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G349 Populus tremuloides Alaskan Boreal Dry Forest Group

Type Concept Sentence: This group is found in the boreal and boreal transition (low-elevation through alpine) regions of Alaska and probably occurs east in the Yukon Territories of Canada. It is characterized by woodlands and forest dominated by stunted Populus tremuloides and associated shrubs at high elevations and steep positions that experience desiccating winds.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen Alaskan Boreal Dry Forest Group

Colloquial Name: Alaskan Boreal Dry Aspen Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group occurs commonly on moderately steep to very steep, south-facing slopes and windswept bluffs throughout the boreal and boreal transition regions of Alaska. Generally, the substrate is steep, unstable, dry mineral soil. This group is common above major rivers and is often associated with river bluffs near treeline. Soils are typically well-drained to excessively well-drained and develop on glacial, loess, or fluvial deposits or residual material. Soils are often unstable and rocky; outcrops are common. The group is a mosaic of open forests or woodlands, low shrub-dominated patches, or dry meadows. At increasing elevation, trees become less important, and at subalpine or low alpine locations, shrubs are the dominant lifeform. Tree patches are dominated by Populus tremuloides, but Picea glauca may also be present. Patches of low-shrub and dry herbaceous communities are interspersed within the aspen forest, where it occurs. Common shrubs include Artemisia frigida, Artemisia alaskana, Juniperus communis, and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. Important grasses include Pseudoroegneria spicata, Bromus inermis var. pumpellianus, Calamagrostis purpurascens, Festuca altaica, and Poa spp.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This group is defined by dry south-facing woodlands and forest dominated by Populus tremuloides and associated shrubs.

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 represented by a mosaic of forests or woodlands, with low dry shrub or herb species.

Floristics: This group is a mosaic of Populus tremuloides forest and woodlands, with low-shrub and dry herbaceous species. The vegetation cover in this group is typically open and discontinuous with much exposed mineral soil. Populus tremuloides is typically the dominant species, and Picea glauca may also be present at low cover values. The forest understory is typically open, and common species include Rosa acicularis, Shepherdia canadensis, Eurybia sibirica (= Aster sibiricus), Galium boreale, Mertensia paniculata, and Chamerion angustifolium. Important grasses include Pseudoroegneria spicata (= Agropyron spicatum), Bromus inermis var. pumpellianus (= Bromus pumpellianus), Calamagrostis purpurascens, Festuca altaica, and Poa spp. (Kassler 1979, Edwards and Armbruster 1989, Wesser and Armbruster 1991, Boggs and Sturdy 2005).

Dynamics:  The aspen component can be self-replacing through root suckers.
Environmental Description:  This group occurs from the low alpine down through low elevations on south-facing slopes and windswept bluffs and ridges. Substrates are steep, unstable, dry mineral soils that are typically excessively well- to well-drained and develop on glacial, loess, or fluvial deposits or residual material. Rocky outcrops are common.
Geographic Range: This group is found in the boreal and boreal transition (low-elevation through alpine) regions of Alaska. It probably occurs further east into the Yukon Territories of Canada.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AK


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.4 Boreal Forest & Woodland Formation F001 1.B.4
Division 1.B.4.Na North American Boreal Forest & Woodland Division D014 1.B.4.Na
Macrogroup 1.B.4.Na.3 White Spruce - Black Spruce - Kenai Birch Forest Macrogroup M156 1.B.4.Na.3
Group 1.B.4.Na.3.a Quaking Aspen Alaskan Boreal Dry Forest Group G349 1.B.4.Na.3.a
Alliance A4256 Balsam Poplar - White Spruce / Drummond''s Mountain-avens Floodplain Woodland Alliance A4256 1.B.4.Na.3.a
Alliance A4379 Quaking Aspen / Russet Buffaloberry - Kinnikinnick Woodland Alliance A4379 1.B.4.Na.3.a
Alliance A4380 White Spruce / Star Reindeer Lichen Dune Woodland Alliance A4380 1.B.4.Na.3.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): T. Boucher, K. Boggs, M. Reid, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2011)

Author of Description: T. Boucher and M.E. Hall

Acknowledgements: Elizabeth Bella, Del Meidinger, Ken Baldwin, Beth Schulz

Version Date: 01-19-16
  • Batten, A. R., D. F. Murray, and J. C. Dawe. 1979. Threatened and endangered plants in selected areas of the BLM Fortymile Planning Unit. File report for Contract No. YA-512-CT8-162. USDI Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, Anchorage. 127 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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  • Hanson, H. C. 1951. Characteristics of some grassland, marsh and other plant communities in western Alaska. Ecological Monographs 21(4):318-373.
  • Kassler, K. 1979. Relicts of the Late Pleistocene arctic-steppe: Investigations of certain south-facing slopes in interior Alaska. M.S. thesis, Northern Studies Program, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT. 65 pp.
  • Lloyd, A. H., W. S. Armbruster, and M. E. Edwards. 1994. Ecology of a steppe-tundra gradient in interior Alaska. Journal of Vegetation Science 5(6):897-912.
  • 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.
  • Wesser, S. D., and W. S. Armbruster. 1991. Species distribution controls across a forest-steppe transition: A causal model and experimental test. Ecological Monographs 61(3):323-342.
  • Yarie, J. 1983. Forest community classification of the Porcupine River drainage, interior Alaska, and its application to forest management. General Technical Report PNW-154. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 72 pp.