At Isle Royale National Park in Michigan, this community occupies sites on gentle to moderate slopes at low elevations (under 200 m or 650 feet) on some of the outer islands in Rock Harbor. Soils are loams to sandy loam, moderately well-drained to well-drained (C. Reschke pers. comm. 1999).
Geographic Range: This type is only known from Isle Royale National Park in Michigan, where it is restricted to a few outer islands in Rock Harbor at the northeast end of the park. It may also occur in Ontario.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MI, ON
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689884
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D024 | 2.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nc.4 Laurentian -Acidic Rocky Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M505 | 2.B.2.Nc.4 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nc.4.a Laurentian-Acadian Acidic Scrub & Grassland Group | G788 | 2.B.2.Nc.4.a |
| Alliance | A3361 Mountain Maple - White Spruce / Bluebead Scrub Alliance | A3361 | 2.B.2.Nc.4.a |
| Association | CEGL005253 Northern Mountain-ash - Mountain Maple / Spinulose Woodfern Shrubland | CEGL005253 | 2.B.2.Nc.4.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sorbus decora - Acer spicatum / Dryopteris carthusiana Shrubland (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.).
- 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]
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- 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.