Print Report
A1493 Populus deltoides Dune Woodland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is found on dune systems in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada and is characterized by a very open canopy, ranging from 5-25%, with little subcanopy or shrub layer dominated by Populus deltoides.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern Cottonwood Dune Woodland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Great Lakes Eastern Cottonwood Dune Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance is found on dune systems in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. The canopy is very open, ranging from 5-25%, with little subcanopy or shrub layer. Populus deltoides is the dominant species. Juniperus virginiana can often co-occur and may codominate some examples. The ground layer is dominated by exposed sand, with a scattered herbaceous layer. Typical associates include Schizachyrium scoparium, Ammophila breviligulata, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and Poa compressa.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This community occurs in dune fields and on the most stable dune ridges in the southern Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada and is dominated by Populus deltoides, often in association with Juniperus virginiana.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance is poorly differentiated floristically from other parts of dune vegetation, but can be structurally distinctive. Further review is needed to determine if this is an alliance-level distinction.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is characterized by an open canopy with little subcanopy or shrub layer and a scattered herbaceous layer.
Floristics: Populus deltoides is the dominant species; Juniperus virginiana can often co-occur and may codominate some examples. Tilia americana, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Quercus spp. (including Quercus macrocarpa, Quercus rubra, and Quercus velutina), and other species may be present. Shrub and vine species include Cornus drummondii, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Rhus typhina, Salix amygdaloides, Salix exigua, Salix fragilis, and Vitis riparia. The ground layer is dominated by exposed sand, with a scattered herbaceous layer. Typical associates include Schizachyrium scoparium, Ammophila breviligulata, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and Poa compressa (Bakowsky and Lee 1996).
Dynamics: High winds and distance from the lake impact this alliance along with sand deposition, sand erosion, and stabilization.
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs in dune fields and on the most stable dune ridges.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the southern Great Lakes region, especially around Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, ranging from Ohio and Ontario east to Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: IN, MI, NY, OH, ON, PA, VT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899145
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation | F005 | 2.B.4 |
| Division | 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division | D026 | 2.B.4.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.4.Na.2 American Beachgrass - Sea-oats - Seaside Goldenrod Dune & Grassland Macrogroup | M057 | 2.B.4.Na.2 |
| Group | 2.B.4.Na.2.d Creeping Juniper - American Beachgrass Coastal Dune & Grassland Group | G089 | 2.B.4.Na.2.d |
| Alliance | A1493 Eastern Cottonwood Dune Woodland Alliance | A1493 | 2.B.4.Na.2.d |
| Association | CEGL005119 Eastern Cottonwood - (Eastern Red-cedar) Dune Woodland | CEGL005119 | 2.B.4.Na.2.d |
Concept Lineage: This is taken directly from old alliance A.1493.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Bakowsky, W. D., and H. T. Lee. 1996. Vegetation communities of southern Ontario (draft). Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre and Southern Region STTU, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 87 pp.
- 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.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., and Midwest State Natural Heritage Program Ecologists. 1996. Terrestrial vegetation of the midwest United States. International classification of ecological communities: Terrestrial vegetation of the United States. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.