Print Report

CEGL003787 Picea sitchensis - Tsuga heterophylla / Polystichum munitum Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sitka Spruce - Western Hemlock / Western Swordfern Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This large-patch coniferous forest community occurs on rich, fresh sites overlaying nutrient-rich bedrock types from coastal British Columbia to south coastal central Oregon. These sites occur at elevations from 0 to 650 m. This plant community occurs in mountains of the Queen Charlotte Islands, the mountains and lowlands of western and northern Vancouver Island and along the outer coast and windward slopes of the Coast Mountains and Kitimat Ranges of British Columbia, at low elevations on the western Olympic Peninsula and western Willapa Hills of Washington, along a narrow outer coastal strip in northern and central Oregon, and just barely into the northwestern Cascade Range of Washington. Soils are usually loamy to sandy and are usually derived from fluvial or colluvial materials. This large-patch coniferous forest community has a moderately closed canopy, poorly developed shrub layer dominated by regenerating Tsuga heterophylla, well-developed forb layer characterized by abundant Polystichum munitum, and moderately well-developed moss layer with variable composition. The moderately closed canopy is typically dominated by high cover of Tsuga heterophylla and Picea sitchensis (but individual stands may have more or less of each), and sometimes has low to moderate cover of Thuja plicata. The poorly developed shrub layer is dominated by moderate cover of regenerating Tsuga heterophylla and low cover of Vaccinium parvifolium and Rubus spectabilis. The well-developed forb layer is dominated by high cover of Polystichum munitum with low cover of Blechnum spicant, Dryopteris expansa, Tiarella trifoliata, and Athyrium filix-femina. The variable, moderately developed moss layer has low to moderate cover of Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Eurhynchium oreganum, Hylocomium splendens, and Buckiella undulata.

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: This large-patch coniferous forest community has a moderately closed canopy, poorly developed shrub layer dominated by regenerating Tsuga heterophylla, well-developed forb layer characterized by abundant Polystichum munitum, and moderately well-developed moss layer with variable species composition. The moderately closed canopy is dominated by high cover of Tsuga heterophylla and Picea sitchensis, often with low to moderate cover of Thuja plicata, the latter more common in the north. The poorly developed shrub layer is dominated by moderate cover of regenerating Tsuga heterophylla and low cover of Vaccinium parvifolium and Rubus spectabilis. Low to moderate cover of Menziesia ferruginea, Vaccinium alaskaense, or Gaultheria shallon sometimes occurs in the shrub layer. The well-developed forb layer is dominated by a high cover of Polystichum munitum with low cover of Blechnum spicant, Dryopteris expansa, Tiarella trifoliata, Athyrium filix-femina, and sometimes with low cover of Maianthemum dilatatum, Oxalis oregana (south only), Claytonia sibirica, Galium triflorum, Luzula parviflora, and Streptopus amplexifolius. The variable, moderately developed moss layer has low to moderate cover of Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Eurhynchium oreganum, Hylocomium splendens, and Buckiella undulata (= Plagiothecium undulatum). Low to moderate cover of Rhizomnium glabrescens and Pellia neesiana is often present. Composition of the moss layer varies with the moisture regimes with more feathermosses on drier sites and more leafy mosses on wetter sites.

Dynamics:  This is a late-successional (mature and climax) edaphic forest community. Natural disturbance is primarily windthrow resulting in small gaps and an all-aged stand structure. In Washington and Oregon, younger, even-aged stands can also occur associated with intense windstorms, the most prominent of those known occurred in 1921. Other small gaps may result from insect-caused mortality or root-rot. Geomorphological disturbances such as debris flows and torrents may cause stand-replacing events, but these are rare. Historically fire was a very rare occurrence, occurring approximately every 4000 years on average (Lertzman et al. 2002).
Environmental Description:  This large-patch coniferous forest community occurs on rich, fresh sites overlaying nutrient-rich bedrock types in coastal British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. These sites occur at elevations from 0 to 650 m. This plant community occurs in mountains of the Queen Charlotte Islands, the mountains and lowlands of western and northern Vancouver Island and along the outer coast and windward slopes of the Coast Mountains and Kitimat Ranges of British Columbia, at low elevations on the western Olympic Peninsula and western Willapa Hills of Washington, along a narrow outer coastal strip in northern and central Oregon, and just barely into the northwestern Cascade Range of Washington. It occurs on all slope positions on gentle to steep slopes on all aspects. At the south end of its range, it tends to occur more commonly on middle slopes. Soils are usually loamy to sandy and are most commonly classified as Ferro-Humic Podzols but are quite variable and range from Dystric Brunisols to Gleysols. Soils are usually derived from fluvial or colluvial materials but may also be morainal or organic materials. Soil nutrient regimes are usually mesic or subhygric (but range from submesic to hydric), and soil nutrient regimes are usually rich to very rich.
Geographic Range: This community occurs in British Columbia within variants of the Very Wet Hypermaritime and Wet Hypermaritime subzones of the Coastal Western Hemlock zone (CWHvh1, CWHvh2 and CWHwh1), which occupy a total of 27,418 square km. It occurs along BC''s mainland outer coast from near the northern tip of Vancouver Island, northward to Portland Canal, and the Queen Charlotte Islands off BC''s central coast. Also occurs at low elevations on the western Olympic Peninsula (mostly within 5 miles of the outer coast) and western Willapa Hills of Washington, rarely in the northwestern Cascade Range of Washington (south to King County) and along a narrow outer coastal strip (<5 miles wide) in northern and central Oregon (probably south to Lane County).

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  BC, OR, WA


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?

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 CEGL003787 Sitka Spruce - Western Hemlock / Western Swordfern Forest CEGL003787 1.B.2.Nd.3.f
Concept Lineage: The part of this concept without PSME succeeds to this new IVC type (CEGL003787), concept of which is derived from CEGL000059 and CEGL000498.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Picea sitchensis / Polystichum munitum - Oxalis oregana (Henderson et al. 1989)
< Picea sitchensis / Polystichum munitum CSF 121 (McCain and Diaz 2002a) [Only stands without Pseudotsuga menziesii are included here.]
> Picea sitchensis / Polystichum munitum Community Type (Kratz 1975)
> Picea sitchensis-Tsuga heterophylla/Blechnum spicant Community Type (Kratz 1975)
= Picea sitchensis-Tsuga heterophylla/Polystichum munitum (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_075]
= Picea sitchensis-Tsuga heterophylla/Polystichum munitum Forest (Crawford et al. 2009)
? Picea sitchensis/Polystichum munitum-Trillium ovatum Association (Bigley and Hull 1995)
> Tsuga heterophylla - Picea sitchensis / Polystichum munitum Community Type (Kratz 1975)
? Tsuga heterophylla-Picea sitchensis/Oplopanax horridum Community Type (Mycek 1994)
> CWH vh 2 /05 (Banner et al. 1993)
> CWH vh 2 /05 (Green and Klinka 1994)
> CWH wh 1 /03 (Green and Klinka 1994)
> Sitka spruce / swordfern (PISI/POMU) (Hemstrom and Logan 1986)
> TSHE-PSME-PISI/POMU-moss (Juday 1976) [There is very little Pseudotsuga menziesii in this type.]
Concept Author(s): Meidinger et al. (2005)

Author of Description: K. Iverson and G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-13-06
  • 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]. 2003b. PDF Biogeoclimatic Subzone/Variant Mapping Wall Series. November 26, 2003 last update. British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Branch, Victoria, BC. [http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/becweb/papermap/WallMapsIndex.htm] (accessed 18 February 2005).
  • 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.
  • BCMWLAP [British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection]. 2004f. Ancient Murrelet. In: Accounts and measures for managing identified wildlife. British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Victoria, BC. 52 pp.
  • Banner, A., P. LePage, J. Moran, and A. deGroot, editors. 2005. The HyP3 Project: Pattern, process, and productivity in hypermaritime forests of coastal British Columbia - A synthesis of 7-year results. Special Report 10. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Research Branch, Victoria, BC. [http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Srs/Srs10.htm]
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Christy, J. A., J. S. Kagan, and A. M. Wiedemann. 1998. Plant associations of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area - Siuslaw National Forest, Oregon. Technical Paper R6-NR-ECOL-TP-09-98. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 196 pp.
  • Crawford, R. C., C. B. Chappell, C. C. Thompson, and F. J. Rocchio. 2009. Vegetation classification of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic national parks. Plant association descriptions and identification keys: Appendices A-G. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCCN/NRTR--2009/D-586. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 586 pp.
  • Dorner, B., and C. Wong. 2003. Natural disturbance dynamics on the North Coast. Background report for North Coast LRMP, British Columbia. 51 pp.
  • 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.
  • Hemstrom, M. A., and S. E. Logan. 1986. Plant association and management guide Siuslaw National Forest. Report R6-Ecol 220-1986a. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 121 pp.
  • Henderson, J. A., D. A. Peter, R. Lesher, and D. C. Shaw. 1989. Forested plant associations of the Olympic National Forest. R6-ECOL-TP-001-88. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 502 pp.
  • Juday, G. P. 1976. The location, composition and structure of old-growth forests of the Oregon Coast Range. Ph.D. dissertation, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 190 pp.
  • Kagan, J. S., E. M. Nielsen, M. D. Noone, J. C. van Warmerdam, L. K. Wise, G. Kittel, and C. Copass. 2012. Lewis and Clark National Historic Park vegetation classification and mapping project report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCCN/NRR--2012/597. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
  • Klinka, K., H. Qian, J. Pojar, and D. V. Meidinger. 1996. Classification of natural forest communities of coastal British Columbia. Vegetatio 125:149-168.
  • Kratz, A. M. 1975. Vegetational analysis of the coastal Picea sitchensis forest zone in Olympic National Park, Washington. Unpublished thesis, Western Washington University, Bellingham.
  • Lertzman, K., D. Gavin, D. Hallett, L. Brubaker, D. Lepofsky, and R. Mathewes. 2002. Long-term fire regime estimated from soil charcoal in coastal temperate rainforests. Conservation Ecology 6:5.
  • Martin, R. C., and R. E. Frenkel. 1978. Preserve analysis: Blacklock Point. Oregon Natural Area Preserves Advisory Committee to the State Land Board, Salem, OR. 63 pp.
  • McCain, C., and N. M. Diaz. 2002a. Field guide to the forested plant associations of the northern Oregon Coast Range. Siuslaw National Forest, USFS; Salem District, BLM; Eugene District, BLM. Technical Paper R6-NR-ECOL-TP-03-02. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 250 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.
  • Mycek, L. 1994. A classification of riparian plant communities in three geomorphological provinces of the Cascade Mountains in western Washington State. M.S. thesis, University of Washington, Seattle. 122 pp.
  • Quaye, E. C. 1982. The structure and dynamics of old-growth Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) forest of the Oregon Coast Range. Ph.D. dissertation, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 109 pp.
  • 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.