Forest Vegetation types - SP3


SP3 — Red Pine – White pine / Bracken – Mayflower

Pinus resinosa – Pinus strobus / Pteridium aquilinum – Epigaea repens

     SP3a — Black spruce variant
     Picea mariana

Tuskapeake Brook, Annapolis County

Tuskapeake Brook, Annapolis County


Concept: This early to mid-successional Vegetation Type (VT) has an overstory dominated by both red and white pine. Occurrences co-dominated by black spruce and pine are defined by the SP3a variant. Red Pine – White pine / Bracken – Mayflower usually follows stand-replacing disturbance events such as fire or harvesting.

Vegetation: Red and white pine are the dominant overstory trees, usually occurring in similar amounts. Black spruce is the third most common species, with the occasional presence of red maple, large-tooth aspen and red oak. The shrub layer consists mainly of ericaceous species such as lambkill, velvet-leaf blueberry and lowbush blueberry, along with wild raisin. Black spruce and balsam fir regeneration can also be extensive in some stands. Herb layer diversity is relatively low, characterized by species such as pink lady's slipper, mayflower, starflower, bunchberry and sarsaparilla. Bryophyte cover is usually low except in the black spruce variant (SP3a) where heavy cover of Schreber's moss, broom moss and wavy dicranum is common. In dense stands, the forest floor may also be dominated by a needle carpet.

Environmental Setting: SP3 mainly occurs on dry to fresh, nutrient very poor to poor soils. This VT is found throughout mainland Nova Scotia, especially in the Western ecoregion, lowland ecodistricts along the Minas Basin, Annapolis Valley and Northumberland shore. This VT is very rare on Prince Edward Island, and somewhat uncommon in New Brunswick.

Successional Dynamics: Dry, nutrient poor soils and stand-replacing disturbances strongly shape both VT canopy structure and successional patterns. Historically, SP3 stands originated from fire disturbance creating mainly even-aged stands. As the potential impacts of fire are reduced through management white pine and black spruce will increase in dominance, possibly shifting SP3 to SP4 (White pine / Blueberry / Bracken) or directly to SP5 (Black spruce / Lambkill / Bracken), the edaphic climax for this successional pathway.

Ecological Features: This closed or open canopy forest occurs as large patches. Red pine is a shade-intolerant, fire-adapted species whose persistence in this ecosystem will be promoted by fire. Fire scars on residual pine are often found scattered through SP3 stands. White pine is a long-lived species of the Acadian Forest and, as one of the region's largest trees, may provide valuable wildlife habitat for cavity nesting birds such as owls and woodpeckers and mammals such as fishers and porcupines. The acidity (low nutrient content) of the forest floor (due to the abundance of pine needles and ericaceous vegetation) reduces soil fauna, plant diversity, and vertebrate diversity and abundance. Seeds of red pine may provide food for pine siskins, nuthatches and chickadees. Saffron milkcap, is a well-known edible mushroom that forms a mycorrhizal relationship with red pine.



SP3 Characteristic Plants

 


Teaberry
Mayflower


Distinguishing Features:
Both red pine and white pine need to be present to classify this softwood forest found on dry, nutrient poor soils. The variant SP3a has black spruce co-dominant with the pines.


Site Characteristics

Slope Position: Crest3 Level3 Upper3 Middle1

Surface Stoniness:

(Very - Excessively)3  (Moderately)3 (Non - Slightly)2 nd2

Bedrock Outcrop: 

(Non-rocky)5  (Slightly - Moderately)2  (Very-Excessively)1 nd2

Elevation Range: 

37 - 223m

Slope Gradient: 

Level5 Gentle3 nd2

Aspect:

North1 East1 South2 West1 None5

Exposure:

Moderate8 Mod. exposed1 nd1

Microtopography:

Slightly4 Moderately3 Level1 nd2

Drainage:

Well5 Imperfect1 Moderately well1  Rapid1 nd2

   

Soil Characteristics

Soil Type: 

ST25 ST11 ST3-G1 ST151 nd2

Parent Material:

Glacial till10

Rooting Depth (cm):

(<30)1 (30-45)2 (>45)3 nd4

Duff Thickness (cm):

(0-5)1 (6-10)3 (11-20)3 nd3

SP3 Map

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