LANDFIRE Biophysical Setting Model

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LANDFIRE Biophysical Setting Model Biophysical Setting 7516450 Alaska Sub-boreal and Maritime Alpine Mesic Herbaceous Meadow This BPS is lumped with: This BPS is split into multiple models:

General Information Contributors (also see the Comments field Date 4/24/2008 Modeler 1 Tina Boucher [email protected] Reviewer Modeler 2 Colleen Ryan [email protected] Reviewer Modeler 3 Reviewer

Vegetation Type Map Zone Model Zone Upland Grassland/Herbaceous 75 Alaska N-Cent.Rockies California Pacific Northwest Dominant Species* General Model Sources Great Basin South Central Literature CAMA11 LUNO Great Lakes Southeast Local Data GEER2 VEVI Northeast S. Appalachians SACA14 ACDE2 Expert Estimate Northern Plains Southwest VASI ANNA

Geographic Range Mountains in the sub-boreal region of AK. Biophysical Site Description This system occurs on alpine slopes above the tall shrub zone and below alpine dwarf shrub tundra (NatureServe 2008). In the Kenai Mountains, it occurs on rugged mountains, dissected mountain side slopes and ravines, on 45-55% slopes of all aspects and at elevations from 1950-2950ft (DeVelice et al. 1999). This system usually occurs on sites just above subalpine alder and below alpine dwarf shrub, most commonly on straight or concave slopes (NatureServe 2008). Vegetation Description This system is a very diverse assemblage of sedges and forbs. Carex macrochaeta and Geranium erianthum are the most typical species. Other common species include Sanguisorba stipulata, Valeriana sitchensis, Lupinus nootkatensis, Veratrum viride, Aconitum delphiniifolium, Anemone narcissiflora, Polemonium acutiflorum, Epilobium angustifolium, Castilleja unalaschensis, Artemesia arctica, Fritillaria Camschatcensis, Erigeron peregrinus, Anemone spp., Pedicularis spp., Saxifraga spp., Polygonum spp. and ferns (DeVelice et al. 1999, Viereck et al 1992). Calamagrostis canadensis may be present, but is not dominant. Disturbance Description Fire is unlikely to be a significant disturbance for this system, due to moist soils, low fuel levels, and adjacent vegetation types that rarely burn. Though this type may be found adjacent to the Western North American Sub-boreal Mesic Bluejoint Meadow, it is probably less flammable.

Avalanches and snow slides are likely the most important disturbance, especially on steeper slopes. Spring

*Dominant Species are from the NRCS PLANTS database. To check a species code, please visit http://plants.usda.gov. **Fire Regime Groups are: I: 0-35 year frequency, surface severity; II: 0-35 year frequency, replacement severity; III: 35-100+ year frequency, mixed severity; IV: 35-100+ year frequency, replacement severity; V: 200+ year frequency, replacement severity.

Sunday, November 22, 2009 Page 118 of 169 snow slides are the most likely to impact vegetation. While this system often occurs on steep slopes with high avalanche frequency, it can also occur on shoulder slopes and near summits, where snowslides are rare.

For this model, the mean return interval of snowslides was estimated at 20yrs (five times the return interval of snowslides in the Alaska Sub-boreal Avalanche Slope Shrubland).

Grazing may be an influence on this system in some areas. Adjacency or Identification Concerns Adjacent systems include Western North American Sub-boreal Mesic Bluejoint Meadow and Western North American Boreal Alpine Dwarf-Shrubland.

Native Uncharacteristic Conditions

Scale Description Large patch

Issues/Problems

Comments

Vegetation Classes

Class A 100 % Structure Data (for upper layer lifeform) Min Max Early Development 1 All Structures Cover Herbaceous Herbaceous Upper Layer Lifeform Indicator Species* and Height Herbaceous Herbaceous Canopy Position Herbaceous Tree Size Class None Shrub CAMA11 Upper Tree GEER2 Upper Upper layer lifeform differs from dominant lifeform. SACA14 Upper VASI Upper Description Zero years plus

This stage is dominated by Carex macrochaeta with a variety of forbs.

This class persists in the absence of disturbance. Probability of avalanche = 0.05 (20yr return interval).

Class B 0 % Structure Data (for upper layer lifeform) Min Max [Not Used] [Not Used] Cover Upper Layer Lifeform Indicator Species* and Height Herbaceous Canopy Position Tree Size Class Shrub Tree Upper layer lifeform differs from dominant lifeform.

Sunday, November 22, 2009 Page 119 of 169 Description

Class C 0 % Structure Data (for upper layer lifeform) Min Max [Not Used] [Not Used] Cover Upper Layer Lifeform Indicator Species* and Height Herbaceous Canopy Position Tree Size Class Shrub Tree Upper layer lifeform differs from dominant lifeform.

Description

Class D 0 % Structure Data (for upper layer lifeform) [Not Used] [Not Used] Min Max Cover Upper Layer Lifeform Indicator Species* and Height Canopy Position Herbaceous Tree Size Class Shrub Tree Upper layer lifeform differs from dominant lifeform.

Description

Class E 0 % Structure Data (for upper layer lifeform) Min Max [Not Used] [Not Used] Cover Upper Layer Lifeform Indicator Species* and Height Canopy Position Herbaceous Tree Size Class Shrub Tree Upper layer lifeform differs from dominant lifeform.

Description Disturbances Fire Intervals Fire Regime Group**: NA Avg FI Min FI Max FI Probability Percent of All Fires Replacement Historical Fire Size (acres) Mixed Avg 0 Surface Min 0 All Fires Max 0 Fire Intervals (FI): Fire interval is expressed in years for each fire severity class and for all types of fire Sources of Fire Regime Data combined (All Fires). Average FI is central tendency modeled. Minimum and Literature maximum show the relative range of fire intervals, if known. Probability is the inverse of fire interval in years and is used in reference condition modeling. Percent of all Local Data fires is the percent of all fires in that severity class. Expert Estimate

Sunday, November 22, 2009 Page 120 of 169 Additional Disturbances Modeled Insects/Disease Native Grazing Other (optional 1) snow slides Wind/Weather/Stress Competition Other (optional 2) References Boggs, K., A. Garibaldi, J. Stevens, J. Grunblatt and T. Helt. 2001. Denali National Park and Preserve Landcover mapping project. Volume 2: Landcover classes and plant associations. Alaska Natural Heritage Program, Environment and Natural Resources Institute, University of Alaska Anchorage, 707 A Street, Anchorage, AK. 164 pp.

DeVelice, R.L., Hubbard, C.J., Boggs, K. et al. 1999. Plant community types of the Chugach National Forest. Tech. Publ. R10-TP-76. Juneau, AK: USDA Forest Service, Alaska Region. 375 pp.

NatureServe. 2008. International Ecological Classification Standard: Terrestrial Ecological Classifications. Draft Ecological Systems Description for Alaska Boreal and Sub-boreal Regions.

Viereck et al. 1992. The Alaska vegetation classification. Pacific Northwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Portland, OR. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR286. 278 pp.

Sunday, November 22, 2009 Page 121 of 169