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CEGL005903 Saxifraga mertensiana Alpine Cliff Crevice
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Wood Saxifrage Cliff Alpine Crevice
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community has been described throughout the alpine zone of Glacier National Park, Montana; it is virtually certain to occur throughout alpine Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, because there is abundant habitat. This is a community of a common environment, large and moist crevices occurring in subalpine to more often alpine cliff faces and overhangs. These crevices vary in depth from a few decimeters to more than a meter and exhibit a unique, cool, moist and shaded microclimate. This type was documented from 1600 to 2400 m (5250-7870 feet) on primarily southwest- to west-facing exposures with very steep slopes, ranging from 55% to overhanging cliffs (angle >90°). There is a gradient of decreasing vegetation from openings to deeper within crevices that corresponds to the attenuation of sunlight. At least in their inner reaches these protected sites are at least moist, and some tend to be wet at the time of snowmelt and for long periods thereafter, being supplied with percolating seepage. Plants grow within pockets of trapped fine-textured soil; extensive bryophyte cushions develop which in turn promote the formation of organic-rich soil. Parent materials include primarily red and green argillite and igneous diorite. Three species of Saxifraga, Saxifraga mertensiana, Saxifraga cernua, and Saxifraga rivularis, are strongly associated with this unique habitat and define its extent. Cryptogramma stelleri and Cerastium beeringianum are optimally represented in these sites; other forbs present and indicative of these hygric to hydric sites, including Epilobium anagallidifolium, Saxifraga occidentalis, and Deschampsia cespitosa, are also found in other wet-site vegetation types. Bryophytes are an important component and, though generally attaining high cover in excess of 50%, also have as little as 5% cover; the main taxa, all of which are common in other types of wet sites, are Philonotis fontana var. americana, Brachythecium spp., and Bryum spp. Lichens are mostly found on rock surfaces, amounts ranging from nil to 50%.
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: Three species of Saxifraga, Saxifraga mertensiana, Saxifraga cernua, and Saxifraga rivularis (= Saxifraga debilis), are strongly associated with this unique habitat and define its extent. Cryptogramma stelleri and Cerastium beeringianum are optimally represented in these sites; other forbs present and indicative of these hygric to hydric sites, including Epilobium anagallidifolium (= Epilobium alpinum), Saxifraga occidentalis, and Deschampsia cespitosa, are also found in other wet-site vegetation types. Bryophytes are an important component and, though generally attaining high cover in excess of 50%, also have as little as 5% cover; the main taxa, all of which are common in other types of wet sites, are Philonotis fontana var. americana, Brachythecium spp., and Bryum spp. Lichens are mostly found on rock surfaces, amounts ranging from nil to 50%.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This is a community of a common environment, large and moist crevices occurring in subalpine to more often alpine cliff faces and overhangs. These crevices vary in depth from a few decimeters to more than a meter and exhibit a unique, cool, moist and shaded microclimate. This type was documented from 1600 to 2400 m (5250-7870 feet) on primarily southwest- to west-facing exposures with very steep slopes, ranging from 55% to overhanging cliffs (angle >90°). There is a gradient of decreasing vegetation from openings to deeper within crevices that corresponds to the attenuation of sunlight. At least in their inner reaches these protected sites are at least moist, and some tend to be wet at the time of snowmelt and for long periods thereafter, being supplied with percolating seepage. Plants grow within pockets of trapped fine-textured soil; extensive bryophyte cushions develop which in turn promote the formation of organic-rich soil. Parent materials include primarily red and green argillite and igneous diorite.
Geographic Range: This community has been described throughout the alpine zone of Glacier National Park, Montana; it is virtually certain to occur throughout alpine Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, because there is abundant habitat.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB?, MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.728757
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
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.c Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Saxifrage species Rocky Mountain Alpine Bedrock & Scree Group | G571 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.c |
| Alliance | A4021 Rocky Mountain Alpine Sparse Herb Bedrock & Scree Alliance | A4021 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.c |
| Association | CEGL005903 Wood Saxifrage Cliff Alpine Crevice | CEGL005903 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Saxifraga mertensiana Cliff Crevice Sparse Vegetation (Hop et al. 2007)
= Saxifragetum mertensianae Association (Damm 2001)
= Saxifragetum mertensianae 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]
- Choate, C. M. 1963. Ordination of the alpine plant communities of Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana. M.A. thesis, University of Montana, Missoula. 106 pp.
- 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.
- Mortimer, P. R. 1978. The alpine vascular flora of Prospect Mountain, Front Range, Rocky Mountains, Alberta. M.S. thesis, University of Alberta, Calgary.
- 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.