Low Elevation Marine and Floodplain Terraces

Description

The dynamics described below are general to the level that the site concept has been developed for provisional ecological site concept identification and further investigation purposes only. It is meant to give a general overview of the ecological dynamics of the system and should not be viewed as a model for a specific ecological site level management. It is supported by the current available literature that was reviewed for a general understanding of the system and basic understanding of the abiotic and biotic drivers. Further investigations and soil-site data collection and analysis should be conducted before specific land management can be applied at the ecological site specific scale. This STM only serves to explain the general ecology and dynamics. No alternative states were found during the literature review, however that does not mean they do not exist and more time should be spent determining whether or not this model captures all the dynamics of this system, especially once more is known about the soil-site characteristics of this LRU and ecological site concept.

Reference State (State 1) – The reference state for this ecological site concept is dominated by Picea sitchensis and Sequoia sempervirens, with Alnus rubra most dominant in the open patches. It represents the three community phases that are most commonly noted in the literature with windthrow and salt-spray driving the bulk of the ecological dynamics. At this very general scale, this reference state only really captures the generalities related to the functional groups that are most dominant and does not capture the more specific dynamics and patterns that would be found at the more detailed and refined ecological site scale that focuses on specific abiotic factors that drive some of these various complex plant expressions. More data and refinement is needed to capture the information needed in order to make specific land management decisions at the ecological site-component scale.

Submodel

Description

This state represents the intensive land uses that have significantly altered this ecological site due to urban developments, recreational activities, and agriculture. More information about this state is needed to flesh out the various impacts these types of land uses/alterations have had on the ecological site in order to better understand how to better manage of these areas or potentially attempt restoration of these areas where possible.

Submodel