Print Report
CEGL005855 Arenaria capillaris / Polytrichum piliferum Alpine Snowbed
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Slender Mountain Sandwort / Bristly Haircap Moss Alpine Snowbed
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This vegetation type has been described only from the alpine and upper subalpine of Glacier National Park in Montana, east of the Continental Divide. This community occurs across a range of topographic positions, which apparently have in common an extended period of snow cover. Slopes are predominantly gentle to moderately steep (7-45%) with easterly to northerly exposures, which would be lee slopes in the presence of prevailing southwesterly wind. Snow drifts occur in the lee of raised relief features and depressions; drifts provide abundant early growing-season moisture, but sites may desiccate markedly in late summer. The observed elevation range is 2090 to 2390 m (6855-7840 feet). Parent materials include argillite, quartzite, arenites and limestone and can constitute up to 40% surface rock, most of which is stable though imparting a distinct fell-field aspect to these sites; frost churning is obviously occurring in the rockier frost rubble sites. Frost action is also manifested as cracks and soil creep in the open mineral soil. Total vascular cover varies considerably, from 25% to 80%, most of it being low-growing forbs, among which Arenaria capillaris consistently has the greatest cover and is indicative of persisting snow cover. Another chionophilous forb, Sibbaldia procumbens, exhibits less cover and is inconsistently present. Other forbs with moderate to high constancy include Eriogonum flavum, Arnica rydbergii, Antennaria umbrinella, Silene parryi, Pedicularis contorta, Potentilla diversifolia, Polygonum bistortoides, Solidago multiradiata, Selaginella densa var. scopulorum, and Agoseris glauca. The graminoid component is relatively unimportant, with Carex phaeocephala, Luzula spicata, and Poa cusickii being consistently present (more than 60%). Bryophytes, among which Polytrichum piliferum is highly constant and highly variable in cover, and lichens comprise a component highly variable in cover, from being unrepresented to a combined cover of 75%.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Total vascular cover varies considerably, from 25% to 80%, most of it being low-growing forbs, among which Arenaria capillaris consistently has the greatest cover and is indicative of persisting snow cover. Another chionophilous forb, Sibbaldia procumbens, exhibits less cover and is inconsistently present. Other forbs with moderate to high constancy include Eriogonum flavum, Arnica rydbergii, Antennaria umbrinella, Silene parryi, Pedicularis contorta, Potentilla diversifolia, Polygonum bistortoides, Solidago multiradiata, Selaginella densa var. scopulorum (= Selaginella scopulorum), and Agoseris glauca. The graminoid component is relatively unimportant, with Carex phaeocephala, Luzula spicata, and Poa cusickii being consistently present (more than 60%). Bryophytes, among which Polytrichum piliferum is highly constant and highly variable in cover, and lichens comprise a component highly variable in cover, from being unrepresented to a combined cover of 75%.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community occurs across a range of topographic positions, which apparently have in common an extended period of snow cover. Slopes are predominantly gentle to moderately steep (7-45%) with easterly to northerly exposures, which would be lee slopes in the presence of prevailing southwesterly wind. Snow drifts occur in the lee of raised relief features and depressions; drifts provide abundant early growing-season moisture, but sites may desiccate markedly in late summer. The observed elevation range is 2090 to 2390 m (6855-7840 feet). Parent materials include argillite, quartzite, arenites and limestone and can constitute up to 40% surface rock, most of which is stable though imparting a distinct fell-field aspect to these sites; frost churning is obviously occurring in the rockier frost rubble sites. Frost action is also manifested as cracks and soil creep in the open mineral soil.
Geographic Range: This vegetation type has been described only from the alpine and upper subalpine of Glacier National Park in Montana, east of the Continental Divide.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: AB?, MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.728583
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.Nb Western North American Alpine Tundra Division | D043 | 4.B.1.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 4.B.1.Nb.2 Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Blackroot Sedge - Moss Campion Alpine Tundra Macrogroup | M099 | 4.B.1.Nb.2 |
| Group | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b Blackroot Sedge - Bellardi Bog Sedge - Cushion Phlox Alpine Turf & Fell-field Group | G314 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
| Alliance | A3172 Drummond''s Rush - Parry''s Rush - Creeping Sibbaldia Rocky Mountain Alpine Snowbed Alliance | A3172 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL005855 Slender Mountain Sandwort / Bristly Haircap Moss Alpine Snowbed | CEGL005855 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Arenaria capillaris / Polytrichum piliferum (Allen 2005)
= Arenaria capillaris / Polytrichum piliferum Herbaceous Vegetation (Hop et al. 2007)
= Polytricho piliferi - Arenarietum capillaris Association (Damm 2001)
= Arenaria capillaris / Polytrichum piliferum Herbaceous Vegetation (Hop et al. 2007)
= Polytricho piliferi - Arenarietum capillaris Association (Damm 2001)
- 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]
- Damm, C. 2001. A phytosociological study of Glacier National Park, Montana, U. S. A., with notes on the syntaxonomy of alpine vegetation in western North America. Dissertation from Georg - August University, Germany. 297 pp. plus appendices.
- Hop, K., M. Reid, J. Dieck, S. Lubinski, and S. Cooper. 2007. U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. 131 pp. plus Appendices A-L.
- Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.