Print Report
A1116 Vaccinium uliginosum - Mixed Alpine Heath Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes alpine dwarf-shrublands of the Northern Appalachian and eastern alpine regions on the Canadian Shield, generally characterized by Vaccinium uliginosum, often mixed with other dwarf-shrubs.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bog Blueberry - Mixed Alpine Heath Alliance
Colloquial Name: Bog Blueberry - Mixed Alpine Heath
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance includes alpine dwarf-shrublands generally characterized by Vaccinium uliginosum, often mixed with other dwarf-shrubs and lesser amounts of graminoids and forbs. Other species associated with this alliance include Betula glandulosa, Empetrum nigrum, Ledum groenlandicum, Rhododendron lapponicum, Salix uva-ursi, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, and the herbs Carex bigelowii, Cornus canadensis, Juncus trifidus, Minuartia groenlandica, Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, and Solidago multiradiata. These communities are restricted to alpine areas in the Northern Appalachian and eastern alpine regions on the Canadian Shield. Typically they occur above timberline on exposed, windswept mountain summits, ridges, and bedrock-dominated tablelands.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Alpine dwarf-shrublands generally characterized by Vaccinium uliginosum, often mixed with other dwarf-shrubs, including Betula glandulosa, Empetrum nigrum, Ledum groenlandicum, Rhododendron lapponicum, Salix uva-ursi, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, and the herbs Carex bigelowii, Cornus canadensis, Juncus trifidus, Minuartia groenlandica, Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, and Solidago multiradiata.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Jones et al. (2012) also describe a "Heath-shrub-rush" community that is a catch-all type for exposed and windswept plant communities that don''t fit the Diapensia or cushion-tussock type, including species such as Luzula spp., Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Ledum groenlandicum, Empetrum nigrum, and Arctostaphylos alpina. That type appears to fit well with this alliance. Other authors refer to this type as "alpine ridge community" or "alpine shrublands."
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is characterized by a dominance of dwarf-shrubs. There is a varying amount of exposed or lichen-covered rock.
Floristics: The dominant dwarf-shrub is Vaccinium uliginosum, often in associated with others such as Ledum groenlandicum, Betula glandulosa, Empetrum nigrum, Rhododendron lapponicum, Salix uva-ursi, and the herbs Juncus trifidus, Carex bigelowii, Sibbaldiopsis tridentata (= Potentilla tridentata), and Minuartia groenlandica.
Dynamics: This alliance is exposed to high winds and low temperatures; frost-heaving of the substrate often occurs.
Environmental Description: This alliance includes alpine dwarf-shrublands that typically occur above timberline on exposed, windswept mountain summits, ridges, and bedrock-dominated tablelands. Soils are acidic, well-drained gravel and sand with a shallow organic layer.
Geographic Range: These communities are restricted to alpine areas in the Northern Appalachian and eastern alpine regions on the Canadian Shield.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: ME, NH, NY, QC?, VT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899077
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 4 Polar & High Montane Scrub, Grassland & Barrens Class | C04 | 4 |
| Subclass | 4.B Temperate to Polar Alpine & Tundra Vegetation Subclass | S12 | 4.B |
| Formation | 4.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Alpine Tundra Formation | F037 | 4.B.1 |
| Division | 4.B.1.Na Eastern North American Alpine Tundra Division | D042 | 4.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 4.B.1.Na.1 Eastern North American Alpine Tundra Macrogroup | M131 | 4.B.1.Na.1 |
| Group | 4.B.1.Na.1.d <i>Vaccinium uliginosum - Diapensia lapponica - Carex bigelowii</i> Temperate Alpine Tundra Group | G909 | 4.B.1.Na.1.d |
| Alliance | A1116 Bog Blueberry - Mixed Alpine Heath Alliance | A1116 | 4.B.1.Na.1.d |
| Association | CEGL006155 Bog Blueberry - Mossplant - Alpine-azalea Dwarf-shrubland | CEGL006155 | 4.B.1.Na.1.d |
| Association | CEGL006298 Bog Blueberry - Lapland Rosebay / Highland Rush Dwarf-shrubland | CEGL006298 | 4.B.1.Na.1.d |
| Association | CEGL006533 Bog Blueberry / Shrubby Fivefingers Sparse Vegetation | CEGL006533 | 4.B.1.Na.1.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Alpine meadow (Thompson and Sorenson 2000)
< Dwarf shrub - bilberry - rush barren (Sperduto and Nichols 2004)
< Dwarf shrub heath (Bliss 1963)
< Dwarf shrub heath-rush (Bliss 1963)
>< Dwarf-shrub/sedge-rush meadows (Sperduto and Cogbill 1999)
= Heath alpine ridge (Gawler and Cutko 2010)
< Sedge-dwarf shrub-heath (Bliss 1963)
< Dwarf shrub - bilberry - rush barren (Sperduto and Nichols 2004)
< Dwarf shrub heath (Bliss 1963)
< Dwarf shrub heath-rush (Bliss 1963)
>< Dwarf-shrub/sedge-rush meadows (Sperduto and Cogbill 1999)
= Heath alpine ridge (Gawler and Cutko 2010)
< Sedge-dwarf shrub-heath (Bliss 1963)
- Bliss, L. C. 1963. Alpine plant communities of the Presidential Range, New Hampshire. Ecology 44:678-697.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Gawler, S. C., and A. Cutko. 2010. Natural landscapes of Maine: A classification of vegetated natural communities and ecosystems. Maine Natural Areas Program, Department of Conservation, Augusta.
- Jones, M., L. Willey, and M. Anions. 2012a. Vegetation. Pages 49-78 in: M. Jones and L. Willey, editors. Eastern alpine guide: Natural history and conservation of mountain tundra east of the Rockies. Beyond Ktaadn, Inc., and Boghaunter Books, New Salem, MA.
- Sperduto, D. D., and C. V. Cogbill. 1999. Alpine and subalpine vegetation of the White Mountains, New Hampshire. New Hampshire Natural Heritage Inventory, Concord, NH. 25 pp. plus figures.
- Sperduto, D. D., and W. F. Nichols. 2004. Natural communities of New Hampshire: A guide and classification. New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau, DRED Division of Forests and Lands, Concord. 242 pp.
- Thompson, E. H., and E. R. Sorenson. 2000. Wetland, woodland, wildland: A guide to the natural communities of Vermont. The Nature Conservancy and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. University Press of New England, Hanover, NH. 456 pp.