Print Report
A3840 Pinus banksiana - Pinus resinosa / Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Subboreal Sand Woodland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This dry, fire-dependent conifer subboreal woodland alliance is found on sandy sites in the northwestern upper Great Lakes region of Minnesota, Ontario and southeastern Manitoba. Stands are dominated by Pinus banksiana. Pinus resinosa and Populus tremuloides are common; Quercus ellipsoidalis is occasional.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Jack Pine - Red Pine / Kinnikinnick Subboreal Sand Woodland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Subboreal Jack Pine - Red Pine Sand Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance is found in the upper Great Lakes region of the northern United States and adjacent central Canada, especially northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Ontario. Stands occur on flat to rolling topography with relatively infertile sandy soils. Stands are dominated by conifers. Shrubs may be fairly scattered and the ground layer rather depauperate. Mosses and lichens are common. The vegetation is characterized by moderately dense to dense stands of conifer trees. The morphology and density of the dominant trees often allows enough light through the canopy to support abundant shrubs. The tree canopy is dominated by Pinus banksiana. Other conifers that may be present include Abies balsamea, Pinus resinosa, and Picea mariana. Deciduous trees, such as Betula papyrifera, Quercus ellipsoidalis, and Quercus rubra, may be present. Shrubs may be absent to abundant. Both tall and short shrubs occur in stands of this alliance. These include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Corylus cornuta, Vaccinium angustifolium, and Vaccinium myrtilloides. The herbaceous layer is often sparse. Mosses and lichens, especially Pleurozium schreberi and Cladonia spp., are abundant in some stands. Stands may be found on outwash plains and lake dunes, on dry sandy soils that may be shallow to deep and are typically somewhat infertile. Without periodic fires, mesic, fire-intolerant hardwoods may establish.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This fire-driven alliance is characterized by Pinus banksiana-dominated stands on infertile soils. Some stands may be dominated by Pinus resinosa.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance is currently composed of one association. This association likely needs to be split into two with one dominated by Pinus banksiana and the other dominated by Pinus resinosa [see Minnesota DNR (2003) types FDn12a and FDn12b)]. For a fuller description of this alliance, see FDn12 in Minnesota DNR (2003).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands are dominated by conifers. Shrubs are often fairly scattered, with open understories and a depauperate flora. Mosses and lichens are common.
Floristics: The vegetation is dominated by coniferous trees, especially Pinus banksiana. Other conifers that may be present include Abies balsamea, Pinus resinosa, and Picea mariana. Deciduous trees, such as Acer rubrum, Betula papyrifera, Quercus ellipsoidalis, and Quercus rubra, may be present. Shrubs may be absent to abundant. Both tall and short shrubs occur in stands of this alliance. These include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Corylus cornuta, Vaccinium angustifolium, and Vaccinium myrtilloides. The herbaceous layer is often sparse. Mosses and lichens, especially Pleurozium schreberi and Cladonia spp., are abundant in some communities of this alliance.
Dynamics: Stands in this alliance require fire or other disturbance to regenerate because Pinus banksiana does not reproduce well in established forests. Without periodic fires, mesic, fire-intolerant hardwoods may establish.
Environmental Description: Stands may be found on outwash plains and lake dunes, on dry sandy soils. The soils are of lacustrine, glaciofluvial, or eolian origin (Sims et al. 1989). They may be shallow to deep and are typically somewhat infertile. Bedrock maybe exposed in some stands (Kurmis et al. 1986).
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the upper Great Lakes region, especially in northeastern Minnesota, northwestern Ontario, and southeastern Manitoba.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MB, MN, ON
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899892
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.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.6 Eastern White Pine - Jack Pine - Northern Pin Oak Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M159 | 1.B.2.Na.6 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.6.b Jack Pine - Red Pine - Oak species Subboreal Woodland Group | G347 | 1.B.2.Na.6.b |
| Alliance | A3840 Jack Pine - Red Pine / Kinnikinnick Subboreal Sand Woodland Alliance | A3840 | 1.B.2.Na.6.b |
| Association | CEGL002438 Jack Pine / Kinnikinnick Forest | CEGL002438 | 1.B.2.Na.6.b |
Concept Lineage: This association comes from A.116.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Jack Pine: 1 (Eyre 1980)
= Northern Dry-Sand Pine Woodland Class [FDn12] (Minnesota DNR 2003)
= Northern Dry-Sand Pine Woodland Class [FDn12] (Minnesota DNR 2003)
- 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.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., and Midwest State Natural Heritage Program Ecologists. 1996. Terrestrial vegetation of the midwest United States. International classification of ecological communities: Terrestrial vegetation of the United States. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
- Grigal, D. F., and L. F. Ohmann. 1975. Classification, description, and dynamics of upland plant communities within a Minnesota wilderness area. Ecological Monographs 45:389-407.
- Kurmis, V., S. L. Webb, and L. C. Merriam. 1986. Plant communities of Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota, U.S.A. Canadian Journal of Botany 64:531-540.
- 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.
- Minnesota DNR [Minnesota Department of Natural Resources]. 2003. Field guide to the native plant communities of Minnesota: The Laurentian Mixed Forest Province. Ecological Land Classification Program, Minnesota County Biological Survey, and Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.
- 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.