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A3241 Quercus rubra - Acer saccharum - Betula alleghaniensis Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is regarded as the "red oak" version of northern hardwood forests and woodlands characterized by a mixture of Acer saccharum and Quercus rubra in association with other hardwood species. It is found in the north-central and northeastern United States and southern Canada.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Northern Red Oak - Sugar Maple - Yellow Birch Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Appalachian-Acadian Red Oak - Northern Hardwood Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance is regarded as the "red oak" version of northern hardwood forests and woodlands. Canopy composition is a variable mixture of hardwood species. Quercus rubra (usually at least 30% of the canopy) is considered the diagnostic species. The most common codominant species include Acer saccharum, Acer rubrum, Betula alleghaniensis, and Fagus grandifolia. Other minor canopy species may include Betula papyrifera, Betula populifolia, Populus grandidentata, and Prunus pensylvanica. Conifers, if present, generally make up less than 20% of the canopy cover and may include Pinus strobus or Tsuga canadensis. A subcanopy composed of Acer pensylvanicum and Acer spicatum may be present. Typical shrubs include Acer pensylvanicum, Amelanchier spp., Corylus cornuta, Hamamelis virginiana, Lindera benzoin, and Viburnum acerifolium. The herb layer may be quite diverse depending on site characteristics. Species may include Actaea pachypoda, Actaea rubra, Arabis spp., Arisaema triphyllum, Carex blanda, Carex laxiflora, Carex pedunculata, Carex platyphylla, Festuca subverticillata, Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, Packera obovata, Phegopteris hexagonoptera, Polygonatum pubescens, Thalictrum dioicum, Thalictrum thalictroides, Viola rotundifolia, and Viola sororia. This alliance is found in the north-central and northeastern United States and southern Canada. These forests typically occur on deep, moist to well-drained loams and silt loams on north and east midslopes to mesic ridgetops and coves, but stands may also occur on talus slopes or dry-mesic fine sandy loams and loamy sands.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Diagnostic of this alliance is the prominence of Quercus rubra (>30 total canopy cover) in association with Acer saccharum, or in some cases Betula alleghaniensis as opposed to other northern hardwood types lacking Quercus rubra.
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: The structure of associations in this alliance may take on forest or woodland physiognomy. The canopy is open to closed (<50-100% cover) and characterized by broad-leaved cold-deciduous trees. The shrub layer is dominated by broad-leaved cold-deciduous species and the herbaceous layer is usually well-developed and lush, comprised largely of leafy forbs.
Floristics: Canopy composition is a variable mixture of hardwood species and is open to closed (<50-100% cover). Quercus rubra (usually at least 30% of the canopy) is considered the diagnostic species. The most common codominant species include Acer saccharum, Acer rubrum, Betula alleghaniensis, and Fagus grandifolia. Other minor canopy species may include Betula papyrifera, Betula populifolia, Populus grandidentata, and Prunus pensylvanica. Conifers, if present, generally make up less than 20% of the canopy cover and may include Pinus strobus or Tsuga canadensis. A subcanopy composed of Acer pensylvanicum and Acer spicatum may be present. Typical shrubs include Acer pensylvanicum, Amelanchier spp., Corylus cornuta, Hamamelis virginiana, Lindera benzoin, and Viburnum acerifolium. The herb layer may be quite diverse depending on site characteristics. Species may include Actaea pachypoda, Actaea rubra, Arabis spp., Arisaema triphyllum, Carex blanda, Carex laxiflora, Carex pedunculata, Carex platyphylla, Festuca subverticillata, Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa (= Hepatica americana), Packera obovata (= Senecio obovatus), Phegopteris hexagonoptera (= Thelypteris hexagonoptera), Polygonatum pubescens, Thalictrum dioicum, Thalictrum thalictroides (= Anemonella thalictroides), Viola rotundifolia, and Viola sororia.
Dynamics: Historically, fire probably maintained stands in this alliance by decreasing competing woody species and improving light and moisture conditions for oak seedlings. Successful establishment of Quercus rubra and other associated oaks in this alliance is usually thought to require oak saplings in the understory prior to canopy disturbances or large-scale fires that remove competitors (Crow 1988, Nowacki et al. 1990). Current Quercus rubra-dominated stands in parts of this alliance''s range may result from a combination of natural and human-caused disturbances (Nowacki et al. 1990).
Environmental Description: These forests and woodlands are distributed across the glaciated northern U.S. and Canada. They typically occur on slightly acidic, deep, moist to well-drained loams and silt loams on northern and eastern midslopes and coves. Stand may occasionally occur on ridges and talus slopes where soils are thin, patchy, and nutrient-poor. Some stands also occur on dry-mesic fine sandy loams and loamy sands (Nowacki et al. 1990). Elevations range from low to moderate up to ~800 m.
Geographic Range: This alliance ranges from New Brunswick to Ontario and Quebec, south to Minnesota, east to New England, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: CT, MA, ME, MI, MN, NB, NH, NJ, NY, ON, PA, QC, RI, VT, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899365
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D008 | 1.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Na.7 Sugar Maple - Yellow Birch - Eastern Hemlock Forest Macrogroup | M014 | 1.B.2.Na.7 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.7.I <i>Acer saccharum - Fagus grandifolia - Acer pensylvanicum</i> Forest Group | G922 | 1.B.2.Na.7.I |
| Alliance | A3241 Northern Red Oak - Sugar Maple - Yellow Birch Forest Alliance | A3241 | 1.B.2.Na.7.I |
Concept Lineage: Revised A0251 (archived) to restrict it to northeast and Midwest and A.624.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Northern Red Oak: 55 (Eyre 1980)
- Crow, T. R. 1988. Reproductive mode and mechanisms for self-replacement of northern red oak (Quercus rubra)--a review. Forest Science 34:19-40.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 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.
- Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
- Nowacki, G. J., M. D. Abrams, and C. G. Lorimer. 1990. Composition, structure, and historical development of northern red oak stands along an edaphic gradient in north-central Wisconsin. Forest Science 36(2):276-292.
- Smith, T. L. 1991. Natural ecological communities of Pennsylvania. First revision. Unpublished report. Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy, Middletown, PA. 111 pp.
- Swain, P. C., and J. B. Kearsley. 2001. Classification of natural communities of Massachusetts. September 2001 draft. Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, MA.