|
|
Sphagnum moss - Water sedge |
| Sphagnum spp. - Carex aquatilis | |
| n = 3 | |
| III.A.3.k. Subarctic Lowland Sedge – Moss Bog | |
| Ecosystem: Relict Lakebed / Drainageway |
Sphagnum
- water sedge is well documented
in Alaska
(Luken and Billings,
1983 in Viereck,
et. al., 1992; Ritchie,
et.al., 1981; Rosenberg, 1986,
DeVelice et.al., 1999; Boggs,
2000).
Sphagnum moss (Sphagnum spp.) - water sedge (Carex aquatilis) is found on low, wet spots on relict glacial lakebed landforms, especially where the lakebed contains slightly sloping shallow groundwater discharge characteristics.
An open to sparse water sedge layer occupies a sphagnum mat. Dwarf birch (Betula nana) and crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) can be common; bog cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos) and bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia) are present in trace amounts.
The
organic horizon is thick (average = 78 cm). The water table is near or almost at the surface.
The
pH was measured as very strongly acid to neutral (average = 4.8) at three
sites. All 12 sites visited are
jurisdictional
wetlands.
Table 1. Frequency of soil series occurrence and hydric status at NRCS holes. Bold type indicates soils on the NRCS Alaska hydric soils list.
| Soil Series | n | |
| STARICHKOF | 4 | 1, 2B2, 3 |
| DOROSHIN | 3 | 1 |
| NIKOLAI | 1 | 1 |
| SALAMATOF | 1 | 1, 3 |
Table 2. Summary of plant frequency and average cover for plants occurring in more than 50% of plots.
| Wetland Indicator Status | |||||
| f | Average Cover | Alaska | National | ||
| Shrubs | |||||
| Betula nana | 0.8 | 16.7 | FAC | FAC, OBL |
|
| Empetrum nigrum | 0.7 | 14.1 | FAC | FACU, FACW |
|
| Vaccinium uliginosum | 0.6 | 4.2 | FAC | FACU+, FACW |
|
| Dwarf shrubs | |||||
| Vaccinium oxycoccos | 0.8 | 0.5 | OBL | OBL | |
| Andromeda polifolia | 0.8 | 0.4 | OBL | OBL | |
| Graminoid | |||||
| Carex aquatilis | 1.0 | 24.4 | OBL | OBL | |
| Moss | 0.8 | 87.2 |
|||
|
|
Introduction and Key to Plant Communities |
 |
| Contact: Mike Gracz Kenai Watershed Forum PO Box 15301 Fritz Creek, AK 99603 907-235-2218 |
The
Alaska Natural Heritage Program
Environment
and Natural Resource Institute
University of
Alaska, Anchorage
707 A Street, Suite 101
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
04 May 2007 10:02 |
