Vegetation Environmental

The average overstory of this type is 15% and is dominated by Picea glauca. Populus balsamifera and Larix laricina are associates in the subdominant layer with a 10% cover and 3% cover respectively. The average age of Picea glauca is 125 years. The average age of Populus balsamifera and Larix laricina was 135 years and 50 years respectively. The regeneration is predominantly Picea glauca, but young trees of Populus balsamifera and Larix laricina of 1 to 2 meters in height occur. Alnus crispa (5% cover), Salix arbusculoides (5% cover), Salix barclayi (5% cover), Ledum palustre (45% cover), Vaccinium uliginosum (45% cover), Shepherdia canadensis (5% cover) and Potentilla fruticosa (5% cover) are the major species of the shrub layer. Rosa acicularis and Viburnum edule are occasional associates. The major species of the herbaceous layer are Empetrum nigrum (20% cover), Pyrola grandiflora (20% cover), Cornus canadensis (5% cover), Arctagrostis latifolia (3% cover), Arctostaphylos rubra (5% cover) and Vaccinium vitis-idaea (5% cover). Mertensia paniculata, Saussurea angustifolia and Rubus arcticus are occasional associates. The major species of the nonvascular layer are Hylocomium splendens (60% cover) and Polytrichium strictum (3% cover).

This type is found at an average altitude of 410 meters with an average slope of 5% with south exposure. The range in elevation is 213 to 930 meters, and the range in slope is 0% to 32%. It is found predominantly on alluvial/colluvial deposits in the Tanana lowland. It is a flood plain successional type of older age than M6.