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G528 Carex aquatilis - Carex utriculata Boreal Wet Meadow & Marsh Group
Type Concept Sentence: This wetland group occurs in boreal Alaska and Canada on mineral soils and is characterized by graminoid species such as Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex aquatilis, Carex lasiocarpa, Carex utriculata, Equisetum palustre, Eriophorum angustifolium, and others. It may include shrub cover (<25%) such as Myrica gale, Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia, and Salix spp.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Water Sedge - Northwest Territory Sedge Boreal Wet Meadow & Marsh Group
Colloquial Name: Western Boreal Wet Meadow & Marsh
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group is widespread in the boreal and boreal transitional areas of Alaska and British Columbia, extending east into Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba and south into Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota. Vegetation is largely graminoid-dominated. Common species include Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex aquatilis, Carex lasiocarpa, Carex utriculata, Equisetum palustre, and Eriophorum angustifolium. Shrubs may be a minor component of the canopy cover (less than 25%) and include Myrica gale, Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia, and Salix spp. It occurs on floodplains, depressions, pond and lake margins, oxbows and abandoned channels. Frequent river channel migration and associated flooding and fluvial processes constitute the major disturbances. Wetland succession and species composition are variable due to diverse environmental conditions such as water depth, substrate, and nutrient input. Floodplain wetland vegetation includes freshwater marsh and wet low shrub. Patch size is small to large and often linear. Moisture regime varies from saturated to semipermanently flooded.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This group is characterized principally by hydrophytic herbaceous vegetation and less commonly low-shrub marshes that are saturated to semipermanently flooded on boreal and boreal transition areas.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This group is defined by hydrophytic graminoids.
Floristics: Freshwater marsh vegetation may be dominated by emergent sedges, forbs, or grasses. Species that often dominate or codominate include Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex aquatilis, Carex lasiocarpa, Carex utriculata, Equisetum palustre, and Eriophorum angustifolium. Shrubs may be a minor component of the canopy cover (less than 25% cover) and include Myrica gale, Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia, and Salix spp.
Dynamics: This group requires a source of freshwater. Seasonal flooding is characteristic of inland deltas. Marsh zonation is related to water depth and duration of flooding. A typical sequence progresses from open water to emergent deep marsh to shallow marsh to wet meadow or fen. Floating marsh mats may be seral to fens. River channel migration, flooding and other fluvial processes constitute the major disturbance in this group.
Environmental Description: Freshwater marshes are found throughout the boreal transition and boreal regions of Alaska and British Columbia, extending east into Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba and south into Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota. They are characterized by emergent herbaceous vegetation. Freshwater marshes typically occur with other wetland groups. They occur on the margins of abandoned channels, floodplains, ponds, lakes, and riparian systems and on inland deltas where rivers drain into large lakes. Inland marshes are mostly small-patch, confined to limited areas in suitable floodplain or basin topography. They are typically saturated or semipermanently flooded, but some marshes have seasonal flooding. Water is at or above the surface for most of the growing season (typically 10 cm above the surface). Soils are muck or mineral, and water is nutrient-rich. These systems are highly productive and have high rates of decomposition.
Geographic Range: This group occurs throughout the boreal transition and boreal regions of Alaska and British Columbia, extending east into Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba and south into Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, AK, BC, MB, NT, NU, SK, YT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860744
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
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