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G347 Pinus banksiana - Pinus resinosa - Quercus spp. Subboreal Woodland Group
Type Concept Sentence: This conifer woodland is found throughout the eastern southern or subboreal regions of eastern Canada, extending into the Upper Midwest and Northeast parts of the United States. It is dominated by Pinus spp., most frequently Pinus banksiana, and occurs on dry nutrient-poor sand plains and along rocky ridges, often adjacent to rivers and lakes, and along talus slopes.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Jack Pine - Red Pine - Oak species Subboreal Woodland Group
Colloquial Name: Laurentian Subboreal Dry Jack Pine - Red Pine - Oak Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This conifer woodland is found throughout the eastern southern or subboreal regions of eastern Canada, extending into the Upper Midwest and Northeast parts of the United States. It occurs on dry nutrient-poor sand plains and along rocky ridges, often adjacent to rivers and lakes, and along talus slopes. The canopy ranges from patchy to continuous and is dominated by a mix of primarily conifer and hardwood species. In some examples, canopy trees may be stunted. Pinus banksiana is the most frequent conifer species, although Pinus resinosa, Pinus strobus, Picea mariana, or Picea glauca can be common and may dominate some sites. Hardwood species vary in cover from 25-90% of the canopy. Quercus ellipsoidalis is a restricted dominant in the Midwest part of the range of this group, along with Quercus macrocarpa and Quercus rubra. More common are Betula papyrifera, Betula populifolia, and Populus spp. In areas of open bedrock, species typical of bedrock outcrops and shallow soils can be found and include Danthonia spicata, Poa alsodes, Elymus trachycaulus, Maianthemum canadense, Schizachne purpurascens, and Oryzopsis asperifolia. The nonvascular layer can be absent or present with up to 30% cover. In the open bedrock areas, this layer consists mainly of the lichens and mosses. Infrequent fire is the primary dynamic, with catastrophic fires occurring approximately every 150-200 years with surface fires every 50-200 years.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Examples of this group are characterized by their occurrence on bedrock or well-drained sands. They are typically mosaics of open bedrock or soil interspersed with scattered trees and shrubs and areas of denser tree canopies. Scattered trees and woodland areas are typically a mix of conifer and occasional hardwood species, most commonly Pinus banksiana and Picea mariana.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The description of this type is drawn largely from the Great Lakes area, where the description and type probably work, but it needs to be improved for the Atlantic provinces.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands consist of mixed conifer species, occasionally with hardwood canopies that range from open to moderately dense. Many examples include a mosaic of exposed bedrock or soil and patches of shrubs or low vegetation and scattered trees that can be relatively open or occur in dense patches.
Floristics: The canopy ranges from scattered trees to a moderately dense canopy. Stands are a mix of conifer species, occasionally with hardwood species. In some examples, canopy trees may be stunted. The conifers in most examples are dominated by Pinus banksiana. Pinus resinosa, Pinus strobus, Picea mariana, or Picea glauca can be common and may dominate some sites. Hardwood species vary in cover from 25-90% of the canopy. Quercus ellipsoidalis is a restricted dominant in the Midwest part of the range, with Quercus macrocarpa or Quercus rubra, Betula papyrifera, and Populus spp. occurring more commonly. Shrubs may be absent to dense and include Amelanchier spp., Diervilla lonicera, Corylus cornuta, Viburnum rafinesqueanum, Juniperus communis, Prunus pensylvanica, Prunus virginiana, Salix bebbiana, and Vaccinium angustifolium. Herbaceous species vary across the range of this type. Some typical species include Danthonia spicata, Poa alsodes, Elymus trachycaulus (= Agropyron trachycaulum), Maianthemum canadense, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Corydalis sempervirens, and Schizachne purpurascens. The nonvascular layer can be absent or present with up to 30% cover. In the open bedrock areas, this layer consists mainly of the lichens and mosses. Lichen species may include Cladonia rangiferina and Cladonia arbuscula ssp. mitis (= Cladonia mitis). Mosses include Dicranum spp., Pleurozium schreberi, and Polytrichum spp.
Dynamics: Fire is the primary dynamic, with catastrophic fires occurring approximately every 150-200 years and surface fires every 50-200 years.
Environmental Description: Examples of this group occur on rocky ridgetops, high slopes, and terraces sometimes along rivers or lakeshores, including Great Lakes shorelines. These areas are dry, well-drained sites, often with exposed bedrock. Soils range from bare bedrock and talus slopes to rocky, shallow loams and deep sands. Those stands on bedrock may have occasional cracks in the underlying bedrock resulting in pockets of relatively deep (15-20 cm) soil. Bare rock (with crustose lichens) can cover up to 50% of the area.
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.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: LB?, MB, MI, MN, NB, NF, ON, QC, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.836045
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.b Jack Pine - Red Pine - Oak species Subboreal Woodland Group | G347 | 1.B.2.Na.6.b |
| Alliance | A3839 Jack Pine - Red Pine - Northern Pin Oak Subboreal Rocky Woodland Alliance | A3839 | 1.B.2.Na.6.b |
| Alliance | A3840 Jack Pine - Red Pine / Kinnikinnick Subboreal Sand Woodland Alliance | A3840 | 1.B.2.Na.6.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Northern Dry-Bedrock Pine (Oak) Woodland Class [FDn22] (Minnesota DNR 2003)
> Northern Dry-Sand Pine Woodland Class [FDn12] (Minnesota DNR 2003)
> Northern Dry-Sand Pine Woodland Class [FDn12] (Minnesota DNR 2003)
- 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]
- 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.