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CEGL005863 Carex albonigra - Myosotis asiatica Alpine Fell-field
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black-and-White Sedge - Asian Forget-Me-Not Alpine Fell-field
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This fell-field association has been sampled in the alpine of Glacier National Park, Montana, and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. It is predominantly a small- (to large-) patch fell-field community, characteristic and extensive at the highest elevations and most extreme and exposed alpine environments; its recorded elevation range is from 2060 to 2630 m (6755-8625 feet), though most of the sites are above 2400 m (7870 feet). It usually is dispersed across expansive rolling upland and frost rubble-mantled summits; topographic positions include flat mountain summits, ridges, exposed upper slopes and rolling uplands. Because of high elevations and exceedingly exposed positions, this is one of the most wind-impacted environments (prevailing winds being from the southwest); xeric conditions are in effect through most of the year. Being swept free of snow and protective cover facilitates frost action, which results in patterned ground features with the polygonal arrangement of rocks. The ground surface is dominated by exposed rock, mostly in excess of 60% cover, with undeveloped and well-drained soils restricted to pockets and vegetation-covered patches. The modal aspect is a very low-growing turf, scattered in small patches across an undulating landscape. The vascular plant cover is highly variable, from 1% to approaching 60%, with most of the sampled occurrences having less than 30% cover; there is not one species or species group that can be considered strictly characteristic. Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda is the only dwarf-shrub of note with cover usually less than 5%; for its cover to exceed 10% would be indicative of a different community. The most diagnostic graminoids are Carex albonigra and Carex rupestris with Carex nardina occurring sporadically; their single or combined cover seldom exceeds 5%. Festuca brachyphylla, Trisetum spicatum, Luzula spicata, Poa alpina, and Poa glauca also exhibit high constancy and low cover, and Calamagrostis purpurascens is present in the lower elevation examples of the type. The distinctive cushion plant Silene acaulis attains its greatest constancy and cover in this type, often constituting the dominant forb. Four forbs, Myosotis asiatica, Potentilla nivea, Rhodiola rosea, and Minuartia rossii, are more consistently present in this than other types. Other high-constancy forbs include Minuartia obtusiloba, Smelowskia calycina, Sedum lanceolatum, Erigeron compositus, Oxytropis campestris, and Selaginella densa var. standleyi.
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: The vascular plant cover is highly variable, from 1% to approaching 60%, with most of the sampled occurrences having less than 30% cover; there is not one species or species group that can be considered strictly characteristic. Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda is the only dwarf-shrub of note with cover usually less than 5%; for its cover to exceed 10% would be indicative of a different community. The most diagnostic graminoids are Carex albonigra and Carex rupestris with Carex nardina occurring sporadically; their single or combined cover seldom exceeds 5%. Festuca brachyphylla, Trisetum spicatum, Luzula spicata, Poa alpina, and Poa glauca also exhibit high constancy and low cover, and Calamagrostis purpurascens is present in the lower elevation examples of the type. The distinctive cushion plant Silene acaulis attains its greatest constancy and cover in this type, often constituting the dominant forb. Four forbs, Myosotis asiatica (= Myosotis alpestris), Potentilla nivea, Rhodiola rosea (= Sedum roseum), and Minuartia rossii (= Arenaria rossii), are more consistently present in this than other types. Other high-constancy forbs include Minuartia obtusiloba (= Arenaria obtusiloba), Smelowskia calycina, Sedum lanceolatum, Erigeron compositus, Oxytropis campestris, and Selaginella densa var. standleyi (= Selaginella standleyi).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This is predominantly a small- (to large-) patch fell-field community, characteristic and extensive at the highest elevations and most extreme and exposed alpine environments; its recorded elevation range is from 2060 to 2630 m (6755-8625 feet), though most of the sites are above 2400 m (7870 feet). It usually is dispersed across expansive rolling upland and frost rubble-mantled summits; topographic positions include flat mountain summits, ridges, exposed upper slopes and rolling uplands. Because of high elevations and exceedingly exposed positions, this is one of the most wind-impacted environments (prevailing winds being from the southwest); xeric conditions are in effect through most of the year. Being swept free of snow and protective cover facilitates frost action, which results in patterned ground features with the polygonal arrangement of rocks. The ground surface is dominated by exposed rock, mostly in excess of 60% cover, with undeveloped and well-drained soils restricted to pockets and vegetation-covered patches. The modal aspect is a very low-growing turf, scattered in small patches across an undulating landscape.
Geographic Range: This fell-field association has been sampled in the alpine of Glacier National Park, Montana, and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.729658
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 | A3154 Twin-flower Sandwort - Rocky Mountain Nailwort - Moss Campion Alpine Fell-field Alliance | A3154 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL005863 Black-and-White Sedge - Asian Forget-Me-Not Alpine Fell-field | CEGL005863 | 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: = Carex albonigra - Myosotis asiatica Herbaceous Vegetation (Hop et al. 2007)
= Myosotido alpestris - Caricetum albonigrae Association (Damm 2001)
= Myosotido alpestris - Caricetum albonigrae Association (Damm 2001)
- 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.