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CEGL005878 Salix arctica / Carex nigricans Dwarf-shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Arctic Willow / Black Alpine Sedge Dwarf-shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community is documented from Glacier National Park, Montana, and occurs primarily as small patches, from the uppermost subalpine to mid-alpine elevations, ranging from 2000 to 2320 m (6560-7610 feet). It is mainly associated with receiving positions, the toeslopes and lower to midslopes of gentle terrain; slopes range from flat to moderate with all aspects represented, though steeper slopes tend to have northerly or easterly exposures. This community is considered a snowbed type having deep and late-persisting snow cover, which augments its moisture supply late into the growing season. Substrates include various sedimentary rock types, both calcareous (limestone) and not (siltstones, argillite). There is a nearly continuous mat of vegetation composed of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens (aggregate usually exceeding 80% cover). In its modal form this community resembles a nubby green carpet with tufts of graminoids and forbs projecting. Vascular plant cover generally exceeds 50% but may range from 20 to 98%. Salix arctica forms a short-shrub layer (<0.03 m) having more than 10% cover and in most cases more than 25% cover. Other dwarf-shrubs, including Kalmia microphylla and Phyllodoce glanduliflora, generally have less than 5% cover and are present in a small fraction of the stands. The graminoid component is dominated by Carex nigricans, a sod-forming, rhizomatous species well known as a snowbed indicator. The forb layer may be species-rich but its cover is usually not greater than 20%. The presence of forbs Trollius laxus, Parnassia fimbriata, Triantha glutinosa, and Veronica wormskjoldii are indicative of the hygric nature of these sites; other forbs more mesic in their affinities and having at least 75% constancy include Packera streptanthifolia, Sibbaldia procumbens, Erigeron peregrinus, Hypericum scouleri, Castilleja occidentalis, and Potentilla diversifolia. Mosses contributing the most cover to what often appears to be a continuous carpet include Aulacomnium palustre, Philonotis fontana, and various species of Bryum.
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: There is a nearly continuous mat of vegetation composed of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens (aggregate usually exceeding 80% cover). In its modal form this community resembles a nubby green carpet with tufts of graminoids and forbs projecting. Vascular plant cover generally exceeds 50% but may range from 20 to 98%. Salix arctica forms a short-shrub layer (<0.03 m) having more than 10% cover and in most cases more than 25% cover. Other dwarf-shrubs, including Kalmia microphylla and Phyllodoce glanduliflora, generally have less than 5% cover and are present in a small fraction of the stands. The graminoid component is dominated by Carex nigricans, a sod-forming, rhizomatous species well known as a snowbed indicator. The forb layer may be species-rich but its cover is usually not greater than 20%. The presence of forbs Trollius laxus, Parnassia fimbriata, Triantha glutinosa (= Tofieldia glutinosa), and Veronica wormskjoldii are indicative of the hygric nature of these sites; other forbs more mesic in their affinities and having at least 75% constancy include Packera streptanthifolia (= Senecio cymbalarioides), Sibbaldia procumbens, Erigeron peregrinus, Hypericum scouleri, Castilleja occidentalis, and Potentilla diversifolia. Mosses contributing the most cover to what often appears to be a continuous carpet include Aulacomnium palustre, Philonotis fontana, and various species of Bryum.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community occurs primarily as small patches, from the uppermost subalpine to mid-alpine elevations, ranging from 2000 to 2320 m (6560-7610 feet). It is mainly associated with receiving positions, the toeslopes and lower to midslopes of gentle terrain; slopes range from flat to moderate with all aspects represented, though steeper slopes tend to have northerly or easterly exposures. This community is considered a snowbed type having deep and late-persisting snow cover, which augments its moisture supply late into the growing season. Substrates include various sedimentary rock types, both calcareous (limestone) and not (siltstones, argillite).
Geographic Range: This community is documented from Glacier National Park, Montana.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: AB?, MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.728627
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.a Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Mountain-heath species - Arctic Willow Alpine Dwarf-shrubland & Krummholz Group | G316 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.a |
| Alliance | A3176 Arctic Willow - Snow Willow - Netleaf Willow Alpine Dwarf-shrubland Alliance | A3176 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.a |
| Association | CEGL005878 Arctic Willow / Black Alpine Sedge Dwarf-shrubland | CEGL005878 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Aulacomnio - Kalmietum microphyllae Association (Damm 2001)
>< Leprario caesioalbae - Salicetum arcticae Association (Damm 2001)
= Salix arctica / Carex nigricans Dwarf-shrubland (Hop et al. 2007)
>< Sibbaldio procumbentis - Caricetum nigricantis Association (Damm 2001)
>< Leprario caesioalbae - Salicetum arcticae Association (Damm 2001)
= Salix arctica / Carex nigricans Dwarf-shrubland (Hop et al. 2007)
>< Sibbaldio procumbentis - Caricetum nigricantis Association (Damm 2001)
- ANHIC [Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Community database files. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Parks and Protected Areas Division, Alberta Community Development, Edmonton.
- 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.