Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R222XY360AK
Alpine Herbaceous Wet Organic Depressions
Last updated: 6/20/2019
Accessed: 04/26/2024
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 222X–Southern Alaska Coastal Mountains
The Southern Alaska Coastal Mountains (MLRA 222) encompasses the Pacific Border Ranges and Coast Mountains physiographic provinces (Wahrhaftig 1965). Spanning approximately 26,355 square miles, the elevation ranges from sea level at the base of glaciers and ice fields to 18,008 feet at Mt. St. Elias. The MLRA was covered by glacial ice during the Pleistocene epoch, a time period spanning from 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago. During interglacial periods glacial extent was reduced, leaving behind various glacial deposits. Over time these deposits have been eroded or buried by colluvium and slope alluvium, which now covers more than 90 percent of the unglaciated landscape. Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Lower Tertiary stratified sedimentary rocks, and occasionally Paleozoic intrusive rocks, underlie much of the area and are exposed on steep mountain slopes and ridges (USDA-NRCS 2006).
This landscape lies in the true alpine zone where glacial ice is, and has been, the dominant ground cover. Glacial ice encompassed all the MLRA during the Late Wisconsinan glaciation, 25,000 – 21, 000 years ago (Kauffman et al. 2011). Changes in climatic conditions following this period resulted in the recession of some glaciers and slowly exposed new surfaces for inhabitation by terrestrial ecosystems. Pioneer plant communities began to establish on the new substrate within the first 30 years and consisted mostly of evergreen, herbaceous dwarf shrubs with some pockets of low shrubs. These communities quickly transitioned to tall shrubs within 100 years of deglaciation. By approximately 13,000 years ago, four stable plant communities emerged across the non-glaciated landscape – ericaceous dwarf shrub, low shrub, tall shrub, and herbaceous communities – and form the present-day ecosystems (Boggs et al. 2010).
Classification relationships
USFS Ecoregion Province: Marine Mountains (M240), Forest-Meadow High (M242b) (Bailey 2007)
U.S. EPA Level III Ecoregion: Pacific Coastal Mountains (119) (Gallant et al. 2010)
National Vegetation Classification – Ecological Systems: Alaskan Pacific Maritime Alpine Wet Meadow (CES204.160) (NatureServe 2015)
Biophysical Settings: Alaskan Pacific Maritime Alpine Wet Meadow (BpS 7816730) (LANDFIRE 2009)
Alaska Natural Heritage Program Landcover Class: Herbaceous (Wet-Marsh) (Boggs et al. 2016)
Alaskan Vegetation Classification: Wet Sedge-Herb Meadow (Viereck et al. 1992)
Ecological site concept
Subalpine Herbaceous Wet Depressions ecological sites occur on depressions on high-elevation sites (Viereck et al. 1992; DeVelice et al. 1999; Boggs et al. 2008; NatureServe 2018). The soils are fine textured and poorly drained. Shallow, standing water may be present (Viereck et al. 1992; LANDFIRE 2009).
The reference vegetation on this ecological site is defined by herbaceous plants tolerant of cold, saturated conditions. Longawn sedge (Carex macrochaeta C.A. Mey) and Canadian burnet (Sanguisorba canadensis L.) are the dominant and characteristic species, respectively, with deercabbage (Nephrophyllidium crista-galli (Menzies ex Hook.) Gilg) increasing in importance in the southern half of the MLRA. Cold temperatures and stable hydrologic conditions maintain this plant community (Viereck et al. 1992; LANDFIRE 2009).
Associated sites
R220XY358AK |
Subalpine Scrub Gravelly Dry Slopes Located higher on the landscape |
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R220XY361AK |
Subalpine Shrub Dry Flood Plain Located lower on the landscape |
Similar sites
R220XY358AK |
Subalpine Scrub Gravelly Dry Slopes The herbaceous component of this mosaic plant community may resemble R222XY360AK, but the species composition is different and the site is not a wetland |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
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Shrub |
Not specified |
Herbaceous |
(1) Carex macrochaeta |
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