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A3432 Myrica gale - Spiraea douglasii Alkaline Fen Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of shrublands dominated by Myrica gale and/or Spiraea douglasii. These are fens with neutral to alkaline pH (wetlands with at least 30 cm of organic with exposure to groundwater) that occur within the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sweetgale - Rose Spirea Alkaline Fen Alliance
Colloquial Name: Sweetgale - Rose Spirea Alkaline Fen
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of shrublands dominated by Myrica gale, Spiraea douglasii, and/or other shrub species. This vegetation has a dense, short-shrub layer (<2 m tall) that is dominated by cold-deciduous shrubs. The herbaceous layer ranges from sparse to dense. Dense herbaceous layers are typically dominated by perennial graminoids, but forbs and graminoids may occur as an even mixture. Moss cover is important in some stands. These are fens with neutral to alkaline pH (wetlands with at least 30 cm of organic with exposure to groundwater) that occur within the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska. Stands are found along seasonally flooded stream terraces and lakeshores in typically broad valleys. Sites are nearly level to gently sloping. The soils are saturated throughout the growing season, are organic and have contact with groundwater most of the year.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Organic soil wetlands with at least 30 cm deep organic layer; tallest canopy layer is dominated (at least 25%) by shrubs.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Wetlands with organic soils that have access or are regularly exposed to nutrient-rich groundwater flows.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This vegetation has a dense, short-shrub layer (<2 m tall) that is dominated by cold-deciduous shrubs. The herbaceous layer ranges from sparse to dense. Dense herbaceous layers are typically dominated by perennial graminoids, but forbs and graminoids may occur as an even mixture. Moss cover is important in some stands.
Floristics: Stands have a dense, short-shrub layer that is dominated by Spiraea douglasii and/or Myrica gale. Other shrub present include Alnus incana, Crataegus douglasii, Rubus lasiococcus, Rubus ursinus, Salix spp., Symphoricarpos albus, Vaccinium cespitosum, and/or Vaccinium uliginosum. The herbaceous layer is sparse to dense. Dominant species include graminoids Agrostis humilis (= Agrostis thurberiana), Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex spp., and Phalaris arundinacea. Herbaceous forb species may include Comarum palustre (= Potentilla palustris), Heracleum maximum (= Heracleum lanatum), Ligusticum grayi, Mertensia spp., Parnassia fimbriata, Senecio triangularis, and Trifolium longipes.
Dynamics: Spiraea douglasii is adapted to fire and quickly resprouts following a burn (Hansen et al. 1995).
Environmental Description: Elevations range from 550-1040 m. Stands are found along seasonally flooded stream terraces and lakeshores in typically broad valleys. Sites are nearly level to gently sloping. The soils are saturated throughout the growing season, are organic and have contact with groundwater most of the year.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found along the Pacific Coast from central coastal and southeastern Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon to northern California, in and west of the coastal mountain summits but including the Puget Sound lowlands.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AK, BC, CA, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899555
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.2 Temperate to Polar Bog & Fen Formation | F016 | 2.C.2 |
| Division | 2.C.2.Na North American Bog & Fen Division | D029 | 2.C.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.2.Na.3 Beach Pine / Bog Labrador-tea / Cusick''s Sedge North Pacific Bog & Fen Macrogroup | M063 | 2.C.2.Na.3 |
| Group | 2.C.2.Na.3.a Cusick''s Sedge - Water Sedge - Sweetgale Alkaline Fen Group | G285 | 2.C.2.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A3432 Sweetgale - Rose Spirea Alkaline Fen Alliance | A3432 | 2.C.2.Na.3.a |
| Association | CEGL003376 Sweetgale - (Sitka Sedge, Northwest Territory Sedge) Fen | CEGL003376 | 2.C.2.Na.3.a |
| Association | CEGL003415 Rose Spirea / Sitka Sedge Fen | CEGL003415 | 2.C.2.Na.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Eastside Lowland Riparian Shrublands (Chappell et al. 1997)
- Boggs, K., P. Hansen, R. Pfister, and J. Joy. 1990. Classification and management of riparian and wetland sites in northwestern Montana. Draft version I. Report prepared for the Montana Riparian Association and Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana, Missoula. 216 pp.
- Chappell, C., R. Crawford, J. Kagan, and P. J. Doran. 1997. A vegetation, land use, and habitat classification system for the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of Oregon and Washington. Unpublished report prepared for Wildlife habitat and species associations within Oregon and Washington landscapes: Building a common understanding for management. Prepared by Washington and Oregon Natural Heritage Programs, Olympia, WA, and Portland, OR. 177 pp.
- Christy, J. A., J. S. Kagan, and A. M. Wiedemann. 1998. Plant associations of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area - Siuslaw National Forest, Oregon. Technical Paper R6-NR-ECOL-TP-09-98. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 196 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.
- Hansen, P. L., R. D. Pfister, K. Boggs, B. J. Cook, J. Joy, and D. K. Hinckley. 1995. Classification and management of Montana''s riparian and wetland sites. Miscellaneous Publication No. 54. Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana. 646 pp. plus posters.
- Hansen, P., K. Boggs, and R. Pfister. 1991. Classification and management of riparian and wetland sites in Montana. Unpublished draft version prepared for Montana Riparian Association, Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana, Missoula. 478 pp.
- Hemstrom, M. A., S. E. Logan, and W. Pavlat. 1987. Plant association and management guide, Willamette National Forest. Report R6-Ecol 257-B-86. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 312 pp.
- Kovalchik, B. L. 1987. Riparian zone associations - Deschutes, Ochoco, Fremont, and Winema national forests. Technical Paper 279-87. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 171 pp.
- Kovalchik, B. L. 1993. Riparian plant associations on the national forests of eastern Washington - Draft version 1. USDA Forest Service, Colville National Forest, Colville, WA. 203 pp.