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Northern Plains-Boreal Transition Alvar Group | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Northern Plains-Boreal Transition Alvar Group Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019 Description: This alvar group is found in Manitoba, in the Interlake region between the southern basins of Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg. It is limited to the central portion of the Interlake region, associated with near-surface dolomitic limestone pavement. This alvar group includes three major types: (a) alvar grassland, (b) alvar shrubland, and (c) alvar wetland. Alvar savanna, with tree cover up to 60%, is treated as a limestone woodland type. Alvar grassland is characterized by a dominant cover of graminoid species, including <i>Danthonia spicata, Bromus porteri, Elymus trachycaulus, Poa annua</i>, and <i>Koeleria macrantha</i>. Other dominant species include <i>Juncus dudleyi, Geum triflorum</i>, and <i>Antennaria</i> spp. Trees are typically absent or restricted to the periphery, and shrub cover is very low and typically limited to <i>Juniperus horizontalis</i> and <i>Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda</i>. Forb cover is not high and has a lower diversity of species than other alvar types. Alvar shrubland can be divided into several subtypes. These include a prairie shrub subtype dominated by <i>Juniperus horizontalis</i> and <i>Arctostaphylos uva-ursi</i>, with the dominant grass species <i>Andropogon gerardii, Danthonia spicata</i>, and <i>Festuca hallii</i>. Tree species include <i>Populus tremuloides</i> and <i>Quercus macrocarpa</i>. The boreal shrub subtype contains more <i>Juniperus communis</i> than prairie shrubs, and <i>Viburnum rafinesqueanum</i> and <i>Betula occidentalis</i> are common. <i>Danthonia spicata</i> is the dominant grass. <i>Cladonia</i> species and <i>Pinus banksiana</i> also become dominant. Other shrub types include a mixed prairie/boreal subtype and a boulder/exposed ridge subtype. The moist or wet alvar type (alvar wetland) is dominated by <i>Carex</i> spp., <i>Juncus</i> spp., <i>Eleocharis</i> spp., <i>Deschampsia cespitosa</i>, and mosses. Where bare limestone occurs there is only moss and occasionally <i>Juniperus horizontalis</i> or <i>Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda</i>. Overall it appears that invasives in Manitoba alvars are infrequent at the present time.  Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40348-{196973C1-F182-4A90-9A16-A5A35A82F988} Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 05-May-2015 to: ongoing
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Dasiphora fruticosa - Carex eburnea Calcareous Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup This Community's Level: Group This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.892914 NatureServe Explorer   Code: G767   Scientific: Northern Plains-Boreal Transition Alvar Group