Name:
Populus tremuloides / Symphoricarpos occidentalis / Festuca hallii Woodland Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This aspen woodland group ranges from the North Dakota/Manitoba border west to central Alberta. It occurs in the northern Great Plains, in the boreal forest-prairie grassland transition region. The climate in this region is mostly subhumid low boreal with short, warm summers and cold, long winters. The physiognomy of the area is distinct woodland patches, in moist protected areas on slopes or depressions. Trees are generally short in stature, reaching mature heights of 15-20 m at the northern edge of the range, but averaging 5-10 m on well-drained sites at the southern limit of tree growth in the prairie grasslands. <i>Populus tremuloides</i> dominates this group. Common associates are <i>Populus balsamifera</i>, with an understory of tall shrubs and diverse herbs. In some areas, <i>Picea glauca</i> also occurs, usually as dense stands on north-facing coulee slopes. <i>Populus tremuloides</i> tends to grow in pure stands as distinct copses in the southern part of the range, the size of the clumps becoming more extensive moving north. Some of the common shrubs include <i>Amelanchier alnifolia, Corylus cornuta, Symphoricarpos albus, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, Prunus virginiana, Prunus pensylvanica, Ribes oxyacanthoides, Rosa acicularis, Rosa woodsii</i>, and <i>Salix bebbiana</i>. Common understory herbs include <i>Aralia nudicaulis, Actaea rubra, Cornus canadensis, Maianthemum canadense</i>, and <i>Maianthemum stellatum</i>. On poorly drained sites, <i>Populus tremuloides</i> may be associated with <i>Populus balsamifera</i>, with <i>Cornus sericea</i> and <i>Viburnum opulus</i> important components of the shrub layer. <i>Betula papyrifera</i> becomes more common on the north or on north-facing slopes. These woodland patches are commonly ringed by <i>Symphoricarpos occidentalis</i> on the drier side, moving into the adjacent prairie community, or by wetlands, with a ring of <i>Salix</i> spp., usually <i>Salix discolor</i>, then <i>Salix petiolaris</i> at the water's edge. <i>Quercus macrocarpa</i> is found sporadically along the Qu'Appelle River valley and its tributaries in Saskatchewan, becoming more common into Manitoba. Common grasses and forbs include <i>Apocynum androsaemifolium, Aralia nudicaulis, Carex siccata, Carex sprengelii, Elymus trachycaulus, Lathyrus</i> spp., <i>Maianthemum stellatum, Maianthemum canadense, Oryzopsis asperifolia, Prosartes trachycarpa, Sanicula marilandica, Schizachne purpurascens, Thalictrum</i> spp., and <i>Vicia americana</i>. Fire and drought constitute the most important dynamics in this group. Much of this region has undulating to hummocky glacial till topography with depressional wetlands (potholes or kettles). Soils under the grasslands are generally Black Chernozems; Dark Grey Chernozems have developed under the woodlands and Gleysols are associated with the wetland patches.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40079-{20F89F38-B0D1-40C2-9183-FD3CC577AEE3}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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