Sphagnum moss - Creeping sedge
	Sphagnum spp. - Carex chordorrhiza
	n = 10
	III.A.3.j.(-k.) Subarctic Lowland Sedge (-Moss) Bog
	Ecosystem: Relict Lakebed / Drainageway, Depression

The sphagnum moss (Sphagnum spp.) - creeping sedge (Carex chordorrhiza) community found on the Kenai Lowlands is similar to the creeping sedge – buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) community described by Scheirel and Meyer (1977) for the Copper River delta, and the mud sedge (Carex limosa) – creeping sedge community described by Calmes (1976 in Viereck et. al., 1992) and Drury (1956), for interior Alaska, but lacks those other associates (buckbean and mud sedge, respectively).  Both on Chugach National Forest (DeVelice et. al., 1999) and on the Copper River Delta (Boggs, 2000) “under-represented” creeping sedge types are named.

Sphagnum moss – creeping sedge often occurs on the lowest, wettest positions of various level relict glacial landforms including drainageways, lakebeds and depressions on recessional moraines.  

A sparse to "woodland" density of creeping sedge occupies a sphagnum mat, often with standing water. 

The organic mat is thick, often greater than 2 meters; it is always an organic soil (histosol).  The water table is at or near the surface.  pH ranges from very strongly acid to slightly acid depending on groundwater flow proximity to mineral soil contact.  All 10 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	Hydric Criteria Number
SALAMATOF	3	1, 3

Table 2.  Summary of plant frequency and average cover for plants occurring in more than 50% of plots.

				Wetland Indicator Status
Plant	f	Average Cover		Alaska	National
Shrubs
Salix1 fuscescens	0.7	2.7		FACW	FACW
Chamaedaphne calyculata	0.6	0.6		FAC	FAC
Betula nana	0.6	0.4		FAC	FAC, OBL
Dwarf shrubs
Andromeda polifolia	0.9	2.0		OBL	OBL
Vaccinium oxycoccos	0.9	0.5		OBL	OBL
Herbs/Graminoids
Carex chordorrhiza	1.0	15.7		OBL	OBL
Comarum palustre	0.7	8.2		OBL	OBL
Equisetum fluviatile	0.7	3.1		OBL	OBL
Carex aquatilis	0.6	2.1		OBL	OBL
Calamagrostis canadensis	0.6	1.8		FAC	FAC, OBL
Carex magellanica	0.6	0.6		OBL	OBL
Sphagnum spp.	0.9	66.0
Open water	1.0	2.0
1 Plant with known morphological adaptation for occurrence in wetlands (USACE, 1987)

 

---

Introduction and Key to Plant Communities   Introduction and Key to Ecosystems     Kenai Hydric Soils    Map Unit Summary    Methods   Glossary

---

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