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A4018 Andropogon gerardii - Sporobolus heterolepis - Muhlenbergia richardsonis Northern Grassland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is found in the northern tallgrass prairie region of the United States and Canada and is dominated by tall grasses with some stands contained within a matrix of shrubs.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Big Bluestem - Prairie Dropseed - Mat Muhly Northern Grassland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Northern Mesic Tallgrass Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance is found in the northern tallgrass prairie region of the United States and Canada. Occurrences are dominated by tall grasses such as Andropogon gerardii, Sporobolus heterolepis, and Hesperostipa spartea; Muhlenbergia richardsonis is a key diagnostic grass species. Some stands are nested within a matrix of shrubs, including Populus tremuloides, Salix spp. (including Salix humilis), and Quercus macrocarpa. This prairie type occurs on poorly drained to well-drained, sandy clay loam to loamy fine sandy soils, including very organic-rich soils. Fire can be important in maintaining the prairie and brush prairie structure. Without fire, these areas can succeed to aspen-oak woodlands.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Tallgrass and brush prairies found in the northern tallgrass regions of the U.S. and Canada dominated by Andropogon gerardii and Sporobolus heterolepis. This alliance also includes brush prairies dominated by shrubs, including Populus tremuloides, in a matrix with the herbaceous prairie species.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance contains the mesic grassland association from the northern tallgrass ecoregion but also the mesic aspen-oak brush prairie shrubland. The shrubland association may also fit in ~Northeastern Great Plains Aspen Woodland Group (G146)$$. Also, data from the Canadian distribution of these alliances are not complete, and more information is needed about the range of these alliances in Canada.
~Populus tremuloides - Quercus macrocarpa - Salix spp. / Andropogon gerardii Shrubland (CEGL002182)$$ may be a better fit in ~Populus tremuloides / Corylus spp. Woodland Alliance (A3250)$$ in ~Northeastern Great Plains Aspen Woodland Group (G146)$$.
~Populus tremuloides - Quercus macrocarpa - Salix spp. / Andropogon gerardii Shrubland (CEGL002182)$$ may be a better fit in ~Populus tremuloides / Corylus spp. Woodland Alliance (A3250)$$ in ~Northeastern Great Plains Aspen Woodland Group (G146)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This is a mesic, tallgrass prairie alliance, dominated by a moderately dense to very dense layer of graminoids up to 2 m tall interspersed with brush prairies dominated by shrubs.
Floristics: This alliance is dominated by tall grasses 1-2 m tall. Andropogon gerardii, Sporobolus heterolepis, and Hesperostipa spartea (= Stipa spartea) are the most abundant grass species in this community. Muhlenbergia richardsonis is a key diagnostic grass species. Forbs are abundant and often have high local diversity. Amorpha canescens, Liatris pycnostachya, Symphyotrichum ericoides (= Aster ericoides), and Solidago canadensis are common forbs across this community''s range. Clumps of trees and tall brush can often be found within this alliance and are dominated by Populus tremuloides in a matrix of herbaceous prairie species.
Dynamics: Fire helps maintain this alliance. In the absence of fires, trees become more abundant, and the stands can eventually succeed to aspen-oak woodland.
Environmental Description: Stands of this alliance occur on flat to rolling topography. Soils are black, friable, organic-rich, have surface horizons that are high in bases and can range from somewhat poorly drained to well-drained, sandy clay loams to loamy fine sands to coarser outwash sands (MNNHP 1993). During the warm season, soils are intermittently dry for long periods or have subsurface horizons in which salts or carbonates have accumulated.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the northern tallgrass prairie region of the United States and Canada, ranging from northwestern Iowa and South Dakota, north to Manitoba.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: IA, MB, MN, ND, NE, ON, SD
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.900069
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.Nb Central North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D023 | 2.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nb.1 Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Dense Blazingstar Tallgrass Prairie Macrogroup | M054 | 2.B.2.Nb.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.1.d Big Bluestem - Prairie Dropseed - Porcupine Grass Tallgrass Prairie Group | G075 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.d |
| Alliance | A4018 Big Bluestem - Prairie Dropseed - Mat Muhly Northern Grassland Alliance | A4018 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.d |
| Association | CEGL002182 Quaking Aspen - Bur Oak - Willow species / Big Bluestem Shrubland | CEGL002182 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.d |
| Association | CEGL002202 Big Bluestem - Porcupine Grass - Prairie Dropseed Grassland | CEGL002202 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.d |
Concept Lineage: This contains the northern tallgrass prairie association from A.1192 and northern brush prairie from A.903.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Big Bluestem (Hanson and Whitman 1938)
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- 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.
- Tatina, R. 1987. Gradient analysis and description of a transition zone prairie in eastern South Dakota. Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science 66:51-64.
- Wasser, C. H., and K. Hess. 1982. The habitat types of Region II. USDA Forest Service: A synthesis. Final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 140 pp.