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A3992 Eastern North American Erosional Bluff Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance comprises sparse vegetation of eroding unconsolidated sediments of steep bluffs along rivers and lakes in the midwestern and northeastern U.S.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern North American Erosional Bluff Alliance

Colloquial Name: Eastern North American Erosional Bluff

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance comprises sparse vegetation of eroding unconsolidated sediments of steep bluffs, currently housing two broadly defined and discontinuously distributed associations. Substrates include glacial sediments of eroding coastal cliffs in the Northeast, as well as loess and shale of deep ravines or valleys in the Midwest.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Sparse vegetation of eroding unconsolidated sediments along rivers, lakeshores and the Atlantic Coast of North America.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The term bluff, as opposed to cliff, is used to refer to unconsolidated or poorly consolidated material. Qualitative data exist from several locations, but rangewide data collection and analysis are needed.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation is generally sparse or patchy, but may include trees, shrubs, and herbs.

Floristics: Vegetation composition varies widely across the range.

Dynamics:  Erosional bluffs are by definition actively changing as a result of flood and wave scour. The substrate slumps as bare sediment is exposed to rain, wind, and sheetflow from upslope.
Environmental Description:  Erosional bluffs comprise exposed alluvial sediments on bare channel walls, as well as unconsolidated sediments exposed by wave action and overland sheetflow. The substrate varies depending on the surface eroded, usually sand, silt, clay, loam, or even buried peat.
Geographic Range: This alliance ranges from the Midwest to the Atlantic Coast, including Canada.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  CT, IL, IN, MA, MB, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NH, NS?, NY, OH, ON, PA, QC?, RI, VT, WI


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class C06 6
Subclass 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass S04 6.B
Formation 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation F034 6.B.1
Division 6.B.1.Na Eastern North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division D051 6.B.1.Na
Macrogroup 6.B.1.Na.1 Shrubby Fivefingers - Rock Polypody / Cup Lichen species Eastern North American Cliff & Rock Vegetation Macrogroup M111 6.B.1.Na.1
Group 6.B.1.Na.1.a Polypody species - Rocktripe Lichen species - Poverty Oatgrass Talus, Bluff & Rock Vegetation Group G340 6.B.1.Na.1.a
Alliance A3992 Eastern North American Erosional Bluff Alliance A3992 6.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL002315 Midwest Eroding Bluff Sparse Vegetation CEGL002315 6.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL002584 Laurentian-Northeast Eroding Bluff Sparse Vegetation CEGL002584 6.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL006618 North Atlantic Maritime Erosional Bluff Sparse Vegetation CEGL006618 6.B.1.Na.1.a
Concept Lineage: A.1836, A.1872

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Erosional River Bluff (Thompson and Sorenson 2000)
Concept Author(s): E.H. Thompson and E.R. Sorenson (2000)

Author of Description: L. Sneddon

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • 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.
  • Swain, P. C., and J. B. Kearsley. 2001. Classification of natural communities of Massachusetts. September 2001 draft. Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, MA.
  • Thompson, E. H., and E. R. Sorenson. 2000. Wetland, woodland, wildland: A guide to the natural communities of Vermont. The Nature Conservancy and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. University Press of New England, Hanover, NH. 456 pp.