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CEGL006593 Picea rubens / Vaccinium erythrocarpum / Sphagnum spp. - Bazzania trilobata Swamp Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red Spruce / Southern Mountain Cranberry / Peatmoss species - Three-lobed Whipwort Swamp Forest
Colloquial Name: High-Elevation Red Spruce / Cranberry / Peatmoss Swamp Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This acidic conifer woodland or forested swamp occurs on saturated and temporarily flooded soils in headwater basins of the Allegheny Mountains region of West Virginia, at elevations between 1140 and 1400 m above sea level. It is a small-patch community maintained by slow seepage, low-energy overflow inundation, and rainfall. It occupies gently sloping land (0-6° slopes) on the margins between upland spruce forest and open beaver-influenced headwater wetlands, and in alluvial bottoms along high-elevation meandering streams. Standing snags are common, the result of inundation stress during wet years and beaver-influenced water table fluctuations. Microtopography is characterized by irregular hummocks formed over tree roots, tip-up mounds, decaying wood, and around woody stem clusters. Soils are somewhat poorly to poorly drained peat, muck, or organic-rich mottled silt loam, generally underlain by clay. The canopy is open to closed and strongly dominated by Picea rubens. The subcanopy is also dominated by Picea rubens, with lower cover by Acer rubrum and Betula alleghaniensis var. alleghaniensis. The tall-shrub layer is similar in composition to the subcanopy, with the occasional low cover by Ilex montana, Rhododendron maximum, or Sorbus americana. The short-shrub layer is dominated by Vaccinium erythrocarpum, with locally abundant Kalmia latifolia. The herbaceous ground layer is variable and sparse; Dryopteris intermedia or Thelypteris noveboracensis may be locally abundant. Species with high constancy but low cover include Osmunda cinnamomea var. cinnamomea, Maianthemum canadense, Clintonia spp., and Carex trisperma var. trisperma. Nonvascular plants are dominated by Bazzania trilobata, which blankets the abundant downfall, and Sphagnum ssp. (Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, and Sphagnum rubellum), which carpet the mucky hollows; Polytrichum spp. and Hypnum imponens are also common. 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 Vaccinium erythrocarpum, Bazzania trilobata, Maianthemum canadense, and Clintonia spp. Mean species richness of all vascular plants and any nonvascular plants with cover >1% is 24 taxa per 400 m2.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Six 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 clusters and ordinates well and has been sampled throughout its range in West Virginia.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This evergreen swamp occurs at high elevations in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. The canopy is open to closed and strongly dominated by Picea rubens. Mean canopy cover is 50%. The subcanopy averages 35% cover and is also dominated by Picea rubens, with lower cover by Acer rubrum and Betula alleghaniensis var. alleghaniensis. Acer pensylvanicum and Amelanchier laevis may be present with very low cover in the subcanopy. The tall-shrub layer averages 25% cover and is similar in composition to the subcanopy, with the occasional addition of Ilex montana, Rhododendron maximum, or Sorbus americana. The short-shrub layer averages 18% cover and is dominated by Vaccinium erythrocarpum, with locally abundant Kalmia latifolia. The herbaceous ground layer is variable and sparse, with mean 13% cover. Dryopteris intermedia or Thelypteris noveboracensis may be locally abundant. Species with high constancy but low cover include Osmunda cinnamomea var. cinnamomea, Maianthemum canadense, Clintonia spp., and Carex trisperma var. trisperma. Nonvascular plants average 60% cover in this community, dominated by Bazzania trilobata, which blankets the abundant downfall, and Sphagnum ssp. (Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, and Sphagnum rubellum), which carpet the mucky hollows; Polytrichum spp. and Hypnum imponens are also common. 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 Vaccinium erythrocarpum, Bazzania trilobata, Maianthemum canadense, and Clintonia spp. Mean species richness of all vascular plants and any nonvascular plants with cover >1% is 27 taxa per 400 m2 (Byers et al. 2007).
Dynamics: This is a small-patch woodland/forest swamp community. It is maintained by slow seepage, low-energy overflow inundation, and rainfall. Nutrient cycling occurs from the decay of inundation-killed trees, litter, and herbaceous vegetation.
Environmental Description: This acidic conifer swamp occurs on saturated and temporarily flooded soils in headwater basins of the Allegheny Mountains region of West Virginia, at elevations between 1140 and 1400 m above sea level. It occupies gently sloping land (0-6° slopes) on the margins between upland spruce forest and open beaver-influenced headwater wetlands, and in alluvial bottoms along high-elevation meandering streams. Standing snags are common, the result of inundation stress during wet years and beaver-influenced water table fluctuations. Microtopography is characterized by irregular hummocks formed over tree roots, tip-up mounds, decaying wood, and around woody stem clusters. The community occurs on Carboniferous period bedrock, usually on Mauch Chunk shale and occasionally on Pottsville sandstone. Soils are somewhat poorly to poorly drained peat, muck, or organic-rich mottled silt loam, generally underlain by clay. Hydric soil indicators include histisol, histic epipedon, black histic, hydrogen sulphide, 2 cm muck, depleted matrix, and redox depressions. Soil chemistry is characterized by high Al, B, Fe, H, N, P, organic matter, and total exchange capacity; and low Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, Na, S, and Zn (n=4). Soil pH averages 3.6 (n=4). Pore water pH varies from 3.5-4.7, and electrical conductivity averages 54 micromhos/cm (n=2). The unvegetated surface is predominantly litter, with an average of 7% downed wood and trace amounts of standing water (Byers et al. 2007).
Geographic Range: The known distribution of this community is restricted to the higher elevations (1140-1400 m) of the Allegheny Mountains region of West Virginia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.800149
Confidence Level: Moderate
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 | CEGL006593 Red Spruce / Southern Mountain Cranberry / Peatmoss species - Three-lobed Whipwort Swamp Forest | CEGL006593 | 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: = Picea rubens / Vaccinium erythrocarpum / Sphagnum spp. - Bazzania trilobata High Elevation Swamp (Byers et al. 2007)
- 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.
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- WVNHP [West Virginia Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Elkins.