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A3836 Picea mariana / Sphagnum spp. Eastern Boreal Treed Bog Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This acidic bog forest alliance is found in the Great Lakes and northeastern parts of the United States and the Ontario and Quebec boreal region in Canada (excluding Atlantic Boreal region). Tree canopy cover is variable but generally exceeds 10%. Stunted Picea mariana trees (<10 m tall) dominate the canopy, which may also include scattered Larix laricina. The dwarf-shrub layer is dominated by ericaceous species.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Spruce / Peatmoss species Eastern Boreal Treed Bog Alliance

Colloquial Name: Eastern Boreal-Subboreal Black Spruce Treed Bog

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This bog forest alliance is found in the Great Lakes and northeastern parts of the United States and the Ontario and Quebec boreal region in Canada (excluding Atlantic boreal region). Tree canopy cover is variable but generally exceeds 10%. Stunted Picea mariana trees (<10 m tall) dominate the canopy, which may also include scattered Larix laricina. The dwarf-shrub layer is dominated by ericaceous species, such as Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla, Chamaedaphne calyculata, Kalmia polifolia, and Ledum groenlandicum. Kalmia angustifolia is common in the eastern part of the range (Quebec). Herbaceous species include Carex trisperma and Eriophorum vaginatum. Sphagnum mosses (usually Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum angustifolium, and Sphagnum magellanicum) cover the ground layer, with scattered feathermosses Pleurozium schreberi, Dicranum undulatum, and Polytrichum strictum. This alliance is best developed on the crests and upper slopes of raised bogs within bog complexes, but is also found in basin bogs and occasionally on shores (but isolated from groundwater contact). Here, sphagnum mosses can prevent most tree reproduction except that of Picea mariana and Larix laricina, which can reproduce by layering. The substrate consists of deep, fibric peat.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Tree canopy cover is variable but generally exceeds 10%. Stunted Picea mariana trees (between 2 and 10 m tall) dominate the canopy, which may also include scattered Larix laricina. The dwarf-shrub layer is dominated by ericaceous species, such as Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla, Chamaedaphne calyculata, Kalmia polifolia, and Ledum groenlandicum. Herbaceous species include Carex trisperma, Drosera spp., Eriophorum vaginatum, and Sarracenia purpurea. A thick sphagnum mat covers the ground layer, with Sphagnum mosses (usually Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum angustifolium, and Sphagnum magellanicum). When compared to poor shrub bogs (Chamaedaphne calyculata saturated dwarf-shrublands), in addition to the obvious structural differences, species considered diagnostic for this wooded alliance in northern Minnesota and Ontario include Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Gaultheria hispidula, Maianthemum trifolium, and Carex trisperma, but this needs rangewide review.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Although the original concept of this alliance extended to Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, they have been moved to a cool-temperate black spruce swamp type, where cool-temperate indicators such as Acer rubrum, Betula alleghaniensis, Tsuga canadensis, and other more temperate (and somewhat more minerotrophic), species are also present. Review of ~Picea mariana / (Vaccinium corymbosum, Gaylussacia baccata) / Sphagnum sp. Swamp Woodland (CEGL006098)$$ is needed, as it is also temperate rather than boreal. This type is excluded from the Atlantic boreal region, where ~Picea mariana / Kalmia angustifolia / Sphagnum spp. Atlantic Swamp Forest Alliance (A4102)$$ is found, based on Canadian NVC concepts. But that alliance may only include poor swamps.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Tree canopy cover is variable but generally exceeds 10%. Stunted conifers (<10 m tall) dominate the canopy. The dwarf-shrub layer is dominated by ericaceous species. Stands are found on deep, fibric, often raised peat mats.

Floristics: Stunted Picea mariana trees (<10 m tall) dominate the canopy, which may also include scattered Larix laricina. The dwarf-shrub layer is dominated by ericaceous species, such as Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla (= Andromeda glaucophylla), Chamaedaphne calyculata, Kalmia polifolia, and Ledum groenlandicum. Kalmia angustifolia is common in the eastern part of the range (Quebec). Herbaceous species include Carex trisperma and Eriophorum vaginatum. Sphagnum mosses (usually Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum angustifolium, and Sphagnum magellanicum) cover the ground layer, with scattered feathermosses Pleurozium schreberi, Dicranum undulatum, and Polytrichum strictum.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This alliance is best developed on the crests and upper slopes of raised bogs within bog complexes, but is also found in basin bogs and occasionally on shores (but isolated from groundwater contact). Here, sphagnum mosses can prevent most tree reproduction except that of Picea mariana and Larix laricina, which can reproduce by layering. The substrate consists of deep, fibric peat.
Geographic Range: This type is found in eastern Ontario and Quebec, and adjacent northern regions of the northeastern United States from the western Great Lakes to northern New England. It does not extend into the Atlantic boreal region.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  LB?, MB, ME, MI, MN, NB, NF?, NH, NS?, NY, ON, QC, VT, WI


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.1 Leatherleaf - Small Cranberry - Few-seed Sedge Bog & Acidic Fen Macrogroup M876 2.C.2.Na.1
Group 2.C.2.Na.1.a Leatherleaf - Few-seed Sedge - Bog Laurel Boreal Bog & Acidic Fen Group G748 2.C.2.Na.1.a
Alliance A3836 Black Spruce / Peatmoss species Eastern Boreal Treed Bog Alliance A3836 2.C.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL002485 Black Spruce / Bog Labrador-tea / Three-seeded Sedge / Peatmoss species Open Bog Woodland CEGL002485 2.C.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL005218 Black Spruce / Leatherleaf / Peatmoss species Open Bog Woodland CEGL005218 2.C.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL006082 Black Spruce / Cloudberry / Peatmoss species Swamp Woodland CEGL006082 2.C.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL006098 Black Spruce / (Highbush Blueberry, Black Huckleberry) / Peatmoss species Swamp Woodland CEGL006098 2.C.2.Na.1.a
Concept Lineage: Picea mariana Saturated Woodland Alliance (A.585) but the new alliance represents the northeastern part of the range of the new alliance. A fuller concept should be developed, very similar to the new Picea mariana - Larix laricina / Sphagnum Poor Swamp Forest Alliance, that incorporates that new alliance plus A.585.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? "spruce - fir swamp" (Hutton 1974)
? "swamp forest" (Walbridge and Lang 1982)
>< Black Spruce: 12 (Eyre 1980)
? Semi-treed bog: Black Spruce/Ericaceous Shrub/Sphagnum (Harris et al. 1996) [(W25)]
Concept Author(s): A.G. Harris et al. (1996)

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by K. Baldwin.

Version Date: 06-09-15
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