Poorly drained, very acidic marine terraces

Description

The dynamics described below are extremely 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 provisional ecological site concept is dominated by Hesperocyparis pygmaea (pygmy cypress) and Pinus contorta ssp. bolanderi (Bolander pine) with an understory dominated by Ledum or Rhododendron columbianum (Labrador tea) and a variety of endemic forbs, and mosses and lichens. Variation within this reference state relates primarily to the extent of acidity and degree of saturation. Sphagnum bogs are commonly associated with this ecological site concept and should be broken out as a separate ecological site at a future date, at this time it is included within this ecological site concept.

At this very general scale, this reference state only really captures the generalities related to the dominant functional group that is 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 within this very unique site concept. 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 ESG in a myriad of ways including removal of topsoil, fertilizer additions and other topsoil manipulations, hydrologic alterations that remove native soil fauna, among many other things and is typically due to urban developments, recreational activities, and intensive 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 manage these areas or potentially attempt restoration of these areas where possible.

Submodel