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A3845 Thuja occidentalis - Abies balsamea Subboreal Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This subboreal alliance is found primarily in the northern Great Lakes region of Minnesota and Ontario, possibly ranging east into New England. Stands are dominated by Thuja occidentalis with Abies balsamea or Picea glauca often present, and occur on wet-mesic to well-drained slopes.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Northern White-cedar - Balsam Fir Subboreal Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Subboreal Northern White-cedar - Balsam Fir Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This subboreal alliance is found primarily in the northern Great Lakes region of Minnesota and Ontario, possibly ranging east into New England. Thuja occidentalis dominates the canopy and can occur in pure stands. Other associates include Abies balsamea, Acer rubrum, Betula papyrifera, Picea glauca, Picea mariana, Populus tremuloides, and Pinus strobus. Absent are northern hardwood trees. The tall-shrub/sapling layer contains species such as saplings of Thuja occidentalis and Abies balsamea and shrubs Acer spicatum, Corylus cornuta, Lonicera canadensis, Rubus pubescens, and Sorbus decora. The ground layer is diverse on mesic stands and less so on steep, drier stands. Typical species include Aralia nudicaulis, Clintonia borealis, Cornus canadensis, Eurybia macrophylla, Galium triflorum, Maianthemum canadense, Mitella nuda, and Trientalis borealis. This type typically occurs on wet-mesic to well-drained slopes. Soils are fine to moderately coarse-textured, usually calcareous, moderately deep to deep, and often contain boulders at the surface.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is found in the upper Great Lakes region of North America ranging into New England and is dominated by Thuja occidentalis, with sub-boreal tree associates Abies balsamea and Picea glauca. It lacks the typical northern hardwood associates found in Thuja stands further south.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance currently contains one association. Review is needed to determine if this association needs to be split within this alliance or subsumed under ~Abies balsamea - Betula alleghaniensis - Populus tremuloides Subboreal Forest Alliance (A3267)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands are either pure conifer or mixed conifer-hardwood.
Floristics: Thuja occidentalis dominates the canopy and can occur in pure stands. Other associates include Abies balsamea, Acer rubrum, Betula papyrifera, Picea glauca, Picea mariana, Populus tremuloides, and Pinus strobus. Absent are northern hardwood trees, such as Acer saccharum, Betula alleghaniensis, or Tsuga canadensis. The tall-shrub/sapling layer contains species such as saplings of Thuja occidentalis and Abies balsamea and shrubs Acer spicatum, Corylus cornuta, Lonicera canadensis, Rubus pubescens, and Sorbus decora. The ground layer is diverse on mesic stands and less so on steep, drier stands. Typical species include Aralia nudicaulis, Clintonia borealis, Cornus canadensis, Eurybia macrophylla (= Aster macrophyllus), Galium triflorum, Maianthemum canadense, Mitella nuda, and Trientalis borealis.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This type typically occurs on gentle wet-mesic slopes to very steep well-drained slopes (MNNHP 1993). The predominant aspect is north to northeast. Soils are fine-textured, calcareous, moderately deep to deep (50-100 cm), and often contain boulders at the surface (Ohmann and Ream 1971, Sims et al. 1989).
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the northern Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada in Minnesota and Ontario, and possibly east to northern New England.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MI?, MN, ON, QC?, WI?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899897
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 | A3845 Northern White-cedar - Balsam Fir Subboreal Forest Alliance | A3845 | 1.B.2.Na.7.c |
| Association | CEGL002449 Northern White-cedar / Balsam Fir - Mountain Maple Forest | CEGL002449 | 1.B.2.Na.7.c |
Concept Lineage: This alliance contains one association from A.142.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Northern White-Cedar: 37 (Eyre 1980) [upland portion]
? White Cedar Forest (Ohmann and Ream 1971) [Minnesota]
? White Cedar Forest (Ohmann and Ream 1971) [Minnesota]
- Burns, R. M., and B. H. Honkala, technical coordinators. 1990a. Silvics of North America: Volume 1. Conifers. Agriculture Handbook 654. USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC. 675 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.
- 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.
- 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.