Print Report

G546 Picea mariana Alaskan-Yukon Boreal Wet Forest Group

Type Concept Sentence: This group includes both forested bogs and acidic swamps of the western North American boreal region, typically with black spruce, but occasionally with tamarack, and an ericaceous heath and sphagnum understory.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Spruce Alaskan-Yukon Boreal Wet Forest Group

Colloquial Name: Alaskan-Yukon Boreal Black Spruce Wet Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This type includes both forested bogs and acidic swamps. In forested bogs Picea mariana is the dominant overstory species, generally growing with a stunted growth form in a sparse to open canopy (10-30% canopy cover). Common understory species include Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens, Ledum groenlandicum, Andromeda polifolia, Betula nana, Empetrum nigrum, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Vaccinium uliginosum, Chamaedaphne calyculata, Rubus chamaemorus, Carex pluriflora, Carex spp., and Eriophorum angustifolium. Sphagnum spp. dominate the bryophyte layer. Well-developed bogs may have a significant lichen component in the ground layer composed largely of Cladina spp. and Cladonia spp. In acidic swamps, Picea mariana is the dominant overstory species in an open canopy (30-50% canopy cover). Other overstory associates may include Larix laricina, Picea glauca or, in the subboreal Rocky Mountain region, Picea glauca x engelmannii (hybrid white spruce). Shrubs may include Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia, Betula nana and Ledum groenlandicum. Characteristic herbaceous species include Carex aquatilis, Equisetum spp., and Petasites frigidus. Moss cover is high; typical species include Aulacomnium palustre, Tomentypnum nitens, Pleurozium schreberi, Sphagnum spp., and Hylocomium splendens, among others.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This group is characterized by open stands of Picea mariana which occur on soils that are saturated, but with a weakly minerotrophic influence.

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 dominated by needle-leaved evergreen trees with an open woodland canopy. These poor swamps are 5-10 m in height with >10% canopy cover.

Floristics: This type includes acidic swamps. Picea mariana is the dominant overstory species in an open canopy (30-50% canopy cover). Other overstory associates may include Larix laricina, Picea glauca or, in the subboreal Rocky Mountain region, Picea glauca x engelmannii (hybrid white spruce). Shrubs may include Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia, Betula nana and Ledum groenlandicum. Characteristic herbaceous species include Carex aquatilis, Equisetum spp., and Petasites frigidus. Moss cover is high; typical species include Aulacomnium palustre, Tomentypnum nitens, Pleurozium schreberi, Sphagnum spp., and Hylocomium splendens, among others.

Dynamics:  Acidic swamps are in contact with weakly minerotrophic water, typically in peatland soils. An abundance of woody material in swamps provides another important distinction in that the peat is primarily composed of both decomposing woody material (shrub and tree) and Sphagnum- or sedge-dominated peats. (National Wetlands Working Group 1998).
Environmental Description:  This type often occurs as part of a larger wetland complex, where there is an adequate flow of near-surface groundwater, often along peatland edges or inactive floodplain channels. Trees root on microsites that are elevated above the water table. Soils are saturated and may be made up of well-decomposed woody peat or fine-textured mineral deposits.
Geographic Range: This type is found throughout the western boreal and subboreal regions of northern British Columbia, Yukon Territories and boreal Alaska, and acidic swamp more typically occurring as small patches within larger wetland complexes.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AK, YT


Confidence Level: High

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 1 Forest & Woodland Class C01 1
Subclass 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass S15 1.B
Formation 1.B.5 Boreal Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation F036 1.B.5
Division 1.B.5.Na North American Boreal Flooded & Swamp Forest Division D016 1.B.5.Na
Macrogroup 1.B.5.Na.1 North American Boreal Conifer Poor Swamp Macrogroup M299 1.B.5.Na.1
Group 1.B.5.Na.1.f Black Spruce Alaskan-Yukon Boreal Wet Forest Group G546 1.B.5.Na.1.f
Alliance A4263 Black Spruce / Marsh Labrador-tea / Peatmoss species Central Wet Forest Alliance A4263 1.B.5.Na.1.f
Alliance A4264 Black Spruce / Marsh Labrador-tea / Peatmoss species Southern Wet Forest Alliance A4264 1.B.5.Na.1.f
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Picea glauca - Picea mariana/Ledum groenlandicum/Aulacomnium palustre (DeLong et al. 2011)
> Picea mariana / Betula glandulosa - Ledum decumbens / Sphagnum spp. (Neiland and Viereck 1977)
> Picea mariana / Betula glandulosa - Ledum decumbens / Sphagnum spp. (Drury 1956)
> Picea mariana / Betula glandulosa - Ledum decumbens / Sphagnum spp. (Dachnowski-Stokes 1941)
> Picea mariana / Betula nana - Potentilla fruticosa / Carex spp. (Yarie 1983)
> Picea mariana / Betula nana / Eriophorum spp. / Sphagnum spp. (Yarie 1983)
> Picea mariana / Ledum decumbens / Sphagnum spp. (Hogan and Tande 1983)
> Picea mariana / Ledum decumbens / Sphagnum spp. (Tande 1983)
> Picea mariana / Ledum decumbens / Sphagnum spp. (Webber et al. 1978)
> Picea mariana / Myrica gale - Ledum decumbens / Trichophorum caespitosum / feather mosses - Sphagnum spp. (Hogan and Tande 1983)
> Picea mariana / Sphagnum spp. - Cladonia spp. (Viereck 1979)
> Picea mariana / Vaccinium spp. - Salix spp. / Sphagnum spp. (Webber et al. 1978)
> Picea mariana/Alnus tenuifolia/Betula nana-Ledum decumbens/Sphagnum spp. (Viereck et al. 1992)
> Black spruce - Buckbean - Peat-moss (Wb11) (MacKenzie and Moran 2004) [(subboreal, but see G505)]
> Black spruce - Common horsetail - Peat-moss (Wb09) (MacKenzie and Moran 2004) [(boreal - subboreal)]
> Black spruce - Creeping-snowberry - Peat-moss (Wb01) (MacKenzie and Moran 2004) [(subboreal)]
> Black spruce - Lingonberry - Peat-moss (Wb03) (MacKenzie and Moran 2004) [(boreal)]
> Black spruce - Soft-leaved sedge - Peat-moss (Wb08) (MacKenzie and Moran 2004) [(subboreal)]
> Black spruce - Water sedge - Peat-moss (Wb05) (MacKenzie and Moran 2004) [(subboreal)]
< I.A.2.f - Black spruce (open) (Viereck et al. 1992)
< I.A.2.h - Black spruce-tamarack (open) (Viereck et al. 1992)
< I.A.3.d - Black spruce (woodland) (Viereck et al. 1992)
> Lodgepole pine - Bog rosemary - Peat-moss (Wb02) (MacKenzie and Moran 2004)
> Tamarack - Scrub birch - Buckbean (Wb18) (MacKenzie and Moran 2004)
> Tamarack - Water sedge - Fen moss (Wb06) (MacKenzie and Moran 2004) [(boreal)]
> dwarf Picea mariana / Carex lugens (Boggs and Sturdy 2005)
Concept Author(s): T. Boucher and D. Faber-Langendoen, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2011)

Author of Description: T. Boucher and D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-15-16
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