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A.197 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.197
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: This alliance, found in the Great Lakes region and northeastern United States, may be best described as a swamp forest. It is dominated by ~Picea mariana$ with other canopy associates including ~Abies balsamea, Larix laricina, Betula papyrifera, Picea glauca$ (in the northwest of this alliance's range) and ~Thuja occidentalis$ (in the northeast and west). Most stands of this alliance have a well-developed shrub layer, but some have only a sparse shrub component. Most of the shrubs are ericaceous species such as ~Chamaedaphne calyculata, Kalmia angustifolia, Ledum groenlandicum$ (in the west), ~Linnaea borealis, Rhododendron canadense$ (in the east), ~Gaylussacia baccata$ (in the east), and ~Vaccinium$ spp., as well as ~Nemopanthus mucronatus$. ~Alnus incana, Betula pumila$, and ~Thuja occidentalis$ occur in more minerotrophic communities. Herbs include ~Drosera$ spp., ~Sarracenia purpurea, Eriophorum$ spp., ~Carex trisperma$, and ~Trillium undulatum$. Nonvascular species are abundant on the forest floor. ~Sphagnum$ spp. are ubiquitous, feathermosses are common on nutrient-poor sites in the west, and ~Aulacomnium palustre$ is more characteristic of minerotrophic communities in the east. ^The habitat of this alliance is characterized by poorly drained mineral soils in the northeastern part of its range, but is largely confined to deep peats and minerotrophic peatland margins to the south. The peats and groundwater are acidic and vary from nutrient-poor to moderately rich. Most stands are on level ground but some are on gentle lower slopes adjacent to wetlands. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.1673.A197
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
     
  • status: accepted
  • Community's Parent: I.A.8.N.g
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: PICEA MARIANA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE
  Code: A.197
  Common: Black Spruce Saturated Forest Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Picea mariana Saturated Forest Alliance