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M881 Eastern North American Riverscour Vegetation Macrogroup
Type Concept Sentence: This macrogroup comprises vegetation that is highly variable in composition and structure, occurring in the eastern U.S. and adjacent Canada on the shores of rivers that are impacted by sediment removal and redeposition as a result of seasonal flood-scour and swift currents.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern North American Riverscour Vegetation Macrogroup
Colloquial Name: Eastern North American Riverscour Vegetation
Hierarchy Level: Macrogroup
Type Concept: This widely ranging macrogroup comprises a large number of highly variable vegetation types that occur on the shores of rivers in the eastern U.S. and adjacent Canada. Characteristic species vary over the range. Shrubs may include Alnus serrulata, Hypericum prolificum, Prunus pumila, Salix caroliniana, or Salix interior. Characteristic herbaceous species, depending on geography, may include Andropogon gerardii, Baptisia australis, Calamagrostis canadensis, Campanula rotundifolia, Carex torta, Deschampsia cespitosa, Doellingeria umbellata, Elymus spp., Eupatorium spp., Packera paupercula, Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium, Solidago gigantea, Solidago simplex, Spartina pectinata, and Triantha glutinosa. The patchy vegetation ranges from riverside prairies to highly flood-scoured, ice-scoured, and flood-battered patchy or very sparse vegetation along high-gradient rivers.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This macrogroup can be recognized by its association with high-gradient swift river currents, its dynamic physiognomic and floristic composition, and the presence of species adapted to both hydric and xeric environments. These include combinations of Andropogon gerardii, Campanula rotundifolia, Carex torta, Panicum virgatum, Prunus pumila, Schizachyrium scoparium, Solidago simplex, Spartina pectinata, and several species of Salix. Substrate is usually alluvium, sand, silt, cobble, or bedrock exposures.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This macrogroup was split from former Eastern North American Lake & River Shoreline Vegetation Macrogroup (M176) to differentiate riverscour vegetation from that of gentle river currents and lakeshores.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This macrogroup is characterized by highly variable physiognomy, both among and within sites. Vegetation is usually flood-battered, with bent or broken stems, and with flood-deposited debris. Scattered short saplings of typical floodplain trees and shrubs may be evident. Patchy prairies dominated by forbs and grasses often form, but vegetation can be very sparse or absent following extreme flooding events.
Floristics: Characteristic species vary over the range. Shrubs may include Alnus serrulata, Hypericum prolificum, Prunus pumila, Salix caroliniana, or Salix interior. Characteristic herbaceous species, depending on geography, may include Andropogon gerardii, Baptisia australis, Calamagrostis canadensis, Campanula rotundifolia, Carex torta, Deschampsia cespitosa, Doellingeria umbellata, Elymus spp., Eupatorium spp., Packera paupercula, Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium, Solidago gigantea, Solidago simplex, Spartina pectinata, and Triantha glutinosa.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: The patchy vegetation ranges from riverside prairies to highly flood-scoured, ice-scoured, and flood-battered patchy or very sparse vegetation along high-gradient rivers. Sites on the shores of these rivers are impacted by sediment removal and redeposition as a result of seasonal flood-scour and swift currents.
Geographic Range: No Data Available
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, CT, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NB, NC, NH, NJ, NS, NY, OH, OK, ON, PA, QC, RI, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.907588
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.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation | F013 | 2.C.4 |
| Division | 2.C.4.Nd Eastern North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division | D323 | 2.C.4.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nd.4 Eastern North American Riverscour Vegetation Macrogroup | M881 | 2.C.4.Nd.4 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nd.4.a Central Interior-Appalachian Riverscour Barrens & Prairie Group | G753 | 2.C.4.Nd.4.a |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nd.4.d Gray Alder / <i>Spartina pectinata - Deschampsia cespitosa</i> Floodplain Vegetation | G925 | 2.C.4.Nd.4.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Riverbed - Bank - Floodplain Complex (Fike 1999)
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
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