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A4019 Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Northern Grassland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This dry and dry-mesic prairie alliance occurs in the northern tallgrass region of the United States and possibly Canada on glacial features that have a high proportion of sand and gravel. It can be moderately open and is dominated by tall and mid-sized grasses.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Northern Grassland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Northern Dry & Dry-Mesic Tallgrass Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This dry and dry-mesic grassland alliance occurs in the northern tallgrass prairie region of the United States and possibly Canada. It can be moderately open and is dominated by midgrasses such as Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa spartea, and Schizachyrium scoparium, with Andropogon gerardii and Calamovilfa longifolia occurring in some examples. Lichens and mosses often occur on bare soil and gravel. Occurrences of this alliance are on rocky, loamy south-facing slopes and on glacial outwash, glacial beaches, or other glacial features that have a high proportion of sand and gravel, such as kames and eskers. Soils are often Mollisols but not deep, and they contain fine to coarse gravel, sand, and often larger rocks. Soil moisture is typically low due to being well- to excessively drained. The lower nutrient levels, lower levels of organic matter, and lower water-retaining capacity influence the species composition and structure of this alliance.
Diagnostic Characteristics: These are dry, dry-mesic prairies typically dominated by Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa spartea, and Schizachyrium scoparium, with occasional occurrences of Andropogon gerardii and Calamovilfa longifolia. Stands are found within the northern tallgrass prairie region of the U.S.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The dry, dry-mesic sand and gravel prairies were separated from the mesic prairies in the northern tallgrass prairies. Data from the Canadian distribution of these alliances are not complete, and more information is needed to know about the range of these alliances in Canada.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Across its range, this alliance is dominated by midgrasses. The vegetation cover can be moderately sparse to dense. Tallgrasses and short grasses contribute substantially to the vegetation cover in most communities. The proportions of these two lifeforms are typically negatively correlated with each other and vary with the specific community and site. The tallgrasses are more prevalent on sandier soils and on moderate or gentle lower slopes. The short grasses tend to be more common on flat uplands or steep slopes with heavier soils (Weaver and Albertson 1956).
Floristics: This type is dominated by midgrasses such as Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa spartea (= Stipa spartea), and Schizachyrium scoparium, with Andropogon gerardii and Calamovilfa longifolia occurring in some examples. Typical examples include Artemisia frigida, Astragalus laxmannii var. robustior (= Astragalus adsurgens ssp. robustior), Echinacea angustifolia, Lygodesmia juncea, Potentilla pensylvanica, and Solidago missouriensis. Shrubs are absent to widely scattered. Lichens and mosses often occur on bare soil and gravel.
Dynamics: Fire is important to prevent the invasion of woody species into stands. However, fire is not as important as in more mesic grasslands, because drought conditions slow encroachment by woody species.
Environmental Description: Occurrences of this alliance are on rocky, loamy south-facing slopes and on glacial outwash, glacial beaches, or other glacial features such as kames and eskers in the northern tallgrass region. Soils are often Mollisols but not deep, and they contain fine to coarse gravel, sand, and often larger rocks. Soil moisture is typically low due to being well- to excessively drained.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the northern tallgrass prairie region of the United States, ranging from northwestern Iowa and South Dakota, north to Minnesota and into neighboring Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: IA, MB, MN, ND, ON, SD
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.900070
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: This contains the northern tallgrass prairie associations from A.1225
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Various communities (Weaver and Albertson 1956)
- 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.
- Hansen, P. L. 1985. An ecological study of the vegetation of the Grand River/Cedar River, Sioux, and Ashland districts of the Custer National Forest. Unpublished dissertation, South Dakota State University. 257 pp.
- Hansen, P. L., G. R. Hoffman, and A. J. Bjugstad. 1984. The vegetation of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota: A habitat type classification. General Technical Report RM-113. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 35 pp.
- Hansen, P. L., and G. R. Hoffman. 1988. The vegetation of the Grand River/Cedar River, Sioux, and Ashland districts of the Custer National Forest: A habitat type classification. General Technical Report RM-157. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 68 pp.
- Hanson, H. C., and W. Whitman. 1938. Characteristics of major grassland types in western North Dakota. Ecological Monographs 8:58-114.
- 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.
- Weaver, J. E., and F. W. Albertson. 1956. Grasslands of the Great Plains: Their nature and use. Johnsen Publishing Co., Lincoln, NE. 395 pp.