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Picea sitchensis / Carex obnupta - Lysichiton americanus Forest | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Picea sitchensis / Carex obnupta - Lysichiton americanus Forest Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This association occurs along the Pacific coast from northern California to British Columbia. It is a wetland type occurring in coastal wetlands, primarily on floodplains adjacent to perennial streams and rivers, but occasionally on depressions between old stabilized dunes. Soils are perennially wet, usually with high organic content. Old-growth stands are rare, because most swamps were readily accessible for logging, and suitable sites were never numerous or extensive. Stands of this type are dominated by <i>Picea sitchensis</i> and <i>Alnus rubra</i>, with <i>Tsuga heterophylla</i> occasionally occurring on mounds. While <i>Picea sitchensis</i> may reach large diameters typical of those growing in upland sites, growth rates in perennially wet soils are slow, and ages of trees often greatly exceed estimates based on familiarity with upland stands. Shallow root systems, buttressed roots, and reduced crown spread are typical of swamp <i>Picea sitchensis</i> individuals. Large wads of <i>Polypodium scouleri</i>, and thick mats of epiphytic mosses, particularly <i>Antitrichia curtipendula</i>, are typical on upper trunks and limbs. Canopy cover of <i>Picea sitchensis</i> may be as low as 50%, and high light levels favor a dense growth of <i>Alnus rubra</i> and <i>Rubus spectabilis</i>, with <i>Gaultheria shallon</i> occurring on mounds. The herb layer is a mix <i>Carex obnupta, Lysichiton americanus</i>, and <i>Athyrium filix-femina</i>, with exposures of often deep, mucky soil between them. Windthrow is frequent, and creates gaps for spruce regeneration, often as resprouts from fallen boles. This is a late seral to climax association, with forests replacing both the red alder/salmonberry/ slough sedge-skunk cabbage association and the Hooker willow-crabapple/slough sedge-skunk cabbage association. Remnant old-growth stands of this association may contain considerable volumes of timber, but should be protected because this association is so rare. Large horizontal limbs and their moss mats may be nesting sites for marbled murrelets. Sites may be vulnerable to catastrophic windthrow, and windfirm buffers could help avert damage in some cases. Some sites are also vulnerable to tsunamis or drowning caused by subsidence following an earthquake. This is the only coastal <i>Picea sitchensis</i> association which has both <i>Carex obnupta</i> and <i>Lysichiton americanus</i> in the understory. Similar types are found further inland, but lack <i>Picea sitchensis</i>.  Accession Code: VB.CC.33086.CEGL000400 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.2.686922 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Sitka Spruce / Slough Sedge - Yellow Skunk-cabbage Forest   Scientific: Picea sitchensis / Carex obnupta - Lysichiton americanus Forest   Code: CEGL000400