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G516 Kobresia myosuroides - Carex buxbaumii Alkaline Fen Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group occurs throughout the Rocky Mountains from Colorado north into Canada, where it is confined to fens with groundwater discharge, soil chemistry (neutral to alkaline), and peat accumulation of at least 40 cm. Vegetation is dominated by graminoids and low shrubs and includes Carex buxbaumii, Carex cusickii, Carex limosa, Carex saxatilis, Carex utriculata, Kobresia myosuroides, and Kobresia simpliciuscula. Shrubs include Betula glandulosa and several Salix spp.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bellardi Bog Sedge - Buxbaum''s Sedge Alkaline Fen Group
Colloquial Name: Rocky Mountain Alkaline Fen
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group occurs infrequently throughout the Rocky Mountains from Colorado north into Canada. It is confined to specific environments defined by groundwater discharge, soil chemistry (neutral to alkaline), and peat accumulation of at least 40 cm. Vegetation is dominated by graminoids and low shrubs and includes Carex buxbaumii, Carex cusickii, Carex limosa, Carex saxatilis, Carex utriculata, Kobresia myosuroides, and Kobresia simpliciuscula. Shrubs include Betula glandulosa and several Salix spp. Fens form at low points in the landscape or on slopes where groundwater intercepts the soil surface. Groundwater inflows maintain a fairly constant water level year-round, with water at or near the surface most of the time. Constant high water levels and cold winter temperatures lead to accumulation of organic material. In addition to peat accumulation and perennially saturated soils, soil chemistry is alkaline to neutral with nutrients high in base cations. Nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) are usually still limiting plant growth in rich fens. Rich fens are strongly influenced by geology and occur where limestone, dolostone, marble or where glacially-derived materials are calcareous. The surrounding landscape may be ringed with other wetland systems, e.g., riparian shrublands, or a variety of upland systems from grasslands to forests.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Saturated year-round organic soils with >40 cm peat, bathed in mineral-rich groundwater discharge (pH neutral to alkaline) and dominated by wetland indicator plants, and the ground cover is dominated by Sphagnum mosses.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This group contains alkaline and neutral fens. Acidic and poor fens are classified in ~Rocky Mountain Acidic Fen Group (G515)$$. Some associations occur across the pH gradient, making placement into either an acidic group or neutral-alkaline group problematic. It may prove more useful to have all fens in one group and use the alliance level to tease out poor versus rich fens. Alkaline fens in Alaska are placed into either ~Western North American Boreal Alkaline Fen Group (G361)$$ or ~North Pacific Alkaline Open Fen Group (G285)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Wet peatlands with heavy moss ground cover, low-statured graminoid species, short and dwarf-shrubs that often occur in a mosaic of these types all adjacent to each other.
Floristics: Vegetation is dominated by graminoids and low shrubs and includes Carex buxbaumii, Carex cusickii, Carex limosa, Carex saxatilis, Carex utriculata, Kobresia myosuroides, and Kobresia simpliciuscula. Shrubs include Betula glandulosa and several Salix spp. Rare plants found in calcareous fens include Salix candida, Salix myrtillifolia, Salix serissima, Primula egaliksensis, Eriophorum altaicum var. neogaeum, Carex viridula, Carex tenuiflora, Carex leptalea, Trichophorum pumilum, and Sisyrinchium pallidum (Cooper 1986b, Windell et al. 1986, Cooper and Sanderson 1997, Steen and Coupe 1997).
Dynamics: Mountain fens act as natural filters cleaning ground and surface water. Fens also act as sponges by absorbing heavy precipitation, slowly releasing it downstream, minimizing erosion and recharging groundwater systems (Windell et al. 1986). The persistent groundwater and cold temperatures allow organic matter to accumulate (forming peat) which allows classification of wetlands within this group as fens. Fens produce peat that accumulates at the rate of 20 to 30 cm (8-11 inches) per 1000 years, making peatlands a repository of 10,000 years of post glacial history (Windell et al. 1986).
Environmental Description: It is confined to specific environments defined by groundwater discharge, soil chemistry, and peat accumulation of at least 40 cm. Fens form at low points in the landscape or on slopes where groundwater intercepts the soil surface. Groundwater inflows maintain a fairly constant water level year-round, with water at or near the surface most of the time. Constant high water levels and cold winter temperatures lead to accumulation of organic material. In addition to peat accumulation and perennially saturated soils, soil chemistry is alkaline to neutral and nutrients high in base cations. Nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) are usually still limiting plant growth in rich fens. Rich fens are strongly influenced by geology and occur where limestone, dolostone, marble or where glacially-derived materials are calcareous (Cooper 1986b, Windell et al. 1986, Cooper and Sanderson 1997, Steen and Coupe 1997, Bedford and Godwin 2003).
Geographic Range: This group occurs infrequently throughout the mountains of the interior west, the Sky Islands of Arizona and high mountains and plateaus of Nevada and Utah, and the Rocky Mountains of Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, the Black Hills of South Dakota, and north into Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, AK?, AZ, BC, CA, CO, ID, MB, MT, NM, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.856702
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.2 Shrubby cinquefoil - Woolly-fruit Sedge / Star Campylium Moss Alkaline Fen Macrogroup | M877 | 2.C.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 2.C.2.Na.2.c Bellardi Bog Sedge - Buxbaum''s Sedge Alkaline Fen Group | G516 | 2.C.2.Na.2.c |
| Alliance | A3434 Dwarf Birch Alkaline Shrub Fen Alliance | A3434 | 2.C.2.Na.2.c |
| Alliance | A3435 Mud Sedge - Buxbaum''s Sedge - Seaside Arrow-grass Alkaline Graminoid Fen Alliance | A3435 | 2.C.2.Na.2.c |
| Alliance | A3436 Simple Bog Sedge - Bellardi Bog Sedge Alkaline Graminoid Fen Alliance | A3436 | 2.C.2.Na.2.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Bedford, B. L., and K. S. Godwin. 2003. Fens of the United States: Distribution, characteristics, and scientific connection versus legal isolation. Wetlands 23(3):608-629.
- Cooper, D. J. 1986b. Community structure and classification of Rocky Mountain wetland ecosystems. Pages 66-147 in: J. T. Windell, et al. An ecological characterization of Rocky Mountain montane and subalpine wetlands. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service Biological Report 86(11). 298 pp.
- Cooper, D. J., and J. S. Sanderson. 1997. A montane Kobresia myosuroides fen community type in the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado, U.S.A. Arctic and Alpine Research, 29(3):300-303.
- 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]
- Rondeau, R. 2001. Ecological system viability specifications for Southern Rocky Mountain ecoregion. First edition. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. 181 pp.
- Steen, O. A., and R. A. Coupé. 1997. A field guide to forest site identification and interpretation for the Cariboo Forest Region. Land Management Handbook No. 39. Parts 1 and 2. British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Program, Victoria, BC.
- Windell, J. T., B. E. Willard, D. J. Cooper, S. Q. Foster, C. F. Knud-Hansen, L. P. Rink, and G. N. Kiladis. 1986. An ecological characterization of Rocky Mountain montane and subalpine wetlands. USDI Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report 86(11). 298 pp.