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A3418 Picea rubens Northern Appalachian Swamp Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes swamp forests of the Northern Appalachians and southern Canada dominated by Picea rubens, often admixed with Abies balsamea, Acer rubrum and Betula alleghaniensis.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red Spruce Northern Appalachian Swamp Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Acadian-Appalachian Acidic Swamp Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance includes swamp forests of the Northern Appalachians and southern Canada dominated by Picea rubens, often admixed with Abies balsamea, Acer rubrum, and Betula alleghaniensis. These swamp forests are generally not "boggy" in nature, and lack significant peat, although deep muck may overlie mineral soil. The shrub layer is characterized by Ilex mucronata, Vaccinium corymbosum, Ilex verticillata, and Sorbus americana. The herbaceous layer is characterized by Carex trisperma, Clintonia borealis, Gaultheria hispidula, and others of northern climates. This alliance includes red spruce-fir- or fir-dominated swamps of northern and/or montane regions of the eastern United States and Canada. Canopy associates may include Acer rubrum, Betula alleghaniensis, Tsuga canadensis, and Larix laricina. Communities of this alliance are "swamps" as opposed to "bog forests" in that they lack significant Sphagnum peat accumulation. Soils are saturated mucks over generally acidic outwash materials and other mineral soils in the glaciated and unglaciated portions of the range. Although Picea rubens is the predominant spruce, Picea mariana or Picea glauca are occasionally dominant in the northern portion of the range. Typical understory species include Vaccinium corymbosum, Ilex mucronata, Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, and, in the southern portion of the range, Rhododendron maximum or Hypericum densiflorum. Ground flora includes Carex trisperma, Coptis trifolia, Cornus canadensis, Maianthemum canadense, Osmunda cinnamomea, Oxalis montana, and Gaultheria hispidula. Feathermosses are common and Sphagnum is patchy.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Swamp forest of the Northern Appalachians and southern Canada, dominated by Picea rubens and Abies balsamea.
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 ranges from wholly coniferous to a mixture of coniferous and deciduous trees. The tree canopy ranges from closed to partially open. The shrub and herbaceous layers are generally well developed (more so with a more open or deciduous canopy), and the nonvascular layer can range from patchy to well-developed.
Floristics: This swamp forest alliance is characterized by abundant Picea rubens and Abies balsamea. Canopy associates may include Acer rubrum, Betula alleghaniensis, Pinus strobus, Thuja occidentalis, Tsuga canadensis, and Larix laricina. Picea mariana or Picea glauca are occasionally dominant in the northern portion of the range (Reschke 1990). Typical understory species include Ilex verticillata, Kalmia angustifolia, Ilex mucronata (= Nemopanthus mucronatus), Vaccinium corymbosum, and Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides (= Viburnum cassinoides). Other shrub associates may include Rhododendron canadense, Ledum groenlandicum, and Kalmia polifolia. At the southern range limit, Clethra alnifolia and Rhododendron viscosum may also occur. Ground flora includes Aralia nudicaulis, Carex trisperma, Clintonia borealis, Coptis trifolia, Cornus canadensis, Gaultheria hispidula, Linnaea borealis, Maianthemum canadense, Maianthemum trifolium (= Smilacina trifolia), Oclemena acuminata, Osmunda cinnamomea, Oxalis montana, and Trientalis borealis. The nonvascular layer varies in cover, and often includes Bazzania trilobata, Pleurozium schreberi, Sphagnum angustifolium, and Sphagnum girgensohnii.
Dynamics: Trees are shallow-rooted and are often uprooted by strong winds.
Environmental Description: Associations of this alliance are "swamps" as opposed to "bog forests" in that they lack significant Sphagnum peat accumulation. Soils are saturated mucks over generally acidic outwash materials and other mineral soils in the glaciated and unglaciated portions of the range. These swamp forests occur in poorly drained flats, topographic basins, or in streamside wetland complexes that do not receive alluvial flooding.
Geographic Range: This alliance ranges from southeastern Canada to Massachusetts and Connecticut, where it generally occurs at higher elevations.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: CT, MA, ME, NB, NH, NJ, NY, ON, PA, QC, RI, VT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899542
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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.3 <i>Tsuga canadensis - Fraxinus nigra - Larix laricina</i> Flooded & Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M504 | 1.B.3.Na.3 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.3.c Red Maple - Red Spruce - Eastern Hemlock Swamp Group | G045 | 1.B.3.Na.3.c |
| Alliance | A3418 Red Spruce Northern Appalachian Swamp Forest Alliance | A3418 | 1.B.3.Na.3.c |
| Association | CEGL006198 Red Spruce - Red Maple / Catberry Swamp Forest | CEGL006198 | 1.B.3.Na.3.c |
| Association | CEGL006312 Red Spruce - Balsam Fir / Creeping Snowberry / Cinnamon Fern / Peatmoss species Swamp Forest | CEGL006312 | 1.B.3.Na.3.c |
Concept Lineage: A.450 and A.202 and A.198
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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.
- 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.
- Reschke, C. 1990. Ecological communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Latham, NY. 96 pp.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.