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A3909 Quercus ilicifolia - Aronia melanocarpa Bedrock Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance, ranging from Pennsylvania and New Jersey discontinuously to southeastern Canada, is characterized by acidic bedrock outcrops dominated by patchily distributed to dense Quercus ilicifolia with a field layer of heath shrubs and graminoids.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bear Oak - Black Chokeberry Bedrock Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Scrub Oak Bedrock Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance, ranging from Pennsylvania and New Jersey discontinuously to southeastern Canada, includes shrublands dominated by Quercus ilicifolia occurring on rock outcrops and summits. Quercus ilicifolia occurs with variable cover depending on site conditions. Associated shrubs include low Comptonia peregrina, Gaylussacia baccata, Kalmia angustifolia, Aronia melanocarpa, Prunus pumila, Salix humilis, and Vaccinium spp. Herbaceous species are generally sparse, but include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Carex pensylvanica, Comandra umbellata, Corydalis sempervirens, Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Gaultheria procumbens, Hypericum gentianoides, Melampyrum lineare, Pteridium aquilinum, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, plus Andropogon gerardii at some sites. Scattered trees are common and include species from the surrounding ridgetop forests.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Abundant Quercus ilicifolia and/or Aronia melanocarpa on acidic bedrock, lacking significant tree cover.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: ~Aronia melanocarpa Granite Shrubland (CEGL005068)$$ has no descriptive information and may warrant reclassification when information is available.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is variable in physiognomy from dense shrubland to sparsely distributed patches of tall deciduous shrubland interspersed with low heath shrubs, grasses and forbs.
Floristics: Quercus ilicifolia occurs with variable cover depending on site conditions. Associated shrubs include low Comptonia peregrina, Gaylussacia baccata, Kalmia angustifolia, Aronia melanocarpa, Prunus pumila, Salix humilis, and Vaccinium spp. Herbaceous species are generally sparse, but include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Carex pensylvanica, Comandra umbellata, Corydalis sempervirens, Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Gaultheria procumbens, Hypericum gentianoides, Melampyrum lineare, Pteridium aquilinum, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sibbaldiopsis tridentata (= Potentilla tridentata), plus Andropogon gerardii at some sites. Scattered trees are common and include species from the surrounding ridgetop forests.
Dynamics: This vegetation is structured by edaphic factors as well as periodic fires.
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs on rocky outcrops and flat rocky summits, as well as on sloping rock faces. Parent material is acidic.
Geographic Range: This alliance ranges from Ontario and Quebec south to Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: CT, MA, NJ, NY, ON, PA, QC, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899960
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.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D024 | 2.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nc.1 Catawba Rosebay / Michaux''s Saxifrage - Flattened Oatgrass Felsic & Mafic Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M506 | 2.B.2.Nc.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nc.1.e North-Central Appalachian Acidic Scrub & Grassland Group | G789 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.e |
| Alliance | A3909 Bear Oak - Black Chokeberry Bedrock Shrubland Alliance | A3909 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.e |
Concept Lineage: A.906; A.3509
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Bear Oak: 43 (Eyre 1980)
= Bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia) shrublands (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
>< Northern Appalachian Sand Barren (Smith 1991)
= Bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia) shrublands (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
>< Northern Appalachian Sand Barren (Smith 1991)
- 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.
- Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
- Metzler, K., and J. Barrett. 2006. The vegetation of Connecticut: A preliminary classification. State Geological and Natural History Survey, Report of Investigations No. 12. Connecticut Natural Diversity Database, Hartford, CT.
- Smith, T. L. 1991. Natural ecological communities of Pennsylvania. First revision. Unpublished report. Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy, Middletown, PA. 111 pp.
- Swain, P. C., and J. B. Kearsley. 2011. Classification of the natural communities of Massachusetts. Version 1.4. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, MA. [http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/natural-communities/classification-of-natural-communities.html]