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CEGL002843 Tsuga heterophylla - (Thuja plicata, Pseudotsuga menziesii) / Polystichum munitum - Blechnum spicant Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Western Hemlock - (Western Red-cedar, Douglas-fir) / Western Swordfern - Deer Fern Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This closed-canopy forested community occurs at lower elevations on the south coast of British Columbia and adjacent islands, at lower elevations and major valleys along east Vancouver Island north to Kelsey Bay (0-700 m), and at lower elevations on the western Olympic Peninsula of Washington. It occurs as small to medium patches on sites with soils that are moist for a significant part of the growing season. Overstories are closed and dominated by high cover of Tsuga heterophylla, with frequent and variable cover of Thuja plicata and/or Pseudotsuga menziesii. The moderately well-developed shrub layer is dominated by moderate cover of regenerating Tsuga heterophylla and Thuja plicata, often together with Gaultheria shallon. Polystichum munitum predominates in the herb layer, with Blechnum spicant usually present with low to moderate cover. The moderately well-developed moss layer consists primarily of a high cover of Hylocomium splendens.
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 overstory of this closed-canopy plant community is characterized by high cover of Tsuga heterophylla, with frequent and variable cover of Thuja plicata and/or Pseudotsuga menziesii. Moderate cover of Alnus rubra and Populus balsamifera and low cover of Betula papyrifera are sometimes present in the overstory. The moderately well-developed shrub layer is dominated by moderate cover of regenerating Tsuga heterophylla and Thuja plicata, often together with Gaultheria shallon. Sometimes there is low to moderate cover of Vaccinium parvifolium, Rubus spectabilis, and Acer circinatum, together with scattered shrubs of other species. Polystichum munitum dominates the herb layer. Blechnum spicant is usually present and sometimes nearly co-equal with Polystichum. Dryopteris expansa, Tiarella trifoliata, Rubus ursinus, Pteridium aquilinum, and Cornus canadensis are often present and can occupy moderate cover. A high cover of Hylocomium splendens dominates the well-developed moss layer. Also occurring with moderate cover are Eurhynchium oreganum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Plagiothecium undulatum, and Rhizomnium glabrescens.
Dynamics: This is a late-successional (mature and climax) edaphic forest community. Stands originated from infrequent stand-replacing fires (perhaps every 150-200 years or more on average) or windthrow. Within mature and old forests, small gaps result from the death of single trees or small groups of trees due to root-rots, bark beetles or windthrow. Gap dynamics in old forests result in an all-aged stand structure.
Environmental Description: This plant community occurs at lower elevations on coastal British Columbia and adjacent islands, at lower elevations and major valleys along east Vancouver Island north to Kelsey Bay (0-700 m), and at lower elevations on the western Olympic Peninsula of Washington. It occurs on sites with soils that are moist to very moist over a significant part of the growing season. Soils are loamy, sandy or silty, sometimes with >35% coarse fragments and are typically Humo-Ferric Podzols. Soil moisture regimes are typically subhygric, and soil nutrient regimes are typically medium (poor to rich).
Geographic Range: This community occurs in British Columbia within the Dry Maritime subzone and variants of the Very Wet Maritime and Very Dry Maritime subzones of the Coastal Western Hemlock zone (CWHdm, CWHvm1, CWHxm1 and CWHxm2), which occupy a total of 35,800 square km. It occurs on coastal British Columbia and adjacent islands from the Chilliwack River in the southeast, northward within the windward Coast Mountains to Portland Canal, and on both sides of Vancouver Island from the Sooke Basin north. It also occurs at lower elevations on the western Olympic Peninsula of Washington and possibly farther south in very wet climatic areas of coastal Washington.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: BC, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.787973
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Nd Vancouverian Forest & Woodland Division | D192 | 1.B.2.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nd.3 Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce - Redwood Rainforest Macrogroup | M024 | 1.B.2.Nd.3 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce North-Central Pacific Rainforest Group | G751 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f |
| Alliance | A3610 Western Hemlock - Western Red-cedar / Deer Fern Rich Mesic Forest Alliance | A3610 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f |
| Association | CEGL002843 Western Hemlock - (Western Red-cedar, Douglas-fir) / Western Swordfern - Deer Fern Forest | CEGL002843 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Tsuga heterophylla-Thuja plicata-Pseudotsuga menziesii/Polystichum munitum-Blechnum spicant (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_278]
> CWH dm /06 (Green and Klinka 1994)
> CWH vm 1 /04 (Green and Klinka 1994)
> CWH xm 1 /06 (Green and Klinka 1994) [limited plot data, not in veg tables - added anyway; range, area of occupancy, trends and protected areas revised 11/18/05 by HKY, matrix updated by C. Cadrin 11/28/05 and 02/14/05.]
> CWH xm 2 /06 (Green and Klinka 1994)
> CWH dm /06 (Green and Klinka 1994)
> CWH vm 1 /04 (Green and Klinka 1994)
> CWH xm 1 /06 (Green and Klinka 1994) [limited plot data, not in veg tables - added anyway; range, area of occupancy, trends and protected areas revised 11/18/05 by HKY, matrix updated by C. Cadrin 11/28/05 and 02/14/05.]
> CWH xm 2 /06 (Green and Klinka 1994)
- BCMFRB [British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Branch]. 2003a. Vegetation classification hierarchy: BECMaster May 2003. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, BC.
- BCMFRB [British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Branch]. 2005a. Vegetation classification hierarchy: BECMaster 2005. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, BC.
- BCMFRB [British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Branch]. 2005b. Vegetation and environment plot data: BECMaster January 2005. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, BC.
- BCMWLAP [British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection]. 2004b. Marbled Murrelet. In: Accounts and measures for managing identified wildlife. British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Victoria, BC. 52 pp.
- BCMWLAP [British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection]. 2004d. Spotted Owl. In: Accounts and measures for managing identified wildlife. British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Victoria, BC. 52 pp.
- BCMWLAP [British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection]. 2004e. Keen''s Long-eared Myotis. In: Accounts and measures for managing identified wildlife. British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Victoria, BC. 52 pp.
- Banner, A., W. MacKenzie, S. Haeussler, S. Thomson, J. Pojar, and R. Trowbridge. 1993. A field guide to site identification and interpretation for the Prince Rupert Forest Region. Ministry of Forests Research Program. Victoria, BC. Parts 1 and 2. Land Management Handbook Number 26.
- Bigley, R., and S. Hull. 1995. Draft guide to plant associations on the Olympic Experimental Forest. Washington Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA. 50 pp.
- Brown, K. J., and R. J. Hebda. 1999. Long-term fire incidence in coastal forests of British Columbia. Northwest Science 73:41-43.
- Cadrin, C. M., and M. Wolowicz. 2005. Application of terrestrial ecosystem mapping on coastal British Columbia to conservation status assessments of ecological communities. British Columbia Conservation Data Centre, Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Victoria, BC.
- Green, R. N., and K. Klinka. 1994. A field guide to site interpretation for the Vancouver Forest Region. British Columbia Ministry of Forests. ISSN 0229-1622 Land Management Handbook 28. 285 pp.
- Meidinger, D., C. Chappell, C. Cadrin, G. Kittel, C. McCain, K. Boggs, J. Kagan, G. Cushon, A. Banner, and T. DeMeo. 2005. International Vegetation Classification of the Pacific Northwest: International correlation of temperate coastal forest plant associations of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. Contributors: B.C. Ministry of Forests, USDA Forest Service, B.C. Conservation Data Centre, Alaska Natural Heritage Program, Washington Natural Heritage Program, and Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.