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CEGL002847 Thuja plicata - Alnus rubra / Sambucus racemosa / Lysichiton americanus Swamp Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Western Red-cedar - Red Alder / Red Elderberry / American Skunk-cabbage Swamp Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This small-patch uncommon swamp forest community is localized within the deepest rainshadow around the Straight of Georgia, in the Moist Maritime Coastal Douglas-fir Subzone (CDFmm) within the Puget Trough (TNC Ecoregion 2). It is restricted to relatively small, specialized, low-gradient lower slope or depressional seepage-receiving sites, or it may be found in association with other wetland communities along low-gradient drainages and around the margins of ponds or lakes. The soils in these swamp forests are often a mosaic of drier, elevated microsites and mounds with moder and mull humus forms, within a variable thickness matrix of wet or submerged well-humified organic materials. Thuja plicata is typically the leading tree species, accompanied by variable coverage of Alnus rubra, Acer macrophyllum, Tsuga heterophylla, and Picea sitchensis. Rubus spectabilis, Oemleria cerasiformis, Sambucus racemosa, Vaccinium parvifolium, Frangula purshiana, and Gaultheria shallon are common in the well-developed shrub layer. The species-rich herb layer includes Athyrium filix-femina, Lysichiton americanus, Stachys chamissonis, and Equisetum telmateia. The moderately developed, species-poor moss layer has a scattering of Eurhynchium praelongum, Mnium spp., and Leucolepis acanthoneuron. These sites are distinguished by their low-gradient wetland habitats, a canopy with leading Thuja plicata and Alnus rubra, and an herb/moss layer which features Athyrium filix-femina, Lysichiton americanus, and Eurhynchium praelongum.
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: Thuja plicata is typically the leading tree species, accompanied by variable coverage of Alnus rubra, Acer macrophyllum, Tsuga heterophylla, and Picea sitchensis. Along with many of the trees, most of the shrubs are established on elevated microsites. Rubus spectabilis, Oemleria cerasiformis, Sambucus racemosa, Vaccinium parvifolium, Frangula purshiana (= Rhamnus purshiana), and Gaultheria shallon are common in the well-developed shrub layer. The species-rich herb layer includes Athyrium filix-femina, Lysichiton americanus, Stachys chamissonis, and Equisetum telmateia in hollows and wetter depressional microsites, and Polystichum munitum, Tiarella trifoliata, Streptopus amplexifolius, Mycelis muralis (= Lactuca muralis), Claytonia sibirica, Dryopteris expansa, Maianthemum dilatatum, and Galium triflorum on elevated microsites. The moderately developed, species-poor moss layer has a scattering of Eurhynchium praelongum, Mnium spp., and Leucolepis acanthoneuron in the wetter flats and hollows, with Eurhynchium oreganum on elevated microsites.
Dynamics: Due to the proximity of this community to desirable and valuable land within or close to urban populations, natural patterns of disturbance tend to be overshadowed by direct disturbances from people and various direct or indirect land alienation activities. Windthrow is of concern, especially where adjacent protective forests have been partially or largely removed. Rooting is shallow in these wet soils, making the trees increasingly vulnerable to windthrow as they become larger. Changes in waterflow patterns can lead to complete modification of this community. In wind-protected locations, where a more natural pattern of disturbance is in place, there is a tendency toward the development of uneven-aged mature and old-forest successional stages through the mortality of individual or small numbers of canopy trees. Fire is not a serious threat, especially given the proximity to urban areas where fire suppression is a priority.
Environmental Description: The skunk-cabbage swamp forest is located within the deepest rainshadow around the Straight of Georgia from sea level to an elevation of approximately 150 m. It is restricted to relatively small, specialized, low-gradient lower slope or depressional seepage-receiving sites, or it may be found in association with other wetland communities along low-gradient drainages and around the margins of ponds or lakes. The nutritional status of swamp forests is relatively rich, as reflected in their wet, characteristically dark, well-decomposed surface organic materials or well-humified organic soils. Where underlying mineral soils are encountered, these are typically blue-grey in color due to intense reducing conditions. The soils in these swamp forests are often a mosaic of drier, elevated microsites and mounds with moder and mull humus forms, within a variable thickness, flat matrix of wet or submerged well-humified organic materials.
Geographic Range: No Data Available
Nations: CA,US?
States/Provinces: BC, WA?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.787992
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Ng Vancouverian Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D193 | 1.B.3.Ng |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Ng.1 Vancouverian Flooded & Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M035 | 1.B.3.Ng.1 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Ng.1.e Western Hemlock - Red Alder / Yellow Skunk-cabbage Swamp Forest Group | G853 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.e |
| Alliance | A4285 Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce / American Skunk-cabbage Swamp Forest Alliance | A4285 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.e |
| Association | CEGL002847 Western Red-cedar - Red Alder / Red Elderberry / American Skunk-cabbage Swamp Forest | CEGL002847 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.e |
Concept Lineage: Upgraded to Standard during screening.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Thuja plicata-Alnus rubra/Sambucus racemosa/Lysichiton americanus (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_214]
= CDF mm /11 (Green and Klinka 1994)
= CDF mm /11 (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.
- 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.
- MacKenzie, W. H., and J. R. Moran. 2004. Wetlands of British Columbia: A guide to identification. Land Management Handbook No. 52. Research Branch, British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Lands, Victoria, BC. 287 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.
- Roemer, H. L. 1972. Forest vegetation and environments on the Saanich Peninsula, Vancouver Island. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.