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A4131 Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Ulmus americana - Populus deltoides Floodplain Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes forests dominated or codominated by Fraxinus pennsylvanica occurring on infrequently flooded floodplains and terraces in the northern Great Plains.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Green Ash - American Elm - Eastern Cottonwood Floodplain Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Great Plains Ash - Elm Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: These floodplain woodlands and forests are found in the northern Great Plains. They have a medium-tall to tall (8-20 m) tree canopy which ranges from open to closed (25-60+%). A tree subcanopy may be present. A deciduous shrub layer is common and can be dense, especially under more open tree canopies. Most shrubs range from 1-3 m tall. The herbaceous stratum is typically moderate to dense, though shading by dense tree or shrub canopies can limit the growth of this stratum. Fraxinus pennsylvanica is usually the dominant tree and is nearly always present in stands. Acer negundo, Tilia americana, and Ulmus americana are commonly present and can be dominant or codominant. Remnant Populus deltoides from earlier successional forest stages may be present, usually significantly taller than the main canopy layer. When a tree subcanopy is present it is composed of canopy species, tall shrubs of Amelanchier alnifolia, Cornus spp., Juniperus scopulorum, and Prunus virginiana. Shorter shrubs, particularly Symphoricarpos occidentalis, are present to abundant. Graminoids include Elymus canadensis, Elymus virginicus, Leersia spp., Muhlenbergia racemosa, and Poa pratensis. Many forbs can be present but common ones are Rudbeckia laciniata, Galium spp., and Viola spp. This alliance occurs on floodplains or terraces and sometimes along lakes or ponds on sites that are flooded periodically but are not subject to frequent scouring or deposition from flood events. Soils are alluvium and deep and usually silty.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Floodplain forests in the northern Great Plains dominated by Acer negundo, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Ulmus americana, and sometimes Tilia americana.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These floodplain woodlands and forests have a medium-tall to tall (8-20 m) deciduous tree canopy. The canopy ranges from open to closed (25-60+%). A tree subcanopy may be present, though due to the often broken canopy and moderate tree height, it can be difficult to distinguish from the tree canopy. A deciduous shrub layer is common and can be dense, especially under more open tree canopies. Most shrubs range from 1-3 m tall. The herbaceous stratum is typically moderate to dense, though shading by dense tree or shrub canopies can limit the growth of this stratum. Graminoids tend to be more abundant than forbs in the western portion of this alliance''s range but more equal to or less than forb cover in the east.
Floristics: The tree canopy is dominated by few species in this alliance. Fraxinus pennsylvanica is usually dominant and is nearly always present in stands. Acer negundo, Tilia americana, and Ulmus americana are commonly present and can be dominant or codominant. Remnant Populus deltoides from earlier successional forest stages may be present, usually significantly taller than the main canopy layer. When a tree subcanopy is present it is composed of canopy species, tall shrubs of Amelanchier alnifolia, Cornus spp., Juniperus scopulorum, and Prunus virginiana. Shorter shrubs, particularly Symphoricarpos occidentalis, are present to abundant. Graminoids include Elymus canadensis, Elymus virginicus, Leersia spp., Muhlenbergia racemosa, and Poa pratensis. Many forbs can be present but common ones are Rudbeckia laciniata, Galium spp., and Viola spp.
Dynamics: Flooding is important in maintaining this alliance but intense, frequent floods favor other floodplain alliances. Fires occur in nearby upland prairies but this alliance is not tolerant of burning.
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs on floodplains or terraces and sometimes along lakes or ponds on sites that are flooded periodically but are not subject to frequent scouring or deposition from flood events. Soils are alluvium and deep and usually silty.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the northern Great Plains from the Red River valley to southern Saskatchewan, the western Dakotas, and eastern Wyoming. It probably extends into Montana.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MB, MN?, MT?, ND, SD, SK, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.934751
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.4 Eastern Cottonwood - Green Ash / Willow species Flooded & Swamp Forest | M028 | 1.B.3.Na.4 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.4.a Eastern Cottonwood - Green Ash / Western Wheatgrass Floodplain Forest Group | G147 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
| Alliance | A4131 Green Ash - American Elm - Eastern Cottonwood Floodplain Forest Alliance | A4131 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
| Association | CEGL000628 Box-elder / Chokecherry Floodplain Forest | CEGL000628 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
| Association | CEGL002088 Green Ash - (American Elm) / Western Snowberry Floodplain Forest | CEGL002088 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
| Association | CEGL005400 Green Ash - American Elm - (Box-elder, American Basswood) Great Plains Floodplain Forest | CEGL005400 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
Concept Lineage: This alliance has one association from old A.286 and one from old A.308.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Fraxinus pennsylvanica / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1984)
= Fraxinus pennsylvanica / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Habitat Type (Girard et al. 1989)
= Fraxinus pennsylvanica / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Habitat Type (Girard et al. 1989)
- 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.
- Girard, M. M., H. Goetz, and A. J. Bjugstad. 1989. Native woodland habitat types of southwestern North Dakota. Research Paper RM-281. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 36 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.