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G554 Eurhynchium sp. - Saxifraga sp. - Xanthoria sp. Coastal Cliff & Bluff Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group consists of sparsely vegetated exposed sea cliffs and rocky coastlines where grasses, lichens and low shrubs can gain hold, forming communities such as Eurhynchium-Puccinellia-Caloplaca, Potentilla-Draba-Saxifraga, Xanthoria-Ramalina, and Leymus-Ligusticum-Anemone and occurs from the Aleutian Islands, central and southern Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eurhynchium Moss species - Saxifrage species - Orange Wall Lichen species Coastal Cliff & Bluff Group
Colloquial Name: North Pacific Coastal Cliff & Bluff
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group consists of sparsely vegetated sea cliffs, scree slopes and rocky (but not cobble-on-sand) coastlines exposed to salt spray and ocean wave action. Vegetation is sparse and consists of grasses, lichens and low shrubs. Some cliff communities have been described from Alaska, including Eurhynchium-Puccinellia-Caloplaca, Potentilla-Draba-Saxifraga, Xanthoria-Ramalina, and Leymus-Ligusticum-Anemone. Other species include Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata, Aruncus dioicus var. acuminatus, Campanula spp., Carex macrochaeta, Chamerion latifolium, Deschampsia spp., Heuchera glabra, Lupinus nootkatensis, Phegopteris connectilis, Potentilla villosa, and Rubus spectabilis. Stunted Picea sitchensis may also occur. It occurs from the coast of the Aleutian Islands, central and southern Alaska coast, British Columbia and Washington south to central Oregon. Frequent exposure to salt spray distinguishes this group from inland and alpine rock outcrops and cliffs. Elevation is usually within 15 m (50 feet), but some cliffs are much higher. Salt spray, wind and wave erosion, desiccation, and slope failures create a harsh growing environment.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Sparsely vegetated sea cliffs, scree slopes and rocky (but not cobble-on-sand) coastlines exposed to salt spray and ocean wave action. Vegetation is often dominated by grasses, lichens and low shrubs.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Cobble-on-sand beach or coastal areas are included in ~North Pacific Maritime Dune & Coastal Beach Group (G498)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This group comprises sparse vegetation of creeping forbs, low grasses, dwarf-shrubs, and stunted trees clinging to cliff faces, bluffs and balds exposed to salt spray of the ocean.
Floristics: Forbs, grasses and shrubs establish on ledges and in cracks. On Amchitka Island, Shacklette et al. (1969) described several sea cliff communities, including Eurhynchium-Puccinellia-Caloplaca, Potentilla-Draba-Saxifraga, Xanthoria-Ramalina, and (on less steep cliffs) Leymus-Ligusticum-Anemone. On the Alaska Peninsula, dominance may shift to Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata, Aruncus dioicus var. acuminatus, Campanula spp., Carex macrochaeta, Chamerion latifolium, Chamerion latifolium, Deschampsia spp., Heuchera glabra, Lupinus nootkatensis, Phegopteris connectilis, Potentilla villosa, Prenanthes alata, Rhodiola rosea, and Rubus spectabilis. Picea sitchensis may also occupy these rocky headlands and often does. They are characterized by somewhat stunted growth, usually with branches from top to bottom of bole. Epiphytic lichens are abundant in this group. Floristic information was summarized from the following sources: Shacklette et al. (1969), Viereck et al. (1992), and Boggs et al. (2008b).
Dynamics: Steep slopes, salt spray, wind and wave erosion, desiccation, and slope failures create a harsh growing environment.
Environmental Description: This group includes rocky headlands and sea cliffs. Sea cliffs typically occur below 50 m elevation; however, on some extremely exposed cliffs, such as those on outer headlands, salt spray from winter storms may affect cliffs at 100-200 m elevation. Vegetation cover is typically sparse to absent. Frequent exposure to salt spray distinguishes this group from inland and alpine rock outcrops and cliffs. In addition to salt spray, wind and wave erosion, desiccation, and slope failures create a harsh growing environment. Substrates include glacial deposits along the Pacific Ocean and associated marine and estuarine inlets. Exposure to waves, eroding and desiccating winds, slope failures, and sheet erosion create gravelly to rocky substrates that are often unstable. Soils are thin and limited to fine materials blown into cracks and fissures in the bedrock substrate. Environmental information was summarized from the following sources: Shacklette et al. (1969), Viereck et al. (1992), and Boggs et al. (2008b).
Geographic Range: It occurs from the coast of the Aleutian Islands, central and southern Alaska coast, British Columbia and Washington south to central Oregon.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AK, BC, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.857654
Confidence Level: Low
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.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation | F005 | 2.B.4 |
| Division | 2.B.4.Nb Pacific North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division | D027 | 2.B.4.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.4.Nb.3 Pacific Coastal Cliff & Bluff Macrogroup | M058 | 2.B.4.Nb.3 |
| Group | 2.B.4.Nb.3.a Eurhynchium Moss species - Saxifrage species - Orange Wall Lichen species Coastal Cliff & Bluff Group | G554 | 2.B.4.Nb.3.a |
| Alliance | A3455 Eurhynchium Moss species - Saxifrage species - Orange Wall Lichen species Grassland Alliance | A3455 | 2.B.4.Nb.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Boggs, K., S. C. Klein, L. Flagstad, T. Boucher, J. Grunblatt, and B. Koltun. 2008b. Landcover classes, ecosystems and plant associations of Kenai Fjords National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/KEFJ/NRTR-2008/136. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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]
- Shacklette, H. T., L. W. Durrell, J. A. Erdman, J. R. Keith, W. M. Klein, H. Krog, H. Persson, H. Skuja, and W. A. Weber. 1969. Vegetation of Amchitka Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Geological Survey Professional Paper 648. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC. 66 pp.
- Viereck, L. A., C. T. Dyrness, A. R. Batten, and K. J. Wenzlick. 1992. The Alaska vegetation classification. General Technical Report PNW-GTR286. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 278 pp.