Guide to range plant community types and carrying capacity for the dry and central mixedwood subregions in Alberta : 6th approximation

2006·15.8 MB·English

by  Willoughby, Michael, 1959-

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GUIDE TO RANGE PLANT COMMUNITY
TYPES AND CARRYING CAPACITY
FOR THE DRY AND CENTRAL MIXEDWOOD
SUBREGIONS ALBERTA
IN
Ahem
SUSTAINABLERESOURCE
DEVELOPMENT
Public Lands
&
Forests
GUIDE TO RANGE PLANT COMMUNITYTYPES AND CARRYING CAPACITY
FORTHE DRYAND CENTRAL MIXEDWOOD SUBREGIONS INALBERTA
6th approximation
(Please notethis edition is a revision ofthe 5th approximation oftheRange Plant
CommunityTypes and CarryingCapacityfortheDryand CentralMixedwood Pub. No.
T/074)
Prepared by
Michael G. Willoughby,
Colin Stone,
CarceyHincz,
Darlene Moisey,
GerryEhlert,
DonnaLawrence
Edmonton ALBERTA SUSTAINABLE
2006 RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Public Lands and Forests Division
FORWARD
InJanuary, 1999 theRangelandHealthAssessment Projectwas initiated. Itspurposewas to
coordinatethedevelopmentofrangelandhealth assessmentmethods andecological site
descriptions forboth forestedand grasslanddominatedrangelands intheprovince andtransfer
thenewtechnology(awareness, informationandtools)to livestockproducers, staffandother
stakeholders. Thisdocument“Rangeplantcommunities andcarryingcapacity forthe Dryand
Central Mixedwood subregions ofAlberta, SixthApproximation” is aneffort to organize
existingrangeplantcommunityinformation forthe Boreal Mixedwood subregions into an
ecological framework, withtheultimate goal ofdeveloping ecological site descriptions as
outlined intheAlbertaRangelandHealthTaskGroup, TermsofReference(1999). This guide
encompasses theworkofKaren Sundquist(whoworked onprevious approximations) and Dave
Downingwhodevelopedtheclassificationforthedeciduous communities intheEastern
ecodistricts ofthe DryMixedwood(Downingand Karpuk 1992) anddevelopeda foragegap
analysis forthe Mixedwood subregions (Downing2000). Italso triesto incorporatethework
donebyBeckinghamandArchibald (1996) onthe forestedecosites oftheBoreal Mixedwood
andworkdonebyThompsonandHansen(2004) onthe lotic and lentic communities ofthe
Mixedwoodsubregions. Aswecollectnewresearch information, the sixthapproximationwill
evolve intoarange ecological site fieldguide. The sixthapproximationhasupdated successional
sequences oftamepastures inboththeDryandCentral areas ofthe Mixedwoodregion. This
approximationhas new informationabout4cutblockcommunitytypes intheCentral
Mixedwoodarea [see sectionCMEp.232].
Onemajoroutcomeoftheprojectwillbetoproduce ecologicalbase informationwhichwillbe
usedto developmanagementtools fornorthernlivestockproducers, resourcemanagers andother
stakeholdersofAlberta’s Boreal forest. Thisnewknowledgewillaide inthe sustainablegrazing
offorestedplantcommunities, andmaintainthegoodhealth andproperfunctioningofthese
ecosystems.
m
ISBN No. 0-7785-4538-5 (Printed Edition)
ISBN No. 0-7785-4539-3 (On-line Edition)
Pub No. T/103
Forcopies ofthisreportcontact:
Michael Willoughby
Public Lands andForests Division(PLFD)
9920 108 st, 9thFloor
Edmonton, Alta.
T5K2M4
[phone]
[email protected]
Darlene Moisey
PLFD
St. Paul, Alta.
[phone]
[email protected]
DonnaLawrence
PLFD
Barrhead, Alta.
[phone]
[email protected]
Colin Stone
PLFD
PeaceRiver, Alta.
[phone]
[email protected]
CarceyFlincz
PLFD
Grande Prairie, Alta.
[phone]
[email protected]
iv
Table of Contents
ABSTRACT
xii
INTRODUCTION
1
CLIMATE AND MODAL PLANT COMMUNITIES
1
DryMixedwood subregion
J_
Central Mixedwoodsubregion 2
APPROACHANDMETHODS OFCLASSIFICATION 3
Approach: Ecological classificationhierarchyandterminology 3
Methods: Plantcommunityclassification 3
RANGE MANAGEMENT CONCEPTSAND METHODS
6
Ecologicallysustainable stockingrates 6
RangelandHealth 7
HOWTO USE THE GUIDE 8
Organizationoftheguide 8
Identifyingplantcommunitytypes 9
Method 1. Usedichotomous keywithindominantcovercategories 9
Method2. Use edatopeand indicatorspecies JJ_
DRY MIXEDWOOD SUBREGION 13
Ecological Site“aa” factsheet 21
Ecological SitePhase “aal" fact sheet 22
Ecological Site“bb” fact sheet 23
Ecological Site Phase “bbl" fact sheet 24
Ecological Site Phase “bb2" factsheet 25
Ecological Site Phase“d4" fact sheet 26
Ecological Site Phase“dla" fact sheet 27
Ecological SitePhase“dlb" factsheet 28
Ecological Site“dd” fact sheet 29
Ecological SitePhase“ddl" fact sheet 30
Ecological Site Phase “e4" fact sheet 3J_
Ecological Site Phase“f4" fact sheet 32
Ecological Site Phase“f5" fact sheet 33
Ecological SitePhase“g2" factsheet 34
Ecological Site Phase“j3" factsheet 35
Ecological SitePhase“k2a" fact sheet 36
Ecological Site Phase“k3a" fact sheet 37
GRASSLANDAND SHRUBLAND COMMUNITYTYPES 38
KeytoGrass and Shrublands 45
DMA1. Sedgemeadows 47
DMA
la. Bulrush-Cattail 48
DMA2. Marshreedgrassmeadow 49
DMA3. Plainswormwood/Sedge 50
DMA4. Purpleoatgrass-Sedge-Califomiaoatgrass 51_
v
DMA4a. Veinymeadowrue/Slenderwheatgrass-Fringedbrome 52
DMA5. Westernporcupine grass-Sedge/Fringedsage 53
DMA6. Northernwheatgrass-Junegrass/Fringedsage 54
DMA7. Saskatoon-Snowberry/Hairywildrye 55
DMA8. Rose-Snowberry/Smoothbrome 56
DMA9. Kentuckybluegrass/Dandelion 57
DMA10. Willow/Sedge 58
DMA10a. Willow/Marshreedgrass 59
DDMMAA11. Willow/Marshreedgrass-Kentuckybluegrass 60
12. Willow/Horsetail/Marshreedgrass 61
DMA13. Riveralder/Horsetail 62
DMA14. Willow/Kentuckybluegrass/Dandelion 63
DMA15. Sandbarwillow-Yellowwillow 64
DMA16: Bebbwillow/Marshreedgrass 65
DMA17: Redosierdogwood/Marshreedgrass 66
DMA18: Silverberry/Smoothbrome 67
DMA19: Bogwillow 68
DMA20. Swamphorsetail 69
DMA21. Tall mannagrass 70
DMA22. Commonreedgrass 71
DMA23. Reedcanarygrass 72
DMA24. Two stamened sedge 73
DMA25. Rushmeadow 74
DMA26. Creeping spikerush 75
DMA27. Three squarerush 76
DMA28. Prairiebulrush 77
DMA29. Nuttall’s saltgrass 78
DMA30. Foxtail barley 79
TAME FORAGE COMMUNITIES 80
KeytoTameGrass PlantCommunities -DryMixedwood Subregion 84
DMB12. Brome-Timothy 85
DMB13. Creepingred fescue- Brome-Timothy 86
DMB14. Creepingred fescue-Kentuckybluegrass/Dandelion 87
DMB15. Strawberry-Dandelion-Weeds 88
DMB16. Reedcanarygrass-Meadow 89
DMB17. Brome-Creepingred fescue-Kentuckybluegrass/Dandelion 90
DMB18. Foxtail barley/Weeds 91.
DMB19. Wheatgrass-Creepingred fescue-Timothy 92
DMB20. Rose/Creepingred fescue-Sedge 93
DMB21. Aw/Rose/Strawberry 94
DMB22. Rose/Dandelion 95
DMB23. Aw-Pb/Rose/Hairywildrye 96
DMB24. Willow/Timothy 97
vi
DECIDUOUS FOREST COMMUNITYTYPES 98
KeytoDeciduous CommunityTypes - DryMixedwood 103
DMC1. Aw/Dwarfbilberry/Bearberry/Mountainricegrass 104
DMCla. Aw/Blueberry 105
DMC2. Aw/Rose/Tall forb 106
DMC3. Aw/Rose/Low forb 107
DMC3a. Aw-Pb/Dandelion/Kentuckybluegrass 108
DMC4. Aw-Pb/Hazelnut 109
DMC5. Aw/Buffaloberry 110
DMC6. Aw/Alder Ill
DMC7. Aw/Saskatoon JT2
DMC8. Pb-Aw/Redosierdogwood 113
DMC8a. Pb-AwAVillow U4
DMC9. Pb-Aw/Horsetail H5
DMC10. Deciduous cutblocks andunseededclearings U_6
DMC11. Pb/Honeysuckle U7
DMC12. Pb/Riveralder 118
DMC
13. Pb-Aw/Silverberry 119
DMC
14. Pb/Snowberry 120
DMC15.Pb/Reedgrass 121
DMC
16. Bw/Labradortea 122
DMC
17. Bw/Raspberry 123
DMC
18. Pb-Bw/Kentuckybluegrass 124
DMC
19. Pb/Smoothbrome 125
CONIFEROUS AND MIXEDWOOD FORESTS 127
KeytoConiferandMixedwood* Types - DryMixedwood 130
DMD1. Pj/Alder 131
DMD2. Pj-Aw/Bearberry 132
DMD2a. Aw-Sw/Bearberry 133
DMD3. Sw/Buffaloberry/Bearberry 134
DMD4. Sw/Beakedhazelnut/Moss 135
DMD5. Aw-Sw/Rose/Marshreedgrass 136
DMD6. Aw-Pb-Sw/Willow/Wild sarsaparilla 137
DMD7. Sw-Pb-Aw/Rose/Twinflower 138
DMD8. Sb/Willow/Moss 139
DMD9. Sb-Lt/Labradortea/Moss 140
DMD10. Sw-Aw/LowbushCranberry 141
DMD11. Sw/Moss 142
DMD12. Sw-Bw/Raspberry 143
DMD13. Sw-Pb/Redosierdogwood 144
DMD14. Sw/Horsetail 145
CENTRAL MIXEDWOOD SUBREGION 146
GRASSLAND AND SHRUBLAND COMMUNITYTYPES 153
vii
KeytoCentral MixedwoodGrass and Shrublands 157
CMA1. Sedgemeadows 158
CMA2. Marshreedgrass meadow 159
CMA3. Cowparsnip/Kentuckybluegrass-Marshreedgrass 160
CMA4. Snowberry/Kentuckybluegrass 161
CMA5. Plains wormwood/Sheep fescue-Sedge 162
CMA6. Plainswormwood/Kentuckybluegrass-Sedge 163
CMA7. Willow/Sedge 164
CMA8. Willow/Sedge-Kentuckybluegrass 165
CMA9. Willow/Marshreedgrass 166
CMA10. Willow-Riveralder/Marshreedgrass 167
CMA11. Willow/Fireweed 168
CMA12. Willow-Spruce/Kentuckybluegrass 169
CMA13. Yellowwillow 170
CMA14. Scoulerwillow-Redosierdogwood 171
CMA15: Bebb willow/Marshreedgrass 172
CMA16. Swamphorsetail 173
CMA17. Tallmannagrass 174
CMA18. Shortsedge 175
CMA19. Snowberry/Horsetail/MarshReedGrass 176
TAME FORAGE COMMUNITIES 177
Keyto TameGrass PlantCommunities J_8J_
CMB5. Creepingred fescue-Roughhairgrass 182
CMB8. Brome/Timothy 183
CMB9. CreepingRedFescue-KentuckyBluegrass-Timothy 184
CMB10. CreepingRedFescue-KentuckyBluegrass/Dandelion 185
CMB
11. Clover/Dandelion 186
CMB12. Willow/Creepingred fescue/KentuckyBluegrass 187
CMB13. MarshReedGrass/Strawberry 188
DECIDUOUS FOREST COMMUNITIES 190
Keyto Deciduous CommunityTypes 194
CMC1. Pb/Alder-Rose 196
CMC2. Pb-Aw/Riveralder 197
CMC3. Aw-Pb/Beakedhazelnut-Rose 198
CMC3a. Pb-Aw/Honeysuckle 199
CMC4. Bw/Willow 200
CMC5. Aw/Blueberry 20!
CMC6. Aw/Rose/Twinflower 202
CMC7. Aw/Rose/Low forb 203
CMC
8. Aw/Rose/Tall forb 204
CMC8a. Aw/Buffaloberry-Rose 205
CMC9. Pb-Aw/Rose-Saskatoon 206
CMC
10. Aw-Pb/Rose/Strawberry 207
viii
CMC11. Aw/Rose/Clover 208
CMC12. Aw/Alder 209
CMC13. Aw/Willow 210
CMC14. Aw-Pb/Redosierdogwood-Rose 211
CMC15. Aw/Horsetail-Cowparsnip 212
CMC16. Aspen/ Smoothbrome 213
CMC17. Aspen/Thimbleberry 214
CONIFEROUS AND MIXEDWOOD FOREST COMMUNITIES 215
Keyto ConiferandMixedwoodTypes 219
CMD1. Pj/Alder 220
CMD2. Pj/Bearberry 221
CMD3. Aw-Pj/Bearberry/Lichen 222
CMD4. Balsam fir-Sw/Moss 223
CMD5. Sw/Moss 224
CMD6. Sw/Creepingredfescue 225
CMD7. Aw-Sw/Rose/Low forb 226
CMD8. Aw-Sw/Labradortea/Moss 227
CMD9. Sb/Labradortea/Moss 228
CMD10. Sb/Bogbirch 229
CMD11. Sw/Beakedhazelnut/Moss 230
CMD12. Sw/Horsetail 231
FOREST CUTBLOCKCOMMUNITIES 232
KeytoForestCutblockTypes 235
CME1. Aspen/Rose/MarshReedgrass/Fireweed 236
CME2. Clover/Rose/MarshReedgrass 237
CME3. BeakedHazelnut/Aspen/Wild Sarsaparilla 238
CME4. GreenAlder-Honeysuckle/Aspen-BalsamPoplar 239
LITERATURE CITED 240
List of Figures
Figure 1. Ecological Classification System forAlberta 4
Figure 2. Ecositephases oftheBorealMixedwoodNatural Region 5
Figure 3A. Selectedplantspecies occurrences relativeto moistureandnutrientregimes J_8
Figure 3B. Selectedplantspecies occurrences relativeto moistureandnutrientregimes 19
Figure 4. Edatopic gridfortheDryMixedwood subregion 20
Figure 5. Overviewofnative grass and shrublandcomplex inthe DryMixedwood subregion.
40
Figure 6. Successional sequences oftamepasturecommunitieson3 moistureregimes inthe Dry
Mixedwood subregion 82
Figure 7. Overviewofdeciduous communities inthe DryMixedwood subregion 100
Figure 8. Ecologyofthenative grass andshrublands oftheCentral Mixedwood subregion. . . 154
Figure 9. Successional sequencesoftamepasturecommunitieson3 moistureregimes inthe
Central Mixedwood subregion 179
IX
Figure 10. Sequence ofAspen/RosedominatedcommunitytypesoftheCentral Mixedwood
subregion 191
List ofTables
Table 1. Ecological sites, ecological sitephases, forested, andrangeplantcommunitytypes for
the DryMixedwood subregion(adapted fromBeckinghamandArchibald 1996) 14
Table2. Productionvalues andrecommendedecologicallysustainable stockingrates forgrass
andshrublandcommunities, andecological sitephasesdescribedintheDryMixedwood
subregion 44
Table 3. Productionand StockingrateofTame forage communities inthe DryMixedwood
subregion 83
Table4. Productionvalues andrecommendedecologicallysustainable stockingrates forthe
deciduous communitiesandecological sitephases describedintheDryMixedwood
subregion 101
Table 5. Production(kg/ha) andgrazingcapacity(ha/AUM) forecological sitephase, conifer
andmixedwoodcommunities ofthe DryMixedwood subregion 128
Table 6. Ecological sites, ecological sitephases and forestedandreferencerangeplant
communities forthe CentralMixedwood subregion(adapted fromBeckinghamand
Archibald 1996) 148
Table 7. Nativegrass and shrublandcommunitytypes oftheCentral Mixedwoodsubregion.
156
Table 8. Tame forage communitiesofthe Central Mixedwood subregion 180
Table 9. Deciduous communitytypes described intheCentralMixedwood subregion 192
Table 10. Coniferandmixedwoodcommunitiesofthe Central Mixedwood subregion 217
Table 11. Forestcutblockcommunitytypes described intheCentral Mixedwood subregion
234
List ofMaps
Map 1. LocationofDryandCentral Mixedwood Subregions inAlberta 2
List ofPhotos
Photo 1. The Westernporcupinegrass-Sedge/Fringed sage communityis foundthroughoutthe
DryMixedwood subregiononthe south-facing slopes ofthe Smoky, Wapiti andPeace
Rivers. This communityprovides earlyspringforage forbothwildlife andcattle 38
Photo2. Thispicturerepresents thetransition fromsedge-marshreedgrassmeadows to willow
sedge dominatedcommunitytypes intheDryMixedwood subregion. These community
typesprovidealarge amountofforage, butthemoistconditions limittheiruseby
livestock 38
x