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A3844 Populus tremuloides - Betula papyrifera Subboreal Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is found in the subboreal regions of the midwestern United States and eastern Canada, and is dominated by Betula papyrifera and Populus tremuloides, with low abundance of boreal conifers Picea glauca and Abies balsamea (<25%), and very minor representation of northern hardwood species.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen - Paper Birch Subboreal Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: Subboreal Quaking Aspen - Paper Birch Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance is found in the subboreal regions of the midwestern United States and in eastern Canada. This community is dominated by Betula papyrifera and Populus tremuloides, with a low cover (<25%) of the conifers Abies balsamea and Picea glauca in the canopy, though they may be common in the subcanopy or the sapling layer. Common shrubs species include Acer spicatum, Corylus cornuta, Diervilla lonicera, and Rosa acicularis. The herbaceous stratum can include a diversity of forbs, including Actaea rubra, Aralia nudicaulis, Clintonia borealis, Eurybia macrophylla, Maianthemum canadense, and Trientalis borealis. Stands of this alliance are typically early-successional and become established on a variety of landscape positions. The soils are deep, well-drained to rapidly drained mineral soils. Soil textures are usually clay loamy but can be silt or fine sand.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is dominated by Populus tremuloides and Betula papyrifera with boreal conifer associates of Picea glauca and Abies balsamea present with low cover in the overstory (<25%) but often strongly represented in the sapling and seedling layers (but very little Picea mariana or Pinus banksiana), and lack of northern temperate hardwoods (such as Acer saccharum and Tilia americana). This alliance typically begins as early-successional on formerly spruce-fir-dominated stands that are intermediate between northern hardwoods and boreal forests.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: More information is needed to define the distribution of this alliance in Canada. This alliance represents early-seral stands of disturbed spruce-fir hardwoods that lack many of the northern hardwood components in the understory. This alliance is very similar in overstory to ~Betula papyrifera - Populus tremuloides - Acer rubrum Forest Alliance (A3225)$$. It is also very similar in understory to ~Abies balsamea - Betula alleghaniensis - Populus tremuloides Subboreal Forest Alliance (A3267)$$. Overall floristics may suggest that merging with A3267 is better, but it does mean the alliance would include everything from pure conifer to pure hardwood.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This forest alliance has a deciduous tree-dominated canopy that is moderately closed to closed and tree density can be high. The dominant tree does not cast dense shade and thus there is usually a prominent subcanopy or shrub layer. The subcanopy, and most other tree reproduction, is composed largely of more shade-tolerant tree species, of a mix of either deciduous or evergreen species. The shrub layer is composed of deciduous, broad-leaved species. There is usually an herbaceous layer of perennial forbs.

Floristics: This alliance is defined as containing a mixture of Populus tremuloides and Betula papyrifera. The abundance of each can range from 10-90%. A few sites may be dominated by Acer rubrum or Populus grandidentata with lesser amounts of Populus tremuloides and Betula papyrifera. Abies balsamea and Picea glauca may be found in minor amounts in the canopy but are often dominant in the sapling layer. The most common shrubs are 1-2 m tall. Typical species of this layer include Acer spicatum, Amelanchier spp., Corylus cornuta, Diervilla lonicera, Eurybia macrophylla (= Aster macrophyllus), Prunus spp., Rosa acicularis, and Rubus pubescens. The herbaceous layer is often very diverse. Aralia nudicaulis, Clintonia borealis, Cornus canadensis, Galium triflorum, Maianthemum canadense, Pteridium aquilinum, and Trientalis borealis are abundant members of the herbaceous layer.

Dynamics:  Stands of this alliance are typically early-successional, arising from disturbances to spruce-fir stands in the sub-boreal region.
Environmental Description:  Stands of this alliance are typically early-successional and become established on a variety of landscape positions. They have been found on moderately well-drained to very well-drained clay, loam, and sand soils (Sakai et al. 1985, Sims et al. 1989, Alban et al. 1991). Stands can be found on ridgetops, upper, mid, and lower slopes with gentle to moderate slopes and on flat plains (Ohmann and Ream 1971, Sakai et al. 1985).
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the upper Great Lakes region of Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and northern Minnesota, and in Canada in central Ontario, and eastward into Quebec.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  MB, MI, MN, ON, QC, WI


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.7 Sugar Maple - Yellow Birch - Eastern Hemlock Forest Macrogroup M014 1.B.2.Na.7
Group 1.B.2.Na.7.c Balsam Fir - White Spruce - Mountain Maple Subboreal Forest Group G048 1.B.2.Na.7.c
Alliance A3844 Quaking Aspen - Paper Birch Subboreal Forest Alliance A3844 1.B.2.Na.7.c
Association CEGL002463 Paper Birch / Northern Bush-honeysuckle - (Balsam Fir) Forest CEGL002463 1.B.2.Na.7.c
Association CEGL002466 Quaking Aspen - Paper Birch / (Balsam Fir, White Spruce) Forest CEGL002466 1.B.2.Na.7.c
Concept Lineage: One association comes from A.267 and one from A.269.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Aspen: 16 (Eyre 1980)
? Boreal Forest (Curtis 1959)
? Paper Birch: 18 (Eyre 1980)
? aspen - birch and maple - aspen - birch (Ohmann and Ream 1971)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen and S. Menard

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • Alban, D. H., D. A. Perala, M. F. Jurgensen, M. E. Ostry, and J. R. Probst. 1991. Aspen ecosystem properties in the Upper Great Lakes. Research Paper NC-300. USDA Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. St. Paul, MN. 47 pp.
  • Curtis, J. T. 1959. The vegetation of Wisconsin: An ordination of plant communities. Reprinted in 1987. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 657 pp.
  • 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.
  • Hansen, H. L., L. W. Krefting, and V. Kurmis. 1973. The forest of Isle Royale in relation to fire history and wildlife. University of Minnesota, Agricultural Experiment Station, Technical Bulletin 294, Forestry Series 13.
  • 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.
  • Ohmann, L. F., and P. R. Ream. 1971. Wilderness ecology: Virgin plant communities of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Research Paper NC-63. USDA Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station, St. Paul, MN. 35 pp.
  • Sakai, A. K., M. R. Roberts, and C. L. Jolls. 1985. Successional changes in a mature aspen forest in northern lower Michigan: 1974-1981. The American Midland Naturalist 113(2):271-282.
  • 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.