8.0 SUBALPINE PARKLAND AND KRUMMNOLZ ECOSYSTEMS
Typically a northern, high elevation, stunted tree, open habitat, characterized by islands of subalpine fir intermixed with a dense shrub cover of willows and scrub birch.
This unit is found at elevations above the upper limit of the SWB zone, approximately 1500m and below the AT zone. It occurs throughout the subalpine areas of the Northern Boreal Mountains; small patches are also present in the Northern Omineca and Central Canadian Rocky Mountains, as well as on the Muskwa Plateau.
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Krummholz communities are usually found in a mosaic of subalpine meadows and heath. Typically these communities are dominated by islands of stunted subalpine fir intermixed with minor amounts of Engelmann spruce, whitebark pine and alpine larch. The understory is characteristically shrub dominated including black blueberry, black huckleberry, bog birch and willow species. A variety of dwarf shrubs are found throughout the herb layer. Pink mountain-heather, white mountain-heather and crowberry often dominate this community; grouseberry, five-leaved bramble, dwarf blueberry, lingonberry and partridgefoot are sometimes also abundant. Altai fescue, alpine pussytoes, small-awned sedge, mountain sagewort, thread-leaved sandwort, arctic lupine and alpine bluegrass are commonly found in the moderate to sparse, yet very diverse herb layer. The moss and lichen layer is dominated by lichens including crustose lichens, Cladonia, Peltigera and Cetraria lichens; awned-haircap moss and step moss are also common. Mountain leafy liverwort and common leafy liverwort are also often abundant.
Early successional communities are dominated by similar shrub thickets including willows, black huckleberry, black blueberry and mountain-heather.
Sites are typically situated on submesic to mesic, gently to moderately sloping ridges or cirque basins, where there is abundant snow accumulation. Characteristically, the soils are shallow, well to rapidly drained, colluvial and morainal blankets over bedrock.
In the spruce willow birch zone, communities are dominated by stunted islands of subalpine fir intermixed with shrub thickets consisting of scrub birch, willows, shrubby cinquefoil and soopolallie. The understory is typically composed of similar vegetation.
Typically a high elevation mosaic of stunted-tree clumps and herb or dwarf shrub dominated openings, occurring above closed forest ecosystems and below the alpine communities.
In the southern and central interior of the province, this unit represents the transition between the ESSF and AT zones. It occurs throughout the Coast Mountains and eastward into the Rocky Mountains, usually present above the ESSF zone; approximate elevation, 2050m. Note, there is considerable range in the upper and lower elevational limits, due to climatic variability and differing topography.
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Typically, these units are open parkland forests consisting of clumps of forested areas intermixed with moist meadow openings. The canopy of the forested areas are composed mainly of subalpine fir with minor amounts of Engelmann spruce present. Black huckleberry is commonly present in the shrub layer, along with a variety of dwarf shrub species including pink and white mountain-heather, crowberry, partridgefoot, five-leaved bramble, dwarf blueberry and grouseberry. A lush herb layer is typically composed of Sitka valerian, western pasqueflower, arrow-leaved groundsel, Indian hellebore, mountain arnica and subalpine daisy. Associated herbaceous species include arctic lupine, mountain sagewort, small-flowered woodrush and yellow glacier lily. Ragged moss and broom moss are commonly found in the moss and lichen layer, along with crustose lichens and Cladonia lichens.
Soils are typically moist to wet, medium-textured, colluvial or morainal veneers and blankets. Sites are typically found on gentle to moderate, occasionally steep slopes; in areas where there is long snow duration.
On xeric to subxeric sites, subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce are found in parkland type communities dominated by crowberry. Some lodgepole pine and common juniper may be present. Mountain-heathers, dwarf blueberry, kinnikinnick and mountain sagewort are commonly associated with these drier parkland communities. Coral lichen, crustose lichens, Cladina and Cladonia lichens dominate the moss and lichen layer.
Typically a high elevation, sparse to open mosaic of stunted tree clumps and herbaceous or mountain-heather dominated openings, that proceeds after disturbance directly to a climax species mix, dominated by mountain hemlock.
Found at high elevations along the coast, this unit represents the transition between the MH and AT zones. When present, it occurs above the MH zone on the eastern and western slopes of the Vancouver Island Ranges, Queen Charlotte Mountains and Coast Mountains, as well as the western slopes of the Hazelton Mountains; elevation approximately 1600m. Note, there is considerable range in the upper and lower elevational limits, due to climatic variability and differing topography.
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These communities are typically dominated by open forested islands that are separated by sedge/heather meadows.
The open forested islands are typically composed mainly mountain hemlock, with minor amounts of amabilis fir, subalpine fir and yellow-cedar also present. Black huckleberry and oval-leaved blueberry are most commonly found in the shrub layer. The herb layer is characterized by pink mountain-heather, white mountain-heather, partridgefoot, sedges, arctic lupine and Sitka valerian. Cladina, Cladonia and crustose lichens are commonly found in the moss and lichen layer, as well as red-stemmed feathermoss.
The meadows usually include white mountain-heathers, pink mountain-heathers, Indian hellebore, Sitka valerian, partridgefoot and sedges.
Sites are typically situated on submesic to mesic, gently sloping colluvial or morainal veneers and blankets. Soils are generally coarse textured, ranging from shallow to deep, often with rocky hummocks present.
Typically a subalpine habitat of open, whitebark pine forests, intermixed with lush bunchgrasses, other perennial grasses and forbs, on droughty sites.
Limited to south facing slopes above the ESSF zone and below the AT zone, east of the leeward Coastal Mountains into the Rocky Mountains. Occurs between 1650m and 2100m elevation in more southerly areas and between 1000m and 1800m in more northerly locations. Note, there is considerable range in the upper and lower elevational limits, due to climatic variability and differing topography.
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Stunted whitebark pine dominates a very open, sparse canopy; with minor amounts of lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce and alpine larch often present. Typically there is a lush understory/meadow composed of a mixture of grasses and herbs. Common species include rough fescue, spike trisetum, alpine fescue, alpine bluegrass, sedges, thread-leaved sandwort, paintbrush, arctic lupine, heart-leaved arnica, northern goldenrod, pussytoes, mountain sagewort, showy fleabane, Sitka valerian and wild strawberry. Dwarf shrubs are also common and often quite abundant, in particular grouseberry, dwarf blueberry, mountain-heather and kinnikinnick. Taller shrub species are very sparse, minor amounts of common juniper, saskatoon, soopolallie and black huckleberry may be present. A moderate moss and lichen layer typically includes Dicranum spp., Brachythecium spp., Cladonia spp., Cladina spp. and Peltigera spp.
Early successional stages are dominated by fireweed, dandelion, heart-leaved arnica, rough fescue, spike trisetum and alpine bluegrass. Shrubby whitebark pine may dominate later stages with subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce as associate species.
Generally found on dry to submesic, shallow to deep colluvial and morainal surficial materials, in an upper to crest slope position. A moderate to steep south facing slope is most common. These sites experience high winds and intense sunlight which reduces the snow cover and exposes vegetation to the harsh winter conditions.
Sites located in very exposed upper parkland elevations may appear as a whitebark pine krummholz. The vegetation composition of the understory is identical when compared to the typical sites.
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.
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 high elevation mosaic of tree clumps and subalpine meadows or tundra, occurring above the closed forest and below the alpine.
This unit occurs above the ESSF zone in the eastern Kitimat ranges, south/central Hazelton Mountains, southeast Boundary ranges and northwest Skeena Mountains; elevation approximately 1800m. There is also a limited amount of this unit found on the leeward side of the Pacific ranges, as well as in the western Monashee Mountains, at approximately 1675m. Note, there is considerable range in the upper and lower elevational limits, due to climatic variability and differing topography.
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Scattered subalpine fir and mountain hemlock form a very open canopy; often in clumps of forested areas separated by meadows. The forested areas usually have shrub understories which include oval-leaved blueberry, white-flowered rhododendron, false azalea and black huckleberry. Sitka valerian is the predominant understory species. Associated herbaceous species include mountain arnica, mountain-heather, partridgefoot, Indian hellebore, arrow-leaved groundsel and crowberry. The meadow communties are usually composed of similar herbaceous species. Very often additional herbs are present, including paintbrush, western meadowrue, arctic lupine, subalpine daisy and sedges. A few scattered moss species may be present, including Dicranum spp. and Brachythecium spp., as well as Cladina, Cladonia and Peltigera lichens.
Usually found at the upper elevations of the parkland zones, on dry to mesic slopes. Typically sites are situated on shallow morainal or colluvial materials.
Wetter sites will often have abundant sedges and bluegrasses present.