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CEGL006591 Abies balsamea - Picea rubens / Ilex verticillata / Sphagnum spp. Swamp Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Balsam Fir - Red Spruce / Common Winterberry / Peatmoss species Swamp Forest
Colloquial Name: Balsam Fir - Red Spruce / Winterberry / Peatmoss Swamp Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This acidic conifer woodland swamp occurs on temporarily to semipermanently flooded soils in frost-pocket headwater basins in the Allegheny Mountains region of West Virginia, at elevations between 980 and 1120 m. It is a small-patch community fed by seepage, occasional overflow from low-gradient headwater streams, and rainfall. It occupies flat to very gently sloping land (0-3° slopes) along small headwater streams, often in mixed wetland mosaics. Microtopography is characterized by interfingering of wetter and drier areas, with irregular hummocks formed over tree roots, tip-up mounds, nurse logs, and decaying wood. The community is influenced by beaver activity, and there is evidence of migration of the balsam fir populations, possibly in response to fluctuating hydrology. Soils are poorly to very poorly drained clayey or mucky soils with mottling in the upper 20 cm and occasional gleyed horizons. The canopy is open and dominated by stunted, inundation-stressed Abies balsamea and Picea rubens, with occasional presence of Betula alleghaniensis var. alleghaniensis and Acer rubrum. The subcanopy is dominated by Abies balsamea and Tsuga canadensis with smaller amounts of Picea rubens and Acer rubrum. Amelanchier spp. may be present with very low cover in the subcanopy. The shrub layer is dominated by Ilex verticillata, the regenerating canopy species, and Alnus incana ssp. rugosa. Low cover of Rhododendron maximum, Hypericum densiflorum, and Vaccinium myrtilloides may be present. The herbaceous ground layer is dense and fairly diverse, typically including 30-40 species. The most abundant species are Carex gynandra, Carex folliculata, and Rubus hispidus. Other herbaceous species with high constancy include regenerating woody species and Polygonum sagittatum, Osmunda cinnamomea var. cinnamomea, Galium tinctorium, Dryopteris cristata, Carex trisperma var. trisperma, Impatiens capensis, Viola cucullata, Triadenum fraseri, Juncus effusus, Carex stipata, Glyceria striata, Polygonum punctatum, Glyceria grandis var. grandis, Oxalis montana, Dryopteris intermedia, and Maianthemum canadense. Nonvascular plants are dominated by Sphagnum spp. Indicator species that help to distinguish this community from others within the forest/woodland physiognomy for high-elevation wetlands of the Allegheny Mountains region include Carex canescens, Carex folliculata, Carex gynandra, Glyceria grandis var. grandis, and Triadenum fraseri. Mean species richness of all vascular plants and any nonvascular plants with cover >1% ranges from 31-66 (mean = 48) taxa per 400 m2.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Twelve plots represent this type, which was classified as part of a 2004-2006 study of high-elevation wetlands in West Virginia''s Allegheny Mountains region (Byers et al. 2007). The type has been sampled throughout its range in West Virginia. This type clusters and ordinates well, in an intermediate position between the circumneutral ~Fraxinus nigra - Abies balsamea / Rhamnus alnifolia Swamp Forest (CEGL006003)$$ and the drier Abies balsamea - Picea rubens / Danthonia compressa - Lycopodium spp. / Sphagnum spp. Forest (CEGL006592)$$. The plots were originally sampled and classified by Ceperley (2002) into two types, which have subsequently been lumped into this one type.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This evergreen woodland swamp occurs in frost-pocket headwater basins in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. The canopy is open and dominated by stunted, inundation-stressed Abies balsamea and Picea rubens, with occasional presence of Betula alleghaniensis var. alleghaniensis and Acer rubrum. Mean canopy cover is 25%. Canopy height rarely exceeds 15 m. The subcanopy averages 20% cover and is dominated by Abies balsamea and Tsuga canadensis with smaller amounts of Picea rubens and Acer rubrum. Amelanchier spp. may be present with very low cover in the subcanopy. The shrub strata average 30% cover and are dominated by Ilex verticillata, the regenerating canopy species, and Alnus incana ssp. rugosa. Low cover of Rhododendron maximum, Hypericum densiflorum, and Vaccinium myrtilloides may be present. The herbaceous ground layer is fairly diverse, with mean 80% cover and typically including 30-40 species. The most abundant species are Carex gynandra, Carex folliculata, and Rubus hispidus. Other herbaceous species with high constancy include regenerating woody species and Polygonum sagittatum, Osmunda cinnamomea var. cinnamomea, Galium tinctorium, Dryopteris cristata, Carex trisperma var. trisperma, Impatiens capensis, Viola cucullata, Triadenum fraseri, Juncus effusus, Carex stipata, Glyceria striata, Polygonum punctatum, Glyceria grandis var. grandis, Oxalis montana, Dryopteris intermedia, and Maianthemum canadense. Nonvascular plants are dominated by Sphagnum spp. (Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum flexuosum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum girgensohnii) and average 35% cover in this community. Indicator species that help to distinguish this community from others within the forest/woodland physiognomy for high-elevation wetlands of the Allegheny Mountains region include Carex canescens, Carex folliculata, Carex gynandra, Glyceria grandis var. grandis, and Triadenum fraseri. Mean species richness of all vascular plants and any nonvascular plants with cover >1% ranges from 31-66 (mean = 48) taxa per 400 m2 (Ceperley 2002, Byers et al. 2007).
Dynamics: This is a small-patch woodland swamp community. It is fed by seepage, occasional low-energy flooding from low-gradient headwater streams, and rainfall. Nutrient cycling occurs from the decay of fallen trees, litter, and herbaceous vegetation.
Environmental Description: This acidic conifer woodland swamp occurs on temporarily to semipermanently flooded soils in headwater basins of the Allegheny Mountains region of West Virginia, at elevations of 980-1120 m above sea level. It occupies flat to very gently sloping land (0-3° slopes) along small headwater streams, often in mixed wetland mosaics. Microtopography is characterized by interfingering of wetter and drier areas, with irregular hummocks formed over tree roots, tip-up mounds, nurse logs, and decaying wood. It is a small-patch type that occurs on shale and limestone bedrock. It is probable that this type was more common in presettlement vegetation. During the period 1885-1920, logging and fires removed most of the forest in the region. Present-day shrub swamps may be successional to this type. The community is influenced by beaver activity, and there is evidence of migration of the balsam fir populations, possibly in response to fluctuating hydrology. Most Abies balsamea show damage from Adelges piceae (balsam woolly adelgid), including bark infestation and gout damage. Combined with excessive deer herbivory, the adelgid damage may be severe enough to eliminate balsam fir and change the dominant species composition of this community in the future. Soils are poorly to very poorly drained clayey or mucky soils with mottling in the upper 20 cm and occasional gleyed horizons. Hydric soil indicators include sandy redox, sandy gleyed matrix, depleted matrix, and muck. Soil chemistry is characterized by high Al, Fe, N, Na, organic matter, and total exchange capacity; moderate B, Ca, Cu, K, Mg, and P; and low Mn, S, and Zn (n=11). Soil pH averages 4.6 (n=11). The unvegetated surface is predominantly litter, with an average of 4% downed wood and 9% standing water (Ceperley 2002, Byers et al. 2007).
Geographic Range: The known distribution of this community is restricted to the Allegheny Mountains region of West Virginia, at elevations between 980 and 1120 m.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.800143
Confidence Level: High
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.2 Pin Oak - Green Ash - Blackgum Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M503 | 1.B.3.Na.2 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.2.f Red Maple - Blackgum - Green Ash Swamp Forest Group | G902 | 1.B.3.Na.2.f |
| Alliance | A3417 Red Spruce Central Appalachian Swamp Forest Alliance | A3417 | 1.B.3.Na.2.f |
| Association | CEGL006591 Balsam Fir - Red Spruce / Common Winterberry / Peatmoss species Swamp Forest | CEGL006591 | 1.B.3.Na.2.f |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Abies balsamea - Picea rubens - Tsuga canadensis bottomland forest (Fortney 1975)
= Abies balsamea - Picea rubens / Ilex verticillata / Sphagnum spp. Woodland Swamp (Byers et al. 2007)
> Abies balsamea / Glyceria melicaria open forested wetland (Ceperley 2002)
> Abies balsamea / Ilex verticillata - Alnus incana acidic swamp (Ceperley 2002)
< Picea rubens - Tsuga canadensis - Abies balsamea swamp forest (Fortney et al. 2005)
= Abies balsamea - Picea rubens / Ilex verticillata / Sphagnum spp. Woodland Swamp (Byers et al. 2007)
> Abies balsamea / Glyceria melicaria open forested wetland (Ceperley 2002)
> Abies balsamea / Ilex verticillata - Alnus incana acidic swamp (Ceperley 2002)
< Picea rubens - Tsuga canadensis - Abies balsamea swamp forest (Fortney et al. 2005)
- Byers, E. A., J. P. Vanderhorst, and B. P. Streets. 2007. Classification and conservation assessment of high elevation wetland communities in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Elkins.
- Ceperley, L. 2002. Classification of West Virginia and Virginia Abies balsemea communities affected by balsam woolly adelgid (Adelges piceae) infestation. M.S. thesis, Department of Environmental Studies, Antioch New England Graduate School, Antioch University, Keene, NH. 97 pp.
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Fortney, R. H. 1975. The vegetation of Canaan Valley, West Virginia: A taxonomic and ecological study. Ph.D. dissertation, University of West Virginia, Morgantown.
- Fortney, R. H., S. L. Stephenson, and J. S. Rentch. 2005. Rare plant communities of Canaan Valley, West Virginia, USA. Unpublished manuscript.
- WVNHP [West Virginia Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Elkins.