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A3252 Thuja occidentalis Acidic Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: Northern forests dominated or characterized by Thuja occidentalis and found from south-central Canada to the northern Great Lakes states, northeastern U.S. and New Brunswick.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Northern White-cedar Acidic Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Northern White-cedar Acidic Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: The canopy may be very open to moderately dense and dominated by stunted Thuja occidentalis. Abies balsamea, Betula alleghaniensis, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and Tsuga canadensis are the most common codominant species; however Thuja occidentalis remains diagnostic of this alliance. Associated canopy species may include Betula papyrifera, Fraxinus americana, Picea rubens, Pinus resinosa, Pinus strobus, and Populus tremuloides. The understory may be sparse to well-developed with a prominent shrub/sapling layer. Common shrub species include Corylus cornuta, Diervilla lonicera, Gaylussacia baccata, Kalmia angustifolia, Linnaea borealis, Aronia melanocarpa, Ribes triste, Rubus pubescens, Taxus canadensis, and Vaccinium angustifolium. The ground layer is diverse on mesic stands and less so on steep, drier stands. Common herbaceous associates include Aralia nudicaulis, Eurybia macrophylla, Clintonia borealis, Coptis trifolia, Cornus canadensis, Galium triflorum, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Lycopodium spp., Maianthemum canadense, Mitella nuda, Onoclea sensibilis, and Trientalis borealis. Typical bryophytes include Dicranum spp., Hylocomium splendens, Leucobryum glaucum, Pleurozium schreberi, and Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus. These northern forests and woodlands occur in south-central Canada to the northern Great Lakes states, northeastern U.S. and New Brunswick. Communities in this alliance are found on gentle wet-mesic slopes to very steep well-drained slopes. The predominant aspect is north to northeast. Soils are fine-textured, calcareous, moderately deep to deep (50-100 cm), and often contain boulders at the surface. Stands are occasionally found in slightly acidic sites. The more open-canopy woodland forms of this alliance occur on calcareous bedrock outcrops and limestone cliffs.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Canopies are dominated by Thuja occidentalis. Other species may codominate on some sites; however Thuja occidentalis remains the diagnostic species of this alliance. Indicative of these communities is the presence of ericaceous shrubs and northern herbs such as Clintonia borealis, Coptis trifolia, Cornus canadensis, Maianthemum canadense, Trientalis borealis, etc., and lack of rich indicators such as Carex eburnea, Cystopteris bulbifera, Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, Solidago caesia, and others.
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: This alliance consists of forests and woodland dominated by a scale-leaved evergreen tree in association with a combination of needle-leaved evergreen and broad-leaved cold-deciduous trees. Understories consist of a mix of broad-leaved cold-deciduous shrubs and forbs.
Floristics: The canopy may be very open to moderately dense and dominated by stunted Thuja occidentalis. Abies balsamea, Betula alleghaniensis, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and Tsuga canadensis are the most common codominant species; however Thuja occidentalis remains the diagnostic species of this alliance. Associated canopy species may include Betula papyrifera, Fraxinus americana, Picea rubens, Pinus resinosa, Pinus strobus, and Populus tremuloides. The understory may be sparse to well-developed with a prominent shrub/sapling layer. Common shrub species include Corylus cornuta, Diervilla lonicera, Gaylussacia baccata, Kalmia angustifolia, Linnaea borealis, Aronia melanocarpa (= Photinia melanocarpa), Ribes triste, Rubus pubescens, Taxus canadensis, and Vaccinium angustifolium. The ground layer is diverse on mesic stands and less so on steep, drier stands. Common herbaceous associates include Aralia nudicaulis, Eurybia macrophylla (= Aster macrophyllus), Clintonia borealis, Coptis trifolia, Cornus canadensis, Galium triflorum, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Lycopodium spp., Maianthemum canadense, Mitella nuda, Onoclea sensibilis, and Trientalis borealis. Typical bryophytes include Dicranum spp., Hylocomium splendens, Leucobryum glaucum, Pleurozium schreberi, and Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Communities in this alliance are found on gentle, poorly drained lowland wet-mesic sites to very steep well-drained slopes (MNNHP 1993). The open woodland form of this alliance is typically found on calcareous rock outcrops, talus, glades, and limestone pavement. The predominant aspect is north to northeast. Soils are fine-textured and calcareous, and soil depth is dependent on substrate. Soils vary from nearly absent to moderately deep to deep (50-100 cm), and often contain boulders at the surface (Ohmann and Ream 1971, Sims et al. 1989).
Geographic Range: This alliance ranges from south-central Canada to the northern Great Lakes states, east to New York, northern New England, and New Brunswick.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: ME, MI, MN, NB, NH, NY, ON, QC?, VT, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899376
Confidence Level: Low
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.f Eastern Hemlock - Eastern White Pine - Yellow Birch Forest Group | G919 | 1.B.2.Na.7.f |
| Alliance | A3252 Northern White-cedar Acidic Forest Alliance | A3252 | 1.B.2.Na.7.f |
Concept Lineage: A142, A.417 and A.544, in part.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Northern White-Cedar: 37 (Eyre 1980) [upland portion]
? White Cedar Forest (Ohmann and Ream 1971) [Minnesota]
? White Cedar Forest (Ohmann and Ream 1971) [Minnesota]
- Beals, E., and G. Cottam. 1960. The forest vegetation of the Apostle Islands, Wisconsin. Ecology 41:743-751.
- 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.
- MNNHP [Minnesota Natural Heritage Program]. 1993. Minnesota''s native vegetation: A key to natural communities. Version 1.5. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, St. Paul, MN. 110 pp.
- Ohmann, L. F., and P. R. Ream. 1971. Wilderness ecology: Virgin plant communities of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Research Paper NC-63. USDA Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station, St. Paul, MN. 35 pp.
- Sims, R. A., W. D. Towill, K. A. Baldwin, and G. M. Wickware. 1989. Field guide to the forest ecosystem classification for northwestern Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Toronto. 191 pp.