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Chamaecyparis thyoides Northern Peat Swamp Forest Alliance | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Chamaecyparis thyoides Northern Peat Swamp Forest Alliance
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This alliance is characterized by peatlands dominated or codominated by <i>Chamaecyparis thyoides</i> occurring in saturated basins and, less commonly, along streamsides and seasonally flooded pondshores, from New Jersey north to southern Maine. Associates usually include <i>Acer rubrum, Clethra alnifolia</i>, and <i>Vaccinium corymbosum</i>. In the northern portion of the range, <i>Betula alleghaniensis, Larix laricina, Ledum groenlandicum, Nemopanthus mucronatus</i>, and <i>Picea rubens</i> may occur. In the south, <i>Rhododendron maximum, Ilex glabra</i>, and others are common associates. Gap succession is more important in this community than post-fire regeneration and accounts for the mixed, uneven-aged stands. Lightning strikes are the main cause of mortality in mature white-cedar trees within the range of this alliance. Atlantic white-cedar communities are early-successional but <i>Chamaecyparis thyoides</i> is a long-lived species (250+ years); gap regeneration is hypothesized to be the primary means of reproduction. The community often succeeds to itself following fire or other disturbance. In the absence of fire and adequate gap regeneration, Atlantic white-cedar forests may be replaced by bay forest. Known examples are generally neither flood-prone, nor exposed to frequent fire. One association is thought to become established following fire, with a return time of 25-100+ years. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38687-{7198B10D-19DE-4F09-8A47-AFE01BCD9519}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 08-Jan-2014 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899524 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: A3400
  Translated: Atlantic White-cedar Northern Peat Swamp Forest Alliance
  Common: Northern Atlantic White-cedar Peat Swamp Forest
  Scientific: Chamaecyparis thyoides Northern Peat Swamp Forest Alliance