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CEGL005209 Alopecurus pratensis Western Ruderal Wet Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Meadow Foxtail Western Ruderal Wet Meadow
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community is currently only described from Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. It is seasonally moist to wet meadow, including flood-irrigated hay meadow, on floodplain flats and depressions. Alopecurus pratensis is an exotic, invasive grass that is an extremely important forage species throughout the region. Soils are silty clay loams with pH ranging from 4.5 to 8.5. Slightly over 50 species are present in sampled stands, but most occur with low frequency and cover. Alopecurus pratensis is the primary species with an average cover of 62%, but it can range up to 95%. Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis and Carex aquatilis are the second most important components, occurring at modest frequency but low cover. Weedy native increasers such as Potentilla glandulosa, Potentilla gracilis, and exotic forage species such as Poa pratensis, Phleum pratense, and Trifolium pratense indicate a mesic phase with a history of pasture improvements and grazing. Hydric components include Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Carex aquatilis, Carex pellita, Eleocharis palustris, Mimulus guttatus, and Polygonum amphibium var. emersum, but these are scarce. An alkaline component is indicated by Carex nebrascensis, Leymus triticoides, and Poa secunda. Similarity in landform position and species composition suggests that Alopecurus pratensis has successfully invaded and replaced phases of ~Carex praegracilis Wet Meadow (CEGL002660)$$, with some plots containing up to 29% cover of Carex praegracilis. When compared to the highly diverse Carex praegracilis association, the lower species diversity of the Alopecurus pratensis association may result from its competitive superiority over many of the species of the former community that were simply crowded out. It remains to be seen if its formidable competitive abilities will enable it to overwhelm other wet meadow vegetation types.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Slightly over 50 species are present in sampled stands, but most occur with low frequency and cover. Alopecurus pratensis is an exotic, invasive grass that is an extremely important forage species throughout the region. It is the primary species with an average cover of 62%, but it can range up to 95%. Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus) and Carex aquatilis are the second most important components, occurring at modest frequency but low cover. Weedy native increasers such as Potentilla glandulosa (= Drymocallis glandulosa), Potentilla gracilis, and exotic forage species such as Poa pratensis, Phleum pratense, and Trifolium pratense indicate a mesic phase with a history of pasture improvements and grazing. Hydric components include Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Carex aquatilis, Carex pellita, Eleocharis palustris, Mimulus guttatus, and Polygonum amphibium var. emersum (= Persicaria amphibia), but these are scarce. An alkaline component is indicated by Carex nebrascensis, Leymus triticoides, and Poa secunda.
Dynamics: Similarity in landform position and species composition suggests that Alopecurus pratensis has successfully invaded and replaced phases of ~Carex praegracilis Wet Meadow (CEGL002660)$$, with some plots containing up to 29% cover of Carex praegracilis. When compared to the highly diverse Carex praegracilis association, the lower species diversity of the Alopecurus pratensis association may result from its competitive superiority over many of the species of the former community that were simply crowded out. It remains to be seen if its formidable competitive abilities will enable it to overwhelm other wet meadow vegetation types.
Environmental Description: This community is seasonally moist to wet meadow, including flood-irrigated hay meadow, on floodplain flats and depressions. Soils are silty clay loams with pH ranging from 4.5 to 8.5.
Geographic Range: This community is currently only described from Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: OR
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.885978
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation | F013 | 2.C.4 |
| Division | 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division | D031 | 2.C.4.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nb.90 Western North American Ruderal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup | M301 | 2.C.4.Nb.90 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nb.90.a Kentucky Bluegrass - Canadian Horseweed - Canada Thistle Ruderal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Group | G524 | 2.C.4.Nb.90.a |
| Alliance | A3848 Kentucky Bluegrass - Redtop - Creeping Bentgrass Ruderal Marsh Alliance | A3848 | 2.C.4.Nb.90.a |
| Association | CEGL005209 Meadow Foxtail Western Ruderal Wet Meadow | CEGL005209 | 2.C.4.Nb.90.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Christy, J. A. 2001c. Twenty-year change in vegetation plots at Sycan Marsh, Oregon, 1980-2001. Report to The Nature Conservancy of Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 57 pp.
- Christy, J. A. 2013. Wet meadow plant associations, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Harney County, Oregon. Oregon Biodiversity Information Center, Institute for Natural Resources, Portland State University, Portland.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.