Print Report

G610 Pinus contorta var. contorta / Ledum groenlandicum / Sphagnum spp. Wooded Bog & Poor Fen Group

Type Concept Sentence: These are forested bogs and fens (peat soils or mineral over deep peat) found in the coastal Pacific Northwest dominated by an open canopy of Callitropsis nootkatensis, Picea sitchensis, Pinus contorta var. contorta, Tsuga heterophylla, and/or Tsuga mertensiana.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Beach Pine / Bog Labrador-tea / Peatmoss species Wooded Bog & Poor Fen Group

Colloquial Name: North Pacific Maritime Wooded Bog & Poor Fen

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This wetland forested group occurs from southern coastal Alaska (Kenai Fjords), coastal British Columbia south into coastal Washington and Oregon, and west of the coastal mountain summits (not interior). It can be dominated by any one or a number of conifer species (Callitropsis nootkatensis, Picea sitchensis, Pinus contorta var. contorta, Tsuga heterophylla, and/or Tsuga mertensiana) that are capable of growing on saturated or seasonally flooded soils. Overstory is often less than 50% cover, but shrub understory can have high cover. Common shrubs include Elliottia pyroliflora, Gaultheria shallon (southern portion of the Alaska distribution only), and Vaccinium ovalifolium. Common understory species include Carex anthoxanthea, Carex pluriflora, Carex stylosa, Eriophorum spp., Lysichiton americanus, Nephrophyllidium crista-galli, Phegopteris connectilis, Thelypteris quelpaertensis, Trichophorum cespitosum, and Sphagnum spp. Treed bogs and fens are common in southeastern Alaska, less so farther south. Forest bogs and fens can be mostly small-patch in size, but can be extensive in the Pacific Northwest. This group is found on poorly drained soils, ranging from organic veneers over wet mineral soils to deeper organics peaty soils; the peat is mostly deep, mossy peat, but can include woody peat. The peat may also be shallow over rock. The water source is stagnant or slowly moving acidic groundwater or direct precipitation.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Wetlands with saturated, organic soils on flat to gently sloping lowlands up to 457 m (1500 feet) in the temperate Pacific Northwest with a tall to moderate height conifer tree layer (dominated by Pinus contorta var. contorta or Callitropsis nootkatensis but can include some Tsuga heterophylla, Tsuga mertensiana, or Thuja plicata) growing in saturated, very poorly drained peaty soils, usually with herbaceous indicators of the saturated, acidic and low nutrient soil conditions.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: These forests and open woodlands are at least 5 m in height. The concept of treed bogs is not new and has been described by Cowardin et al. (1979) for the U.S. and by Warner and Rubec (1997) for Canada. The concept here is a refinement based on regional climate and regional characteristic vascular plant species. Treed bog and fen vegetation can form a gradient from dense forest into very open and extremely stunted trees. Herbaceous- and shrub-dominated areas where stunted trees are dwarfed below 5 m are part of ~North Pacific Acidic Open Bog & Fen Group (G284)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Open wooded poor fen or bog wetland with conifer trees (which may be short to slightly stunted, but at least 5 m in height) with abundant to sparse low evergreen shrubs, and an abundant to moderate cover of herbaceous plants.

Floristics: Tree species are mostly Pinus contorta var. contorta or Callitropsis nootkatensis (= Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) but can include some Tsuga heterophylla, Tsuga mertensiana, or Thuja plicata. Ledum groenlandicum is generally the dominant shrub understory species; other shrubs include Vaccinium uliginosum, Juniperus communis, Myrica gale, or Gaultheria shallon. Low-shrub species include Empetrum nigrum, Kalmia microphylla, and Rubus chamaemorus. Herbaceous species include sedges such as Eriophorum angustifolium, Trichophorum cespitosum, Carex livida, or herbs such as Sanguisorba officinalis, Triantha glutinosa, or Drosera rotundifolia. Dominant bryophytes include Sphagnum spp. and Racomitrium lanuginosum. This floristic information was compiled from several sources: for Alaska (DeMeo et al. 1992, Viereck et al. 1992, Martin et al. 1995, Shephard 1995, DeVelice et al. 1999, Boggs 2002, Boggs et al. 2008b); for Washington (Kunze 1994, Chappell 1999, Chappell et al. 2001); for Oregon and Washington (Franklin and Dyrness 1973); and for British Columbia (Green and Klinka 1994, MacKenzie and Moran 2004).

Dynamics:  This group represents forests with soils that have taken hundreds to thousands of years to develop, a topoedaphic climax that is relatively stable over time. Tree regeneration frequently occurs on raised organic microsites on the remains of previous trees. Tree growth is very slow. Longer term succession is probably influenced by paludification and climatic patterns that dictate drainage, either favoring poorer drainage, increased tree mortality, and more open canopy; or improved drainage, greater tree growth, and a more closed canopy. These patterns can also favor individual tree species based on their tolerance or intolerance of wet soils. The widespread yellow-cedar decline, which covers 200,000 ha in southeastern Alaska, is an example of a climate-induced tree death that has resulted in a composition shift away from yellow-cedar due to this mortality (Hennon et al. 2008). Windthrow can cause soil mixing that reverses the paludification processes on a small scale, where productivity may be increased (Banner et al 2005).
Environmental Description:  Climate: Cool temperate. Soil/substrate/hydrology: Forested poor fens and bogs are mostly small-patch size, occurring sporadically in glacial depressions or around the edges of lakes and marshes. However, in the hypermaritime climates, they can be extensive, dominating areas of low slopes that do not shed water easily. These occur primarily on flat to gently sloping lowlands but can be found on steeper slopes and up to 800 m (2500 feet) elevation. This group is found on poorly drained soils, ranging from organic veneers over wet mineral soils to deeper organics peaty soils; the peat is mostly deep, mossy peat, but can include woody peat. The peat may also be shallow over rock. The water source is stagnant or slowly moving acidic groundwater or direct precipitation. Treed bogs and poor fens may grade into drier upland forest on mineral soil, or adjacent shrubland or herbaceous poor fen and bogs, or grade into wetter non-treed fens, which have richer soil water (higher pH). This environmental information was compiled from several sources: for Alaska (DeMeo et al. 1992, Viereck et al. 1992, Martin et al. 1995, Shephard 1995, DeVelice et al. 1999, Boggs 2002, Boggs et al. 2008b); for Washington (Chappell 1999, Chappell et al. 2001); for Oregon and Washington (Franklin and Dyrness 1973); and for British Columbia (Banner et al. 1993, Green and Klinka 1994, MacKenzie and Moran 2004).
Geographic Range: This group is found in southern coastal Alaska (Kenai Fjords), coastal British Columbia south into coastal Washington and Oregon, mostly west of the coastal mountain summits.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AK, BC, OR, WA


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.2 Temperate to Polar Bog & Fen Formation F016 2.C.2
Division 2.C.2.Na North American Bog & Fen Division D029 2.C.2.Na
Macrogroup 2.C.2.Na.3 Beach Pine / Bog Labrador-tea / Cusick''s Sedge North Pacific Bog & Fen Macrogroup M063 2.C.2.Na.3
Group 2.C.2.Na.3.c Beach Pine / Bog Labrador-tea / Peatmoss species Wooded Bog & Poor Fen Group G610 2.C.2.Na.3.c
Alliance A3763 Western Hemlock - Western Red-cedar / Western Labrador-tea Treed Bog Alliance A3763 2.C.2.Na.3.c
Alliance A3764 Lodgepole Pine - Sitka Spruce Alaskan Wooded Bog Alliance A3764 2.C.2.Na.3.c
Alliance A3765 Lodgepole Pine / Bog Labrador-tea Treed Bog & Fen Alliance A3765 2.C.2.Na.3.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, K. Boggs, T. Boucher, and M.S. Reid, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2011)

Author of Description: D. Meidinger, G. Kittel, K. Boggs, T. Boucher, M.S. Reid, D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: Additional contributing authors include C. Chappell, P. Hennon, P. Comer, J. Rocchio, and D. Meidinger.

Version Date: 12-02-15
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