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Communltles-Ledum decumbens-Vaccinium vitis-idaea/Sphagnum spp.(Dachnowski-Stokes 1941, Racine 1978b, Rigg 1914, Young and Racine 1976).Empetrum nigrum-Ledum decumbens/Sphagnum spp. (Bos 1967, Cooper 1942,Viereck 1970b). Empetrum nigrum-Vaccinium spp.-Carex pluriflora-Rubuschamaemorus/Sphagnumspp. (HultBn 1960). Empetrum nigrum-Vacciniumuliginosum-Eriophorrn angustifolium-Carex pauciflora/Sphagnum recurvum-Pleurozium schreberi3 Empetrum nigrum-Carex pluriflora-C. pauciflora/Sphagnumspp. (Batten and others 1978, Dachnowski-Stokes 1941, Heusser 1960, Scheierl andMeyer 1977). Empetrum nigrum-Eriophorum an~ustifolium-Carexpluriflora/Sphagnumrecurvum-Pleurozium schreberi (see footnote 3). Empetrum nigrum-Eriophorumangustifolium/Sphagnum magellanicum-S. warnstorfii (Reiners and others 1971,Streveler and others 1973). Kalmia polifolia-Empetrum nigrum-Trichophorumcaespitosum-Eriophorumangusfifolium/Sphagnum spp. (Dachnowski-Stokes 1941 ;Neiland 1971a; Stephens and others 1969, 1970). Chamaedaphnecalyculata-Salixspp.-Carex spp. (Calmes 1976). Kalmiapolifolia-Empetrum nigrum-Trichophorumcaespitosum-Carexspp. (Dachnowski-Stokes 1941, Stephens and others 1969).Andromedapolifolia/Sphagnum spp. (Luken and Billings 1983, Racine 1976).ll.C.2.f. Open Low Shrub Birch-Willow ShrubDescription-These communities have 25 to 75 percent cover of shrubs at least20 centimeters (8 in) tall, less than 25 percent cover of shrubs taller than 1.5 meters(5 ft), and less than 10 percent cover of trees overtopping the shrub canopy. Thecanopy is dominated by shrub birch (Betula glandulosa, B. nana) and willows(Salix spp.). Common willows include Salix glauca, S. planifolia, S. lanata, andS. brachycarpa. Scattered black or white spruce may be present. Low shrubscommon beneath the canopy and in openings include Vaccinium vitis-idaea,V. uliginosum, Ledum spp., and Empetrum nigrum. Common herbs includeCalamagrostis canadensis, Eriophorum angustifolium, and Carex spp. on mesicto wet (usually lowland) sites and Festuca altaica and Hierochlo.5 alpha on mesicto dry (usually subalpine) sites. Scattered Eriophorum vaginatum tussocks may bepresent on wet sites. A continuous moss mat is present, which is usually composedof feathermosses (such as Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberj),Tomenthypnum nitens, and Aulacomnium palustre.Distribution and site characteristics-Shrub birch-willow open low shrub communitiesoccur in poorly drained lowlands and moist slopes near tree line in interior,south-central, and southwestern Alaska and on terraces and cutbanks in arcticAlaska. They occur on mineral soils with a surface organic-rich horizon severalcentimeters thick. The soil is usually somewhat acid, with a pH of about 5 to 6.Permafrost is nearly always present at depths of 50 to 100 centimeters (20 to 39 in)(possibly shallower at the northernmost localities).Neiland, Bonita J. 1976. Unpublished field notes. On file with:University of Alaska Museum-Herbarium, 907 Yukon Drive,Fairbanks, AK 99775-1200.
Successional status-Communities on alpine and subalpine slopes are probablystable, though possibly subject to slow colonization by forests. Subarctic lowlandstands also may be fairly stable as long as moisture conditions are constant. A dropin the water table probably favors tree invasion, and a rise in the water table mightallow shrub-tussock communities or shrub birch-ericaceous shrub bog communitiesto occupy the site. Arctic stands generally develop from closed shrub thickets as thepermafrost table rises and the active layer becomes wetter. In time, many of thesestands will develop into shrub-tussock tundra.Closely related types-Open low shrub birch-willow shrub is similar to mesic shrubbirch-ericaceous shrub communities and shrub birch-ericaceous shrub bog communitiesbut has more willows, willow being codominant with birch. They also resemblesome open low willow communities but have shrub birch. They are similar to closedlow birch-willow and open tall birch-willow communities but are more open andshorter, respectively. Some stands may approach shrub-tussock bog or shrub-tussocktundra, but Eriophomm vaginatum is much less important than it is in those types.Primary references-Spetzman 1959, Steigers and others 1983, Talbot and others1984, Viereck 1963.Communities-Betula nana-Salix brachycarpa-S. planifolia-S. lanata/Arctostaphylosrubra-Cassiope fetragona-Ledum decumbens (Spetzman 1959). Betula nana-Salix lanata/Carex aquatilis-Equisetum spp. (Craighead and others 1988). Salixarbusculoides-S. glauca-S. hastataBetula glandulosa/Bromus pumpellianus-Festucaaltaica (Batten 1977). Betula glandulosa-Salix glauca-S. planifolia/Festuca alfaica-Vaccinium vitis-idaea-Arctostapaphylos alpina/Hylocornium splendens (Viereck 1963)Salix glauca-Betula nana (Childs 1969). Betula glandulosa-Salix planifolia-Vacciniumuliginosum (Steigers and others 1983). Betula glandulosa-Salix spp.-Eriophorumspp./Hylocornium splendens (McCartney 1976, Talbot and others 1984).ll.C.2.g. Open Low Willow ShrubDescription-These communities have 25 to 75 percent cover of shrubs (primarilywillows), at least 20 centimeters (8 in) tall (fig. 47). Shrubs taller than 1.5 meters(5 ft) provide less than 25 percent cover and trees overtopping the shrubs provideless than 10 percent cover. The understory is generally dominated by dwarfshrubs or forbs. Willows commonly dominant include Salix glauca, S. planifoliaand S. lanata. Trees are generally absent. Shrubs important in the understoryinclude ericaceous shrubs such as Arctostaphylos rubra and Vaccinium uliginosum,dwarf willows such as Salix reticulafa, or subshrubs such as Dryas spp. Commonunderstory species include Petasites frigidus, Fesfuca altaica, Carex bigelowii, andArtemisia arctica. Nonsphagnaceous mosses may form patchy to continuous mats.On wet sites, Sphagnumspp. are sometimes present. Lichens are generallyunimportant.137
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~~ ~rForest ServicePacific Northwes
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AbstractViereck, L.A.; Dyrness, C.T
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IntroductionThe first draft of this
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General Descriptionof theClassifica
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Northwest’. Tenltoryf-Figure I-Ma
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Arctic AlaskaInterior AlaskaAn exte
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Figure 2-Vegetation type map of Ala
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Table 1-Alaska vegetation classific
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II. Scrub8a. Vegetation with at lea
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mn15
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FQ221
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n aa25
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mP35
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.I44
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Descriptions ofLevel I, II, 111,and
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Communities-Picea sifchensis/Oplopa
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LA. 1.d. Closed Western Hemlock-Sit
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Figure 6-Closed needleleaf forest o
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Distrlbutlon and site characteristi
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Communities-Picea glaucahathermosse
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LA. 1.1. Closed Black Spruce-White
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A lower well-developed shrub layer
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A layer of herbs and ferns provides
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Figure lS0pen needleleaf forest ofw
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Figure 1 64pen needleleaf forest of
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1.A.2.h. Open Black Spruce-Tamarack
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A.3.b. Siika Spruce WoodlandDescrlp
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and others 1988). Picea glaucdAlnus
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A well-developed tall shrub layer,
Page 89 and 90: Figure 24-Closed broadleaf forest o
Page 91 and 92: Occasionally, small stands of balsa
Page 93 and 94: Mature birch can survive low-intens
Page 95 and 96: Distribution and Site characteristl
Page 97 and 98: Distributlon and site characteristi
Page 99 and 100: Figure 314pen broadleaf forest ofba
Page 101 and 102: I.B.3.b. Balsam Poplar WoodlandDesc
Page 103 and 104: stands reach 120 years of age. A ta
Page 105 and 106: 1.c.7.d. Closed Quaking Aspen-Spruc
Page 107 and 108: Figure 35-Closed mixed forest 01 ba
Page 109 and 110: I.C.2.b. Open Quaking Aspen-Spruce
Page 111 and 112: Distribution and site characteristi
Page 113 and 114: Closely related types-Closed subalp
Page 115 and 116: ll.A.3.a. Black Spruce Dwarf Tree W
Page 117 and 118: Figure 38-Closed tall willow shrub
Page 119 and 120: hummocky substrate and usually are
Page 121 and 122: Primary references-Batten and other
Page 123 and 124: Figure 41-Open tall willow shrub of
Page 125 and 126: ll.B.2.c. Open Tall Shrub Birch Shr
Page 129 and 130: Figure 44-Closed low willow shrub o
Page 131 and 132: Communities-Betula nana-Salixplanif
Page 135 and 136: Successlonal status-Many of these c
Page 137 and 138: Primary referencecHanson 1951; Pega
Page 139: generally also have an abundance of
Page 143 and 144: Communitles-Salix glauca/Arcfosfaph
Page 145 and 146: Primary references-Hogan and Tande
Page 149 and 150: Closely related types-Sagebrush-gra
Page 151 and 152: Figure 52-Oryas dwarf shrub tundraw
Page 153 and 154: ugosum (Hettinger and Janz 1974). D
Page 155 and 156: Oxyfropis nigrescens, Hierochlog al
Page 157 and 158: Closely related types-Vaccinium dwa
Page 159 and 160: ll.D.2.d. Mountain-Heath Dwarf Shru
Page 161 and 162: 1984). Cassiope mertensiana-C. stel
Page 163 and 164: Figure SB--Dry graminoid herbaceous
Page 165 and 166: ' , , .MA. 1.b. Dry FescueFigure 54
Page 167 and 168: Figure 60-Midgrass-shrub stand of t
Page 169 and 170: (Crow 1977b, Ritchie and others 198
Page 171 and 172: Successional status-In southwestern
Page 173 and 174: Primary references-Batten and other
Page 177 and 178: Primary reference-Hjeljord 1971.Com
Page 179 and 180: Closely related types-Sedge-birch t
Page 181 and 182: Figure 64-We1 sedge meadow tundraof
Page 185 and 186: Closely related types-Wet sedge mea
Page 187 and 188: Figure €.&Subarcticlowland sedge
Page 189 and 190: Closely related types-Halophytic gr
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Koppen 1977; del Moral and Watson 1
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Closely related types-These communi
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The sites themselves are covered wi
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Figure 70-A mesic forb herbaceous c
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Closely related types-These communi
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Closely related types-Herb wet mead
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Closely related types-Halophytic he
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III.C.1.6. Dly BryophyteFigure ? L
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lll.C.2.b. Foliose and Fruticose Li
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lll.D.I.b. Common MarestailFigure 7
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Photographs-Figure 79, this publica
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Communlties-Su~ularia aquafica-Call
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Figure 80(len)-A marine aquatic eel
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ReferencesWhile preparing the Alask
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Anderson, J.H. 1972. Phytocenology
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Brock, Steven; Burke, Ingrid. 1980.
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Crow, John Huber. 1968. Plant ecolo
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Fries, Janet A. 1977. The vascular
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Holowaychuk, N.; Smeck, Neil E. 197
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Kessler, Wlnlfred B. 1979. Bird pop
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Martin, Jon R.; Brady, Ward W.; Dow
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Neiland, Bonita J. 1971b. Survey of
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Raclne, Charles H.; Anderson, J.H.
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Selkregg, Lidla L. 1975a. Alaska re
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Stevens, M.E. 1965. Relation of veg
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Van Cleve, K.; Viereck, L.A. 1981.
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Walker, D.A.; Lederer, N.P. 1983. V
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Wiggins, Ira L. 1951. The distribut
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Table %Listof scientific and common
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Table &--List of scientific and com
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Table 3-Lis.t of scientific and com
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Table >Listof scientific and common
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Table %Listof scientific and common
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~~~ ~Table %Listof Scientific and c
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Assoclatlon, plant-A stand or group
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Bryold-(1) A moss, liverwort, or ho
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Ctyaquepts-Gray or olive soils with
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Edaphic-(adj.) Pertaining to the so
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Foliage cover-See cover.Foot slope-
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Herbaceous4n the Alaska vegetation
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Marsh-(1) A periodically wet or con
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Old-growth stand-Not synonymous wit
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Pioneer-Plant capable of invading b
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Sere-A sequence of plant communitie
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Submerged aquatic plant-Plant adapt
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~ y p + kind ~ of vegetation; for e
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Viereck, L.A.; Dymess, C.T.; Batten
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