Vegetation Environmental

This community has a tree strata closure of 20% to 35%. The overstory is dominated by Picea mariana (20% average cover). Larix laricina and Betula papyrifera each have 10% cover values in the understory. All three species are regenerating. The average age of the Picea mariana is 93 years. The average age of the Larix laricina is 31 years. Important species in the shrub stratum are Salix arbusculoides (5% cover), Salix barclayi (5% cover), Salix glauca (5% cover), Ledum palustre (25% cover), Vaccinium uliginosum (25% cover) and Betula nana (5% cover). Spiraea beauverdiana, Potentilla fruticosa, Salix bebbiana and Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra are occasional associates. The major species of the herbaceous layer are Vaccinium vitis-idaea (25% cover), Empetrum nigrum (20% cover), and Equisetum sylvaticum (5% cover). Saussurea angustifolia (10% cover), Rubus chamaemorus (10% cover), Festuca rubra (5% cover) and Eriophorum vaginatum (or Carex bigelowii) are important occasional associates. The major species of the nonvascular layer are Hylocomium splendens (50% cover), Pleurozium schreberi (5% cover), Sphagnum species (10% cover), Polytrichium species, Cladonia rangiferina (10% cover), Cladonia species and Peltigera aphthosa var. leucophlebia.

This type is found in the Tanana lowland at an average altitude of 264 meters the range in elevation is 198 to 334 meters. The substrate is predominately alluvial/colluvial deposits (67% of plots). Eolian (17% of plots), glacial (8% of plots) and lacustrine (8% of plots) deposits underlie this type also.