Arctic Tall Scrub Loamy Slopes

Description

This reference state is developed and characterized using available vegetation models, most notably United States Department of Agriculture - Soil Conservation Service range surveys (SCS, 1984; Swanson et al., 1985).

The reference state describes one distinct vegetative community on loamy-skeletal footslopes. Fire studies do not exist for this community type. However, alder is known to resprout directly after fire disturbance, and the fire-return interval is hypothesized to be very long (Landfire, 2009). This ecological site is found primarily at lower elevations at warmer southerly and westerly aspects.

There is no indication of an alternate grazing state on this site. Targeted data collection may be able to address whether grazing or browsing in the reference state result in an alternate state.

Dominant plant species

1. mountain alder (Alnus viridis ssp. crispa), shrub

2. tealeaf willow (Salix pulchra), shrub

3. bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis), grass

Submodel