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G354 Alnus viridis - Rubus spectabilis - Salix alaxensis Vancouverian Shrubland Group

Type Concept Sentence: This shrubland group ranges from low elevations on the Aleutian Islands to subalpine and low alpine in southeastern Alaska where the dominant and characteristic species include Alnus viridis, Rubus spectabilis, Salix alaxensis, Salix barclayi, Salix glauca, and Vaccinium ovalifolium. Other shrubs may include Sambucus racemosa, Spiraea stevenii, and Oplopanax horridus.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Green Alder - Salmonberry - Feltleaf Willow Vancouverian Shrubland Group

Colloquial Name: Vancouverian Alder - Salmonberry - Willow Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This is a shrubland group, ranging from low elevations in the Aleutian Islands to subalpine or low alpine in some portions of southeastern Alaska. Dominant and characteristic shrub species include Alnus viridis, Rubus spectabilis, Salix alaxensis, Salix barclayi, Salix glauca, and Vaccinium ovalifolium. Other shrubs may include Sambucus racemosa, Spiraea stevenii, and Oplopanax horridus. Total low- and tall-shrub canopy cover is generally greater than 25%. Sites codominated by tall willows typically occur along streams and at the upper limits of alder growth. The most common herbaceous species include Calamagrostis canadensis and Chamerion angustifolium, but there are many others. This group occurs on flat to steep slopes (0-50°) at low to mid elevations (1-1000 m) in valleys, hills and mountains of the Aleutians; in southeastern Alaska it occurs on mountain sideslopes from sea level to treeline where slopes are steep enough to produce frequent snowslides preventing forest development. It is also found throughout the maritime region of Alaska and British Columbia, near treeline. Soils are typically mesic, well-drained, shallow, and stony, can be ash-covered, and underlain by colluvium, glacial drift or till or residuum. Precipitation is abundant, and these shrublands are mesic to wet. Tree seedlings and saplings may be abundant on some slopes but do not emerge as an overstory due to frequent disturbance.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Shrublands of maritime Alaska and British Columbia; characteristic shrubs include Alnus viridis, Rubus spectabilis, Salix alaxensis, Salix barclayi, Salix glauca, Elliottia pyroliflora, and Vaccinium ovalifolium (which is particularly abundant on the Aleutians).

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Exactly where this group ends geographically in the south needs to be determined.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Dominant and characteristic shrubs include Alnus viridis, Rubus spectabilis, Salix alaxensis, Salix barclayi, Salix glauca, and Vaccinium ovalifolium (which is particularly abundant on the Aleutians). Other shrubs may include Oplopanax horridus, Salix commutata, Salix hookeriana, Salix interior, Salix sitchensis, Sambucus racemosa, Shepherdia canadensis, Spiraea stevenii, Vaccinium cespitosum, and Vaccinium uliginosum. Herbaceous species include a number of perennial forbs and graminoids, such as Achillea millefolium var. borealis, Aconitum delphiniifolium, Aconitum maximum, Aruncus dioicus, Athyrium filix-femina, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex macrochaeta, Castilleja unalaschcensis, Chamerion angustifolium, Cornus suecica, Deschampsia cespitosa, Dryopteris expansa, Equisetum arvense, Geranium erianthum, Geum calthifolium, Heracleum maximum, Lupinus nootkatensis, Phegopteris connectilis, Sanguisorba canadensis, Solidago spp., Streptopus amplexifolius, Valeriana sitchensis, and Veratrum viride. Empetrum nigrum may also be common.

Rubus spectabilis is dominant primarily on the oldest stabilized talus slopes and stable colluvial slopes (older substrates) on the Aleutian Islands, while Alnus viridis may be the dominant shrub on recently disturbed sites, wind-sheltered sites or recent ash deposits. Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata is the most common alder species; however, Alnus viridis ssp. fruticosa dominates some sites. Alder height ranges from 0.5 m at higher elevations to 8 m downslope. In closed-canopy sites, Sambucus racemosa and Rubus spectabilis shrubs are usually woven in among and around the edges of the alder thickets, and the understory is sparse, often with Athyrium filix-femina, graminoids and sparse Rubus spectabilis. Litter cover is high. Sites codominated by tall willows typically occur along streams and at the upper limits of alder growth. The most common herbaceous species include Calamagrostis canadensis and Chamerion angustifolium, but there are many others. Tree seedlings and saplings may be abundant on some slopes but do not emerge as an overstory due to frequent disturbance.

Dynamics:  Alder can often dominate new ash deposits on the Alaska Peninsula. It is also affected by insects and diseases. It tolerates frequent disturbance from snowslides.
Environmental Description:  It occurs on flat to steep slopes (0-50°) at low to mid elevations (1-1000 m) in valleys, hills and mountains of the Aleutians; in southeastern Alaska it occurs on mountain sideslopes from sea level to treeline where slopes are steep enough to produce frequent snowslides preventing forest development. It is also found just above treeline and below the alpine throughout the maritime region of Alaska. Soils are typically mesic, well-drained, shallow, and stony, can be ash-covered, and underlain by colluvium, glacial drift or till or residuum.
Geographic Range: This group occurs on the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island, south and east throughout the maritime regions of Alaska and British Columbia. It diminishes moving west, and is absent by Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AK, BC


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.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D022 2.B.2.Nf
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nf.5 Northern Vancouverian Lowland-Montane Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup M172 2.B.2.Nf.5
Group 2.B.2.Nf.5.a Green Alder - Salmonberry - Feltleaf Willow Vancouverian Shrubland Group G354 2.B.2.Nf.5.a
Alliance A3937 Sitka Alder Shrubland Alliance A3937 2.B.2.Nf.5.a
Alliance A3938 Green Alder - Willow species Shrubland Alliance A3938 2.B.2.Nf.5.a
Alliance A3939 Salmonberry Shrubland Alliance A3939 2.B.2.Nf.5.a
Alliance A3940 Feltleaf Willow - Barclay''s Willow - Bebb''s Willow Upland Willow Thicket Shrubland Alliance A3940 2.B.2.Nf.5.a
Alliance A3941 Oval-leaf Blueberry - Dwarf Bilberry - Bog Blueberry Shrubland Alliance A3941 2.B.2.Nf.5.a
Alliance A3942 Russet Buffaloberry Shrubland Alliance A3942 2.B.2.Nf.5.a
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): Faber-Langendoen et al.

Author of Description: M.S. Reid and G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 11-09-15
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