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Site Description - FP1A
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| Alias: |
211GPIICGravel Pit WillowBCII
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| Site status: |
Active
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| Latitude: |
64.69751253 |
| Longitude: |
-148.2524072 |
| Size: |
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Site Information - FP1A
BNZ-LTER site*
* Site information should be complete for BNZ LTER sites.
Information for related sites might be incomplete.
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General Information
| Site synonyms |
211,
GPIIC,
Gravel Pit Willow,
BCII,
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| General Description |
FP1A is located on a low early successional terrace (1.8 - 2 m above winter low river level) adjacent to the Tanana River. Vegetation establishment occurred in 1982 to 1983. Significant bank erosion has occurred since the establishment of the study area, resulting in loss of some study plots.
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| Vegetation Description |
FP1A consists of an open stand of several species of willow and thinleaf alder. In 1985, when this site was established, the willows on this site were 1- 3 years of age, averaged 1 meter in height and had 20 percent. Cover and density of the most abundant shrubs were as follows: Salix nova-anglaea, 164,000 stems/ha, 15%; S. alaxensis, 59,000 stems/ha, 6%; S. brachycarpa 25,500 stems/ha, 8%. Salix interior, S. lasiandra, and Alnus tenuifolia all had cover values of less thant 5% and densities of under 20,000 stems/ha. Balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) saplings numbered 58,000/ha.
The herb layer and the silt layer have varied at this site with time since last flooding and silt deposition. In general the herbaceous layer has varied from 10 to 35 percent cover and bare mineral soil from 25 to nearly 100 percent immediately after flooding. A thin leaf litter has been present during some periods but was frequently buried or swept away by flooding. The herb layer is dominated by Equisetum variegatum and Equisetum palustre. Scattered throughout the stand, but providing little cover, are the herbs, Carex aurea, Calamagrostis canadensis, Solidago canadensis, Antenarria pucherrima, and Spiranthes romanzoffiana. Arrowgrass (Triglochin palustris), a halophyte, also occurs in the stand. Occasional patches of the moss Ceratodon purpurea and the liverwort, Preesia quadrata were recorded but were also short lived because of the frequent flooding and siltation.
By 1995 the shrub cover had increased to 35% but average heights of the Salix spp. were still only one meter, although some individuals were over 2 m tall. The most conspicuous change in the stand has resulted from the invasion of alder seedlings between 1991 and 1993 and their rapid growth during the summer of 1995 and 1996. A few white spruce (Picea glauca) seedlings (350/ha) have also established in the stand but have average heights of only 20 cm in 1994. Balsam poplar seedlings and saplings number 65,000/ha and some have reached heights of over 2 m.
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| History |
This study site was established in 1985 for the Salt Affected Soils study, and became an LTER site in 1987.
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| Directions |
By boat, FP1A is 3 km upriver from the termination of the BCEF Road (at the Gravel Pit) on the north side of the river. It can also be reached by following a 2 km footpath beginning approximately 1 mile before the Gravel Pit on the BCEF Road.
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The Bonanza Creek LTER, including this website, is supported by the
National Science Foundation through awards
DEB-0620579,
DEB-0423442,
DEB-0080609,
DEB-9810217,
DEB-9211769,
DEB-8702629
and by the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station through agreement number RJVA-PNW-01-JV-11261952-231.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the
material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect
the views of the supporting agencies or the program as a whole.
© Bonanza Creek LTER, 2009.
Last modified 22-Nov-09
UAF is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution.
This site is a member of the LTER Network.
Disclaimer
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