Abstract for CNVC00025

Forest
Forêt

Picea sitchensis - Tsuga heterophylla / Eurhynchium oreganum

Sitka Spruce - Western Hemlock / Oregon Beaked Moss
Épinette de Sitka - Pruche de l'Ouest / Kindbergie de l'Oregon

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CNVC00025 is an endemic, coniferous forest association that occurs in wet, hypermaritime climates on old beachplains along shorelines of eastern Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) British Columbia. Sites supporting this association occur at low elevations (0 to 20 mASL) where there is exposure to salt spray. These communities occur on level sites, typically with mesic soil moisture regimes and rich soil nutrient regimes. The canopy is characterized by Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), with moderate cover of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). The poorly developed shrub layer consists almost entirely of regenerating western hemlock. The herb layer is sparse with a few scattered species of low cover. The continuous, well-developed moss layer is dominated by Oregon beaked moss (Eurhynchium oreganum), lanky moss (Rhytidiadelphus loreus), and stairstep moss (Hylocomium splendens).

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