5.0 SOUTHERN INTERIOR FOREST ECOSYSTEMS
Typically a dense deciduous or broad-leaved forest, with a shrub-dominated un-derstory, that includes plant communities which succeed through shrub thickets to an edaphic climax of trembling aspen, found in association with shrub/grasslands or grasslands.
Found at lower elevations, between 330m and 1150m, throughout the major river valleys of Fraser plateau and the Thompson-Okanagan plateau; as well as in the Okanagan valley and portions of the East Kootenay trench.
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Open to dense stands of trembling aspen with limited amounts of ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine. Common snowberry, red-osier dogwood, saskatoon, tall Oregon-grape, roses and soopolallie are characteristic shrub species. Kentucky bluegrass dominates the herb layer; pine-grass, American vetch, star-flowered false Solomon's-seal and blue wildrye may also occur. The moss and lichen layer is commonly poorly developed.
Following disturbances, sites are dominated by thick shrub cover of trembling aspen, soopolallie and roses; with an abundant herb layer composed of pine-grass, fireweed and heart-leaved arnica.
This aspen unit is most likely a stalled successional stage due the removal of conifer seed source by repeated fires.
Typically occurs on gently sloping sites and level areas in lower to toe mesoslope positions. Moist to very moist, deep, fine-textured morainal or fluvial blankets are characteristic.
Wetter sites tend to have pussy willows and sedges in addition to the characteristic composition.
Steep, southerly aspects found in the north, may have shrub layers composed of prickly rose, prairie rose, willows, soopolallie, highbush-cranberry and saskatoon. The diverse herb layer often includes slender wheatgrass, fireweed, Arctic lupine, kinnikinnick and fuzzy-spiked wildrye, with some northern bedstraw and blue-grasses present.
Braumandl, T. and M.P. Curran, 1992. A Field Guide for Site Identification and Interpretation for the Nelson Forest Region. Land Manage. Handb. No. 20., B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C.
Cariboo Forest Region. 1989. A Field Guide for the Identification and Interpretation of Ecosystems of the Cariboo Forest Region. B.C. Min. For., Williams Lake, B.C.
Lloyd, D., K. Angove, G. Hope and C. Thompson. 1990. A Guide to Site Identification and Interpretation for the Kamloops Forest Region. Land Manage. Handb. 23, B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C.
Typically a dense coniferous forest, with grass or shrub dominated understories, that include plant communities that progress directly to a Douglas-fir climax.
DF occurs in the Southern interior of B.C. at low to moderate elevations in the Interior Douglas-fir Biogeoclimatic zone. Elevational limits range between 700m and 1100m.
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Open forest or woodland dominated by Douglas-fir with a moderate to sparse shrub layer. Common juniper, common snowberry, prickly rose and birch-leaved spirea are characteristic shrub species. The shrub layer may also include western snowberry, Rocky Mountain juniper, chokecherry, tall Oregon-grape and saskatoon. The herb layer is dominated by bluebunch wheatgrass and sometimes pinegrass; associated herbs include showy aster, Richardson's sedge, timber milk-vetch, bluegrass, kinnikinnick, spike-like goldenrod, pussytoes, nodding onion and pasture sage. Not all units have a significant moss and lichen layer, but those units that do include, Cladina and Peltigera lichens with wavy-leaved moss and Tortula ruralis.
Open forest or woodland dominated by Douglas-fir with a sparse shrub layer that may include common juniper, birch-leaved spirea, prickly rose and common snowberry. The herb layer is also sparse and commonly contains pinegrass; bluebunch wheatgrass, spike-like goldenrod, northern bedstraw, showy aster and round-leaved alumroot may also be present. The moss and lichen layer is very dense and is dominated by red-stemmed feathermoss; common associated species include step moss, Dicranum spp., electrified cat's-tail moss, knight's plume and Peltigera lichens.
An open forest dominated by Douglas-fir, with a dense shrub understory. Characteristic shrubs include; saskatoon, falsebox, common juniper, birch-leaved spirea, prickly rose, soopolallie and Douglas maple. Wild sarsaparilla, twinflower, rough-leaved ricegrass, kinnikinnick and dwarf blueberry are commonly found in the herb layer. The moss and lichen layer is typically composed of red-stemmed feather-moss and wavy-leaved moss, as well as Cladonia, Cladina and Peltigera of lichens.
Open forest dominated by Douglas-fir, with a variable shrub layer, often including Vasey's big sagebrush, common juniper, falsebox, birch-leaved spirea, shrubby penstemon, saskatoon, common snowberry and Douglas maple. The herb layer is dominated by pinegrass and bluebunch wheatgrass, with minor amounts of yarrow, compact selaginella, Idaho fescue, kinnikinnick, thread-leaved sandwort and round-leaved alumroot. The moss and lichen layer is variable, often with Peltigera lichens, Cladonia lichens and juniper haircap moss.
Early successional stages are typically dominated by saskatoon, snowberry, rose, pinegrass and bluebunch wheatgrass.
Timber milk-vetch and yarrow dominate vegetation cover if the early successional stages are subject to grazing.
Early successional stages are typically lush shrub dominated communities, including saskatoon, soopolallie, snowberry, rose, pinegrass, wild strawberry and bluebunch wheatgrass.
Early successional stages are typically dominated by saskatoon, snowberry, rose, pinegrass and bluebunch wheatgrass.
Early successional stages are typically dominated by saskatoon, snowberry, rose, pinegrass and bluebunch wheatgrass.
DF is in the rainshadow of the coast mountains and experiences hot, dry summers and cool wet winters. Gentle to steep slopes over well-drained to rapidly drained, nutrient poor, colluvial or morainal materials.
Mesic sites do not experience the extreme dry conditions; most are situated on gently sloping aspects, primarily in middle to lower slope positions. Soils are typically deep and well-drained.
Gentle to steep slopes over well-drained to rapidly drained, nutrient poor, colluvial or morainal materials.
Gentle to steep slopes over well-drained to rapidly drained, nutrient poor, colluvial or morainal materials.
Very dry sites have a sparse herb layer with little bluebunch wheatgrass and pine-grass, as well as a less diverse shrub layer. The shrub layer is dominated by common juniper, Rocky Mountain juniper, birch-leaved spirea and saskatoon. Common herbs include kinnikinnick, spike-like goldenrod, spreading dogbane, shrubby penstemon, compact selaginella, blue-bunch wheatgrass, Rocky-mountain fescue and yarrow. Cladonia spp., Peltigera spp. and Tortula ruralis are common in the moss and lichen layer.
Moderate to steep talus slopes of the bunchgrass zone are characterized by the presence of scattered Douglas-fir, with a sparse to moderate shrub understory. Shrub species present often include big sagebrush, saskatoon, woodrose and Douglas Maple. The herb layer is very sparse and composed of scattered blue-bunch wheatgrass, junegrass, spike-like goldenrod and cliff ferns. Soils are typically coarse-textured. Sites with smaller coarse fragments are usually slightly more vegetated.
Drier sites have less moss and lichen cover; saskatoon, common and western snowberry, tall Oregon-grape and falsebox may be present in the shrub layer.
Wetter sites may have paper birch in the tree layer and have a diverse shrub layer composed of birch-leaved spirea, saskatoon, prickly rose, western snowberry, Douglas maple and tall Oregon-grape. Wild sarsaparilla, showy aster, rough-fruited fairybells, creamy peavine, northern bedstraw and rough-leaved ricegrass are common herbaceous species. The moss and lichen layer is usually dominated by red-stemmed feathermoss.
Banner, A., W. MacKenzie, S. Haeussler, S. Thomson, J. Pojar and R. Trowbridge. 1993. A Field Guide to Site Identification and Interpretation for the Prince Rupert Forest Region. Land Manage. Handb. No. 26., B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C.
Braumandl, T. and M.P. Curran, 1992. A Field Guide for Site Identification and Interpretation for the Nelson Forest Region. Land Manage. Handb. No. 20., B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C.
Cariboo Forest Region. 1989. A Field Guide for the Identification and Interpretation of Ecosystems of the Cariboo Forest Region. B.C. Min. For., Williams Lake, B.C.
Delong, C., D. Tanner and M.J. Jull. 1993. A Field Guide for the Identification and Interpretation of Ecosystems of the Southwest Portion of the Prince George Forest Region. Land Manage. Handb. 24, B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C.
Lloyd, D., K. Angove, G. Hope and C. Thompson. 1990. A Guide to Site Identification and Interpretation for the Kamloops Forest Region. Land Manage. Handb. 23, B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C.
Meidinger, D. 1995. A field guide for site identification and interpretation for the southeast portion of the Prince George forest region (Draft). B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C.
Typically a dense coniferous forest, with shrub or pinegrass dominated understories, that include plant communities which progress through a mixture of lodgepole pine and Douglas-fir or trembling aspen to a Douglas-fir climax.
Found at lower to middle elevations (between 400 and 1600m) throughout the central and southern interior. It occurs on the Fraser Plateau, Okanagan highlands, Thompson Plateau and portions of the southern Monashee, Selkirk and Purcell mountains. Small pockets are also found at lower elevations of the Southern Rocky Mountains and on the leeside of the Coast and Cascade mountains.
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An open canopy consisting of Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine, with some western larch. A moderate shrub understory typically composed of birch-leaved spirea, soopolallie, falsebox, prickly rose, saskatoon and snowberry. A moderate herb layer dominated by pinegrass. Secondary herb vegetation consists of kinnikinnick, twinflower, prince's pine and showy aster. A sparse to moderate moss and lichen layer dominated by red-stemmed feather-moss is characteristic. Some species of lichen may also be present, Peltigera and Cladonia lichens are common.
Within this drier variation Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine form an open canopy. Common juniper, black huckleberry, birch-leaved spirea, saskatoon and prickly rose make up a sparse to moderate shrub layer. The herb layer is composed of twinflower, pinegrass, prince's pine and some bluebunch wheatgrass. Characteristically, various species of lichens are abundant on these drier sites, including Cladonia, Cladina and Peltigera species. Red-stemmed feathermoss and wavy-leaved moss are also common.
A moderate cover of willows, rose, pine-grass and fireweed are commonly found following disturbance. Early forested stages are dominated by lodgepole pine; some western larch, trembling aspen and paper birch may be present.
Early successional stages dominated by a moderate cover of willows, rose, pine-grass, bluebunch wheatgrass and fireweed.
Generally occurs on steep to gentle warm aspects in a wide range of slope positions. Dry to mesic, nutrient poor morainal or colluvial soils are most common; some glaciofluvial terraces may also be evident.
Typically occurs on steep upper to crest slope positions. Characterized by poor, dry morainal or colluvial deposits, with some glaciofluvial materials.
Velvet-leaved blueberry and thimbleberry can be found in the shrub layer on relatively moist sites. The herb layer also changes with the appearance of wild sarsaparilla and bunchberry. Red-stemmed feathermoss and knight's plume are found in a moderate to dense moss and lichen layer.
Found on much more rocky, open sites. The shrub layer is very sparse and composed mainly of saskatoon. Parsley fern is commonly present in the herb layer. Rock mosses and Cladonia lichens dominate the moss and lichen layer of this atypically dry site.
Braumandl, T. and M.P. Curran, 1992. A Field Guide for Site Identification and Interpretation for the Nelson Forest Region. Land Manage. Handb. No. 20., B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C.
Cariboo Forest Region. 1989. A Field Guide for the Identification and Interpretation of Ecosystems of the Cariboo Forest Region. B.C. Min. For., Williams Lake, B.C.
Delong, C., D. Tanner and M.J. Jull. 1993. A Field Guide for the Identification and Interpretation of Ecosystems of the Southwest Portion of the Prince George Forest Region. Land Manage. Handb. 24, B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C.
Green, R.N. and K. Klinka. 1994. A Field Guide to Site Identification and Interpretation for the Vancouver Forest Region, Land Manage. Handb. 28, B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C.
Lloyd, D., K. Angove, G. Hope and C. Thompson. 1990. A Guide to Site Identification and Interpretation for the Kamloops Forest Region. Land Manage. Handb. 23, B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C.
Meidinger, D. 1995. A field guide for site identification and interpretation for the southeast portion of the Prince George forest region (Draft). B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C.