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CEGL002700 Betula glandulosa / Carex lasiocarpa Shrub Fen
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Resin Birch / Woolly-fruit Sedge Shrub Fen
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is limited to rich and extremely rich fens in far northern Idaho and west-central and northwestern Montana. It is suspected to occur in adjacent British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. It occurs at low to mid-elevations (e.g., as low as 744 m [2440 feet] in northern Idaho) on organic (peat) soils that are saturated all year, except for the highest of hummocks. Stands most often occur in the shrub-carr mosaic adjacent to beaver ponds or lakes where they form the margins of wetter graminoid/bryophyte-dominated fens (e.g., Carex lasiocarpa swards) and floating mats. Betula glandulosa (or possibly hybrids with Betula pumila) dominates the shrub overstory, which averages about 25% cover, and its height ranges from 0.5 to 2.0 m, apparently depending on the degree of substrate aeration. Salix candida is frequently associated with low cover. The graminoid understory is dominated by Carex lasiocarpa, with occasionally abundant Eleocharis elliptica?, Carex spp., and Eriophorum spp. also present. Menyanthes trifoliata is a common forb. There is frequently a nearly continuous moss layer characterized by Tomentypnum nitens, Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Campylium stellatum, and Limprichtia revolvens. Sphagnum moss tends to be lacking or only present in low amounts and with low species diversity.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Chadde et al. (1998) described this association, presumably from plots (unknown number) sampled in northern Idaho and northwestern to west-central Montana. It is not known if the association was classified using statistical methods. Because Carex lasiocarpa and other Carex species that dominate or codominate the understory of Betula glandulosa stands often have broad distribution across nutrient and pH gradients (reflected by their association with the "brown moss" group), Cooper and Jones (2004) included Betula nana / Carex lasiocarpa within the Betula glandulosa / Carex spp. / Brown Mosses association. The former association is distinguished in the field from Betula glandulosa / Carex spp. / Brown Mosses by having lower graminoid diversity in the understory that is clearly dominated by Carex lasiocarpa (Cooper and Jones 2004).
~Betula glandulosa / Carex spp. Wet Shrubland (CEGL005887)$$, a very similar association that occasionally includes abundant Carex lasiocarpa in the understory, is known from Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. It is not known what number, if any, of these Alberta stands fit the narrower ~Betula glandulosa / Carex lasiocarpa Shrub Fen (CEGL002700)$$ description. The association is expected to occur at peatlands in adjacent southeastern British Columbia and northeastern Washington, but no stands are confirmed from these areas. Both Betula nana and Carex lasiocarpa are wide-ranging species in boreal North America.
~Betula glandulosa / Carex spp. Wet Shrubland (CEGL005887)$$, a very similar association that occasionally includes abundant Carex lasiocarpa in the understory, is known from Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. It is not known what number, if any, of these Alberta stands fit the narrower ~Betula glandulosa / Carex lasiocarpa Shrub Fen (CEGL002700)$$ description. The association is expected to occur at peatlands in adjacent southeastern British Columbia and northeastern Washington, but no stands are confirmed from these areas. Both Betula nana and Carex lasiocarpa are wide-ranging species in boreal North America.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Betula glandulosa (or possibly hybrids with Betula pumila) dominates the shrub overstory, which averages about 25% cover, and its height ranges from 0.5 to 2.0 m, apparently depending on the degree of substrate aeration. Salix candida is frequently associated with low cover. The graminoid understory is dominated by Carex lasiocarpa, with occasionally abundant Eleocharis elliptica?, Carex spp., and Eriophorum spp. also present. Menyanthes trifoliata is a common forb. There is frequently a nearly continuous moss layer characterized by Tomentypnum nitens, Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Campylium stellatum, and Limprichtia revolvens. Sphagnum moss tends to be lacking or only present in low amounts and with low species diversity.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: It occurs at low to mid-elevations (e.g., as low as 744 m [2440 feet] in northern Idaho) on organic (peat) soils that are saturated all year, except for the highest of hummocks. Stands most often occur in the shrub-carr mosaic adjacent to beaver ponds or lakes where they form the margins of wetter graminoid/bryophyte-dominated fens (e.g., Carex lasiocarpa swards) and floating mats.
Geographic Range: This association is apparently restricted to, but locally common in, low- to mid-elevation peatlands of west-central and northwestern Montana (e.g., Flathead, Kootenai, and Lolo national forests), far northern Idaho (e.g., Idaho Panhandle National Forests in Bonner County) (Bursik and Moseley 1995, Chadde et al. 1998, Cooper and Jones 2004), and may occur immediately across the boarder into Alberta and British Columbia, Canada.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: AB?, BC?, ID, MT, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.741266
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.2 Temperate to Polar Bog & Fen Formation | F016 | 2.C.2 |
| Division | 2.C.2.Na North American Bog & Fen Division | D029 | 2.C.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.2.Na.2 Shrubby cinquefoil - Woolly-fruit Sedge / Star Campylium Moss Alkaline Fen Macrogroup | M877 | 2.C.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 2.C.2.Na.2.c Bellardi Bog Sedge - Buxbaum''s Sedge Alkaline Fen Group | G516 | 2.C.2.Na.2.c |
| Alliance | A3434 Dwarf Birch Alkaline Shrub Fen Alliance | A3434 | 2.C.2.Na.2.c |
| Association | CEGL002700 Resin Birch / Woolly-fruit Sedge Shrub Fen | CEGL002700 | 2.C.2.Na.2.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Betula glandulosa / Carex lasiocarpa (Jankovsky-Jones 1997b)
= Betula glandulosa / Carex lasiocarpa (Chadde et al. 1998)
< Betula glandulosa / Carex spp. / Brown Mosses (Cooper and Jones 2004)
= Betula glandulosa / Carex lasiocarpa (Chadde et al. 1998)
< Betula glandulosa / Carex spp. / Brown Mosses (Cooper and Jones 2004)
- ANHIC [Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Community database files. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Parks and Protected Areas Division, Alberta Community Development, Edmonton.
- Bursik, R. J., and R. K. Moseley. 1995. Ecosystem conservation strategy for Idaho Panhandle peatlands. Cooperative project between Idaho Panhandle National Forests and Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Conservation Data Center, Boise. 28 pp. plus appendix.
- Chadde, S. W., J. S. Shelly, R. J. Bursik, R. K Moseley, A. G. Evenden, M. Mantas, F. Rabe, B. Heide. 1998. Peatlands on national forests of the northern Rocky Mountain: Ecology and conservation. General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-11. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 75 pp.
- Cooper, S. V., and W. M. Jones. 2004. A plant community classification for Kootenai National Forest peatlands. Report to the Kootenai National Forest, Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 19 pp. plus appendices.
- Cooper, Steve. Personal communication. Ecologist, Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT.
- IDCDC [Idaho Conservation Data Center]. 2005. Wetland and riparian plant associations in Idaho. Idaho Conservation Data Center, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise. [http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/tech/CDC/ecology/wetland_riparian_assoc.cfm] (accessed 14 June 2005).
- Jankovsky-Jones, M. 1997b. Conservation strategy for northern Idaho wetlands. Unpublished report on file at Conservation Data Center, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise, ID. 35 pp. plus appendices.
- Jones, W. M. 2003. Kootenai National Forest peatlands: Description and effects of forest management. Report to the Kootenai National Forest, Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 14 pp. plus appendices.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.