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A1499 Pinus banksiana - Pinus spp. - Quercus spp. Barrens Woodland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is found only in the Great Lakes region on dry, sandy sites and is typically dominated by Pinus banksiana, with some examples codominated by Quercus ellipsoidalis and with graminoids dominating the herbaceous stratum.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Jack Pine - Pine species - Oak species Barrens Woodland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Laurentian Pine-Oak Barrens
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance is found only in the Great Lakes region, and occurs on dry, sandy sites. Stands have widely spaced individual or clumps of trees with a canopy generally less than 25% but some examples can be more closed (>60%). In the interior of lower Michigan the average tree height is 8 m. The herbaceous layer is dense to moderate. Shrubs are rare to abundant. Graminoids dominate the herbaceous stratum. Schizachyrium scoparium and Carex spp. are widespread in stands of this alliance. Pinus banksiana is the most common tree species, but this alliance includes stands that are dominated to codominated by Quercus ellipsoidalis. Other trees that can be abundant include Pinus resinosa, Pinus strobus, Populus grandidentata, Populus tremuloides, and Quercus macrocarpa. The topography of stands of this alliance is flat to rolling with sandy, acidic, droughty and infertile soils. They occur predominantly on glacial outwash or the sandy beds of former lakes. Fire can be important in maintaining the open structure of this alliance. Near the Great Lakes, changes in water table can impact the composition of this alliance.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Sparse to closed-canopy pines (primarily Pinus banksiana but can include Pinus resinosa and/or Pinus strobus) with dune and prairie herbaceous species in the understory. These species can include Carex spp. and Schizachyrium scoparium. Some stands may be dominated by shrubby oaks such as Quercus ellipsoidalis. Found specifically in the Great Lakes region on sandy soils.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is a mostly barren-type alliance but does include one forested association. This association occurs on the same geography and doesn''t warrant a separate alliance as it lacks distinct diagnostic species to separate it from the surrounding barrens. Also included is a shrubland association that likely occurs due to very frequent burning of pine barrens stands to manage for sharp-tailed grouse (E. Epstein pers. comm. 1997). Likewise, an association dominated by Populus tremuloides, which may have increased due to very frequent burning of pine barrens stands to manage for sharp-tailed grouse, is included here (E. Epstein pers. comm. 1997).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands have widely spaced individual or clumps of trees with a canopy generally less than 25% to areas of moderately closed-canopy woodlands with a graminoid understory. Some areas have denser canopies and are more forested in appearance while maintaining a graminoid understory. In some examples, the trees may be stunted. The herbaceous layer is dense to moderate. Shrubs are rare to abundant.
Floristics: Graminoids dominate the herbaceous stratum. Schizachyrium scoparium and Carex spp., especially Carex pensylvanica, are widespread in stands of this alliance. Andropogon gerardii, Calamovilfa longifolia, Danthonia spicata, Hesperostipa spartea (= Stipa spartea), Koeleria macrantha, and Poa pratensis are common but rarely dominant. Forbs include Dalea spp., Euphorbia corollata, Liatris spp., Solidago nemoralis, and Symphyotrichum oolentangiense (= Aster oolentangiensis). The most abundant tree species is usually Pinus banksiana, but this alliance includes stands that are dominated to codominated by Quercus ellipsoidalis. Other trees that can be abundant include Pinus resinosa, Populus grandidentata, Populus tremuloides, and Quercus macrocarpa. Common shrubs are Comptonia peregrina, Corylus americana, Gaylussacia baccata, Salix humilis, and Vaccinium spp. Along the shores of the Great Lakes in Michigan, the low shrubs Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Hudsonia tomentosa, Juniperus horizontalis, and Juniperus communis are often abundant with Ammophila breviligulata occurring in the herbaceous layer and Pinus strobus often in the tree layer. Semi-aquatic species can be found in low areas (Chapman et al. 1989).
Dynamics: Near the Great Lakes in lower Michigan, changes in the water table can affect the floristic composition (Zimmerman 1956). Fire is very important in maintaining the open character of some examples of this alliance (Curtis 1959, Vogl 1961). In the prolonged absence of fire, the tree canopy fills in and stands become woodlands or forests.
Environmental Description: The topography of stands of this alliance is flat to rolling. The soils are sandy, acidic, droughty, and infertile (Zimmerman 1956, Vogl 1970). They occur predominantly on glacial outwash or the sandy beds of former lakes. These sands have poor nutrient-retaining capability due to the continuous presence of acidic pine litter during the Holocene, low concentrations of divalent cations in the parent material, and the sandy, well-drained character of the soils (Almendinger 1986). The soils are mostly Entisols; some transient stands may be on Mollisols (Almendinger 1986). The Entisols are usually fine to coarse sands but can be loamy sands.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and in Canada in Ontario and Manitoba.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: IL, IN, MB, MI, MN, ON, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899146
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Pine Barrens (Vogl 1970)
? Pine Barrens (Curtis 1959) [Wisconsin]
? Savannas (Zimmerman 1956)
? Pine Barrens (Curtis 1959) [Wisconsin]
? Savannas (Zimmerman 1956)
- Almendinger, J. C. 1986. The natural history of the Paul Bunyan Arboretum. Unpublished paper. Department of Ecology and Behavioral Biology, University of Minnesota.
- Chapman, K. A., D. A. Albert, and G. A. Reese. 1989. Draft descriptions of Michigan''s natural community types. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Lansing, MI. 35 pp.
- Curtis, J. T. 1959. The vegetation of Wisconsin: An ordination of plant communities. Reprinted in 1987. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 657 pp.
- Epstein, Eric. Personal communication. Community Ecologist, Wisconsin Natural Heritage Program, Madison, WI.
- 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.
- Vogl, R. J. 1961. The effects of fire on some upland vegetation types. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Wisconsin. 103 pp.
- Vogl, R. J. 1970. Fire and the northern Wisconsin pine barrens. Proceedings of Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference 10:175-209.
- Zimmerman, D. A. 1956. The jack pine association in the lower peninsula of Michigan: Its structure and composition. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Michigan.