Print Report
A3286 Ledum groenlandicum / Trichophorum cespitosum / Sphagnum spp. Alpine Bog & Fen Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance encompasses alpine bogs and fens occurring on plateaus in northern Newfoundland and Quebec, and on slopes and concavities at high elevations in New England and the Adirondack Mountains.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bog Labrador-tea / Tufted Bulrush / Peatmoss species Alpine Bog & Fen Alliance
Colloquial Name: Eastern Alpine Bog & Fen
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance encompasses alpine bogs and fens occurring on northern Newfoundland and Quebec, and on slopes and concavities at high elevations in New England and the Adirondack Mountains. It is dominated by Sphagnum spp., other mosses and lichens, and vascular plants such as Andromeda polifolia, Betula glandulosa, Chamaedaphne calyculata, Ledum groenlandicum, Rubus chamaemorus, and Vaccinium spp. Herbs include Eriophorum spp. and Trichophorum cespitosum.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Saturated high-elevation bog with abundant Chamaedaphne calyculata, Empetrum nigrum, Ledum groenlandicum, Rubus chamaemorus, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fuscum, and Trichophorum cespitosum, but lacking species of lower elevation bogs, including Gaylussacia baccata, Gaylussacia dumosa, Aronia melanocarpa, Sarracenia purpurea, 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: Sphagnum-dominated peatland with sedges and dwarf-shrubs rarely over 20 cm in height.
Floristics: This alliance is dominated by mosses, generally species of Sphagnum, including Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum rubellum, and Sphagnum russowii. Lichens are also present, generally Cladonia rangiferina (= Cladina rangiferina) and Cetraria islandica. Vascular plants include shrubs such as Andromeda polifolia, Betula glandulosa, Chamaedaphne calyculata, Empetrum nigrum, Geocaulon lividum, Kalmia angustifolia, Ledum groenlandicum (= Rhododendron groenlandicum), Rhododendron canadense, Rubus chamaemorus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Vaccinium uliginosum, and Vaccinium vitis-idaea. Herbs include Carex magellanica ssp. irrigua (= Carex paupercula), Carex pauciflora, Carex trisperma, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, and Drosera rotundifolia.
Dynamics: Saturated conditions are maintained by rainfall, fog drip, snowpack melt, and poor drainage. High rainfall can cause supersaturated conditions in bogs and fens forming on steep slopes, causing peat to slough off the slope.
Environmental Description: This alliance forms extensive mats on high plateaus in Newfoundland and Quebec, and in small bedrock depressions and concavities on gentle slopes of high New England peaks. Peat is moderately deep, ranging from 45-75 cm. Slopes generally range from 0-8° but occasionally reach as steep as 35°.
Geographic Range: This type is most common on plateaus in northern Newfoundland and Quebec, extending southward into the Northern Appalachians of the U.S.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: ME, NF, NH, NY, QC, VT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899410
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 4 Polar & High Montane Scrub, Grassland & Barrens Class | C04 | 4 |
| Subclass | 4.B Temperate to Polar Alpine & Tundra Vegetation Subclass | S12 | 4.B |
| Formation | 4.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Alpine Tundra Formation | F037 | 4.B.1 |
| Division | 4.B.1.Na Eastern North American Alpine Tundra Division | D042 | 4.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 4.B.1.Na.1 Eastern North American Alpine Tundra Macrogroup | M131 | 4.B.1.Na.1 |
| Group | 4.B.1.Na.1.d <i>Vaccinium uliginosum - Diapensia lapponica - Carex bigelowii</i> Temperate Alpine Tundra Group | G909 | 4.B.1.Na.1.d |
| Alliance | A3286 Bog Labrador-tea / Tufted Bulrush / Peatmoss species Alpine Bog & Fen Alliance | A3286 | 4.B.1.Na.1.d |
| Association | CEGL006140 Black Crowberry - Bog Blueberry - Small Cranberry / Cloudberry Dwarf-shrubland | CEGL006140 | 4.B.1.Na.1.d |
| Association | CEGL006425 Sheep Laurel - Leatherleaf / Cloudberry / Cup Lichen species Dwarf-shrubland | CEGL006425 | 4.B.1.Na.1.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Alpine bog (Gawler and Cutko 2010)
= Alpine bogs and fens (Jones et al. 2012a)
= Alpine peatland (Thompson and Sorenson 2000)
= Bog (Bliss 1963)
? Sliding fen (Sperduto and Cogbill 1999)
>< Subalpine bog (Sperduto and Cogbill 1999)
>< Subalpine sliding fen (Sperduto and Nichols 2004)
>< Wet alpine/subalpine bog (Sperduto and Nichols 2004)
= Alpine bogs and fens (Jones et al. 2012a)
= Alpine peatland (Thompson and Sorenson 2000)
= Bog (Bliss 1963)
? Sliding fen (Sperduto and Cogbill 1999)
>< Subalpine bog (Sperduto and Cogbill 1999)
>< Subalpine sliding fen (Sperduto and Nichols 2004)
>< Wet alpine/subalpine bog (Sperduto and Nichols 2004)
- Bliss, L. C. 1963. Alpine plant communities of the Presidential Range, New Hampshire. Ecology 44:678-697.
- Edinger, G. J., D. J. Evans, S. Gebauer, T. G. Howard, D. M. Hunt, and A. M. Olivero, editors. 2014a. Ecological communities of New York state. Second edition. A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke''s ecological communities of New York state. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
- 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.
- Gawler, S. C., and A. Cutko. 2010. Natural landscapes of Maine: A classification of vegetated natural communities and ecosystems. Maine Natural Areas Program, Department of Conservation, Augusta.
- Jones, M., L. Willey, and M. Anions. 2012a. Vegetation. Pages 49-78 in: M. Jones and L. Willey, editors. Eastern alpine guide: Natural history and conservation of mountain tundra east of the Rockies. Beyond Ktaadn, Inc., and Boghaunter Books, New Salem, MA.
- Sperduto, D. D., and C. V. Cogbill. 1999. Alpine and subalpine vegetation of the White Mountains, New Hampshire. New Hampshire Natural Heritage Inventory, Concord, NH. 25 pp. plus figures.
- Sperduto, D. D., and W. F. Nichols. 2004. Natural communities of New Hampshire: A guide and classification. New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau, DRED Division of Forests and Lands, Concord. 242 pp.
- Thompson, E. H., and E. R. Sorenson. 2000. Wetland, woodland, wildland: A guide to the natural communities of Vermont. The Nature Conservancy and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. University Press of New England, Hanover, NH. 456 pp.