Ecological Classification System (ECS)

Developing a Land Classification Systemfor

Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge

Scott C. Zager, Plant Ecologist

Wildlands Ecological Services

Wildlife managers are interested in an Ecological Classification System (ECS) that integrates vegetation with geophysical features such as land formations, topography, soils, etc.

For example:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has adopted an ecosystem approach, which seeks to manage any individual animal, plant, or habitat as part of the landscape.

Large natural

landscape with

mature forests next

to wetlands…

significant habitat

for red-shouldered

hawks

An ecosystem approach to fish and wildlife conservation means protecting or restoring the function, structure and species composition of an ecosystem while providing for its sustainable socioeconomic use.

MCBS Data

Duck Lake - DNR Wildlife Management Area

A visual representation of these ecological variables on a computer-generated ECS map increases the biologist's ability to determine the quantity and quality of available habitat for a particular species or species guild.

MCBS Data

ECS mapping helps managers conceptualize a single small local unit of vegetation,

within the context of larger ecological patterns in the surrounding region.

(e.g., Wet Meadow / Fen )

ECS Biomes (Divisions)

In North America

ECS ProvincesIn

Minnesota

MN DNR and the U.S. Forest Service have established an ECS protocol for land classification and ecological mapping

based upon a national hierarchy of nested units

(i.e., Provinces, Sections, Subsections, Land Type Associations, etc.)

Source: John Almendinger, MN DNR

Classification Hierarchy

NPC Classification

Level

Dominant Factors

Utility

Supersystem Physiognomy Hydrology

Analytical

System Ecological Processes

ECS Landtypes Forestry Planning

Floristic Region

Climate Paleohistory

ECS Sections & Subsections Forestry Planning

Class Local Environmental Conditions

ECS Landtype Phases Forestry Stand Management MCBS Inventory

Type Seral stages Substrate

MCBS Inventory Conservation

Subtype Seral stages Substrate

MCBS Inventory Conservation

Source: John Almendinger, MN DNR

An important consideration in the new NPC classification is the inclusion of ecological processes as an organizing principle known as NPC Systems

(e.g., Fire-dependent System, Mesic Hardwood System, Wetland Prairie System, etc).

Complex mosaicof over 41 cover types

System ClassificationBy Norm Aaseng withMCBS data.

NPC Systems simplify a complicated vegetation cover

Map data byScott Zager and MCBS

Both ECS and NPC classifications are needed to identify, describe and map progressively smaller areas of land with increasingly uniform ecological features.

The integration of vegetation with abiotic environmental factors provides a direct tie between the plant community classification and the national ecological mapping protocol.

At its lowest levels, the MN Native Plant Classification relates

to the

U.S. National Vegetation Classification (Grossman et al. 1998).

ECS mapping begins with the collection of vegetation data

at prescribed sample points (GPS waypoints),

often with soil data observed from pits dug within the plot.

Michael Harrigan, Macalester Geology Intern

Vegetation Plots - basis for the classification

Site information

20 m

Composition -cover and abundance of all plants

Vertical Structure

Source: John Almendinger, MN DNR

The vegetation and soils data

are entered into a MS ACCESS 2002/2003 database

with hyperlinks to digital photos taken at the sample site.

An ARCVIEW shapefile is then created from the GPS sample points.

This enables a quick reference to the data while mapping.

These waypoints serve as bench marks for photo-interpreting signatures on high-resolution, color-infrared (CIR) and black and white (B&W) air photographs taken at relatively low altitudes.

Classification Hierarchy … Classes

FDn12FDn33

FDn43

MHn44

MHn46Water tableSource: John Almendinger, MN DNR

Climate and The DistributionOf Vegetation

Source: MN DNR

Source: MN DNR

ECS Biomes (Divisions)

In North America

From: Prior, J.C. 1991. Landforms of Iowa. University of Iowa Press, IA DNR.

At 11K YBP

Pro-Glacial Lakes Form

Polar Air Mass DominatesUpper Mid-West

Open Spruce Boreal ForestDominates North America

About 10K YBP:

The Climate Warms

Prairie forms in the Great Plains

The Boreal Spruce Forest Recedes

Jack Pine and Red Pine Invades

Followed by OakWright Jr., H.E. 1992. Introduction. In: Wright, H.E., B.A. Coffinand N.E. Aaseng, Eds. The patterned peatlands of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, pp xv-xx.

7K YBP

Holocene Climatic Maximum

Dry - Hot Continental Pacific Air Dominates Mid-West

Prairie Biome Expands acrossSouthern Minnesota

Spruce is Extirpated from MN

Deciduous Forest DiminishesTo a Narrow Band of Woodlands

Wright Jr., H.E. 1992. Introduction. In: Wright, H.E., B.A. Coffinand N.E. Aaseng, Eds. The patterned peatlands of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, pp xv-xx.

At 5K YBP

Holocene Warming Subsides

Tropical Maritime Air Strengthens

Climate Begins to Cool

Precipitation Increases

Prairie Begins Westward Retreat

Wright Jr., H.E. 1992. Introduction. In: Wright, H.E., B.A. Coffinand N.E. Aaseng, Eds. The patterned peatlands of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, pp xv-xx.

By 3K YBP

Contemporary Climate Develops

Prairie Border Returns

Oak Woodlands Begin TransformationTo Moist Maple-Basswood Forest

Peatlands Begin to DevelopIn North America

Minnesota Vegetation

At the Time of Euro-American

Settlement (1850-1885 C.E.)

Wright Jr., H.E. 1992. Introduction. In: Wright, H.E., B.A. Coffinand N.E. Aaseng, Eds. The patterned peatlands of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, pp xv-xx.

Surficial Geology &Vegetation Distribution

Minnesota Shaded Relief Map

Brown = HillsGreen = Valleys

Minnesota’s Landscape

Resulted from several glacial events

Source: Rhett Johnson

At 30K YBP

Wadena Lobe of

Wisconsin Glacier

Initiates Formation of

The Alexandria Moraine

And Covers

Tamarac NWR

Bray, E.C. 1977. Billions of years in Minnesota: the geological story of the state. Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul

The Wadena Lobe Retreated until About 20KYears agoThen formedItasca Moraine

Bray, E.C. 1977. Billions of years in Minnesota: the geological story of the state. Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul

Wadena Lobe

About 20 thousandYears ago

ItascaMoraine

About 17 k years agoDes Moines Lobe Surged

Bray, E.C. 1977. Billions of years in Minnesota: the geological story of the state. Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul

Des MoinesLobe

About 14 thousandYears ago

BemisMoraine

At about 11 k the Glaciers receded for the last time creating giant meltwater lakes

Glacial LakeAgassiz

About 11.7 thousandYears ago

HermanBeach Ridge

Benn, D.I., and Evans, D.J.A. 2010. Chapter 11: Sediment-Landform Associations. In: Glaciers & Glaciation, 2nd Ed. Hodder Education. London, U.K.

Benn, D.I., and Evans, D.J.A. 2010. Chapter 11: Sediment-Landform Associations. In: Glaciers & Glaciation, 2nd Ed. Hodder Education. London, U.K.

Benn, D.I., and Evans, D.J.A. 2010. Chapter 11: Sediment-Landform Associations. In: Glaciers & Glaciation, 2nd Ed. Hodder Education. London, U.K.

Soil Orders & Vegetation

• Soil Texture• Soil Moisture Capacity• Soil Nutrients• Organic Content• Depth to Water Table

Benn, D.I., and Evans, D.J.A. 2010. Chapter 11: Sediment-Landform Associations. In: Glaciers & Glaciation, 2nd Ed. Hodder Education. London, U.K.