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G358 Carex bigelowii - Calamagrostis canadensis Boreal Mesic Grassland Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group consists of herbaceous meadows of boreal and boreal transition of Alaska extending into western Canada on slopes, upper drainages, and flat areas with fine-textured mineral soils ranging from poorly-drained (on flats) to well-drained (on sideslopes) with dominant species such as Carex bigelowii, Carex microchaeta ssp. nesophila, and Calamagrostis canadensis.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bigelow''s Sedge - Bluejoint Boreal Mesic Grassland Group
Colloquial Name: Western Boreal Mesic Grassland & Meadow
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group occurs throughout the arctic, boreal and boreal transition regions of Alaska, and extends south and east into western Canada on hill and mountain slopes, upper drainages, and lowlands including drained lake basins. Stands may be either graminoid-dominated, forb-dominated, fern-dominated or mixed. Species include Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex bigelowii, Carex microchaeta ssp. nesophila (dominant sedge in higher elevations), Alopecurus magellanicus, Artemisia arctica, Polygonum bistorta, Valeriana capitata, Pedicularis spp., Polemonium acutiflorum, Salix rotundifolia, Salix reticulata, Heracleum maximum, Thalictrum spp., Veratrum viride, Angelica lucida, Athyrium filix-femina, Dryopteris expansa, and Equisetum arvense.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This group is characterized by mesic meadows which are graminoid-, forb-, or fern-dominated or mixed. The most common dominant species include Carex bigelowii, Carex microchaeta ssp. nesophila, and Calamagrostis canadensis.
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 as an herbaceous meadow dominated by pteridophytes, graminoids, forbs or a mix of these.
Floristics: The vegetation is usually dense, with canopy heights of 0.8 to 1.4 m, occasionally reaching 2 m. Species composition ranges from nearly pure stands of Carex bigelowii or Calamagrostis canadensis to mixtures of one of these graminoids with forbs, such as Chamerion angustifolium. Forb- or fern -dominated patches also occur. Common forbs and ferns include Heracleum maximum, Veratrum viride, Angelica lucida, Athyrium filix-femina, Dryopteris expansa, and Equisetum arvense. Dwarf-shrubs such as Arctostaphylos alpina, Empetrum nigrum, Salix pulchra, and Betula nana are usually present, but contribute less than 25% to the canopy cover. Additional species may include Carex microchaeta ssp. nesophila (dominant sedge in higher elevations), Alopecurus magellanicus (= Alopecurus alpinus), Artemisia arctica, Polygonum bistorta, Valeriana capitata, Pedicularis spp., Polemonium acutiflorum, Salix rotundifolia, Salix reticulata, Heracleum maximum, Thalictrum spp.
Dynamics: Expert review suggests that this group is stable and rarely experiences fire.
Environmental Description: This group occurs on hill and mountain slopes, upper drainages, and lowlands including drained lake basins. Soils are typically fine-textured mineral and may be poorly-drained (on flats) to well-drained (on sideslopes). In the boreal transition region, mesic Calamagrostis canadensis meadows often occur near treeline interspersed with subalpine tall shrub. Its elevational limit is just above the limit of tall shrubs (within 100 m). This group appears to be less common north of the Alaska Range. Mesic meadows also occur as seral stages in drained lakebeds, or after disturbance such as fire or logging.
Geographic Range: This group occurs throughout the arctic, boreal and boreal transition regions of Alaska, and extends south and east into western Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, AK, BC, MB, NT, SK, YT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860839
Confidence Level: Low
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.3 Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F028 | 2.B.3 |
| Division | 2.B.3.Na North American Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Division | D025 | 2.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.3.Na.1 North American Boreal Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup | M055 | 2.B.3.Na.1 |
| Group | 2.B.3.Na.1.d Bigelow''s Sedge - Bluejoint Boreal Mesic Grassland Group | G358 | 2.B.3.Na.1.d |
| Alliance | A4248 Bluejoint - Mixed Forb-Graminoid Meadow Alliance | A4248 | 2.B.3.Na.1.d |
| Alliance | A4280 Bluejoint - Fireweed Boreal Mesic Meadow Alliance | A4280 | 2.B.3.Na.1.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = III.A.2.a - Bluejoint meadow (Viereck et al. 1992)
< III.A.2.a - Wet sedge meadow tundra (Viereck et al. 1992)
< III.A.2.a - Wet sedge meadow tundra (Viereck et al. 1992)
- 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.
- 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]
- 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.
- Willoughby, M. G., C. Stone, C. Hincz, D. Moisey, G. Ehlert, and D. Lawrence. 2006. Guide to range plant community types and carrying capacity for the Dry and Central Mixedwood subregions in Alberta: Sixth approximation (a revision of the fifth approximation, Publication No. T/074). Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Public Lands and Forests Division, Edmonton. 254 pp. ISBN No. 0-7785-4539-3 [online edition].