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G048 Abies balsamea - Picea glauca - Acer spicatum Subboreal Forest Group

Type Concept Sentence: This group represents the mesic eastern subboreal forest, ranging from northwestern Ontario to eastern Canada and extending into the U.S. in the northern Great Lakes region, dominated by Picea glauca, Abies balsamea, Populus tremuloides, and Betula papyrifera, with low abundance of northern hardwoods, such as Acer saccharum, Betula alleghaniensis, and Tilia americana, and a mix of shrubs, such as Acer spicatum, Alnus viridis, Corylus cornuta, Diervilla lonicera, and Lonicera canadensis.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Balsam Fir - White Spruce - Mountain Maple Subboreal Forest Group

Colloquial Name: Laurentian Subboreal Mesic Balsam Fir - Spruce - Hardwood Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group represents the mesic eastern subboreal forest, ranging from northwestern Ontario to eastern Canada''s Atlantic provinces and extending into the U.S. in northeastern Minnesota, Isle Royale, and near-coastal areas of Lake Superior shores in northern Wisconsin and Michigan. The low- to moderate-elevation forests are dominated by Picea glauca and/or Abies balsamea. Picea mariana may be present, along with occasional Pinus banksiana. Codominant boreal hardwoods include Populus tremuloides and Betula papyrifera. Northern hardwoods, such as Acer saccharum and Tilia americana are relatively minor. The shrub and herb layers are variable, decreasing as the percent conifer cover increases. Common shrub species include Acer spicatum, Alnus viridis, Corylus cornuta, Diervilla lonicera, and Lonicera canadensis. The moss layer ranges from discontinuous to continuous. These upland forests typically occur on loamy soils over bedrock in scoured bedrock uplands and loamy, rocky, or sandy soils on glacial moraines, till plains and outwash plains, and moisture conditions range from well-drained to somewhat poorly drained. Wetter sites may contain Alnus incana ssp. rugosa, Calamagrostis canadensis, and Equisetum spp. This is the matrix forest type in many parts of its range. This group may include earlier-successional patches, in which Populus spp. and Betula spp. are dominant or mixed with Picea and Abies, which will develop into spruce-fir forests. Blowdown with subsequent gap regeneration is the most frequent form of natural disturbance, with large-scale fires important at longer return intervals. Insect infestations, in particular by Choristoneura fumiferana (spruce budworm), also can impact this group. In Quebec and in northern New Brunswick, the vegetation type is usually a mixedwood forest with Abies balsamea and Betula alleghaniensis or Acer rubrum. It also occupies the lower shoulders of the boreal plateau in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Dominance of either Picea glauca (western Laurentian region) or Abies balsamea (west and east); at least 20% conifer cover with any combination of Betula papyrifera or Populus spp. Earlier-successional stages may be dominated by Betula spp. or Populus spp. in the canopy with Picea glauca or Abies balsamea as seedlings or saplings. Northern hardwood and conifer species (Acer rubrum, Acer saccharum, Betula alleghaniensis, Fagus grandifolia, Picea rubens, Tsuga canadensis, Tilia americana, Fraxinus americana, Populus grandidentata) at least 10%, but never exceeding 50% relative dominance over the boreal hardwoods or conifers listed above. Additional diagnostic shrub and herb species should be added as they are identified.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The transition zone from the Boreal Forest formation (where Abies balsamea is the dominant tree species) to the Cool Temperate Forest (where Acer saccharum is the dominant tree species) is difficult to untangle, but depends on the increasing abundance of northern hardwood tree species and more cool-temperate shrubs and herbs. Where these species occur with the boreal conifers, they are placed in 1.B.2 ~Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation (F008)$$. Forest associations typical of this transition zone are mixedwood associations dominated by Betula alleghaniensis or Acer rubrum and Abies balsamea or Acer rubrum and Abies balsamea. These associations are also currently placed in Cool Temperate Forest. In Quebec (C. Morneau pers. comm. 2009), the most northerly cool temperate transition zone extends between 47°N latitude and 49°N latitude, including Bas-St. Laurent and Gaspésie regions. The altitudinal toposequence in New Brunswick and the boreal plateau in Cape Breton is subalpine krummholz/woodland -- boreal Abies balsamea (Picea glauca) -- Abies balsamea-Betula alleghaniensis -- northern hardwoods (Sean Basquill pers. comm. 2015).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These forests are mostly closed-canopy but may have patchy openings due to gap dynamics. Herbs are well-distributed but variable in the amount of cover depending on latitude and soil moisture. Moss cover is moderate to high.

Floristics: In the western Laurentian region, Picea glauca typically dominates on dry-mesic sites or is codominant with Abies balsamea on more mesic sites. In some mesic to wet-mesic examples, Abies balsamea dominates. Eastward the type is more often dominated by Abies balsamea and Betula alleghaniensis on richer sites, sometimes initiated by blow-down and mineral soil exposure, or stands are formed by heavy moose browsing. This group includes several successional stages, including earlier-successional patches in which Populus spp. and Betula spp. are dominant. Mid-successional stands often contain stands mixed with Picea and Abies that will develop into spruce-fir forests. The shrub and herb layers are variable, decreasing as the percent conifer cover increases. Common shrub species include Acer spicatum, Corylus cornuta, Diervilla lonicera, and Lonicera canadensis. The composition and density of the herbaceous layer can vary among associations and location. Typically, Aralia nudicaulis, Eurybia macrophylla, Clintonia borealis, and Maianthemum canadense are common understory species. The moss layer ranges from discontinuous to continuous. Wetter sites may contain Alnus incana ssp. rugosa, Calamagrostis canadensis, and Equisetum spp. Additional diagnostic shrub and herb species of this subboreal type will be added through further analyses.

Dynamics:  These forests are affected by windthrow, insect defoliation, and infrequent fires. Forests closer to the Great Lakes shorelines occur on shallower soils and are more likely to experience more serious windthrow and snap-off of larger trees. Mammalian herbivory also can impact forest stands. Selective herbivory by white-tailed deer and moose (Alces americanus) can alter the composition and structure and favor browse-tolerant species such as Picea glauca. These forests typically regenerate from gap-phase dynamics.
Environmental Description:  These upland forests typically occur on loamy soils over bedrock in scoured bedrock uplands and loamy, rocky, or sandy soils on glacial moraines, till plains and outwash plains (Minnesota DNR 2003). Moisture conditions range from well-drained to somewhat poorly drained. Climate typically is characterized by cool, even temperatures, shorter growing season, and deep and sometimes severe winter snowfall. In the southern part of their range in the Great Lakes states, they occur along northern Great Lakes shorelines and on islands in Lake Superior. Climate: Cold temperate to boreal. Soil/substrate/hydrology: Soils are typically neutral to acidic, shallow sandy, sandy-loam, or loamy-sand. Some examples occur on heavier, mesic silty or clay loams that are more alkaline in nature. Along Great Lakes shorelines, these soils overlay limestone or volcanic bedrock.
Geographic Range: This group ranges in Canada from northwestern Ontario (possibly eastern Manitoba) to eastern Canada''s Atlantic provinces and extending into the U.S. in northeastern Minnesota, Isle Royale, and near-coastal areas of Lake Superior shores in northern Wisconsin and Michigan. Its range westward is marked by a shift towards greater Picea glauca dominance and lower Abies balsamea dominance.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  LB, MB, MI, MN, NB?, NF, NS, ON, QC, WI


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.7 Sugar Maple - Yellow Birch - Eastern Hemlock Forest Macrogroup M014 1.B.2.Na.7
Group 1.B.2.Na.7.c Balsam Fir - White Spruce - Mountain Maple Subboreal Forest Group G048 1.B.2.Na.7.c
Alliance A3267 Balsam Fir - Yellow Birch - Quaking Aspen Subboreal Forest Alliance A3267 1.B.2.Na.7.c
Alliance A3844 Quaking Aspen - Paper Birch Subboreal Forest Alliance A3844 1.B.2.Na.7.c
Alliance A3845 Northern White-cedar - Balsam Fir Subboreal Forest Alliance A3845 1.B.2.Na.7.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Balsam Fir: 5 (Eyre 1980)
< Boreal Forest (Curtis 1959) [The bulk of Curtis''s concept fits well with this type, but he also included stands further inland in Wisconsin, that appear to contain a large abundance of northern hardwoods.]
< Boreal Forest (Wisconsin DNR 2009a)
< Boreal Forest (Kost et al. 2007)
> Fir-Birch (Heinselman 1996)
> White Spruce: 201 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): F.H. Eyre (1980)

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: Ken Baldwin, Peter Uhlig, Claude Morneau, Sean Basquill, Mélanie Major

Version Date: 05-21-15
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