27.12.2014 Views

Ohio subset of Plant Communities of the Midwest ... - NatureServe

Ohio subset of Plant Communities of the Midwest ... - NatureServe

Ohio subset of Plant Communities of the Midwest ... - NatureServe

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Rocky Shores: Great Lakes Alkaline Rocky Shores<br />

Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda / Clinopodium arkansanum - Argentina anserina - Primula<br />

mistassinica Sparse Vegetation<br />

Shrubby-cinquefoil / Low Calamint - Silverweed - Bird's-eye Primrose Sparse Vegetation<br />

Great Lakes Limestone - Dolostone Bedrock Shore<br />

CEGL002506<br />

DESCRIPTION: These lakeshores are characterized by a zonal gradation <strong>of</strong> plant communities, changing in response<br />

to distance from <strong>the</strong> lake. Typical species found in protected bedrock cracks <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> splash/scrape zone include<br />

Juncus balticus, Argentina anserina (= Potentilla anserina), and Populus balsamifera. The more inland vegetated<br />

zone contains patchy vegetation. Common species include Clinopodium arkansanum (= Calamintha arkansana),<br />

Deschampsia caespitosa, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda), Dichan<strong>the</strong>lium<br />

acuminatum var. lindheimeri (= Panicum lindheimeri), and species from <strong>the</strong> previous zone. A variety <strong>of</strong> mosses,<br />

including Campylium stellatum, are common throughout this zone. In <strong>the</strong> most inland zone, on sand accumulations or<br />

cobble ridges on <strong>the</strong> bedrock, scattered trees and shrubs are common, including Abies balsamea, Picea glauca,<br />

Populus balsamifera, and Thuja occidentalis (Albert et al. 1995).<br />

The width <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> zone varies with fluctuations in <strong>the</strong> Great Lakes water level. The splash/scrape zone, which<br />

averages 10 m in width, is very sparsely vegetated, with small pools <strong>of</strong> standing water. <strong>Plant</strong> species are typically<br />

found in protected bedrock cracks. A vegetated zone occurs more inland as soil accumulates in and adjacent to<br />

bedrock cracks. Fur<strong>the</strong>r inland, sand accumulations or cobble ridges on <strong>the</strong> bedrock surface provide a suitable<br />

substrate for <strong>the</strong> establishment <strong>of</strong> woody and herbaceous plants.<br />

Wind, waves, and ice action disturb <strong>the</strong> various zones in this community.<br />

COMMENTS: 2, MCS. Note, in Michigan alvar-like communities may be included here. New York occurrences in Lake<br />

Champlain may fit this type. Michigan stands may be split into two types: limestone/dolomite (S3) and volcanic<br />

conglomerate (S3).<br />

CONSERVATION RANK: G3.<br />

DISTRIBUTION: This community occurs along Great Lakes shores in <strong>the</strong> United States and Canada, ranging from<br />

Michigan and Wisconsin to Ontario, and possibly to Minnesota and <strong>Ohio</strong>.<br />

USFS ECOREGIONS: 212Ha:CC, 212He:CCC, 212Hi:CC, 212Hj:CCC, 212Hl:CCP, 212Ja:C, 212Oa:CCC, 212Ob:CCC,<br />

212Pa:CCC<br />

CONSERVATION REGIONS: 48:C<br />

STATES: MI MN OH WI PROVINCES: ON<br />

MIDWEST HERITAGE SYNONYMY: MI bedrock beach-limestone pavement lakeshore =<br />

MN lake beach (lake superior section) bedrock subtype <br />

OH bedrock beach <br />

WI Great Lakes limestone-dolostone bedrock shore =<br />

OTHER SYNONYMY:<br />

USNVC HIERARCHY: OPEN PAVEMENT SPARSE VEGETATION ALLIANCE (VII.A.2.N.a)<br />

PLANT COMMUNITIES OF THE MIDWEST – 2001. APPENDIX: ASSOCIATION DESCRIPTIONS<br />

264

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!