Subalpine Tall Scrub Gravelly Moist Slopes

Description

The reference state describes two distinct vegetative communities grouped by the structure and dominance of the vegetation (e.g., shrubs, forbs, and graminoids) and their ecological function and stability. Fire is the major disturbance on this ecological site. Soil and site factors including drainage class and mean annual air temperature influence the vegetation in the reference state.

The reference state is developed and characterized using available vegetation models, including Landfire BpS and the Alaska vegetation classification system (Landfire, 2009; Viereck et al., 1992).

Dominant plant species

1. alder (Alnus), shrub

2. willow (Salix), shrub

3. tealeaf willow (Salix pulchra), shrub

4. beauverd spirea (Spiraea stevenii), shrub

5. dwarf birch (Betula nana), shrub

6. marsh Labrador tea (Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens), shrub

7. black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), shrub

8. Bigelow's sedge (Carex bigelowii), grass

9. bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis), grass

10. spreading woodfern (Dryopteris expansa), grass

11. stiff clubmoss (Lycopodium annotinum), grass

Submodel