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Ecological site XA232X01Y218

Boreal Woodland Loamy Frozen Terraces

Last updated: 5/18/2020
Accessed: 12/21/2024

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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): 232X–Yukon Flats Lowlands

The Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA is an expansive basin characterized by numerous levels of flood plains and terraces that are separated by minimal breaks in elevation. This MLRA is in Interior Alaska and is adjacent to the middle reaches of the Yukon River. Numerous tributaries of the Yukon River are within the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. The largest are Beaver Creek, Birch Creek, Black River, Chandalar River, Christian River, Dall River, Hadweenzic River, Hodzana River, Porcupine River, and Sheenjek River. The MLRA has two distinct regions—lowlands and marginal uplands. The lowlands have minimal local relief and are approximately 9,000 square miles in size (Williams 1962). Landforms associated with the lowlands are flood plains and stream terraces. The marginal uplands consist of rolling and dissected plains that are a transitional area between the lowlands and adjacent mountain systems. The marginal uplands are approximately 4,700 square miles in size (Williams 1962).

This MLRA is bounded by the Yukon-Tanana Plateau to the south, Hodzana Highlands to the west, Porcupine Plateau to the east, and southern foothills of the Brooks Range to the north (Williams 1962). These surrounding hills and mountains partially isolate the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA from weather systems affecting other MLRAs of Interior Alaska. As a result, temperatures are generally warmer in summer and colder in winter than is characteristic in other areas at comparable latitude. There is a moisture and temperature gradient in which the lowlands region tends to be drier and colder and the surrounding marginal uplands region tends to be moister and warmer (PRISM Climate Group 2006).

The Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA is mostly undeveloped lands that are sparsely populated and not accessible by a road system. A number of villages, including Beaver, Birch Creek, Chalkyitsik, Circle, Fort Yukon, Stevens Village, and Venetie, are adjacent to the Yukon River or one of its major tributaries. The largest village is Fort Yukon, which according to the 2010 U.S. Census has 583 residents that are dominantly Gwich’in Alaska Natives.

LRU notes

Alaska has no officially recognized LRU. However, there appear to be two distinct LRU in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. These LRU are thought to have differing climatic regimes, landforms, and soil types (STATSGO and Jorgensen and Meidinger 2015). The two LRU were previously discussed in the MLRA notes section above and are termed the lowlands LRU and the marginal uplands LRU.

This ecological site is associated with the lowlands LRU.

Classification relationships

Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA.

Ecological site concept

This ecological site is associated with wet soils on the tread of terraces in the lowlands region of the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. Soils generally have permafrost at moderate depth (20 to 40 inches) and lack gravelly horizons in the profile. Soils pond occasionally for long durations of time. The reference state supports multiple plant communities related to a fire regime.

Reference plant community 1.1 is characterized as a needleleaf woodland (10 to 25 percent cover; Viereck et al. 1992) composed of black spruce (Picea mariana) and white spruce (Picea glauca). Commonly observed understory species include grayleaf willow (Salix glauca), red fruit bearberry (Arctostaphylos rubra), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), bog Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum), dwarf scouringrush (Equisetum scirpoides), and stairstep moss (Hylocomium splendens).

Associated sites

XA232X01Y219	Boreal Forest Loamy Terraces Moist This ecological site is associated with somewhat poorly to moderately well drained soils on the treads of stream terraces in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. Flooding frequency ranges from rare to none. The reference plant community is characterized as an open needleleaf forest (25 to 60 percent cover) primarily composed of mature white spruce (Picea glauca).
XA232X01Y221	Boreal Forest Loamy Terraces This ecological site is associated with moderately well to well drained soils on the tread of stream terraces in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. Flooding frequency ranges from rare to none. The reference plant community is characterized as an open needleleaf forest (25 to 60 percent cover) primarily composed of mature white spruce (Picea glauca).
XA232X01Y224	Boreal Woodland Sandy Terrace Rises This ecological site is associated with vegetated dunes on treads of stream terraces in the lowlands region of the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. The reference plant community is characterized as a needleleaf woodland (10 to 25 percent cover; Viereck et al. 1992) composed primarily of mature white spruce (Picea glauca).
XA232X01Y250	Boreal Woodland Gravelly Terraces Dry This ecological site is associated with somewhat excessively drained soils on the tread of gravelly stream terraces in Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. Gravelly horizons occur at very shallow depth (0 to 10 inches). The reference plant community is characterized as a needleleaf woodland (10 to 25 percent cover; Viereck et al. 1992) composed primarily of mature white spruce (Picea glauca).
XA232X01Y200	Boreal Scrub Loamy Flood Plain Low This ecological site is associated with the low flood plain of major tributaries in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. Flooding occurs frequently (greater than 50 times in 100 years) for long durations of time (between 7 and 30 days). The reference plant community is characterized as closed tall scrub (greater than 75 percent shrub cover; Viereck et al. 1992) primarily composed of a mixture of willow (Salix spp.) and alder (Alder spp.).
XA232X01Y205	Boreal Grass Loamy Flood Plain Depressions This ecological site is associated with depressions on flood plains in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. The reference state plant communities are associated with soils that both pond and flood. Ponding occurs occasionally (5 to 50 times in 100 years) for brief durations of time (between 2 and 7 days). Flooding occurs occasionally for brief durations of time. The reference plant community is characterized as open tall scrub (Viereck et al. 1992) and is primarily composed of willow (Salix spp.).
XA232X01Y204	Boreal Forest Loamy Flood Plain High This ecological site occurs on the high flood plain of major tributaries in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. Flooding occurs occasionally (5 to 50 times in 100 years) for brief durations of time (between 2 and 7 days). The reference plant community is characterized as an open needleleaf forest (25 to 60 percent cover) primarily composed of mature white spruce (Picea glauca).
XA232X01Y201	Boreal Woodland Peat Frozen Terraces This ecological site occurs in organic rich bogs in the lowlands and marginal uplands regions of the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. The cumulative thickness of organic material often exceeds 50 inches in the soil profile. Reference state soils are poorly drained and organic material is considered ultra to extremely acidic. The soils associated with the reference plant community generally has permafrost at moderate depth (20 to 40 inches). This ecological site has an alternative state related to thermokarst.
XA232X01Y222	Boreal Graminoid Loamy Terrace Depressions This ecological site is associated with closed depressions of stream terraces that support a reference state with multiple graminoid-dominant community phases. These depressions are considered closed because they are not associated with a flood regime and have limited, if any, groundwater flow or recharge. The presumed hydrological inputs for this ecological site are primarily thaw of the annual active soil layer and/or permafrost, snowmelt runoff, and precipitation. This hydrologic regime results in the development of sodic soil properties.
XA232X01Y223	Boreal Scrub Loamy Frozen Terrace Depressions This shrubby ecological site occurs in the transitional area between the forested tread of a stream terrace and the graminoid-dominant communities associated with closed, terrace depressions (ecological site R232XY222AK). This site typically occurs between the outer third and lip of these closed depressions. The reference plant community for ecological site is characterized as an open tall scrubland (Viereck et al. 1992) and those shrubs are primarily an assortment of willow (Salix spp.).
XA232X01Y229	Boreal Scrub Loamy Terrace Swales This ecological site is associated with swales on stream terraces in lowlands region of the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. Associated soils are considered very poorly drained. The reference plant community is characterized as open tall scrub (Viereck et al. 1992) and the dominant shrubs are willow (Salix spp.) and shrub birch (Betula glandulosa).
XA232X01Y202	Boreal Forest Loamy Flood Plain Middle This ecological site occurs on the middle flood plain of major tributaries in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. Flooding occurs occasionally (5 to 50 times in 100 years) for long durations of time (between 7 and 30 days). The reference plant community is characterized as a closed deciduous forest (60-100 percent cover; Viereck et al. 1992) primarily composed of mature balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera).
XA232X01Y209	Boreal Tussock Loamy Frozen Terraces This ecological site occurs on stream terraces in the lowlands region of the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. Soils commonly have permafrost at moderate depth (20 to 40 inches) and pond frequently for very long durations. The reference plant community is characterized as open low mixed shrub-sedge tussock bog (Viereck et al. 1992).
XA232X01Y212	Boreal Sedge Peat Terrace Depressions This ecological site is associated with drainageways on stream terraces in the lowlands region of the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. Associated drainageways are very poorly drained, which means the water table remains above the soil surface for the entire growing season. The reference plant community phase is characterized as subarctic lowland sedge wet meadow (Viereck et al. 1992) and is composed primarily of water sedge (Carex aquatilis).
XA232X01Y206	Boreal Scrub Loamy Frozen Flood Plain Depressions This ecological site is associated with depressions on flood plains in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. The reference state plant communities are associated with soils that both pond and flood. Ponding occurs frequently (greater than 50 times in 100 years) for long durations of time (between 7 and 30 days). Flooding occurs occasionally (5 to 50 times in 100 years) for brief durations of time (between 2 and 7 days). The reference plant community is characterized as mesic graminoid herbaceous (Viereck et al. 1992) and is primarily composed of bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis).

Similar sites

XA232X01Y262	Boreal Woodland Gravelly Terraces XA232X01Y262 occurs on gravelly stream terraces and has gravelly horizons from very shallow to shallow depths (0 to 20 inches). The gravelly soils tend to hinder permafrost aggregation within the soil profile. Soils associated with XA232X01Y262 tend to have higher pH (neutral to moderately alkaline) and have more diverse assemblages of vascular and nonvascular species.
XA232X01Y201	Boreal Woodland Peat Frozen Terraces XA232X01Y201 is associated with acidic bogs. Associated soils are organic-rich where the cumulative thickness of organic material often exceeds 50 inches. While plant community assemblages are similar, Sphagnum moss and reindeer lichen are much more abundant in plant communities associated with XA232X01Y201.

XA232X01Y262

Boreal Woodland Gravelly Terraces

XA232X01Y262 occurs on gravelly stream terraces and has gravelly horizons from very shallow to shallow depths (0 to 20 inches). The gravelly soils tend to hinder permafrost aggregation within the soil profile. Soils associated with XA232X01Y262 tend to have higher pH (neutral to moderately alkaline) and have more diverse assemblages of vascular and nonvascular species.

XA232X01Y201

Boreal Woodland Peat Frozen Terraces

XA232X01Y201 is associated with acidic bogs. Associated soils are organic-rich where the cumulative thickness of organic material often exceeds 50 inches. While plant community assemblages are similar, Sphagnum moss and reindeer lichen are much more abundant in plant communities associated with XA232X01Y201.

Figure 1. Aerial image of longitudinal dunes adjacent to the Upper Mouth of Birch Creek. The dunes are the linear features. Interdunes are associated with XA232X01Y218.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	(1) Picea mariana (2) Picea glauca
Shrub	(1) Vaccinium vitis-idaea (2) Ledum groenlandicum
Herbaceous	(1) Hylocomium splendens

Legacy ID

F232XY218AK

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Physiographic features

This ecological site and its associated plant communities commonly occur on young and old terrace surfaces. The lowlands region in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA is composed of broad and numerous terrace levels. Individual terrace levels commonly span several miles in all directions, but one level to the next can be separated by less than 25 feet in elevation. These terrace levels can be broadly segregated by age. Young terraces are generally proximal to active stream channels and have a recent or current association with a flood regime (rare flooding, 1 to 5 times in 100 years). While capped with organic material, soils on young terraces are primarily composed of alluvium (Twin soils). Flight or satellite reconnaissance of young terraces results in observance of readily identifiable stream landforms, which in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA commonly include meander scrolls, abandoned channels, and oxbow lakes (see photo below). Old terraces are generally distal from active stream channels and are disconnected from a flood regime. Soils on old terraces are generally composed of eolian deposits and/or loess underlain by alluvium (Chissovun and Tulebagh soils). The depositional surface material commonly is thick enough to mask stream landforms like abandoned linear channels. From the air, the depressions appear to be circular to amorphous in shape.

During the soil survey, each soil type originally had a correspondingly unique ecological site. After more fieldwork and data analysis, it was determined that these different soil types appear to support plant communities that respond similarly to fire and have similar kinds and amounts of vegetation in the reference state. As a result, the soil components were all correlated into one ecological site.

Figure 2. Lowlands region (white) and marginal uplands region (light gray) of the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA.

Figure 3. Aerial image of a meander scroll adjacent to the Yukon River, which is a landform associated with younger terrace surfaces. Poorly drained soils on this meander scroll support community phases associated with ecological site F232XY218AK.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Geomorphic position, terraces	(1) Tread
Landforms	(1) Alluvial plain > Stream terrace (2) Alluvial plain > Stream terrace > Interdune
Flooding frequency	None to rare
Ponding duration	Long (7 to 30 days)
Ponding frequency	None to occasional
Elevation	300 – 1,000 ft
Slope	3%
Aspect	W, NW, N, NE, E, SE, S, SW

Climatic features

Short, warm summers and long, very cold winters characterize the subarctic continental climate of the area. The surrounding hills and mountains of this MLRA partially isolate it from weather systems affecting other interior lowlands. As a result, temperatures are generally warmer in summer and colder in winter than is characteristic in other areas of comparable latitude. The average annual temperature ranges from about 20 to 25 degrees F (-7 to -4 degrees C). The freeze-free period averages 70 to 120 days. The temperature usually remains above freezing from early June through late August. The average annual precipitation ranges from about 6 inches (150 millimeters) in the central basin to 15 inches (380 millimeters) along the boundary with the surrounding highlands. The maximum precipitation occurs in late summer, mainly as a result of thunderstorms. The average annual snowfall is about 45 to 55 inches (115 to 140 centimeters) (USDA, NRCS 2006).

All of the tabular data below was calculated from the PRISM dataset (1971-2000) and is specific to the Lowlands LRU in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	45-97 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	70-120 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	8-13 in
Frost-free period (average)	75 days
Freeze-free period (average)
Precipitation total (average)	10 in

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Figure 4. Monthly precipitation range

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Figure 5. Monthly minimum temperature range

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Figure 6. Monthly maximum temperature range

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Figure 7. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Influencing water features

During the early growing season, a perched water table is over the seasonal frost in the soil profile resulting in wet soils at very shallow depth (less than 10 inches). During this time frame, ponding occurs occasionally (5 to 50 times in 100 years) for long durations of time (between 7 and 30 days). As the seasonal frost melts, the water drains from these soils. During long portions of the growing season, a water table is commonly at shallow depths (10 to 20 inches) in the soil profile. The typical depth to the water table was determined through field observation and by the presence of redoximorphic features that are common throughout the soil profile.

White spruce are more productive when growing in well-drained soils in this MLRA. The water table associated with this ecological site decreases white spruce productivity and increases the presence of wetland indicator species.

Soil features

Correlated soil components for the Yukon Flats Area, Alaska soil survey (AK685): Chissovun; Twin; Tulebagh.

Figure 8. Typical soil profile associated with Twin soil component.

Figure 9. Chissovun, Twin, and Tulebagh soil components have permafrost at depth.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Organic material (2) Alluvium (3) Eolian deposits
Family particle size	(1) Coarse-silty (2) Coarse-loamy
Drainage class	Poorly drained

Parent material

(1) Organic material
(2) Alluvium
(3) Eolian deposits

Family particle size

(1) Coarse-silty

(2) Coarse-loamy

Drainage class

Poorly drained

Ecological dynamics

Fire

In the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA, fire is a common and natural event that has a significant control on the vegetation dynamics across the landscape. A typical fire event in areas associated with this ecological site will reset plant succession and alter dynamic soil properties (e.g., presence or thickness of permafrost). For this ecological site to progress from the early fire stage to the reference plant community, data suggest that 70 years or more must elapse without another fire event.

When comparing all MLRAs of Interior Alaska, land in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA burns most frequently (Begét et al. 2006). Within the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA, fire is considered to be a natural and common event that typically goes unmanaged. Fire suppression generally occurs adjacent to villages or on allotments with known structures, both of which have a relatively limited acre footprint. From 2000 to 2015, 132 known fire events occurred on land in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA and the burn perimeters of the fires totaled about 4.1 million acres (AICC 2016). Fire-related disturbances are highly patchy and can leave large undisturbed areas within the burn perimeters. Ten fires were attributed to human activities (affecting a total of 2,864 acres), but the majority of the fires were caused by lightning strikes (AICC 2016).

The fire regime within Interior Alaska follows two basic scenarios—low-severity burns and high-severity burns. It should be noted, however, that the fire regime in this area is generally thought to be much more complex (Johnstone et al. 2008). Burn severity refers to the proportion of the vegetative canopy and organic material consumed in a fire event (Chapin et al. 2006). Fires in cool and moist habitat tend to result in low-severity burns, while fires in warm and dry habitat tend to result in high-severity burns. From field observations and because the associated soils are cooler and poorly drained, the typical fire scenario for this ecological site is considered to result in a low-severity burn.

While a low-severity fire can consume the bulk of above ground vegetation, minimal proportions of the organic mat are removed. Organic matter continues to insulate these cold soils and permafrost remains in the soil profile. While field observations support that each community phase is associated with permafrost, fire was thought to increase active layer depth causing the permafrost to occur deeper in the soil profile.

In areas prone to low-severity fire events, the pre-fire vegetative community generally reestablishes quickly and there is minimal long-term alteration to community composition (Johnstone et al. 2010; Bernhardt et al. 2011). When minimal proportions of the organic mat are consumed, many species regenerate asexually using below ground root tissues. Species known to regenerate after low-severity fire events include various graminoids (e.g. Carex spp. and Eriophorum spp.), forbs (e.g. Equisetum sp.), and shrubs (e.g. Ledum groenlandicum, Vaccinium uliginosum, Salix sp.) (Johnstone et al. 2010). Black spruce is the Interior Alaska tree species best adapted to a low-severity fire regime. Black spruce have semi-serotenous cones and a low-severity fire often results in a flush of black spruce seedlings at the burned location.

Field data suggest that each of the woodland communities burn and that fire events will cause a transition to the early stage of fire succession. This stage (community 1.3) is a mix of species that either regenerate in place (e.g., subterranean root crowns for willow and rhizomes for graminoids) and/or from wind-dispersed seeds or spores (e.g., resin birch [Betula neoalaskana] and Polytrichum moss [Polytrichum spp.]). The early stage of fire succession is primarily composed of tree seedlings, ericaceous shrubs, willow, and graminoids. In the absence of fire, tree seedlings continue to colonize and grow in recently burned areas until they become dominant in the overstory. The later stages of succession have an overstory that is a mix of immature broadleaf and needleleaf trees (community 1.2) or is primarily a mixed age needleleaf stand (community 1.1).

Given the high frequency of fire and its associated footprint, much of the land in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA has burned too recently to support reference plant community 1.1. GIS data and flight reconnaissance have shown that large swaths of mature spruce stands are uncommon throughout the MLRA. Mixed and broadleaf forests have the highest spatial representation in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA.

Flooding

This ecological site is associated with younger terraces that rarely flood (Twin soils) and older terraces that no longer flood (Chissovun and Tulebagh soils). Historical flood markers in Fort Yukon and aerial observations conducted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff (personal communication) have shown that flooding occurs on the younger terraces that support this ecological site.

While conducting fieldwork, little if any evidence of flood-related disturbance was observed. Thus, no flood-related plant communities were developed for this ecological site. A flood event in areas associated with this ecological site likely has limited energy, depositing alluvium on the soil surface but causing minimal alterations to overall composition of the plant community.

Other Observations

Soils associated with this ecological site tend to be more acidic when compared to soils associated with ecological site F232XY262AK. This ecological site typically has soil pH ranging from moderately acidic to neutral at shallow to moderate depths. Areas with higher soil pH have plant communities that are similar to plant communities associated with ecological site F232XY262AK.

While field work indicates low-severity fires are most common, high-severity fires can and likely do occur in areas associated with this ecological site. A high-severity fire would likely cause permafrost to drop out of the soil profile and result in unique and currently unknown plant community phases within the reference state. Due to a lack of data, high-severity fire events are considered atypical in areas that support this ecological site.

Animal use (browsing and grazing) of this ecological site primarily consists of moose browse on willow and tree regeneration. Severity of moose browse is considered slight for all plant communities. A browse severity rating of slight on willow and tree regeneration is defined as a majority of individuals having no signs of browsing.

No alternative states for this ecological site were documented.

State and transition model

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Ecosystem states

1. Reference State

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Black spruce-white spruce / lingonberry-bog Labrador tea / stairstep moss

1.2. Black spruce-resin birch / lingonberry-bog Labrador tea / stairstep moss

1.3. Willow-bog blueberry/bluejoint-sedge

State 1
Reference State

Figure 10. Aerial image of a stream terrace in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. This ecological site occurs on stream terraces in this MLRA.

The reference state has three associated community phases. The phases are grouped by the structure and dominance of the vegetation (e.g., coniferous trees, deciduous trees, shrubs, and forbs) and their ecological function and stability. Plant communities in the reference state appear to be largely controlled by the influences of fire. This report provides baseline vegetation inventory data for the ecological site. More data collection is needed to provide further information about existing plant communities and the disturbance regimes that would result in transitions from one community to another. The common and scientific plant names are from the USDA PLANTS database. All communities in this report are characterized using the Alaska Vegetation Classification (Viereck et al. 1992).

Community 1.1
Black spruce-white spruce / lingonberry-bog Labrador tea / stairstep moss

Figure 11. Typical plant community associated with community 1.1.

Figure 12. Canopy cover table for community 1.1.

Reference plant community 1.1 is characterized as a needleleaf woodland (10 to 25 percent cover) composed of black spruce and white spruce. Tree age was highly variable, which is likely due to patchy low-intensity fire events. Tree cover is primarily split between the stunted (less than 15 feet in height) and medium tree stratums (between 15 and 40 feet in height). Occasional live deciduous trees, primarily resin birch, are in the tree canopy, but most have been replaced by spruce. The soil surface is covered primarily with bryophytes, lichen, and herbaceous litter. Commonly observed understory species include grayleaf willow, red fruit bearberry, lingonberry, black crowberry, bog Labrador tea, dwarf scouringrush, and stairstep moss. The understory vegetative strata that characterize this community are bryophytes, dwarf shrubs (less than 8 inches in height), and low shrubs (between 8 and 36 inches in height). Black spruce and white spruce trees were sampled for diameter at breast height (dbh), height, and age at dbh (32 black spruce and 22 white spruce). The basal area of the stand was determined for each sample plot. The mean dbh of black spruce is 2.6 inches (ranging from 1.0 to 5.0), the mean height is 16 feet (ranging from 8 to 30 feet), and the mean age is 67 years (ranging from 28 to 135 years). The mean dbh of white spruce is 4.1 inches (ranging from 2.0 to 9.2), the mean height is 24 feet (ranging from 7 to 44 feet), and the mean age is 79 years (ranging from 22 to 195 years). The mean basal area of the stands is 42 (ranging from 5 to 90). Site index of white spruce was determined for 9 of the sample plots; mean site index is 29 (ranging from 18 to 40) (Farr 1967).

Dominant plant species

white spruce (Picea glauca), tree
black spruce (Picea mariana), tree
lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), shrub
grayleaf willow (Salix glauca), shrub
red fruit bearberry (Arctostaphylos rubra), shrub
prickly rose (Rosa acicularis), shrub
black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), shrub
bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), shrub
bog Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum), shrub
littletree willow (Salix arbusculoides), shrub
shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa), shrub
resin birch (Betula glandulosa), shrub
sedge (Carex), grass
bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis), grass
dwarf scouringrush (Equisetum scirpoides), other herbaceous
felt lichen (Peltigera aphthosa), other herbaceous
greygreen reindeer lichen (Cladina rangiferina), other herbaceous
cup lichen (Cladonia), other herbaceous
splendid feather moss (Hylocomium splendens), other herbaceous

Community 1.2
Black spruce-resin birch / lingonberry-bog Labrador tea / stairstep moss

Figure 13. Typical community associated with community 1.2.

Figure 14. Canopy cover table for community 1.2.

Plant community 1.2 is in the late stage of fire-induced secondary succession for this ecological site. It is characterized as mixed woodland (Viereck et al. 1992) that is composed of immature spruce and resin birch. Tree cover is split between the tree regeneration (less than 15 feet in height) and medium tree stratums (between 15 and 40 feet in height). The soil surface is covered with a mixture of herbaceous litter, woody debris, and bryophytes. Commonly observed understory species include a mixture of willow (primarily S. glauca and S. arbusculoides), red fruit bearberry, lingonberry, bog Labrador tea, bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), horsetail, and stairstep moss. The understory vegetative strata that characterize this plant community are bryophytes, low shrubs (between 8 and 36 inches in height), and dwarf shrubs (less than 8 inches in height). Black spruce and white spruce trees were sampled for diameter at breast height (dbh), height, and age at dbh (23 black spruce and 5 white spruce). The basal area of the stand was determined for each sample plot. The mean dbh of black spruce is 2.2 inches (ranging from 0.8 to 4.6), the mean height is 14 feet (ranging from 2 to 25 feet), and the mean age is 47 years (ranging from 20 to 79 years). The mean dbh of white spruce is 3.7 inches (ranging from 1.3 to 6.8), the mean height is 22 feet (ranging from 5 to 38 feet), and the mean age is 50 years (ranging from 40 to 62 years). The mean basal area of the stands is 24 (ranging from 3 to 90).

Dominant plant species

black spruce (Picea mariana), tree
resin birch (Betula neoalaskana), tree
white spruce (Picea glauca), tree
lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), shrub
bog Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum), shrub
willow (Salix), shrub
bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), shrub
red fruit bearberry (Arctostaphylos rubra), shrub
black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), shrub
prickly rose (Rosa acicularis), shrub
Bigelow's sedge (Carex bigelowii), grass
reedgrass (Calamagrostis), grass
greygreen reindeer lichen (Cladina rangiferina), other herbaceous
star reindeer lichen (Cladina stellaris), other herbaceous
felt lichen (Peltigera aphthosa), other herbaceous
horsetail (Equisetum), other herbaceous
splendid feather moss (Hylocomium splendens), other herbaceous
aulacomnium moss (Aulacomnium palustre), other herbaceous

Community 1.3
Willow-bog blueberry/bluejoint-sedge

Figure 15. Typical plant community associated with community 1.3.

Figure 16. Canopy cover table for community 1.3.

Plant community 1.3 is in the early stage of fire-induced secondary succession for this ecological site. It is characterized as open low scrub (Viereck et al. 1992). Tree cover occurs primarily in the regenerative tree stratum (less than 15 feet in height) and common species include resin birch, black spruce, and white spruce. The soil surface is covered with a mixture of herbaceous litter, woody debris, and bryophytes. Commonly observed understory species include a mixture of willow (primarily S. arbusculoides and S. bebbiana), bog blueberry, bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis), a mixture of sedges (primarily Carex bigelowii), fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium), and Polytrichum moss.

Dominant plant species

resin birch (Betula neoalaskana), tree
black spruce (Picea mariana), tree
white spruce (Picea glauca), tree
littletree willow (Salix arbusculoides), shrub
grayleaf willow (Salix glauca), shrub
bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), shrub
leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata), shrub
dwarf birch (Betula nana), shrub
bog Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum), shrub
lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), shrub
bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis), grass
Bigelow's sedge (Carex bigelowii), grass
dwarf scouringrush (Equisetum scirpoides), other herbaceous
fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium), other herbaceous
polytrichum moss (Polytrichum), other herbaceous

Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.3

Black spruce-white spruce / lingonberry-bog Labrador tea / stairstep moss

Willow-bog blueberry/bluejoint-sedge

Fire.

Pathway 1.2b
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Black spruce-resin birch / lingonberry-bog Labrador tea / stairstep moss

Black spruce-white spruce / lingonberry-bog Labrador tea / stairstep moss

Time without fire.

Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.3

Black spruce-resin birch / lingonberry-bog Labrador tea / stairstep moss

Willow-bog blueberry/bluejoint-sedge

Fire.

Pathway 1.3a
Community 1.3 to 1.2

Willow-bog blueberry/bluejoint-sedge

Black spruce-resin birch / lingonberry-bog Labrador tea / stairstep moss

Time without fire.

Additional community tables

Table 5. Community 1.1 forest overstory composition

Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Nativity	Height (ft)	Canopy cover (%)	Diameter (in)	Basal area (square ft/acre)
Tree
black spruce	PIMA	Picea mariana	Native	8–30	0–50	1–5	–
white spruce	PIGL	Picea glauca	Native	7–44	0–50	2–9.2	–

Table 6. Community 1.2 forest overstory composition

Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Nativity	Height (ft)	Canopy cover (%)	Diameter (in)	Basal area (square ft/acre)
Tree
black spruce	PIMA	Picea mariana	Native	2–25	7–60	0.8–4.6	–
white spruce	PIGL	Picea glauca	Native	5–38	0–50	1.3–6.8	–
resin birch	BENE4	Betula neoalaskana	Native	–	0–40	–	–

Interpretations

Table 7. Representative site productivity

Common name	Symbol	Site index low	Site index high	CMAI low	CMAI high	Age of CMAI	Site index curve code	Site index curve basis	Citation
white spruce	PIGL	18	40	–	–	–	–	–

Supporting information

Inventory data references

NASIS User Site ID / Modal Datasets
10BL01704 Plant Community 1.1
11BB07104 Plant Community 1.1
11SN03103 Plant Community 1.1
12NR00103 Plant Community 1.1
12NR00402 Plant Community 1.1
12NR01401 Plant Community 1.1
12NR01402 Plant Community 1.1
12NR02203 Plant Community 1.1
12NR02901 Plant Community 1.1
12NR04801 Plant Community 1.1
12SN01003 Plant Community 1.1
14NR01103 Plant Community 1.1
14NR02603 Plant Community 1.1
2015AK290401 Plant Community 1.1
2015AK290706 Plant Community 1.1
2015AK290708 Plant Community 1.1
2015AK290726 Plant Community 1.1
S2015AK290006 Plant Community 1.1
S2015AK290012 Plant Community 1.1
08DM05806 Plant Community 1.2
08DM08101 Plant Community 1.2
12NR00401 Plant Community 1.2
12NR00802 Plant Community 1.2
12NR02501 Plant Community 1.2
12NR02502 Plant Community 1.2
12SN01102 Plant Community 1.2
12SN01302 Plant Community 1.2
12SS02902 Plant Community 1.2
2015AK290414 Plant Community 1.2
08DM04505 Plant Community 1.3
08DM06605 Plant Community 1.3
08DM08103 Plant Community 1.3

Other references

Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (AICC). 2016. http://fire.ak.blm.gov/

Begét, J.E., D. Stone, and D.L. Verbyla. 2006. Regional overview of Interior Alaska. In Alaska’s Changing Boreal Forest. F.S. Chapin III, M.W. Oswood, K. Van Cleve, L.A. Viereck, and D.L. Verbyla, editors. New York, Oxford University Press. Pages 12-20.

Bernhardt E.L., T.N. Hollingsworth, and F.S. Chapin III. 2011. Fire severity mediates climate-driven shifts in understory composition of black spruce stands of interior Alaska. Journal of Vegetation Science, 22: 32-44.

Chapin, F.S., III, L.A. Viereck, P.C. Adams, K. Van Cleve, C.L. Fastie, R.A. Ott, D. Mann, and J.F. Johnstone. 2006. Successional processes in the Alaskan boreal forest. In Alaska’s Changing Boreal Forest. F.S. Chapin III, M.W. Oswood, K. Van Cleve, L.A. Viereck, and D.L. Verbyla, editors. New York, Oxford University Press. Pages 100-120.

Farr, W.A. 1967. Growth and yield of well-stocked white spruce stands in Alaska. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station General Technical Report PNW-GTR-53.

Hinzman, L.D., L.A. Viereck, P.C. Adams, V.E. Romanovsky, and K. Yoshikawa. 2006. Climate and permafrost dynamics of the Alaskan boreal forest. In Alaska’s Changing Boreal Forest. F.S. Chapin III, M.W. Oswood, K. Van Cleve, L.A. Viereck, and D.L. Verbyla, editors. New York, Oxford University Press. Pages 39-61.

Johnstone, J.F., T.N. Hollingsworth, and F.S. Chapin III. 2008. A key for predicting postfire successional trajectories in black spruce stands of Interior Alaska. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station General Technical Report PNW-GTR-767.

Johnstone J.F., T.N. Hollingsworth, F.S. Chapin III, M.C. Macks. 2010. Changes in fire regime break the legacy lock on successional trajectories in Alaskan boreal forest. Global Change Biology, 16: 1281-1295.

PRISM Climate Group. 2006. Climate data of United States, 1971-2000. Oregon State University, Corvallis.

Schoeneberger, P.J., and D.A. Wysocki. 2012. Geomorphic description system. Version 4.2. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Schoeneberger, P.J., D.A. Wysocki, E.C. Benham, and W.D. Broderson, editors. 2012. Field book for describing and sampling soils. Version 3.0. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Soil Survey Division Staff. 2017. Soil survey manual. Soil Conservation Service. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 18.
United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2006. Land resource regions and major land resource areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 296.

Viereck, L.A., C.T. Dyrness, A.R. Batten, and K.J. Wezlick. 1992. The Alaska vegetation classification. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station General Technical Report PNW-GTR-286.

Williams, J.R. 1962. Geologic reconnaissance of the Yukon Flats District, Alaska. U.S. Department of the Interior, Geologic Survey Bulletin 1111-H.

Contributors

Blaine Spellman

Approval

Michael Margo, 5/18/2020

Rangeland health reference sheet

Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.

Author(s)/participant(s)
Contact for lead author
Date	05/11/2020
Approved by	Michael Margo
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
Presence of water flow patterns:
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):

Dominant:

Sub-dominant:

Other:

Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
Perennial plant reproductive capability:

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Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site XA232X01Y218

Boreal Woodland Loamy Frozen Terraces

Last updated: 5/18/2020 Accessed: 12/21/2024

General information

MLRA notes

LRU notes

Classification relationships

Ecological site concept

Associated sites

Similar sites

Figure 1. Aerial image of longitudinal dunes adjacent to the Upper Mouth of Birch Creek. The dunes are the linear features. Interdunes are associated with XA232X01Y218.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Legacy ID

Ecosystem states

State 1 submodel, plant communities

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Last updated: 5/18/2020
Accessed: 12/21/2024