Nonforested Plant Associations of the Stikine-Taku River Valleys and Stikine River Delta Ecological Subsections in Southeastern Alaska
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United States Department of Nonforested Plant Associations of the Agriculture Stikine-Taku River Valleys and Stikine Forest Service River Delta Ecological Subsections in Alaska Region Southeastern Alaska R10-PR-023 June 2010 Nonforested Plant Associations of the Stikine-Taku River Valleys and Stikine River Delta Ecological Subsections in Southeastern Alaska Rick L. Turner Ecologist Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Tongass National Forest 8510 Mendenhall Loop Road Juneau, Alaska 99801 June 2010 CITATION: Turner, R. L. 2010. Nonforested plant associations of the Stikine-Taku River Valleys and Stikine River Delta ecological subsections in southeastern Alaska. Forest Service, Alaska Region Publication, R10-PR-023, Juneau, Alaska, 115 p. i ii SUMMARY This document describes a classification of nonforested (shrubland, herbaceous, and nonvascular) plant associations that occur within the southeastern Alaska portions of the Stikine-Taku River Valleys and Stikine River Delta ecological subsections. The study area encompasses approximately 46,804 hectares (115,655 acres) and includes the two largest river valleys and the only large river delta located within the Tongass National Forest. Agglomerative cluster analysis and indicator species analysis of floristic data from 208 sample plots containing 287 taxa resulted in the description of 22 plant associations (10 shrubland, 11 herbaceous, and 1 nonvascular). Multi-response permutation procedures indicate a strong separation between plant associations and fairly high within-group agreement. Ordination results suggest that water table depth represents an important environmental gradient in determining vegetation composition, and it may be related to minor differences in site elevation. Soil pH is also an important factor and appears to be related to the relative amounts of fresh or brackish water that a site receives. Dichotomous keys and cover/constancy tables are included to assist with field identification of plant associations. Descriptions of each type include general concept, geographic distribution, environmental setting, vegetation dynamics, and comparisons to other vegetation types. Summaries of life form, ground cover, vegetation composition, and important indicator species are also included. Cover photos: Top - Taku River near the terminus of Taku Glacier, looking south toward Taku Inlet. Bottom - Sergief Island (foreground), looking northeast toward the Stikine River valley. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The USDA Forest Service, Tongass National Forest provided the financial and technical support for this study, and staff from the Forest Supervisor’s Office, Juneau Ranger District, and Wrangell Ranger District contributed to its success. This study is part of a nonforested vegetation classification program initiated in 2000 on the Tongass National Forest and managed by Patricia Krosse. Thanks are due to Charley Streuli, Carol Seitz-Warmuth, and Patricia O’Connor for being strong advocates of this project. David Rak and Maria Burke generously shared their extensive knowledge of the Stikine River and put in many long hours safely piloting the crew boat. Carolyn Parker (University of Alaska – Fairbanks) and Ellen Anderson helped identify many of the collected vascular plant specimens. Kitty LaBounty (University of Alaska – Southeast) identified several of the mosses and liverworts, and Karen Dillman assisted with lichen identification. Patricia Krosse, Pam Fletcher, and Jacquie Foss provided soil sampling, classification, and interpretation expertise. Karen Dillman, Jackie deMontigny, Mary Friberg, Patricia Krosse, Rob DeVelice (Chugach National Forest), Barbara Schrader (USFS Alaska Region), and Keith Boggs (Alaska Natural Heritage Program) provided helpful comments on the draft manuscript. This study would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the field crew: Maria Burke, Pam Fletcher, Jacquie Foss, Jennifer Nu, Eric Ressel, and Agnes Velloso. They endured alder thickets, muddy sloughs, constant rain, and hordes of mosquitoes while performing their duties with enthusiasm and good humor. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................. iv LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES ............................................................................................. vii INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 1 Previous Studies ........................................................................................................................ 2 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING .................................................................................................... 3 Location ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Climate ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Geology and Soils ...................................................................................................................... 5 Vegetation .................................................................................................................................. 5 Resource Management Issues ................................................................................................... 5 METHODS ................................................................................................................................. 7 Site Selection ............................................................................................................................. 7 Field Sampling ........................................................................................................................... 7 Data Analysis ............................................................................................................................. 8 RESULTS .................................................................................................................................. 8 Undersampled Plant Communities ............................................................................................12 Unsampled Plant Communities .................................................................................................12 KEY TO PLANT ASSOCIATIONS .............................................................................................15 SHRUBLAND PLANT ASSOCIATIONS ....................................................................................18 Myrica gale / Carex aquatilis Shrubland ....................................................................................18 Myrica gale - Salix barclayi / Primula egaliksensis Shrubland ...................................................21 Alnus viridis - Rubus spectabilis / Athyrium filix - femina Shrubland ..........................................24 Alnus rubra / Calamagrostis canadensis Shrubland ..................................................................27 Alnus rubra / Comarum palustre / Sphagnum angustifolium Shrubland ....................................30 Salix barclayi Shrubland ............................................................................................................33 Salix sitchensis Shrubland ........................................................................................................36 Salix interior Shrubland .............................................................................................................39 (Salix barclayi - Salix sitchensis - Salix alaxensis) / Equisetum variegatum Shrubland ..............42 (Salix sitchensis - Alnus viridis) / Chamerion latifolium / Racomitrium canescens Shrubland ....45 HERBACEOUS PLANT ASSOCIATIONS .................................................................................48 Menyanthes trifoliata Herbaceous Vegetation ...........................................................................48 Castilleja miniata - Plantago macrocarpa - Achillea millefolium Herbaceous Vegetation ...........51 Fritillaria camschatcensis - Thalictrum sparsiflorum - Iris setosa Herbaceous Vegetation .........55 Carex lyngbyei Herbaceous Vegetation ....................................................................................58 Carex lyngbyei - Deschampsia cespitosa Herbaceous Vegetation ............................................61 Carex aquatilis Herbaceous Vegetation ....................................................................................64 Carex aquatilis / Sphagnum angustifolium Herbaceous Vegetation...........................................67 Eriophorum angustifolium Herbaceous Vegetation ....................................................................70 v Eriophorum russeolum / Sphagnum angustifolium Herbaceous Vegetation ..............................73 Calamagrostis canadensis - Carex pluriflora Herbaceous Vegetation .......................................76 Eleocharis palustris Herbaceous Vegetation .............................................................................79 NONVASCULAR PLANT ASSOCIATIONS ...............................................................................82 Racomitrium canescens Nonvascular Vegetation .....................................................................82