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G613 Empetrum nigrum - Rhodiola integrifolia ssp. integrifolia Alpine Dwarf-shrubland Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group is defined as tundra vegetation dominated by the dwarf-shrub Empetrum nigrum occurring on mountain and hillslopes, low summits and ridges, and valley bottoms across a range of soil types and hydrologies. This group is found in the Aleutian Islands and boreal regions of Alaska, Canada, and possibly Greenland.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Crowberry - Ledge Stonecrop Alpine Dwarf-shrubland Group
Colloquial Name: Western Boreal Alpine Dwarf-shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group is defined as tundra vegetation dominated by the dwarf-shrub Empetrum nigrum often in combination with other shrubs such as the low shrubs Vaccinium uliginosum and Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens and the dwarf-shrubs Loiseleuria procumbens and Salix arctica. Erect shrubs and trees provide less than 10% cover. The group occurs on mountain slopes and hillslopes, low summits and ridges, and valley bottoms across a range of soil types and hydrologies. It is found in the Aleutian Islands and boreal regions of Alaska, Canada, and possibly Greenland. Patch size is small to matrix-forming.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This group is defined as tundra vegetation dominated by the dwarf-shrub Empetrum nigrum where erect shrubs and trees provide less than 10% cover. It is found in the Aleutian Islands and the boreal regions of Alaska, Canada, and possibly Greenland.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Despite significant overlap between arctic and boreal dwarf-shrub types within ~Arctic Dry-Moist Tundra Macrogroup (M173)$$, a distinctly boreal dwarf-shrub type, characterized by Empetrum nigrum, is evident in multivariate analysis. While Empetrum nigrum occurs throughout Alaska, it rarely dominates communities in the arctic and temperate zones. Thus, while we recommend that the conceptual ranges of Dryas (G366), ericaceous (G367) and willow (G614) dwarf-shrub groups as well as ~North American Arctic & Subarctic Tussock Tundra Group (G371)$$ be expanded to include alpine dwarf-shrub types within the boreal ecoregion, we also recommend preservation of ~Western Boreal Alpine Dwarf-shrubland Group (G613)$$ within ~Western Boreal Alpine Tundra Macrogroup (M404)$$. This revision will restrict G613 to vegetation dominated by Empetrum nigrum and eliminate the Dryas, dwarf-shrub, dwarf-shrub-lichen and ericaceous variants formerly included within the group (L. Flagstad pers. comm. 2015).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This group is represented by tundra vegetation dominated by Empetrum nigrum often in combination with other low to dwarf-shrubs; erect shrubs and trees provide less than 10% cover.
Floristics: The dwarf-shrub Empetrum nigrum dominates the shrub layer with at least 20% cover. The group also supports high constancy of the shrubs Vaccinium uliginosum and Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens and the dwarf-shrubs Loiseleuria procumbens and Salix arctica. Presence of the dwarf-shrubs Empetrum nigrum, Rhododendron camtschaticum, and Loiseleuria procumbens (= Kalmia procumbens) and the forbs Rhodiola integrifolia ssp. integrifolia and Campanula lasiocarpa differentiate the type. Herbaceous species are variable; however, the grass Arctagrostis latifolia and the forb Cornus canadensis may be locally abundant. Common mosses include members of the Polytrichum genus and the feathermoss Pleurozium schreberi; common lichens include members of the genera Cladonia and Cetraria.
Dynamics: This group occupies large areas and is thought to be stable. Fire-return interval is long, likely due to the lack of dry fuel to sustain a fire.
Environmental Description: This group occurs on mountain slopes and hillslopes, low summits and ridges, and valley bottoms across a range of soil types and hydrologies. It develops on thin, well-drained mineral soils to poorly-drained peats; permafrost may be present but is not a formative element. Patch size ranges from small in protected pockets where snow is retained to matrix-forming across flat lowlands.
Geographic Range: This group is well-represented the Aleutian Islands and boreal Alaska and Canada. While the range of Empetrum nigrum is circumboreal and extends to both the arctic and temperate regions, it does not dominate communities in these areas of Alaska; the occurrence of this group in arctic and temperate Canada as well as Greenland needs review.
Nations: CA,GL?,US
States/Provinces: AK, BC, YT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860740
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 4 Polar & High Montane Scrub, Grassland & Barrens Class | C04 | 4 |
| Subclass | 4.B Temperate to Polar Alpine & Tundra Vegetation Subclass | S12 | 4.B |
| Formation | 4.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Alpine Tundra Formation | F037 | 4.B.1 |
| Division | 4.B.1.Nb Western North American Alpine Tundra Division | D043 | 4.B.1.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 4.B.1.Nb.4 Altai Fescue - White Arctic Mountain-heather Boreal Alpine Tundra Macrogroup | M404 | 4.B.1.Nb.4 |
| Group | 4.B.1.Nb.4.a Black Crowberry - Ledge Stonecrop Alpine Dwarf-shrubland Group | G613 | 4.B.1.Nb.4.a |
| Alliance | A4316 White Arctic Mountain-heather - Least Willow Alpine Dwarf-shrubland Alliance | A4316 | 4.B.1.Nb.4.a |
| Alliance | A4317 Eight-petal Mountain-avens Acidic Alpine Dwarf-shrubland Alliance | A4317 | 4.B.1.Nb.4.a |
| Alliance | A4318 Entireleaf Mountain-avens - Blackish Oxytrope Alkaline Alpine Dwarf-shrubland Alliance | A4318 | 4.B.1.Nb.4.a |
| Alliance | A4319 Black Crowberry - Bog Blueberry - Boreal Sagebrush Alpine Dwarf-shrubland Alliance | A4319 | 4.B.1.Nb.4.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< II.D.1.a - Dryas tundra (Viereck et al. 1992) [Dryas variant and Dwarf-shrub variant]
>< II.D.1.b - Dryas-sedge tundra (Viereck et al. 1992) [Dryas variant]
>< II.D.1.c - Dryas-lichen tundra (Viereck et al. 1992) [Dwarf-shrub - lichen variant]
>< II.D.2.a - Bearberry tundra (Viereck et al. 1992) [Dwarf-shrub variant, Dwarf-shrub - lichen variant, Ericaceous variant]
>< II.D.2.b - Vaccinium tundra (Viereck et al. 1992) [Dwarf-shrub variant, Dwarf-shrub - lichen variant, Ericaceous variant]
>< II.D.2.c - Crowberry tundra (Viereck et al. 1992) [Dwarf-shrub variant, Dwarf-shrub - lichen variant, Ericaceous variant]
>< II.D.2.e - Cassiope tundra (Viereck et al. 1992) [Dwarf-shrub variant and Ericaceous variant]
>< II.D.1.b - Dryas-sedge tundra (Viereck et al. 1992) [Dryas variant]
>< II.D.1.c - Dryas-lichen tundra (Viereck et al. 1992) [Dwarf-shrub - lichen variant]
>< II.D.2.a - Bearberry tundra (Viereck et al. 1992) [Dwarf-shrub variant, Dwarf-shrub - lichen variant, Ericaceous variant]
>< II.D.2.b - Vaccinium tundra (Viereck et al. 1992) [Dwarf-shrub variant, Dwarf-shrub - lichen variant, Ericaceous variant]
>< II.D.2.c - Crowberry tundra (Viereck et al. 1992) [Dwarf-shrub variant, Dwarf-shrub - lichen variant, Ericaceous variant]
>< II.D.2.e - Cassiope tundra (Viereck et al. 1992) [Dwarf-shrub variant and Ericaceous variant]
- Boggs, K., A. Garibaldi, J. Stevens, J. Grunblatt, and T. Helt. 2001. Denali National Park and Preserve landcover mapping project. Volume 2: Landcover classes and plant associations. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/DENA/NRTR--2001/002. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 164 pp.
- Boggs, K., and M. Sturdy. 2005. Plant associations and post-fire vegetation succession in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/YUCH/NRTR--2005/001. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 204 pp.
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- 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.