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Betula glandulosa / Carex spp. Shrubland | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Betula glandulosa / Carex spp. Shrubland
Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description: This association is found on the west side of Glacier National Park in Montana, and is also known from several low-elevation sites in Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta. This association is found at 1135 to 1540 m (3720-5049 feet) elevation on basin floors. Sites are flat to gently inclined peatlands. Soils are organic (sedge peat), seasonally flooded to saturated, and very poorly drained. <i>Betula glandulosa</i> dominates the shrub canopy in all stands, with up to 70% cover. <i>Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda</i> and <i>Salix serissima</i> occur less frequently with less than 10% cover. <i>Salix drummondiana</i>, along with several other tall shrubs and short <i>Picea engelmannii</i>, occur with very low constancy. <i>Carex</i> species characterize the herbaceous understory, individually having between 20 and 60% constancy. The <i>Carex</i> species with the highest average cover are <i>Carex interior, Carex lasiocarpa, Carex limosa</i>, and <i>Carex aquatilis</i>. Stands can contain a moisture gradient with <i>Betula glandulosa</i> on slightly higher and better drained ground, with a <i>Carex lasiocarpa</i>-dominated fen or other <i>Carex</i> species in the lowest and wettest area. <i>Trichophorum caespitosum</i> is infrequent but can have high cover (55%). Forbs common in peatlands are usually present, such as <i>Menyanthes trifoliata, Comarum palustre</i>, and <i>Petasites frigidus var. sagittatus (= Petasites sagittatus)</i>. Most stands are shallowly flooded with an average moss and lichen cover of only 20%, while the drier stands have high ground cover of moss and lichens. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.31727.CEGL005887
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 17-Nov-2014 to: 01-May-2019
     
  • status: accepted
  • This Community's Level: association
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.728694 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Translated: Resin Birch / Sedge species Shrubland
  Scientific: Betula glandulosa / Carex spp. Shrubland
  Code: CEGL005887