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M058 Pacific Coastal Cliff & Bluff Macrogroup
Type Concept Sentence: This macrogroup occurs on sea cliffs, scree slopes and rocky coastlines exposed to salt spray and ocean wave action. It occurs from the coast of the Aleutian Islands, south through California and possibly into Mexico.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pacific Coastal Cliff & Bluff Macrogroup
Colloquial Name: Pacific Coastal Cliff & Bluff
Hierarchy Level: Macrogroup
Type Concept: This macrogroup occurs from the coast of the Aleutian Islands, south through California and possibly into Mexico. It consists of sparsely to moderately densely vegetated sea cliffs, scree slopes and rocky (but not cobble-on-sand) coastlines exposed to salt spray and ocean wave action. The vascular vegetation is typically composed of grasses and low shrubs, which are restricted to small cracks in rock, or slight, sheltered depressions. Lichen cover can be high. In the north, dominants include Aruncus dioicus var. acuminatus, Campanula spp., Carex macrochaeta, Chamerion latifolium, Chamerion latifolium, Deschampsia spp., Fragaria chiloensis, Heuchera glabra, Lupinus nootkatensis, Phegopteris connectilis, Potentilla villosa, Prenanthes alata, and Rhodiola rosea. On Haida Gwaii, Festuca rubra (native subspecies) is a common dominant of rocky headlands. Associated species include Achillea millefolium, Conioselinum gmelinii, Fragaria chiloensis, Maianthemum dilatatum, Mimulus guttatus, Plantago maritima, and Potentilla villosa. However, a wide range of other species may occur and may be dominant in some cases. Picea sitchensis tolerates salt spray and often occupies appropriate microsites on the rocky headlands. They are generally characterized by stunted growth, usually with branches from top to bottom of bole. Lichen cover can be high, but species are poorly described. Coastal bluffs further south, in the Georgia Strait and Puget Sound areas, also have Festuca rubra as a common dominant but associated species include Bromus sitchensis, Grindelia integrifolia, Heuchera micrantha, Plectritis congesta, Sedum spp., and Zigadenus venenosus, among others. Trees, if present, are stunted and/or windblown and may include Arbutus menziesii, Quercus garryana, or Pseudotsuga menziesii. Juniperus maritima may also occur. Shrubs are also infrequent and may include Holodiscus discolor, Amelanchier alnifolia, or Mahonia aquifolium. Mosses can be abundant, including species such as Racomitrium canescens, Polytrichum piliferum, or Dicranum spp. Introduced species are often found, e.g., Aira spp., Cynosurus echinatus, and Cytisus scoparius. Coastal bluff-scrub on the California coastal islands has Artemisia californica, Coreopsis gigantea, Dudleya caespitosa, Dudleya greenei, Eriogonum arborescens, Eriogonum giganteum, Eriogonum grande var. rubescens, Isocoma menziesii, Malacothrix saxatilis var. implicata, and many other species, including many endemic species. This types includes rocky headlands and sea cliffs. Frequent exposure to salt spray distinguishes this macrogroup from inland and alpine rock outcrops and cliffs. Substrates include glacial deposits along the Pacific Ocean. Exposure to waves, eroding and desiccating winds, slope failures, and sheet erosion create rocky substrates that are often unstable. Soils are thin and limited to fine materials blown into cracks and fissures in the bedrock substrate.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Sparsely to densely vegetated sea cliffs, scree slopes and rocky (but not cobble-on-sand) coastlines exposed to salt spray and ocean wave action. The vascular vegetation is typically composed of grasses and low shrubs, which are restricted to small cracks in rock, or slight, sheltered depressions. Lichen cover can be high.
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)$$ in ~Pacific Coastal Beach & Dune Macrogroup (M059)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This macrogroup comprises sparse vascular vegetation of creeping forbs, succulents, low grasses, dwarf-shrubs, and stunted trees clinging to cliff faces, bluffs and balds exposed to salt spray of the ocean. Lichen or moss cover can be high.
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 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., Fragaria chiloensis, Heuchera glabra, Lupinus nootkatensis, Phegopteris connectilis, Potentilla villosa, Prenanthes alata, and Rhodiola rosea. On Haida Gwaii, Festuca rubra (native subspecies) is a common dominant of rocky headlands. Associated species include Achillea millefolium, Conioselinum gmelinii, Fragaria chiloensis, Maianthemum dilatatum, Mimulus guttatus, Plantago maritima, and Potentilla villosa. However, a wide range of other species may occur and may be dominant in some cases. Picea sitchensis tolerates salt spray and often occupies appropriate microsites on the rocky headlands. They are generally characterized by stunted growth, usually with branches from top to bottom of bole. Lichen cover can be high, but species are poorly described. On Haida Gwaii, the lichen cover in elevational bands above the intertidal have been characterized (Brodo and Sloan 2004).
Coastal bluffs further south, in the Georgia Strait and Puget Sound areas, also have Festuca rubra as a common dominant but associated species include Bromus sitchensis, Grindelia integrifolia, Heuchera micrantha, Plectritis congesta, Sedum spp., and Zigadenus venenosus, among others. Trees, if present, are stunted and/or windblown and may include Arbutus menziesii, Quercus garryana, or Pseudotsuga menziesii. Juniperus maritima may also occur. Shrubs are also infrequent and may include Holodiscus discolor, Amelanchier alnifolia, or Mahonia aquifolium. Mosses can be abundant, including species such as Racomitrium canescens, Polytrichum piliferum, or Dicranum spp. Introduced species are often found, e.g., Aira spp., Cynosurus echinatus, and Cytisus scoparius.
Coastal bluff-scrub on the California coastal islands has Artemisia californica, Coreopsis gigantea, Dudleya caespitosa, Dudleya greenei, Eriogonum arborescens, Eriogonum giganteum, Eriogonum grande var. rubescens, Isocoma menziesii, Malacothrix saxatilis var. implicata, and many other species, including many endemic species (Junak et al. 2007).
Coastal bluffs further south, in the Georgia Strait and Puget Sound areas, also have Festuca rubra as a common dominant but associated species include Bromus sitchensis, Grindelia integrifolia, Heuchera micrantha, Plectritis congesta, Sedum spp., and Zigadenus venenosus, among others. Trees, if present, are stunted and/or windblown and may include Arbutus menziesii, Quercus garryana, or Pseudotsuga menziesii. Juniperus maritima may also occur. Shrubs are also infrequent and may include Holodiscus discolor, Amelanchier alnifolia, or Mahonia aquifolium. Mosses can be abundant, including species such as Racomitrium canescens, Polytrichum piliferum, or Dicranum spp. Introduced species are often found, e.g., Aira spp., Cynosurus echinatus, and Cytisus scoparius.
Coastal bluff-scrub on the California coastal islands has Artemisia californica, Coreopsis gigantea, Dudleya caespitosa, Dudleya greenei, Eriogonum arborescens, Eriogonum giganteum, Eriogonum grande var. rubescens, Isocoma menziesii, Malacothrix saxatilis var. implicata, and many other species, including many endemic species (Junak et al. 2007).
Dynamics: Steep slopes, salt spray, wind and wave erosion, desiccation, and slope failures create a harsh growing environment.
Environmental Description: This macrogroup 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. Frequent exposure to salt spray distinguishes this macrogroup from inland and alpine rock outcrops and cliffs. Substrates include glacial deposits along the Pacific Ocean. Exposure to waves, eroding and desiccating winds, slope failures, and sheet erosion create rocky substrates that are often unstable. Soils are thin and limited to fine materials blown into cracks and fissures in the bedrock substrate.
Geographic Range: This macrogroup occurs from the coast of the Aleutian Islands, central and southern Alaska coast, British Columbia and Washington south to Mexico.
Nations: CA,MX,US
States/Provinces: AK, BC, CA, MXBCN, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860492
Confidence Level: High
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 |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < III.B.1.a - Seral herbs (Viereck et al. 1992)
< III.B.2.a - Mixed herbs (Viereck et al. 1992)
< III.C.1.b - Dry bryophyte (Viereck et al. 1992)
< III.B.2.a - Mixed herbs (Viereck et al. 1992)
< III.C.1.b - Dry bryophyte (Viereck et al. 1992)
- Banner, A., W. H. MacKenzie, J. Pojar, A. MacKinnon, S. C. Saunders, and H. Klassen. 2004. A field guide to ecosystem classification and identification for Haida Gwaii. Province of British Columbia, Victoria. Land Management Handbook Number 68. [www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Lmh/Lmh68.htm]
- 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.
- Brodo, I. M., and N. A. Sloan. 2004. Lichen zonation on coastal rocks in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), British Columbia. The Canadian Field-Naturalist 8(3):405-424.
- 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]
- Junak, S., D. A. Knapp, J. R. Haller, R. Philbrick, A. Schoenherr and T. Keeler-Wolf. 2007. The Channel Islands. Chapter 9 in: M. G. Barbour, T. Keeler-Wolf and A. A. Schoenherr, editors. Terrestrial vegetation of California, third edition. University of California Press, Berkeley.
- McPhee, M., P. Ward, J. Kirkby, L. Wolfe, N. Page, K. Dunster, N. K. Dawe, and I. Nykwist. 2000. Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory: East Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands, 1993-1997. Volume 2: Conservation Manual. Technical Report Series No. 345, Canadian Wildlife Service, Pacific and Yukon Region, BC. [http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/acat/documents/r2124/SEI_4206_rpt2_1111099716576_7025110f245d45caa101abdef711671d.pdf]
- 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.
- Ward, P., G. Radcliffe, J. Kirkby, J. Illingworth, and C. Cadrin. 1998. Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory: East Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands 1993-1997. Volume 1: Methodology, Ecological Descriptions and Results. Technical Report Series No. 320, Canadian Wildlife Service, Pacific and Yukon Region, Victoria, BC. [http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/acat/documents/r2124/SEI_4206_rpt1_1111625239116_8be42252200c4f0283b18cac66eed366.pdf]