The Alaska Vegetation Classification - Alaska Geobotany Center ...

Communities-Myriophyllum spicafum-Potamogefon perfoliafus (Batten and others1978, Racine 1976). Myriophyllumspicafum-Pofamogefon spp. (Dachnowski-Stokes1941, Ritchie and others 1981, Young 1974b). Myriophyl/umspicafum-Ufriculariavulgaris (Porsild 1939, Racine and Anderson 1979).lII.D.l.f. Fresh PondweedDescription-These communities are dominated by pondweeds (Potamogefonspp.).Some species grow mostly submerged (Pofamogefonpectinatus). and others extendto the water surface and have some floating leaves (P. gramheus). Common associatedaquatic plants include Myriophyllum spicatum, Hippuris vulgaris, Sparganiumspp., and Callifricbe spp. Cham spp. may be common on mineral substrates at thebottom of clear water bodies. Emergent plants are absent or rare.Distribution and site characteristics-Pondweed communities are common infreshwater lakes, ponds, and sluggish rivers throughout Alaska, except for the littoralfringe of the arctic coastal plain. They occur in 10 centimeters (4 in) to at least3 meters (10 ft) of water and are rooted in a substrate of mud or organic-rich muck.Successional status-Communities in shallow water will probably be replaced bymarshes or wet meadows. Those in deep water may eventually suffer the same fatebut after a much longer time.Closely related types-These communities are similar to other aquatic communities,but have a dominant component of pondweeds. They are especially similar tobrackish pondweed communities and sometimes contain the same species, but thebrackish pondweed types are restricted to shallow ponds on the coast periodicallyinundated by tides. Some pondweeds are found occasionally in the understories ofmarsh communities, but pondweed communities contain few or no emergents.Primary reference-Ritchie and others 1981.Communitles-Pofamgefon gramineus-P. alpinus (Porsild 1939). Pofamgefonberchfoldi-P. alpinus (Porsild 1939). Pofamogetonpectinatus (Spetzman 1959).Pofamgeton filiformis-Ruppia spiralis (Cooper 1939). Pofamogefon perfoliafus(Ritchie and others 1981).III.D.1.g. Waterstar-WonDescriptlon-These communities are dominated or codominated by water star-wort(Callitfiche spp.). Other aquatic plants may be associated with the star-wort, but theonly one reported is Subularia aquafica. Emergent plants are rare or absent.Distribution and site characteristics-Water star-wort communities have beenreported only from Amchitka Island, but small communities are probably scatteredin freshwater ponds, bog pools, and shallow lake embayments throughout the State,except for the arctic coastal plain. These communities have been reported only fromrock-bottomed seasonal pools, but they probably also exist in perennial water bodieswith various substrates and 1 or 2 meters (3 to 6 ft) of water.Successional status-Most of these communities probably are eventually replacedby marshes or wet meadows.Closely related types-These communities are similar to other aquatic communitiesbut have a dominant component of water star-wort.Primary reference-Shackiette and others 1969.