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G047 Pinus banksiana - Pinus resinosa - Picea mariana Subboreal Forest Group
Type Concept Sentence: This subboreal forest group is found on dry-mesic nutrient-poor soils from northwestern Ontario to eastern Canada, and southward in the U.S. in the northern parts of the Great Lakes region, with Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa, and Picea mariana characteristic overstory species, and Pinus strobus occasionally common.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Jack Pine - Red Pine - Black Spruce Subboreal Forest Group
Colloquial Name: Laurentian Subboreal Dry-Mesic Pine - Black Spruce - Hardwood Forest
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This subboreal forest group is found on dry-mesic nutrient-poor soils in a variety of topographic settings. It ranges from northwestern Ontario to eastern Canada, and southward into Minnesota, the Great Lakes region, and very locally into northwestern Maine. Soils are loamy to sandy, varying from nutrient-poor, thin soils over bedrock to deeper soils, sometimes sandy. Sites are typically dry-mesic. The dominant fire regime varies from 50-100 years. Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa, and Picea mariana are characteristic overstory species, with Pinus strobus occasionally common, over much of the range, but east of the Great Lakes, Picea mariana becomes increasingly dominant with Abies balsamea as an important associate. Canopy structure is mostly closed but can be partially open. Conifers typically dominate the canopy, but boreal hardwoods (Populus tremuloides, Betula papyrifera) may codominate. As time since fire increases, Picea mariana may dominate. Tree regeneration includes Abies balsamea, Betula papyrifera, Populus tremuloides, and Picea mariana. The shrub and field layers can be very open to somewhat dense (5-75% cover). Characteristic low-shrub and herb species include Amelanchier spp., Vaccinium angustifolium, Diervilla lonicera, Cornus canadensis, Linnaea borealis, Doellingeria umbellata, and Eurybia macrophylla. Older Picea mariana stands may be strongly dominated by feathermosses. Subboreal indicators need to be described.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Pinus banksiana and Picea mariana are characteristic overstory species, and hardwoods are typically less than 25% cover, and sub-boreal indicators are present, which are otherwise lacking in true boreal conditions. Tree regeneration of somewhat more moisture-preferring trees may be common, including Abies balsamea, Betula papyrifera, Populus tremuloides, and Picea mariana. Ground layer is not lichen-dominated and contains at least 5%, and as much as 75%, cover by herbs and shrubs, and feathermosses are common, up to 100% cover in some stands. Presence of temperate (sub-boreal) conditions needs to be described.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: In Quebec (C. Morneau pers. comm. 2009), Picea mariana is far more common than Pinus banksiana in the boreal forest. Secondly, forests composed of a mixture of Picea mariana and Abies balsamea with a feathermoss carpet on the ground are very common east of 74°W longitude and north of 48°N latitude where climate undergoes a maritime influence and where Pinus banksiana gradually becomes absent. ~Picea mariana - Picea rubens / Rhododendron canadense / Cladonia spp. Swamp Woodland (CEGL006421)$$, in the present group, represents spruce-lichen woodlands at the boreal-temperate forest interface.
At this time, this group excludes xeric Pinus banksiana and Picea mariana stands, which are placed in their own group, ~Laurentian Subboreal Dry Jack Pine - Red Pine - Oak Woodland Group (G347)$$, found on dry, poor sites, where there is a low density of Pinus banksiana trees resulting in a woodland condition. Lichens are dominant. Woodland physiognomy and lichen dominance distinguish that group from this group, which has more of a closed canopy and feathermosses and herbs are more abundant. See also Minnesota DNR (2003), which separates Northern Dry-Sand Pine Woodland (FDn12) and Northern Dry-Bedrock Pine-(Oak) Woodland (FDn22), and belong with G347, from the dry-mesic Pinus banksiana and Picea mariana Forests and Woodlands (FDn32 and FDn33), which belong with this group.
Placement of ~Populus tremuloides - (Populus grandidentata) Rocky Woodland (CEGL002487)$$ in this group needs review.
At this time, this group excludes xeric Pinus banksiana and Picea mariana stands, which are placed in their own group, ~Laurentian Subboreal Dry Jack Pine - Red Pine - Oak Woodland Group (G347)$$, found on dry, poor sites, where there is a low density of Pinus banksiana trees resulting in a woodland condition. Lichens are dominant. Woodland physiognomy and lichen dominance distinguish that group from this group, which has more of a closed canopy and feathermosses and herbs are more abundant. See also Minnesota DNR (2003), which separates Northern Dry-Sand Pine Woodland (FDn12) and Northern Dry-Bedrock Pine-(Oak) Woodland (FDn22), and belong with G347, from the dry-mesic Pinus banksiana and Picea mariana Forests and Woodlands (FDn32 and FDn33), which belong with this group.
Placement of ~Populus tremuloides - (Populus grandidentata) Rocky Woodland (CEGL002487)$$ in this group needs review.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The tree canopy is dominated by needle-leaved evergreen (conifer) trees, with broad-leaved deciduous trees a minor component. The canopy structure varies from partially open to closed. The shrub and herb layers can be very open to somewhat dense (5-75% cover).
Floristics: Pinus banksiana and Picea mariana are characteristic overstory species. In the Upper Great Lakes region, Pinus banksiana may intermix with Pinus resinosa. Canopy structure is mostly closed but can be partially open. Conifers typically dominate the canopy, but boreal hardwoods (Populus tremuloides, Betula papyrifera) may codominate. As time since fire increases, Picea mariana may dominate. Tree regeneration includes Abies balsamea, Betula papyrifera, Populus tremuloides, and Picea mariana. Characteristic low-shrub and herb species include Amelanchier spp., Vaccinium angustifolium, Diervilla lonicera, Cornus canadensis, Linnaea borealis, Doellingeria umbellata (= Aster umbellatus), and Eurybia macrophylla. Older Picea mariana stands may be strongly dominated by feathermosses (Minnesota DNR 2003).
Dynamics: The dominant fire regime varies from 50-100 years.
Environmental Description: Soils are loamy to sandy, varying from nutrient-poor, thin soil over bedrock to deeper soils, sometimes sandy. Sites are typically on dry-mesic to dry sites, but not commonly found on xeric sandplains or bedrock sites.
Geographic Range: This group ranges from northwestern Ontario to eastern Canada, and southward into Minnesota, the Great Lakes region, and very locally into northwestern Maine.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: LB, MB, MN, NB, NF, ON, QC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.833232
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.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D008 | 1.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Na.6 Eastern White Pine - Jack Pine - Northern Pin Oak Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M159 | 1.B.2.Na.6 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.6.c Jack Pine - Red Pine - Black Spruce Subboreal Forest Group | G047 | 1.B.2.Na.6.c |
| Alliance | A3837 Quaking Aspen - White Spruce Subboreal Rocky Woodland Alliance | A3837 | 1.B.2.Na.6.c |
| Alliance | A3838 Jack Pine - Black Spruce / Blueberry species Subboreal Forest Alliance | A3838 | 1.B.2.Na.6.c |
| Alliance | A4130 Red Pine - White Pine Subboreal Forest Alliance | A4130 | 1.B.2.Na.6.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Black Spruce: 12 (Eyre 1980)
> Jack Pine - Black Spruce (Heinselman 1973)
> Jack Pine - Fir, Black Spruce - Feathermoss (Heinselman 1973)
>< Jack Pine: 1 (Eyre 1980)
> Jack Pine - Black Spruce (Heinselman 1973)
> Jack Pine - Fir, Black Spruce - Feathermoss (Heinselman 1973)
>< Jack Pine: 1 (Eyre 1980)
- Comer, P. J., D. A. Albert, H. A. Wells, B. L. Hart, J. B. Raab, D. L. Price, D. M. Kashian, R. A. Corner, and D. W. Schuen. 1995a. Michigan''s native landscape, as interpreted from the General Land Office Surveys 1816-1856. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, MI. 78 pp. plus digital map.
- Comer, P. J., D. A. Albert, and M. Austin (cartography). 1998. Vegetation of Michigan circa 1800: An interpretation of the General Land Office Surveys 1816-1856. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, MI. 2-map set, scale: 1:500,000.
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- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Heinselman, M. L. 1973. Fire in the virgin forests of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Minnesota. Journal of Quaternary Research 3:329-382.
- Minnesota DNR [Minnesota Department of Natural Resources]. 2003. Field guide to the native plant communities of Minnesota: The Laurentian Mixed Forest Province. Ecological Land Classification Program, Minnesota County Biological Survey, and Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.
- Morneau, Claude. Personal communication. Direction des inventaires forestiers, Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec.