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G839 Laurentian-Acadian-Great Lakes Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group
Type Concept Sentence: This structurally and floristically variable group is found in the Great Lakes region of the U.S. and Canada, and northern New England on both alkaline and acidic cliffs. Overall, vegetation varies from sparse nonvascular vegetation to open-treed or shrubby communities.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Laurentian-Acadian-Great Lakes Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group
Colloquial Name: Laurentian-Acadian-Great Lakes Cliff & Rock Vegetation
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This structurally and floristically variable group is found in the Great Lakes region of the U.S. and Canada, and northern New England on both alkaline and acidic cliffs. Overall, vegetation varies from sparse nonvascular vegetation to open-treed or shrubby communities. Acidic cliffs include igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rock. Woody acidic cliff species may include Juniperus communis, Amelanchier spp., stunted individuals of Betula papyrifera, Picea rubens, Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa, Pinus strobus, and Quercus rubra. Shrubs may include Alnus viridis ssp. crispa, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Diervilla lonicera, Juniperus communis, Physocarpus opulifolius, and Vaccinium angustifolium. Common herbs include Athyrium filix-femina, Campanula rotundifolia, Cystopteris fragilis, Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Dryopteris carthusiana, Dryopteris fragrans, Dryopteris marginalis, Euthamia graminifolia, Fragaria virginiana, Phegopteris connectilis, Poa compressa, Polypodium appalachianum, Rubus pubescens, and Sibbaldiopsis tridentata. Cliff faces include acidic igneous or metamorphic rock (gneiss, schist, granite, and quartzite). Soils are largely absent, confined to cracks and crevices. Extensive cliff formations occur on the shores of the Great Lakes and other large waterbodies; inland locations often support extensive talus slopes at their bases as a result of weathering and rockslides.
Alkaline cliff vegetation varies from sparse nonvascular vegetation to open-treed or shrubby communities. Nonvascular alkaline cliff plants (lichens, mosses, and liverworts) are common on the exposed cliff face, but vascular plant cover is sparse and patchy, confined to cracks or between boulders at the base of the slope where thin soils accumulate beneath talus. Overhanging trees from the ridgetop may include Acer saccharum, Thuja occidentalis, and Abies balsamea, and stunted individuals of Betula papyrifera may occur on the cliff face. Other woody plants may include Shepherdia canadensis, Diervilla lonicera, Acer spicatum, and others. Common herbs may include Asplenium trichomanes, Geranium robertianum, Maianthemum canadense, Pellaea glabella, Polypodium virginianum, Pteridium aquilinum, and Trientalis borealis. The bedrock may consist of alkaline igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rocks. Alkaline rocky cliffs are predominantly dolostone when associated with the Niagaran Escarpment along the northern Lake Michigan and Lake Huron shorelines, perhaps best developed on Drummond Island and adjacent Ontario islands. Alkaline basalts characterize these systems along portions of the Lake Superior shoreline, with a generally distinguishable flora from those on dolostone.
Alkaline cliff vegetation varies from sparse nonvascular vegetation to open-treed or shrubby communities. Nonvascular alkaline cliff plants (lichens, mosses, and liverworts) are common on the exposed cliff face, but vascular plant cover is sparse and patchy, confined to cracks or between boulders at the base of the slope where thin soils accumulate beneath talus. Overhanging trees from the ridgetop may include Acer saccharum, Thuja occidentalis, and Abies balsamea, and stunted individuals of Betula papyrifera may occur on the cliff face. Other woody plants may include Shepherdia canadensis, Diervilla lonicera, Acer spicatum, and others. Common herbs may include Asplenium trichomanes, Geranium robertianum, Maianthemum canadense, Pellaea glabella, Polypodium virginianum, Pteridium aquilinum, and Trientalis borealis. The bedrock may consist of alkaline igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rocks. Alkaline rocky cliffs are predominantly dolostone when associated with the Niagaran Escarpment along the northern Lake Michigan and Lake Huron shorelines, perhaps best developed on Drummond Island and adjacent Ontario islands. Alkaline basalts characterize these systems along portions of the Lake Superior shoreline, with a generally distinguishable flora from those on dolostone.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This group requires much additional data and analysis to classify with confidence.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Woody acidic cliff species may include Juniperus communis, Amelanchier spp., stunted individuals of Betula papyrifera, Picea rubens, Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa, Pinus strobus, and Quercus rubra. Shrubs may include Alnus viridis ssp. crispa (= Alnus crispa), Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Diervilla lonicera, Juniperus communis, Physocarpus opulifolius, and Vaccinium angustifolium. Common herbs include Athyrium filix-femina, Campanula rotundifolia, Cystopteris fragilis, Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Dryopteris carthusiana, Dryopteris fragrans, Dryopteris marginalis, Euthamia graminifolia, Fragaria virginiana, Phegopteris connectilis (= Thelypteris phegopteris), Poa compressa, Polypodium appalachianum, Rubus pubescens, and Sibbaldiopsis tridentata (= Potentilla tridentata). Cliff faces include acidic igneous or metamorphic rock (gneiss, schist, granite, and quartzite). Soils are largely absent, confined to cracks and crevices. Extensive cliff formations occur on the shores of the Great Lakes and other large waterbodies; inland locations often support extensive talus slopes at their bases as a result of weathering and rockslides.
Alkaline cliff vegetation varies from sparse nonvascular vegetation to open-treed or shrubby communities. Nonvascular alkaline cliff plants (lichens, mosses, and liverworts) are common on the exposed cliff face, but vascular plant cover is sparse and patchy, confined to cracks or between boulders at the base of the slope where thin soils accumulate beneath talus. Overhanging trees from the ridgetop may include Acer saccharum, Thuja occidentalis, and Abies balsamea, and stunted individuals of Betula papyrifera may occur on the cliff face. Other woody plants may include Shepherdia canadensis, Diervilla lonicera, Acer spicatum, and others. Common herbs may include Asplenium trichomanes, Geranium robertianum, Maianthemum canadense, Pellaea glabella, Polypodium virginianum, Pteridium aquilinum, and Trientalis borealis.
Alkaline cliff vegetation varies from sparse nonvascular vegetation to open-treed or shrubby communities. Nonvascular alkaline cliff plants (lichens, mosses, and liverworts) are common on the exposed cliff face, but vascular plant cover is sparse and patchy, confined to cracks or between boulders at the base of the slope where thin soils accumulate beneath talus. Overhanging trees from the ridgetop may include Acer saccharum, Thuja occidentalis, and Abies balsamea, and stunted individuals of Betula papyrifera may occur on the cliff face. Other woody plants may include Shepherdia canadensis, Diervilla lonicera, Acer spicatum, and others. Common herbs may include Asplenium trichomanes, Geranium robertianum, Maianthemum canadense, Pellaea glabella, Polypodium virginianum, Pteridium aquilinum, and Trientalis borealis.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Cliff faces include acidic igneous or metamorphic rock (gneiss, schist, granite, and quartzite). Soils are largely absent, confined to cracks and crevices. Extensive cliff formations occur on the shores of the Great Lakes and other large waterbodies; inland locations often support extensive talus slopes at their bases as a result of weathering and rockslides. The bedrock may consist of alkaline igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rocks. Alkaline rocky cliffs are predominantly dolostone when associated with the Niagaran Escarpment along the northern Lake Michigan and Lake Huron shorelines, perhaps best developed on Drummond Island and adjacent Ontario islands. Alkaline basalts characterize these systems along portions of the Lake Superior shoreline, with a generally distinguishable flora from those on dolostone.
Geographic Range: This structurally and floristically variable group is found in the Great Lakes region of the U.S. and Canada, and northern New England on both alkaline and acidic cliffs.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MA, MB, ME, MI, MN, NH, NY, OH, ON, QC, VT, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.959042
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.b Laurentian-Acadian-Great Lakes Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group | G839 | 6.B.1.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A4006 Laurentian-Acadian-Great Lakes Alkaline Cliff Alliance | A4006 | 6.B.1.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A4007 Laurentian-Acadian-Great Lakes Acidic Cliff Alliance | A4007 | 6.B.1.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A4223 Laurentian-Acadian Alkaline Talus Alliance | A4223 | 6.B.1.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A4226 Laurentian-Acadian Acidic Talus Alliance | A4226 | 6.B.1.Na.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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]
- Kost, M. A., D. A. Albert, J. G. Cohen, B. S. Slaughter, R. K. Schillo, C. R. Weber, and K. A. Chapman. 2007. Natural communities of Michigan: Classification and description. Report No. 2007-21, Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing. 314 pp. [http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/reports/2007-21_Natural_Communites_of_Michigan_Classification_and_Description.pdf]