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CEGL001803 Carex aquatilis - Carex utriculata Wet Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Water Sedge - Northwest Territory Sedge Wet Meadow

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This common wetland vegetation is located throughout the Mountain West. It generally occurs in small to moderate-sized patches in very shallow, slow-moving to still water or on saturated soils near low-order streams, lakes, and backwater areas of larger rivers. It occurs in flat or gently sloped wet meadows and swales located in broad, glaciated, subalpine meadows that remain saturated with snowmelt runoff for most of the growing season between 1122 and 3385 m (3680-11,100 feet) elevation. It is also often associated with beaver activity. Meadows supporting this association are seasonally flooded with soil saturated or flooded through the summer. Soils are often organic, thick peat or sandy clays, sandy clay loams originating from glacial till. This association is recognized by the presence of both Carex aquatilis and Carex utriculata in roughly equal proportions in the herbaceous layer. This plant association has relatively low species diversity due to saturated soil conditions. Carex aquatilis and Carex utriculata codominate the association. Both species are present in equal or near-equal amounts. For example, a stand with 10% cover of each Carex species would classify as this type, however, a stand with 10% Carex aquatilis and 80% Carex utriculata would classify as ~Carex utriculata Wet Meadow (CEGL001562)$$. Other graminoid and forb species may also be present.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association (CEGL001803) is distinguished from ~Carex aquatilis Wet Meadow (CEGL001802)$$ and ~Carex utriculata Wet Meadow (CEGL001562)$$ by having an equal to near-equal amount of the two Carex species. ~Carex aquatilis Wet Meadow (CEGL001802)$$ can have up to one-third total cover by Carex utriculata, and ~Carex utriculata Wet Meadow (CEGL001562)$$ can have up to one-third of the total cover by Carex aquatilis. In both cases the dominant sedge is at least two-thirds the total cover in the stand. Consequently, in the mixed association, the two species have such an even abundance and distribution throughout the stand that it is difficult to say one is more dominant over the other. This association may also occur in New Brunswick.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This plant association has relatively low species diversity due to saturated soil conditions. Carex aquatilis (10-90%) and Carex utriculata (10-40%) codominate the association. Both species are present in equal or near-equal amounts. For example, a stand with 10% cover of each Carex species would classify as this type; however, a stand with 10% Carex aquatilis and 80% Carex utriculata would classify as a Carex utriculata plant association. Other graminoid and forb species may also be present. Graminoid species include Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex microptera, Carex diandra, Carex rossii, Deschampsia cespitosa, Poa pratensis, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Carex nebrascensis, and Carex canescens. Forb species include Caltha leptosepala, Scutellaria galericulata, Galium trifidum, Polemonium foliosissimum, Rhodiola rhodantha (= Sedum rhodanthum), Cardamine cordifolia, Senecio triangularis, Pedicularis groenlandica, Epilobium spp., and Rhodiola rhodantha. In Montana, shrub species were observed at the margins of the wetland, such as Betula nana, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, and various Salix spp.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This plant association occurs in flat or gently sloped wet meadows and swales located in broad, glaciated, subalpine meadows that remain saturated with snowmelt runoff for most of the growing season between 1122 and 3400 m (3680-11,100 feet) elevation. It is also often associated with beaver activity. Meadows supporting this association are seasonally flooded with soil saturated or flooded through the summer. Some standing water or bare soil may be present. Stream channels are narrow, deep, and sinuous, or wide and shallow. Soils are often organic, thick peat or sandy clays, sandy clay loams originating from glacial till, or loamy, clayey or sandy Typic and Cumulic Cryaquolls.
Geographic Range: This association in known from Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Alberta. It may occur in New Brunswick.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, CO, MT, WY?


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D031 2.C.4.Nb
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nb.5 Sitka Alder - Booth''s Willow / Northwest Territory Sedge Montane Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M893 2.C.4.Nb.5
Group 2.C.4.Nb.5.b Sedge species - Reedgrass species Montane Wet Meadow & Marsh Group G521 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Alliance A3804 Water Sedge - Northwest Territory Sedge - Tufted Hairgrass Wet Meadow Alliance A3804 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Association CEGL001803 Water Sedge - Northwest Territory Sedge Wet Meadow CEGL001803 2.C.4.Nb.5.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Carex aquatilis - Carex utriculata Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003b)
= Carex aquatilis - Carex utriculata Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Carex aquatilis / Carex utriculata Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Carex aquatilis-Carex utriculata (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Carex aquatilis Community Type (Manning and Padgett 1995) [some stands appear to fit the Carex aquatilis - Carex utriculata mixed type.]
= Carex rostrata - Carex aquatilis Community Type (Hess and Wasser 1982)
= Carex rostrata - Carex aquatilis Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Carex rostrata - Carex aquatilis Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Carex rostrata Habitat Type, Carex aquatilis Phase (Hansen et al. 1989)
= Carex rostrata Habitat Type, Carex aquatilis Phase (Hansen et al. 1995)
= Carex utriculata - Carex aquatilis (Cooper 1986b)
= Water sedge-beaked sedge (Carex aquatilis-Carex utriculata) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: Western Ecology Group

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-05-05
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