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A1761 Myriophyllum sibiricum - Myriophyllum hippuroides Aquatic Vegetation Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This aquatic floating alliance is known from mountain lakes and ponds and is dominated by Myriophyllum sibiricum with as little as 5% surface canopy cover, but more typically it falls in the 40-80% range. Ponds are generally less than 200 square meters in size and no more than 1-2 m deep.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Short-spike Water-milfoil - Western Water-milfoil Aquatic Vegetation Alliance
Colloquial Name: Western Water-milfoil Aquatic Vegetation
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of floating aquatic vegetation dominated by Myriophyllum sibiricum sometimes in concentric rings of Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, Carex spp., and Salix species. Ponds typically have concentric rings, or zones of vegetation, with Myriophyllum sibiricum occupying the deepest portion of relatively shallow ponds. Total canopy coverage on the water surface may be as little as 5%, but more typically it falls in the 40-80% range. It occurs in small ponds typically less than 200 square meters in size and no more than 1-2 m deep. It occurs from sea level to 2600 m (8300 feet) in elevation. Water can be quite saline and the plants heavily encrusted with lime salts.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Aquatic beds dominated by Myriophyllum sibiricum.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: More information is needed about the ecology and distribution of this community.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Aquatic floating herbaceous forb on pond surfaces with 10-70% canopy cover, within 10 cm in height above the water surface (Hickman 1996, Culver and Sanderson 1997).
Floristics: Myriophyllum sibiricum dominates the forb layer with up to 70% cover, sometimes in concentric rings of Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (= Scirpus validus), Carex spp., and Salix species. Other aquatic macrophytes include Ranunculus trichophyllus, Potamogeton spp., and Utricularia macrorhiza. Ponds typically have concentric rings, or zones of vegetation, with Myriophyllum sibiricum occupying the deepest portion of relatively shallow ponds. Total canopy coverage on the water surface may be as little as 5%, but more typically it falls in the 40-80% range.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Vegetation types within this alliance generally occur in shallow ponds and along shores of shallow lakes, in eutrophic conditions. The ponds are typically still and shallow (up to 1.5 m or slightly more). Elevations range from 1500 to 2700 m. Nutrient-rich water (which may result from an influx of sewage, livestock waste, etc.) characterizes its environment (Sanderson and Kettler 1996). Surface water (often alkaline) persists throughout the growing season. Soils remain saturated even when the water level drops below the soil surface. Soil texture ranges from loamy to clay loam, and typically a clay lens is located under the pond and pond edges. Due to the anaerobic conditions, peaty soils usually greater than 40 cm form. Mottling occurs within the first 10-15 cm and gleyed soils are very common (Culver and Sanderson 1997).
Geographic Range: This alliance is known from Alberta and Colorado, and is likely to occur in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and California.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, BC, CA?, CO, ID?, MT?, OR, WA, WY?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899172
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 5 Aquatic Vegetation Class | C05 | 5 |
| Subclass | 5.B Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Subclass | S13 | 5.B |
| Formation | 5.B.2 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Formation | F057 | 5.B.2 |
| Division | 5.B.2.Na North American Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Division | D049 | 5.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 5.B.2.Na.2 Rocky Mountain Pond-lily - Pacific Mosquito Fern - Western Waterweed Western North American Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Macrogroup | M109 | 5.B.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 5.B.2.Na.2.a Pond-lily species - Pondweed species - Duckweed species Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Group | G544 | 5.B.2.Na.2.a |
| Alliance | A1761 Short-spike Water-milfoil - Western Water-milfoil Aquatic Vegetation Alliance | A1761 | 5.B.2.Na.2.a |
| Association | CEGL002000 Short-spike Water-milfoil Aquatic Vegetation | CEGL002000 | 5.B.2.Na.2.a |
| Association | CEGL003331 Western Water-milfoil Aquatic Vegetation | CEGL003331 | 5.B.2.Na.2.a |
Concept Lineage: equivalent to A.1761
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Ditch-grass Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
? Montane, Plains, and Great Basin Marshlands (Brown 1982a)
? Montane, Plains, and Great Basin Marshlands (Brown 1982a)
- Brown, D. E., editor. 1982a. Biotic communities of the American Southwest-United States and Mexico. Desert Plants Special Issue 4(1-4):1-342.
- Cooper, D. J. 1993a. Wetlands of the Crested Butte region: Mapping, functional evaluation, and hydrologic regime. Prepared for Town of Crested Butte and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region VIII, Denver, CO.
- Culver, D. R., and J. S. Sanderson. 1997. A Natural Heritage assessment of wetland and riparian areas in Summit County, Colorado. Report prepared for the Department of Natural Resources, Denver, CO, by Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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.
- Johnson, K. R. 1939. Plant ecology of northwestern Colorado lakes and surrounding areas. Unpublished dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder. 138 pp.
- Johnson, K. R. 1941. Vegetation of some mountain lakes and shores in northwestern Colorado. Ecology 22:306-316.
- Kartesz, J. T. 1994a. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. Second edition. Volume 1--Checklist. Timber Press, Portland, OR. 622 pp.
- Sanderson, J., and S. Kettler. 1996. A preliminary wetland vegetation classification for a portion of Colorado''s west slope. Report prepared for Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Denver, CO, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region VIII, Denver, CO. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins, CO. 243 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.