FLORISTIC, RARE PLANT, AND VEGETATION SURVEY
OF THE
BLACKFOOT PROVINCIAL RECREATION AREA UPLANDS
(1997-1998)
by
Kevin Timoney and Anne Robinson
Treeline Ecological Research
21551 Twp Rd 520
Sherwood Park, AB T8E 1E3
Phone 403-922-3741
email: ktimoney@compusmart.ab.ca
for
Operations, Natural Resources Service
Parkland Region, Alberta Environmental Protection
Rimbey, AB
5 March 1998
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We wish to thank Ed Karpuk for his assistance throughout all phases of this work. Drs. Derek
Johnson, Dale Vitt, and Ted Esslinger identified or confirmed some difficult plant specimens. Ed
Whitelock provided diverse and valuable information about the Blackfoot which we used in the
planning and execution of the fieldwork. Derry Armstrong provided valuable comments regarding
management. Joyce Gould provided information on rare plants and helped with accessioning of
specimens. Linden Timoney and Arbour Timoney assisted in the fieldwork.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT
1
Color Plates
2
1. INTRODUCTION
5
1.1 Project Purpose
5
1.2 Objectives
5
2. STUDY AREA
5
2.1 Location
5
2.2 Climate
5
2.3 Parent Materials, Landforms, and Soils
5
Figure 1. Location of the study area.
6
2.4 Wildlife
7
2.5 Vegetation
7
2.6 Land Use
7
3. METHODS
8
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
9
4.1 Vegetation Associations and Site Types
9
4.1.1 Forest and Wooded Communities
10
Table 1. Blackfoot plot locations and summary data. Vegetation classes: b=bog,
f=forest, g=grassland, m=meadow, s=shrubland, w=weed disclimax; ecological
moisture regime (EMR), Drainage, Successional Status, and Factors codes are
standard Alberta Environmental Protection Site Description form codes. Species
codes under Dominants, Rares, and Other Dominants use the standard seven letter
codes of Alberta Environmental Protection (1993).
11
Table 2. Blackfoot vegetation/site types. Ecological moisture regime (EMR),
Drainage, Successional Status, and Factors codes are standard Alberta
Environmental Protection Site Description form codes. Species codes under
Dominants, Rares, and Other Dominants use standard seven letter codes.
12
Blackfoot 3
4.1.2 Non-Forest Communities
13
4.2 Provincially Rare Plant Species (Map 1, in pocket)
15
Table 3. Provincially rare plants of the Blackfoot PRA found during this study.
17
4.3 Other Significant Plant Species
17
Table 4. Non-provincially rare plants that are otherwise significant in the Blackfoot.
19
4.4 Plant and Community Diversity and Disturbance Regime
20
4.5 Uncommon or Characteristic Community and Site Types
21
4.5.1 Riparian Zones
21
4.5.2 Beaver-Influenced Landscape Units
21
4.5.3 Landscape Units Influenced by Insects and Disease
22
4.5.4 Weed Disclimaxes
23
4.6 Vegetation of the Blackfoot in Overview
24
4.6.1 Uplands
24
4.6.2 Non-Organic Wetlands
25
4.6.3 Peatlands
26
4.6.4 Aquatic
26
4.7 Old Forest Patches as Revealed by Alberta Vegetation Inventory
26
5. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
26
5.1 Saline Meadows
26
5.2 Grasslands and Dry Shrublands
27
5.3 Old-Growth Forests
27
5.4 Riparian Zones
27
5.5 Beaver-Influenced Landscape
27
Blackfoot 4
5.6 Landscape Units Influenced by Insects and Disease
28
5.7 Weed Disclimaxes
28
5.8 Monitoring Program
28
5.9 Revegetation After Disturbance
28
6. REFERENCES CITED
29
Appendix 1. Plant species observed at the Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area.
32
Blackfoot 5
ABSTRACT
There were 509 plant taxa documented for the study area. By group, there were 18 liverworts
(3.5%), 50 lichens (9.8%), 92 mosses (18.1%), 36 native vascular plants of disturbed habitats
(ruderal species) (7.1%), 270 vascular plants of undisturbed habitats (53.0%), and 43 non-native
vascular plants (8.4% of total). Of the 349 vascular taxa, 10.3% were native plants of weedy habit,
77.4% were non-weedy native plants, and 12.3% were non-native plants. Thus, 22.6% of the
vascular flora are plants of disturbed habitats.
We found 11 provincially rare species of plants classified as S1 or S2 (or S3 if on the ANHIC
“watch” list, or unclassified for lichens): 5 mosses, 3 lichens, and 3 vascular plants. Adding those 15
provincially rare plant species found by Griffiths et al. (1997) not in common with this study, brings
the total known provincially rare flora of the Blackfoot to 26 species. By plant group, there are 11
rare mosses, 3 lichens, and 12 vascular plants.
Nine (primarily upland) plant associations were identified:(1) black spruce / labrador tea /
cloudberry / Sphagnum bog; (2) aspen / beaked hazelnut young deciduous forest; (3) aspen - white
spruce / sarsaparilla / bunchberry modal upland forest; (4) aspen - balsam poplar +/- white spruce /
wild red raspberry mature and old-growth mixedwood forests typical of the moister end of the upland
forest gradient; (5) Kentucky bluegrass - prairie sagewort - northern bedstraw grassland; (6) bluejoint
reedgrass wet meadow; (7) slender salt-meadow grass - creeping spike rush salt meadow; (8) prickly
rose - wild red raspberry / purple peavine beaver-dependent shrubland; (9) dandelion - white clover bluegrass weed association.
Site or community types that are uncommon or rare in the Blackfoot area are saline meadows;
dry grassland and dry shrubland; old-growth forests; and riparian zones. Those that are characteristic
of the Blackfoot are beaver-controlled landscapes; landscape units influenced by insects and disease;
and weed disclimaxes.
A salient feature of the study area is the predominance of non-native plants. This condition is
attributable to a multiple mandate of habitat protection, domestic cattle grazing, oil and gas
development, equestrian activities, and general recreation.
We conclude with management recommendations.
Blackfoot 1
Color Plates (a) Fine example of linkage between beavers, flooding, Fungi, vegetation change,
and habitat in poorly-drained awned sedge - bluejoint reedgrass / Drepanocladus aduncus meadow
succeeding after death of balsam poplar trees (plot bf82, 7 Sept. 97). Note the abundant high quality
snags and animal cavities; (b) Impatiens noli-tangere in flower in heterogeneous flood-affected
Bebb’s willow / bluejoint reedgrass and aspen / bluejoint community along creek, imperfectly- to
poorly-drained, with Impatiens capensis (plot bf75, 12 Aug 97); (c) Kentucky bluegrass - prairie
sagewort - northern bedstraw grassland remnant on isthmus between Blackfoot and Crooked Lakes
(plot bf64, 10 July 97) with green needlegrass, bergamot, common blue lettuce, plains cinquefoil,
junegrass, bastard toadflax, slender wheatgrass, and dragonwort; (d) yellow form of spotted coralroot
(Corallorhiza maculata forma flavida) in fruit in subhygric, young climatic climax aspen - balsam
poplar / saskatoon - beaked hazelnut / sarsaparilla forest with Campylium polygamum (plot bf67, 11
July 97); note last year’s fruiting stalk; (e) SE-facing weed disclimax currently dominated by Canada
thistle, Kentucky bluegrass with white clover and buckbrush; site was probably dominated by slender
wheatgrass in the past (plot bf77, 12 Aug 97); (f) young climatic climax aspen - balsam poplar /
white spruce / sarsaparilla forest succeeding to spruce dominance, north-facing slope base, welldrained; probably protected from fire in part by the bordering wetland (plot bf56, 7 July 97), habitat
of Physciella melanchra and Campylium polygamum; (g) well-drained mature aspen / beaked
hazelnut forest modal upland type showing canopy breakup (plot bf72, 15 July 97), habitat of
Physcia dimidiata and Brachythecium campestre; (h) bergamot in flower in grassland (plot bf64, 10
July 97); (i) wire rush - Kentucky bluegrass - graceful sedge - foxtail barley salt meadow (plot bf66,
11 July 97), habitat of alkali cordgrass and three-square rush; (j) example of disease-caused diversity
in wild red raspberry - beaked hazelnut shrub with prickly rose and fireweed, characterized by
abundant snags in a former aspen forest (plot bf79, 13 Aug 97), habitat of Physcia dimidiata; (k)
high species diversity (many non-native) in a “pioneer” short-awned foxtail / Barbula unguiculata
open habitat along “Neon Lake Creek” (plot bf73, 11 Aug 97), habitat of Bryum cyclophyllum and
Lycopus uniflorus; note the breached beaver dam and the tansy in the background; (l) creeping
spikerush salt meadow at the Baker Springs mineral lick (plot bf49, 2 July 97); note the paucity of
vegetation due to intense use by ungulates; habitat of slender salt-meadow grass.
Blackfoot 2
Blackfoot 3
Blackfoot 4
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Project Purpose
The purpose of this project was to conduct a floristic and plant community survey in order to
document the occurrence and location of rare or otherwise significant plant species and communities
of the Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area uplands. Site conditions are described for significant
plant species and communities. The information presented in this report and the accompanying map
should assist managers to protect and enhance the biodiversity of the Blackfoot.
1.2 Objectives
The project objectives were to:(1) conduct floristic and vegetation surveys in landscape
positions with the greatest potential for locating significant occurrences of plant species and
vegetation types; (2) identify and confirm plant species and document their locations on the ground,
on airphotos, and on the accompanying map; (3) map the location of all survey sites and all
provincially rare native plants found during the survey; and (4) produce a summary report and a map
according to specifications in the Alberta Environmental Protection contract #980098 Terms of
Reference.
2. STUDY AREA
2.1 Location
The study area is located in the County of Beaver about 40 km east of Edmonton in the
Cooking Lake Moraine of east-central Alberta (Figure 1), within a disjunct portion of the Dry
Mixedwood subregion of the Boreal Forest Natural Region of Alberta.
The Blackfoot was designated as a provincial recreation area in 1988. The recreation area
encompasses about 9,930 ha, including some 4,060 ha of fenced pastures excluded from the study.
The area surveyed in this study spanned approximately 5,170 ha (5,870 lying outside the pastures
minus 700 ha excluded from this study for budgetary considerations), and includes extensive uplands
of native aspen, balsam poplar, and mixedwood forests, trails, ponds, and small lakes. In 1996-1997,
a floristic and rare plant survey was conducted of the wetlands, ponds, and lakes lying outside the
pastures (Griffiths et al. 1997) and these were excluded, for the most part, from this study.
The following overview of climate, parent materials, wildlife, and vegetation is based on
Achuff (1994), field observations, and references cited therein.
2.2 Climate
The climate of the dry mixedwood subregion is subhumid continental with short, cool
summers and long, cold winters. The mean May-September temperature is about 13°C; mean annual
temperature is 2.1°C (Environment Canada 1993, based on Edmonton International Airport); the
growing season is about 90 days. Annual precipitation averages about 350 mm; June and July are the
wettest months. Winters are relatively dry; precipitation averages about 60 mm.
2.3 Parent Materials, Landforms, and Soils
Dominant parent materials in the dry mixedwood subregion are level to undulating ground
moraine and hummocky moraine, with lesser amounts of eolian dunes and sandy outwash plains.
Specific to the study area, parent materials and landforms are a clay loam hummocky (stagnation)
moraine of uneven thickness (up to 30 m thick) with local water-sorted materials. The hummocky
topography of the area is strongly developed, with well-defined knobs and kettles; local relief is 5
Blackfoot 5
Figure 1. Location of the study area.
Blackfoot 6
to 20 m (Shetsen 1990). Elevations range from about 704 to 770 m. Drainage is into the North
Saskatchewan River via Beaverhill Lake or into numerous closed depressions. Soils are Gray
Luvisols on the upland tills and Organic and Gleysolic soils in poorly-drained areas; Regosols are
found along some streams.
According to the provincial classification system of Strong and Thompson (1995), the study
area lies within the Cooking Lake Upland ecodistrict of the Dry Mixedwood subregion of the Boreal
Forest natural region, characterized by a moderately well-drained, hummocky morainal plain of 330% slopes, Gray Luvisols, and a vegetation cover of cleared land and closed deciduous forest.
Within the national ecoclimatic classification system, the study area lies within the Transitional
Grassland Ecoclimatic Region of the Grassland Ecoclimatic Province (Ecoregions Working Group
1989), but the study area is atypical of the region due to the influence of the Cooking Lake Moraine.
2.4 Wildlife
Birds characteristic of the deciduous forests of the dry mixedwood subregion include least
flycatcher, house wren, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, northern oriole, and rose-breasted grosbeak. Birds
characteristic of the mixedwood forests are yellow-bellied sapsucker, Swainson’s thrush, solitary
vireo, magnolia warbler, white-throated sparrow, pileated woodpecker, and northern goshawk.
Double-crested cormorants, American white pelicans, great blue herons, and trumpeter swans can be
seen regularly in the Blackfoot (Griffiths et al. 1997). Approximately 211 bird species have been
found in the area (Alberta Environmental Protection 1997). Typical mammals are little brown bats,
masked shrews, red squirrels, northern flying squirrels, northern pocket gophers, deer mice, meadow
voles, boreal (“southern”) red-backed voles, beavers, muskrats, moose, white-tailed deer, elk,
snowshoe hares, red foxes, coyotes, and ermines (Smith 1993).
2.5 Vegetation
The vegetation of this disjunct portion of the dry mixedwood subregion holds much in
common with that of the central parkland subregion which surrounds the Blackfoot. Note that in this
description, and throughout the report, plant common and scientific names follow Alberta
Environmental Protection (1993). Aspen forests predominate on the uplands with aspen and balsam
poplar forests on moister sites. White spruce mixedwood forests with aspen and balsam poplar
occupy cool, moist sites, or those that have escaped fire for some time. Alaska birch is typical along
wetland margins and in depressions; paper birch is sporadic on well-drained uplands. Currently, most
old-growth forests are found along streams, on islands, or in or surrounded by wetlands.
Understories in upland deciduous forests include low-bush cranberry, beaked hazelnut,
prickly rose, red-osier dogwood, bluejoint reedgrass, wild sarsaparilla, dewberry, cream-colored
vetchling, pink wintergreen, and twinflower. Cow parsnip is characteristic of rich, moist sites.
Wet meadows and marshes are dominated by bluejoint reedgrass and awned sedge, along
with narrow reed grass, cattail, bulrushes, and various sedges. Shrub communities (usually with a
bluejoint reedgrass or awned sedge matrix) are dominated by many species of willows, including
pussy, flat-leaved, Bebb’s, and basket willows. Peatlands of the dry mixedwood are dominated by
non-patterned, wooded, shrubby, and open fens (Vitt et al. 1996). Quiet ponds are dominated by
common duckweed, along with common bladderwort and coontail, while more open ponds may
support extensive beds of various pondweeds (Potamogeton spp.).
2.6 Land Use
Prior to Euro-Canadian settlement, the area was used by various native bands for hunting.
Camps were established near the study area on Cooking and Beaverhill Lakes. In the 1880's, the area
was part of the Beaverhills Timber Reserve established by the federal government. In the mid-1890s,
Blackfoot 7
fires lit by homesteaders escaped on several occasions and burned the white spruce forests of the
area. In 1899, the Beaverhills Timber Reserve was reduced in size and renamed the Cooking Lake
Forest Preserve (Alberta Environmental Protection 1997). Domestic grazing began in the area in the
1920s. More forest fires burned through the area early in this century, particularly in 1924 and 1929.
In 1931, the federal government turned the area over to the province of Alberta. After World War II,
logging of the spruce forests declined, in large measure because little spruce forest remained. The
last logging permit was granted in 1967 (Griffiths et al. 1997).
The Blackfoot Grazing Association was formed in 1948. The Alberta government came to
view the area as grazing land and began clearing the upland deciduous forests in the 1950s. Conflicts
later arose between grazing interests and other people as cattle ranged widely in the absence of
fences (Griffiths et al. 1997). The grazing association recognized the “need for improved grazing
within the area”... and that “a grazing association lacks the authority to deal with the pressures of
recreational land use” and “requested that the provincial government develop and operate Blackfoot
as a provincial grazing reserve” (Alberta Energy and Natural Resources 1983). The major fenced
pasture development took place in 1987 with clearing of thousands of hectares of forests and
development of pastures seeded with agricultural species.
The Blackfoot is currently managed under a multiple mandate for recreation, trapping, sport
and aboriginal hunting, heritage appreciation, wildlife habitat, domestic grazing, and petroleum
extraction (Map 1, in pocket). There are nine producing natural gas wells (22 wells have been drilled
in the area), over 16 km of pipeline, 25 km of access roads, and one compressor station. Recreation
facilities include four staging areas that provide parking, picnic facilities, and access to the 170 km of
maintained trails and backcountry shelters. The trails are used for hiking, cycling, horseback riding,
cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and dogsledding. There are approximately 4,060 ha of
“improved” fenced pastures divided into seven fields to accommodate domestic grazing.
3. METHODS
Prior to fieldwork, a literature search was conducted. A selection of rare plants likely to occur
in the study area was examined at the Northern Forestry Centre herbarium. Airphoto interpretation of
the supplied 1:15,000 airphotos was used to search for potential rare plant sites. The study area was
stratified into high, medium, and low priority sites based on (a) information supplied by the area
ranger, (b) local knowledge, (c) reports and background information, and (d) airphoto interpretation.
High priority sites were those with a high probability of containing rare plants or communities, such
as salt springs, grassland and shrubland, and spruce forests. Potential sites were noted with erasable
ink on the airphotos and in pencil on the supplied maps and formed the basis of the field sampling
plan. Sampling effort focussed on high priority sites (70% of field time), with 20% of field time
devoted to moderate priority sites. Low priority areas (10% of field time) were sampled in a
stratified random pattern.
We examined two Alberta Vegetation Inventory 1:20,000 orthophotos interpreted by Richard
Nesby (Alberta Environmental Protection, 1995, Twp 52, Ranges 19 and 20, W4) and accompanying
polygon data. The data were used to assist in search of interesting communities. Fourteen old forest
patches (those originating in or before 1900) were transferred from the orthophotos onto Map 1.
Thirty person days were devoted to fieldwork with a field crew of two people. Fieldwork
took place from 1-11 July, 15 July, 11-13 August, and 7-8 September. Sites pre-plotted on airphotos
were visited on foot and via mountain bike. Areas between plotted sites were also inspected en route.
At each site, we tallied the presence and estimated the cover, by stratum, of all plants found within
a 0.03 ha plot. Voucher collections were made as needed. Standard Alberta Environmental
Blackfoot 8
Protection site description (LISD 15B, revised 1/97) and vegetation description (LISD 14B, revised
1/97) forms were completed following the procedures specified in Alberta Environmental Protection
(1994).
At each site, a three foot long metal pigtail stake was placed at plot centre. The top of the
pigtail was labelled with an aluminum tag with the plot number (e.g., “BF44"), and flagged with pink
flagging. The geographic position of each plot was determined by GPS. Once near the site, the route
to the site is pink flagged on trees and tall shrubs. A site diagram showing landmarks, directions,
and distances from known points is provided on the site description sheet. The location of each plot
and rare plant is pinpointed on an airphoto (supplied to the department), and on the enclosed map
(Map 1, in pocket). A standard ANHIC (Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre) rare plant data
form was completed for rare plants. Rare plants not requiring a voucher specimen were not collected.
If no rare plants were found at a survey site, the pigtail was removed after sampling. At some plots,
we noted that the pigtail or flagging had been removed soon after our sampling (this may make
relocation of some plots difficult).
Plant common and scientific nomenclature follows Alberta Environmental Protection (1993),
which was used as a master species list. Where unique common names exist they are used in place of
scientific names. For keys and syntaxonomic questions for vascular plants, we used Moss (1983); for
mosses, Ireland et al. (1987); for lichens, Egan (1987); and for hepatics, Schuster (1977). Among the
vascular plants there are two exceptions: Carex utriculata (=C. rostrata in Moss 1983); Wolffia
nomenclature follows Scoggan (1979). Authorities on rarity are ANHIC (1996, 1997). An S1 status
plant has </= 5 occurrences in Alberta, an S2 status plant has 6-20, and an S3 has 21-100 known
occurrences in Alberta.
Voucher specimens were identified in the laboratory. Difficult or otherwise problematic
specimens were shown to Dr. Derek Johnson (Northern Forestry Centre) and Dr. Dale Vitt (Univ. of
Alberta). Some lichens were sent to Dr. Ted Esslinger (North Dakota State University).
When referring to species (and community) distributions, the term “locally” refers to the
Cooking Lake Moraine; “regionally” refers to east-central Alberta. If no adverb is used, the entire
province of Alberta is implied. Many plant species (or communities) are not provincially rare, yet are
otherwise significant due to local or regional considerations. For those species (or communities), we
have attempted to classify their degree of commonness based on the literature and our experience;
“locally rare” would mean likely </=5 occurrences in the Cooking Lake Moraine; “locally
uncommon” would mean ~6-20 occurrences in the Cooking Lake Moraine. The same categories
apply to “regionally rare” and “regionally uncommon”. A taxon “uncommon in Alberta” would
generally have > 20 known occurrences in the province.
While the terms of reference required that we focus the fieldwork on uplands, the search for
rare plants and communities necessitated some sampling in non-uplands. As a result, we established
some study plots in saline and non-saline meadows and a few wooded bogs. For information on the
remainder of the wetlands (marshes, bogs, open water, etc.), please see Griffiths et al. (1997).
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Vegetation Associations and Site Types
Dominant species, associated provincially rare species, vegetation classes, and selected site
parameters are presented for the 44 plots in Table 1. These data were then summarized into nine
vegetation associations whose names are based on the most frequently-occurring dominant species in
a given vegetation class (Table 2).
Blackfoot 9
4.1.1 Forest and Wooded Communities
(1) The black spruce/labrador tea/cloudberry/Sphagnum bog association is typical of mature
closed depressions on Typic Fibrisols and Mesisols (plots 51, 54, 80). Drainage is poor; ecological
moisture regime (EMR) is hygric; successionally they are young to mature edaphic climax
communities which have been little-affected by fire and in which peat accumulation has created
ombrotrophic nutrient conditions. Bogs that have been affected by fire typically have Alaska birch
as their dominant tree rather than black spruce. The only rare species found associated with these
bogs was Brachythecium campestre and creeping snowberry. Other characteristic species are bog
cranberry and Polytrichum strictum, accompanied by Sphagnum nemoreum, S. magellanicum, S.
fuscum and stairstep, big redstem, and Knight’s plume mosses. The association is similar to
“muskeg” stands described for the Cooking Lake area by Lewis and Dowding (1926), and is
equivalent to the black spruce--peat moss association of Moss (1955).
(2) The aspen/beaked hazelnut young deciduous forest association is one of two modal
upland associations in the Blackfoot (plots 60, 62, 71, 72 (color plate g), and 84). These are mesic,
mature to old seral forests, typically on well-drained Orthic Gray Luvisols. Most of these forests
would have originated after the 1920s. Generally these sites are somewhat drier and warmer than the
following site type, typical of drier southerly aspects. Associated rare species are Brachythecium
campestre and Physcia dimidiata. Common dominants are prickly rose and bunchberry. The
association is equivalent to the aspen/beaked hazelnut/sarsaparilla association of Beckingham
(1993).
(3) The aspen - (white spruce)/sarsaparilla/bunchberry association is a heterogeneous
dominant upland group (plots 55, 56 (color plate f), 57, 67 (color plate d), 68, 70, 74). Tree
dominance varies from pure aspen to white spruce - aspen; some plots may have significant cover of
balsam poplar, paper birch, or Alaska birch. While generally mesic and well-drained, north-facing
slopes and slope bases may be subhygric to hygric and moderately-well to imperfectly-drained. Soils
are commonly Orthic Gray Luvisols. Fires in the 1920s have typically been responsible for stand
origin in these young climatic climax forests. In the intervening decades, succession towards white
spruce dominance has often occurred. Many of these forests are nearing old-growth status (see next
type). Associated rare species are Brachythecium campestre, Campylium polygamum, C. radicale,
the yellow form of spotted coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata forma flavida, color plate d), Peltigera
evansiana, Physcia dimidiata, and Physciella melanchra. Common dominants are wild red
raspberry, dewberry, beaked hazelnut, and low-bush cranberry. The association is similar to the
aspen/green alder/bunchberry association of Beckingham (1993).
Blackfoot 10
Table 1. Blackfoot plot locations and summary data. Vegetation classes: b=bog, f=forest, g=grassland, m=meadow, s=shrubland, w=weed disclimax; ecological moisture regime (EMR),
Drainage, Successional Status, and Factors codes are standard Alberta Environmental Protection Site Description form codes. Species codes under Dominants, Rares, and Other
Dominants use the standard seven letter codes of Alberta Environmental Protection (1993).
Plot
LSD-Sect-Twp-RgeMeridian
Class
EMR
Drainage
Succ
.
Factors
44
02-11-52-20-4
s
5
3
2
5
45
03-10-52-20-4
s
5
3
2
5
46
09-09-52-20-4
s
5.5
3
2
5
47
07-12-52-20-4
f
6
3
8
4
48
49
03-26-52-20-4
03-26-52-20-4
m
m
8
8
6
6
5
5
8
8
50
14-23-52-20-4
m
8
6
5
8
51
02-19-52-20-4
b
7
6
6
6
52
16-18-52-20-4
s
5
3
2
5
53
09-18-52-20-4
s
5
3
2
5
54
10-18-52-20-4
b
7
6
6
6
55
04-19-52-20-4
f
7
5
7
8
56
14-18-52-20-4
f
5
3
7
4
57
01-12-52-20-4
f
5
3
7
4
58
06-07-52-19-4
s
6
4
2
5
59
08-12-52-20-4
w
6
4
9
2
60
12-18-52-19-4
f
5
3
3
4
61
06-18-52-19-4
f
5.5
3.5
8
8
62
04-18-52-19-4
f
5
3
3
4
63
09-31-52-19-4
s
4
2
2
6
64
65
02-31-52-19-4
15-30-52-19-4
g
w
4
5
2.5
3
5
9
6
2
66
67
02-31-52-19-4
14-31-52-19-4
m
f
7
6
6
4
5
7
8
4
Blackfoot 11
Dominant Species
lathven, rosaaci, solican, calacan,
sympocc
anemcan, lathven, rosaaci, solican,
bromine
poputre, corycor, rosaaci, lathven,
popubal
picegla, rubuida, poputre, betupap,
aralnud
poteans, eleopal, juncbal, careprg, poa
pra
planmaj, puccdis, eleopal, poa int
eleopal, cicumac, glycgra, scirmic,
puccdis
picemar, ledugro, rubucha, sphanem,
pleusch
loniinv, corycor, rosaaci, rubuida,
calacan
corycor, calacan, lathven, aralnud,
rubuida
picemar, ledugro, pleusch, sphamag,
hylospl
picegla, poputre, astecon, corncan,
rubuida
picegla, poputre, popubal, corncan,
aralnud
betupap, poputre, aralnud, corncan,
corycor
rubuida, cirsarv, salibeb, popubal,
rosaaci
rubuida, equiarv, popubal, poputre,
plagell
poputre, calacan, corycor, epilang,
rosaaci
poputre, popubal, rosaaci, rubuida,
pyroasa
poputre, corycor, aralnud, rubuida,
rosaaci
prunvir, agrotra, lathven, sympocc,
soligig
artelud, galibor, viciame, poputre, poa
pra
poa pra, trifrep, galibor, phlepra, taraoff
juncbal, hordjub, taraoff, poa pra,
careprg
poputre, aralnud, corncan, corycor,
Rare Species
Other Dominants
braccam
rubuida, poa sp.
Comments
sympocc, prunvir
calacan
popubal, alnuten,
heralan
taraoff, carelan,
drepadu
artelud present
old growth mixedwood
weedy
salt spring
planmaj, trifrep,
glycstr
hypophy, usnehir,
vaccvit
parmsul, pylapol,
physads
poputre, rosaaci,
solican
intense shade and litter
ptilcri
incipient bog formation
rubupub, vibuedu
rubupub, vibuedu,
maiacan
riparian, heterogeneous
young climax, no fire due to
wetland
rubuida, rubupub
poa pra, dactglo,
salipse
birch-aspen; clemocc
moistest, flattest beaver
shrub
camppol
taraoff, phlepra
roadside
braccam
pyroasa, solican
camppol, braccam
astecon, maiacan
on sand
old growth Aw with gap
regen
braccam
corncan, pyroasa
arnicor; modal type
rosaaci, poputre
nice shrubland; colluv.
braccam
trifrep
agrotra, caresic
significant site; grassland
disturbed
coramac, camppol,
puccdis
rosaaci, vibuedu
spargra; salt meadow
lower slope rich site
braccam
gaulhis
camprad, braccam,
campol
physmel, camppol
salty riparian
near bog edge
extreme Aw dieback
Plot
LSD-Sect-Twp-RgeMeridian
Class
EMR
Drainage
Succ
.
Factors
68
13-32-52-19-4
f
5
3
7
4
69
08-02-52-20-4
f
7
4.5
7.5
6
70
08-02-52-20-4
f
5
3
7
8
71
08-02-52-20-4
f
5
3
4
6
72
06-01-52-20-4
f
5
3
4
4
73
04-19-52-20-4
m
7
5
1
8
74
11-17-52-20-4
f
5
3
7
6
75
12-30-52-20-4
m
7
5.5
2
8
76
12-30-52-20-4
m
7
5
2
8
77
02-29-52-20-4
w
4
2
9
2
78
12-09-52-20-4
w
5
3
9
2
79
11-10-52-20-4
s
5
3
2
5
80
03-16-52-20-4
b
7
6
5
6
81
03-19-52-19-4
f
6
3
8
6
82
13-29-52-19-4
m
8
6
5
5
83
06-29-52-19-4
w
5
4
9
2
84
15-19-52-19-4
f
5
3
4
4
85
07-13-52-20-4
w
5
3
9
2
86
16-15-52-20-4
s
5
3
2
5
87
13-01-52-20-4
f
7
5
8
8
Dominant Species
Rare Species
amelaln
poputre, corycor, lathven, rosaaci,
aralnud
popubal, rubuida, ribeoxy, cornsto,
corycor
picegla, betuneo, aralnud, corncan,
corycor
betupap, corycor, popubal, rubupub,
prunvir
poputre, corycor, aralnud, lathven,
loniinv
alopaeq, epilcil, becksyz, barbung,
pohlnut
rubuida, poputre, picegla, rubupub,
aralnud
calacan, salibeb, poputre, physads,
parmsul
mattstr, calacan, poputre, corycor,
salibeb
agrotra, cirsarv, trifrep, poa pra,
sympocc
calacan, rubuida, medisat, sonculi,
bromine
rubuida, corycor, rosaaci, epilang,
physads
ledugro, polystr, rubucha, sphanem,
betuneo
poputre, picegla, rubuida, vibuedu,
aralnud
calacan, careath, phaeorb, drepadu,
salibeb
planmaj, phlepra, trifrep, poa com,
bromine
poputre, corycor, rosaaci, rubuida,
physads
bromine, cirsarv, taraoff, poa pra,
rubuida
poputre, amelaln, corycor, calacan,
pyroasa
popubal, calacan, rubuida, poputre,
careath
braccam
Other Dominants
Comments
corncan, rubupub
physdim, braccam
loniinv
modal type; canopy breakup
uncommon site; Humic
Gleysol
pelteva, braccam
rubuida, rubupub
uncommon site; diverse
flavfla
uncommon site; sand, Bw
physdim, braccam
corncan, rubupub
modal type; high shrub
bryucyc
leptpyr
schipur, maiacan,
pyroasa
rare site; diverse; riparian
uncommon type; adoxmos
cornsto
impanol present
popubal, rubuida
riparian; impanol
galibor, taraoff
v. low diversity
braccam
poa pal
physdim
rubupub, corncan
epilcil
strange spp. assemblage
disease/insect-caused
diversity
open bog; diverse nonvasculars
nice old growth MX;
survived fire
nice example of vegetation
dynamics
braccam
calacan, agrotra
weedy trail
braccam
corncan
younger than typical
agrorep, achimil
old well site
rubuida, corncan
rubupub, cornsto,
rosaaci
succession back to Aw
physdim
vaccvit
pelteva, braccam,
camppol
camppol
equipra, cornsto
heterogenous catchment site
Table 2. Blackfoot vegetation/site types. Ecological moisture regime (EMR), Drainage, Successional Status, and Factors codes are standard Alberta Environmental Protection Site
Description form codes. Species codes under Dominants, Rares, and Other Dominants use standard seven letter codes.
Association
Vegetation Class
EMR
Drainage
Succ
Factors
Rare Species
Plots
Sb/Ledugro/Rubucha/Sphagnum
Aw/Corycor
Bog
Young Deciduous, modal upland
7
5
6
3
5-6
3-4
6
4,6
Braccam Gaulhis
Braccam,Physdim
51,54,80
60,62,71,72,84
Blackfoot 12
Association
Aw-(Sw)/Aralnud/Corncan
Aw-Bp+/-Sw/Rubuida
Poa pra-Artelud-Galibor
Calacan
Puccdis-Eleopal
Rosaaci-Rubuida/Lathven
Taraoff-Trifrep-Poa
Blackfoot 13
Vegetation Class
Young Climatic Climax; +/- Betula
Mature and Old-Growth Decid. + MX
Native Grassland
Wet Grass (riparian) Meadow; +/- Alopaeq
Salt Meadow
Beaver Shrubland
Weed Disclimax
EMR
5(6,7)
5.5-7
4
7-8
7-8
5(4,6)
4-6
Drainage
3(4,5)
3-5
2.5
5-6
6
3(2,4)
2-4
Succ
7
7.5-8
5
1,2,5
5
2
9
Factors
4(6,8)
4,6,8
6
8(5)
8
5(6)
2
Rare Species
Braccam,Camppol,Camprad,Coramac
Pelteva,Physdim,Phymel
Braccam,Camppol,Pelteva,Physdim
Bryucyc
Braccam,Physdim
Braccam,Camppol
Plots
55,56,57,67,68,70,74
47,61,69,81,87
64
73,75,76,82
48,49,50,66
44-46,52,53,58,63,79,86
59,65,77,78,83,85
(4) Aspen - balsam poplar +/- white spruce/wild red raspberry forest is typical of the moister
end of the upland forest gradient (plots 47, 61, 69, 81, 87). These mesic-subhygric to hygric, mature
and old-growth mixedwood forests are occasional on well to imperfectly-drained sites. Soils range
from Orthic Gray Luvisols to Humic and Luvic Gleysols. Canopy heights are the greatest found in
the Blackfoot, reaching 21, 22, 23, 24, and 28 m in the plots examined. These forests typically have
both high structural and species diversity. Associated rare species are Brachythecium campestre,
Campylium polygamum, Peltigera evansiana, and Physcia dimidiata. Red-osier dogwood is a
common dominant. The association is similar to the aspen--balsam poplar/rose--raspberry/pink
wintergreen and aspen/red-osier dogwood associations of Beckingham (1993).
Old-growth forests in the Blackfoot are most commonly found as small patches that have
escaped fire (or previous logging), either by chance, or due to proximity of a wetland, pond, or lake
firebreak. The largest contiguous old-growth white spruce mixedwood forest found in the Blackfoot
is on the island in Islet Lake. A basal age of a dominant aspen in plot 87 was >90 years; a dominant
white spruce in plot 81 had a basal age of ~114 years. The Alberta Vegetation Inventory origin date
for this site is 1889 (~109 years). The characteristic high biodiversity of old-growth forests, from
structural-functional to biotic (Meslow et al. 1981; Maser 1990; Hammond 1991; Stelfox 1995;
Timoney and Robinson 1996), coupled with their limited cover in Blackfoot, makes these forests a
protection priority for management.
4.1.2 Non-Forest Communities
(5) The Kentucky bluegrass - prairie sagewort - northern bedstraw association represents the
only true grassland we documented in the Blackfoot (plot 64, color plates c and h). It was found on a
rapidly to well-drained south-facing morainal slope. The soil was likely a Dark Gray Luvisol (a welldeveloped ~10 cm Ah). The community was classified as a submesic, young edaphic climax on the
basis of the influence of south aspect and its successional relationship to dry aspen forest. While
there were no rare plants found at the site, the plot (and area immediately nearby) contained many
significant species rare within the Blackfoot, such as green needlegrass, junegrass, slender blue
beardtongue, bergamot, bastard toadflax, Sprengel’s sedge, dragonwort, common blue lettuce, and
plains cinquefoil.
The association is likely a variant of the Peace River Prairie Agropyron - Stipa association of
Moss (1955) rather than related to a plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii) association. It is interesting
that the grassland is contiguous with a salt meadow (plot bf66, color plate i) on the NE foreshore of
Blackfoot Lake. About 200 m east of plot 64, on a SW-facing slope of Crooked Lake, Griffiths et al.
(1997) found a grassland dominated by Kentucky bluegrass and Canada wild rye (their plot 32).
Griffiths et al. (1997) found a similar site (plot 22) dominated by slender wheatgrass and Kentucky
bluegrass with saskatoon and chokecherry “below a headland west of Elk Push Lake” which they
classified as “dryland shrubbery” (“dryland shrub” of Looman 1983). It is possible that soil salinity
plays a role in the presence of the plot 64 grassland, although no halophytes were found at the site.
The plot 64 grassland is restricted to an area of about 10 by 30 m on the south and SE-facing slope of
the isthmus between Crooked and Blackfoot Lakes. Its high cover of Kentucky bluegrass indicates
past disturbance. The remainder of the isthmus, while appearing identical to the grassland on
airphotos, is a weedy disclimax. Clearly there was some major human disturbance of the isthmus in
the past.
(6) The bluejoint reedgrass wet meadow association is found in imperfectly to poorly-drained
sites bordering water bodies (ponds, lakes, drainages) or in seasonally-inundated depressions (plots
73,75 (color plate b),76,82 (color plate a)). Moisture regime is typically hygric to subhydric, and
successional status varies widely depending on site history, ranging from pioneer and young seral in
recently-exposed sites to young edaphic climax at sites characterized by persistent water level
fluctuations. Soils vary from Rego to Humic Gleysols. The only rare plant found associated with the
Blackfoot 14
wet meadow type was Bryum cyclophyllum. That site (plot 73, color plate k) was an unusual
recently-exposed, incised valley bottom where primary succession was taking place on the valley
bottom sediments. Common associates of the bluejoint reedgrass Bebb’s willow, northern
willowherb, awned sedge, and Drepanocladus aduncus. Succession is toward willow carrs (=shrubdominated communities) and balsam poplar forest. Dieback of forest due to beaver flooding or to
disease can result in retrograde succession to bluejoint reedgrass meadow. The association lies
approximately midway in a typical wetland succession in central and northern Alberta described by
Moss (1955) as: “Potamogeton > Nuphar--Sagitarria--Myriophyllum mixtures > Scirpus--Typha-Glyceria--Eleocharis mixtures > Carex rostrata (C. utriculata) or Carex atherodes > Calamagrostis
> Salix planifolia > Salix--Alnus--Populus mixtures > Picea glauca”. It is similar to the low moor
(reed swamps and marshes) type of Lewis et al. (1928).
(7) The slender salt-meadow grass - creeping spike rush salt meadow association is rare in the
Blackfoot and is restricted to wetlands with appreciable salt contents (plots 48, 49 (color plate l), 50,
66, color plate i). Hordeum jubatum (foxtail barley) is characteristic on less salty soils. Drainage is
poor and moisture regime is hygric to subhydric. Soils are Rego Gleysols. Topography is level to
depressional. These are edaphic climax communities in which salty groundwater is the overriding
factor shaping the vegetation. While we found no rare plants at these sites, the site/vegetation type is
significant due to its rarity and its importance as a source of minerals for wildlife (e.g., Baker Springs
area mineral lick). Some interesting plant species are associated with this type, including alkali
cordgrass, three-square rush, plains cinquefoil, and spear-leaved goosefoot. The rare moss
Desmatodon heimii (S2 status) was found in a saline meadow by Griffiths et al. (1997). Saline
meadows were found in only two areas: Baker Springs and the NE foreshore of Blackfoot Lake. The
salt meadow site type is clearly rare in the study area as the extensive wetland investigations of
Griffiths et al. (1997) found only one occurrence (also on Blackfoot Lake). The association is similar
to vegetation of saline depressions noted for southeastern Alberta (Moss 1995).
(8) The prickly rose - wild red raspberry / purple peavine association is a beaver-dependent
shrubland community typical of well-drained (ranging from rapidly to moderately well-drained)
slopes near beaver ponds (plots 44, 45, 46, 52, 53, 58, 63, 79 (color plate j), 86). Moisture regime is
typically mesic (ranging from submesic to subhygric). Soils are Orthic Gray Luvisols. These young
seral communities form when beavers remove all or most of the canopy from aspen and aspen balsam poplar forests (types 2,3,4 above) resulting in a lush growth of shrubs. Succession by aspen is
continuous, leading to reestablishment of forest if beaver feeding ceases. This association also
includes shrublands caused by dieback due to the combined pressures of fungal pathogens and
defoliating insects such as tent caterpillars (e.g., plots 52, 79). Rare plants associated with this type
are Brachythecium campestre and Physcia dimidiata. Common dominants include buckbrush,
beaked hazelnut, saskatoon, chokecherry, bebb’s willow, and bluejoint reedgrass. Considerable
effort was spent in studying sites identified on airphotos in hopes of finding “true” (i.e.,
climatically/edaphically controlled) grasslands and shrublands. These beaver-created shrublands,
because they are the outcome of a combination of hummocky ground moraine (knob and kettle
topography), kettle ponds, aspen forests, and beaver, characterize the Blackfoot more than any other
type. Ant populations are high in these shrublands. The association is seral to the upland forest
associations (items 2, 3, and 4, above).
(9) The dandelion - white clover - bluegrass association is a widespread, variable weed
disclimax (plots 59,65,77(color plate e),78,83,85). Soil drainage and moisture regime range widely:
drainage, from rapidly to moderately well; and moisture regime from submesic to subhygric.
Disturbance, rather than physical site conditions, is responsible for the character of this type.
Disclimaxes are found along roads, the extensive trail systems, and cutlines bordering fences and
boundaries; in staging areas, picnic areas and shelters, and borrow pits; near agricultural
development zones and wetlands subjected to dam removal/reflooding cycles; and extend into the
Blackfoot 15
adjoining native plant communities. Rare species found in this type are Brachythecium campestre,
and Campylium polygamum. Common associated dominants are Kentucky bluegrass, Canada
bluegrass, smooth brome, timothy, Canada thistle, smooth perennial sow thistle, wild red raspberry,
slender wheatgrass, and in wetter areas, bluejoint reedgrass, tickle grass, Canada thistle, silverweed,
duckweed, and nodding beggarticks. The species assemblages and cover values vary widely in
concert with moisture regime and disturbance history.
4.2 Provincially Rare Plant Species (Map 1, in pocket)
There are currently 509 plant taxa documented for the study area (Appendix 1). By group,
there were 18 liverworts (3.5%), 50 lichens (9.8%), 92 mosses (18.1%), 36 native vascular plants of
disturbed habitats (ruderal species) (7.1%), 270 vascular plants of undisturbed habitats (53.0%), and
43 non-native vascular plants (8.4% of total). Of the 349 vascular taxa, 10.3% were native ruderals,
77.4% were non-weedy native plants, and 12.3% were non-native plants. Thus, 22.6% of the
vascular flora are plants of disturbed habitats.
Overall for the province of Alberta, approximately 15% of the vascular plant flora is nonnative (J. Gould, pers. comm. 1998). The somewhat lower non-native percentage for the Blackfoot
may be due in part to the exclusion of the agricultural zones from this and the Griffiths et al. (1997)
studies.
We found 11 provincially rare species of plants classified as S1 or S2 (or S3 if on the “watch
list”, or unclassified for lichens); 5 mosses, 3 lichens, and 3 vasculars ) (Table 3). Adding those 15
provincially rare (S1 or S2) plant species found by Griffiths et al. (1997) not in common with this
study, brings the total known provincially rare flora of the Blackfoot to 26 species. Those species
found by Griffiths et al. (1997) and not found in this study were: Weissia controversa, Phascum
cuspidatum, Desmatodon heimii, Physcomitrium pyriforme, Drepanocladus crassicocostatus, and
Conardia compacta (6 mosses), and Potamogeton foliosus, P. obtusifolius, Carex trisperma, C.
vulpinoidea, Eriophorum chamissonis, Wolffia columbiana, Malaxis monophylla, Rumex
orbiculatus, and Cicuta virosa (9 vasculars). By rare plant group, there are 11 mosses, 3 lichens, and
12 vasculars. We discuss the 11 provincially rare species that we found, below.
Brachythecium albicans (“S2?” status) was found once (plot bf75, color plate b). This is
probably a European species that was introduced to Eastern North America (Crum and Anderson
1981). It is common in eastern Canada and may be more common in Alberta than records show (R.
Belland, pers. comm. 1997). The genus Brachythecium needs a complete revision. B. albicans
occurs in fairly weedy situations, often in disturbed grassy roadsides.
Brachythecium campestre (S2 status) was found 15 times (bf44, 51, 55, 60, 61, 62, 65, 67,
69, 70, 72, 78, 81, 83, 84). While classified as rare, it is in our experience common in Alberta. The
moss is characteristic of mixedwood forests on tree bases, soil, and logs.
Bryum cyclophyllum (S1 status) was found once (bf73, color plate k). It occurs rarely and
sporadically across Canada on wet soil.
Campylium polygamum (S3 status, watch list) was found 7 times (bf55, 56 (color plate f), 59,
61,67, 81, 87). This species is probably not rare in Alberta (it is probably under-identified). It
occurs all across Canada, and is usually found along creeks and in wet meadows and fens.
Campylium radicale (S1 status) was found once (bf55). It is fairly widespread across Canada
but uncommon and probably overlooked. It is found on decaying leaves, twigs, humus, and mucky
soils in wet habitats. It may be present in plots bf62 and 65 also, but could not be independently
Blackfoot 16
verified due perhaps to difficulty finding a small specimen amongst other mosses in the herbarium
packet.
Corallorhiza maculata forma flavida (yellow form of spotted coralroot, watch list status) was
found once (bf67). Its status requires study. Also referred to as variety flavida in some accounts,
this taxon may be the equivalent of an albino variant (Hitchcock et al. 1969). The species, as a
whole, occurs sporadically in “moist to fairly dry woods” across temperate North America
(Hitchcock et al. 1969). The spotted purple (forma maculata), yellow (forma flavida), unspotted
(var. immaculata), and other segregates of the species apparently grow on similar sites (i.e., they are
morphological rather than ecological variants), as we have observed on our land (Twp 51, Range 21,
NW Section 31, W4) where the yellow and spotted purple forms grow near one another.
Gaultheria hispidula (creeping snowberry, status “S2S3") was found in the black spruce /
labrador tea / cloudberry / Sphagnum association (bf54); it was found twice (plots 20 and 35) by
Griffiths et al. (1997). It is regionally rare.
Peltigera evansiana (rare, ANHIC status undetermined) was found twice-- once on the island
in Islet Lake (bf70) and once near a pond along the Roundup Trail (bf81)-- in both cases in mature to
old-growth white spruce mixedwood forest. Goffinet and Hastings (1994) report that in Alberta this
species is locally common around Edmonton and rare elsewhere, and that it grows on rotten wood or
tree roots in aspen, balsam poplar, or mixedwood forests. Griffiths et al. (1997) found this species
once, also on the island in Islet Lake.
Physcia dimidiata (rare, ANHIC status undetermined) was found 4 times (bf51,69,72 (color
plate g),74). It occurs on aspen and poplar bark.
Physciella melanchra (rare, may be new to province) was found once (bf56, color plate f). It
occurs on bark in the upper plains of North Dakota and Montana (T. Esslinger, pers. comm. 1997),
and while Esslinger has never seen a specimen from Alberta, he states that he would expect it to be
fairly widely distributed in southern Canada, especially east of the Continental Divide.
Wolffia punctata (= W. borealis, northern ducksmeal, S3 status, on watch list) was found
once (@53° 29' 29", 112° 49' 50"; T52, Rge 20, W5, Sect 14, LSD 9)
in a beaver pond with Lemna minor. It is noteworthy that three wood
ducks were noted at this pond, the only wood ducks we observed in
the study area. Griffiths et al. (1997), who focussed on the wetlands
of the Blackfoot, found Wolffia punctata seven times, generally in
beaver ponds in association with Lemna minor. The habitat and range
of Wolffia punctata, after Wayne P. Armstrong, Oregon State
University (see: www.orst.edu / dept / botany / herbarium / projects /
lemn /) are: “Floating at surface of quiet streams and ponds, often
mixed with other Lemnaceae and aquatic plants... Occurring in
widely separated disjunct populations throughout the Pacific,
midwestern and Eastern United States, and southern Canada (Ontario
and British Columbia); possibly introduced by migratory waterfowl
into southern California (San Diego County).” Northern ducksmeal is
known only from central Alberta (J. Gould, pers. comm. 1998).
Blackfoot 17
Table 3. Provincially rare plants of the Blackfoot PRA found during this study.
Species
Brachythecium albicans
Brachythecium campestre
Bryum cyclophyllum
Campylium polygamum
Campylium radicale
Corallorhiza maculata forma flavida
Gaultheria hispidula
Peltigera evansiana
Physcia dimidiata
Physciella melanchra
Wolffia punctata
Common Name
Sites and ANHIC Status
bf75; “S2?”
bf44,51,55,60,61,62,65,67,69,70,72,78,81,83,84; S2
bf73; S1
bf55,56,59,61,67,81,87; S3
bf55; S1
Spotted Coralroot,
bf67; watch list; S3 status uncertain
Yellow Form
Creeping Snowberry
bf54; S2S3
bf70,81; status uncertain
bf51,69,72,74; status uncertain
bf56; rare; new to province?
Northern Ducksmeal
@53° 29' 29'’, 112° 49' 50'’; S3, watch list
(S2 by Griffiths et al. 1997); = W. borealis
4.3 Other Significant Plant Species (Table 4)
Adoxa moschatellina (moschatel) was found once (in plot bf74); it is a locally uncommon
plant of moist white spruce and mixedwood forests.
Arnica cordifolia (heart-leaved arnica) was found once (bf62), surprisingly, in an
aspen/beaked hazelnut young deciduous modal upland forest. It is a regionally rare western plant at
the eastern edge of its range.
Artemisia ludoviciana (prairie sagewort) was found in the Kentucky bluegrass - prairie
sagewort - northern bedstraw grassland plot (bf64, color plate c), and sporadically elsewhere in dry
open areas; it is locally uncommon.
Caltha natans (floating marsh-marigold) was found on recently-exposed riparian silt in the
creek valley that drains Neon Lake (bf55, 73, color plate k); it is locally uncommon.
Carex backii (Back’s sedge) was found in an aspen - white spruce / sarsaparilla / bunchberry
forest young climatic climax association (bf74); it is uncommon in Alberta.
Carex sprengelii (Sprengel’s sedge) was found in grassland outside of plot bf64; it is
uncommon in Alberta.
Carex sychnocephala (long-beaked sedge) was found on recently-exposed riparian silt and
sand (in bf73); it is uncommon in Alberta, but appears to be widespread in the Blackfoot.
Carex torreyi (Torrey’s sedge) was found in prickly rose - wild red raspberry / purple peavine
beaver shrubland (bf63); it is uncommon in Alberta.
Cerastium nutans (long-stalked mouse-ear chickweed) was found three times on sparselyvegetated, salt spring (bf49, color plate l) or riparian (bf55, 73) mud or silt. This species is near its
southern limit at Blackfoot; it is infrequent across the southern boreal forest (Johnson et al. 1995).
Blackfoot 18
Circaea alpina (small enchanter’s nightshade) was found in an aspen - balsam poplar - white
spruce / wild red raspberry old-growth forest association (bf81); it is a plant of shady white spruce
and mixedwood forests that is locally uncommon.
Clematis occidentalis (purple clematis) was found in a paper birch - aspen / sarsaparilla
bunchberry young climatic climax forest (Aw-Sw/Aralnud/Corncan association, bf57); this species is
near its eastern limit in Alberta.
Dactylis glomerata (orchard grass) is an uncommon weed in Alberta, yet is common on trails
and roadsides in the Blackfoot.
Dracocephalum parviflorum (American dragonhead) was found @53° 30' 58", 112° 54' 12",
about 3 m from the Cutoff Trail in a slender wheatgrass / Lindley’s aster weedy shrub-”grassland”.
Other dominants in this community were Kentucky bluegrass, Canada thistle, giant hyssop,
buckbrush, prickly rose, and red clover. It was also found near bf77 @53° 30' 50", 112° 54' 33", in a
disclimax dominated by Kentucky bluegrass and Canada thistle. American dragonhead is regionally
uncommon. Both areas may have been native slender wheatgrass grasslands in the past.
Erigeron annuus (whitetop) was found in a weed disclimax (dandelion - white clover bluegrass association, bf77, color plate e); it is locally uncommon.
Geranium richardsonii (wild white geranium) was found in weedy communities (e.g., bf59).
It is sporadic in the Blackfoot along trails and open areas. This western species is locally uncommon
and at the eastern edge of its range.
Gnaphalium palustre (marsh cudweed) was found on the riparian silt and sand of bf73.
Occurrences of cudweed elsewhere in wet spots on trails may be ascribable to G. uliginosum (low
cudweed), found by Griffiths et al. (1997). Marsh cudweed is uncommon and at the edge of its
range.
Gratiola neglecta (clammy hedge-hyssop) was found once (bf73) with Gnaphalium palustre,
Bryum cyclophyllum, Carex sychnocephala, Caltha natans, and others; it is uncommon.
Habenaria viridis (bracted bog orchid) was found once in an aspen / beaked hazelnut /
bluejoint reedgrass - fireweed forest on sand (bf60); it is locally uncommon. Griffiths et al. (1997)
also found this orchid once in a poplar forest (their plot 27).
Impatiens noli-tangere (western jewelweed) was found twice (bf75, color plate b, bf76), both
times in a bluejoint reedgrass wet meadow association with spotted touch-me-not; it is locally rare.
Koeleria macrantha (June grass) was found once in grassland (bf64); it is locally rare.
Lactuca pulchella (common blue lettuce) was also found once in grassland (bf64); it is
locally rare.
Blackfoot 19
Table 4. Non-provincially rare plants that are otherwise significant in the Blackfoot.
Species
Adoxa moschatellina
Arnica cordifolia
Artemisia ludoviciana
Comments
bf74; locally uncommon
bf62; regionally rare; western, at e. edge of range
bf64 and sporadic in dry open areas; locally
uncommon
Caltha natans
floating marsh-marigold bf55, 73; locally uncommon
Carex backii
Back’s sedge
bf74; uncommon in AB
Carex sprengelii
Sprengel’s sedge
outside of bf64; uncommon
Carex sychnocephala
long-beaked sedge
bf73; uncommon in AB, common in BF
Carex torreyi
Torrey’s sedge
bf63; uncommon
Cerastium nutans
long-stalked mouse-ear bf49, 55, 73; at southern limit
chickweed
Circaea alpina
small enchanter’s
bf81; locally uncommon
nightshade
Clematis occidentalis
purple clematis
bf57; uncommon, at e. edge of range in AB
Dactylis glomerata
orchard grass
common on trails, roadsides in bf; uncommon
weed in AB
Dracocephalum parviflorum
American dragonhead found twice: @53° 30' 58", 112° 54' 12"
and near bf77
Erigeron annuus
whitetop
bf77; locally uncommon
Gaultheria hispidula
creeping snowberry
bf54; regionally rare
Geranium richardsonii
wild white geranium
bf59, sporadic in bf; locally uncommon;western,
at e. edge of range
Gnaphalium palustre
marsh cudweed
bf73; sporadic elsewhere on trails; uncommon,
edge of range
Gratiola neglecta
clammy hedge-hyssop bf73; uncommon
Habenaria viridis
bracted bog orchid
bf60; locally uncommon
Impatiens noli-tangere
western jewelweed
bf75, 76; locally rare
Koeleria macrantha
June grass
bf64; locally rare
Lactuca pulchella
common blue lettuce
bf64; locally rare
Lycopus uniflorus
northern
bf55, 87; locally rare
water-horehound
Lysimachia ciliata
fringed loosestrife
bf63; uncommon; at northern limit
Matricaria perforata
scentless chamomile
aggressive weed; scentless chamomile; Blackfoot
Staging Area parking lot
Matteucia struthiopteris
ostrich fern
bf76; uncommon in AB
Monarda fistulosa
wild bergamot
bf64; regionally uncommon;
Muhlenbergia glomerata
bog muhly
uncommon in Blackfoot; w. of Griffiths plot 22;
beaver shrubland
Penstemon procerus
slender blue beardtongue bf64; locally uncommon, at northern limit
Potentilla bipinnatifida
plains cinquefoil
bf64, 66; uncommon
Puccinellia distans
slender salt-meadow
bf49, 50, 66; uncommon
grass
Pyrola elliptica
white wintergreen
bf61; common in bf, regionally common;
otherwise uncommon
Ribes americanum
wild black currant
locally uncommon, but common in Blackfoot
Scirpus pungens
three-square rush
bf66; at northern limit
Spartina gracilis
alkali cordgrass
bf66; locally uncommon
Stipa viridula
green needle grass
bf64; regionally uncommon
Blackfoot 20
moschatel
heart-leaved arnica
prairie sagewort
Lycopus uniflorus (northern water-horehound) was found in imperfectly-drained, riparian and
catchment margins periodically-disturbed by flooding/drawdown (bf55, 87, and near bf73, color
plate k); it is locally rare.
Lysimachia ciliata (fringed loosestrife) was found occasionally in shrub communities (e.g.,
bf63); it is “widespread but not abundant” (Johnson et al. 1995).
Matricaria perforata (scentless chamomile) is an agricultural weed found once in the
Blackfoot Staging Area parking lot.
Matteucia struthiopteris (ostrich fern) was found once (bf76) in a riparian bluejoint reedgrass
wet meadow. The plot and vicinity supports the largest population of ostrich fern we have observed
in Alberta, extending about 100 m southward from plot bf76. Ostrich fern is an uncommon plant of
moist to wet riparian forests and “swamps” in Alberta.
Monarda fistulosa (bergamot) was found once in grassland (bf64, color plate h); it is
regionally uncommon.
Muhlenbergia glomerata (bog muhly) is uncommon in Blackfoot. It was found on an ant hill
in beaver shrubland, west of Griffiths et al. (1997) plot 22; it is a “widespread but rarely abundant”
species more typical of elevated ant mounds in fens (Johnson et al. 1995).
Penstemon procerus (slender blue beardtongue) was found twice: in grassland (bf64) and in a
nearby weedy Kentucky bluegrass - white clover - northern bedstraw disclimax (bf65) that was likely
native grassland in the past; it is locally uncommon and near its northern limit.
Potentilla bipinnatifida (plains cinquefoil) was found twice: in grassland (bf64), and in a
saline meadow (bf66, color plate i); it is widespread but not abundant in Alberta.
Puccinellia distans (slender salt-meadow grass) was found in three saline communities (bf49
(color plate l), 50, 66, color plate i); it is uncommon in Alberta.
Pyrola elliptica (white wintergreen) was found in a number of sites (e.g., bf61); it is common
in the Blackfoot, regionally common, but otherwise uncommon in Alberta (see range map in Moss
1983).
Ribes americanum (wild black currant) is locally uncommon, but is common in the Blackfoot
in moist forests.
Scirpus pungens (three-square rush) was found once: in the bf66 (color plate i) saline
meadow; it is near its northern limit.
Spartina gracilis (alkali cordgrass) was found once: in the bf66 (color plate i) saline meadow;
it is locally uncommon.
Stipa viridula (green needle grass) was found once in grassland (bf64); it is regionally
uncommon.
4.4 Plant and Community Diversity and Disturbance Regime
Blackfoot 21
Spatial differences in temperature, moisture, elevation, slope, aspect, soils, etc. create
physical niches which beget biodiversity. Conversely, temporal variability in temperature, moisture,
etc. at a site creates stress, which may limit the occupants of a site to those adapted to widely varying
physical conditions-- thereby limiting biodiversity. In many cases, sites which are commonly
disturbed/highly stressed are open habitats characterized by ruderal native species or non-native
weeds. Repeated disturbance through heavy horse traffic on trails, maintenance of roads, oil/gas
activities, and agricultural practices within the Blackfoot landscape creates conditions conducive to
spread and dominance of weeds and decline of rare native plants and communities. In other cases,
however, disturbance may act to create native biodiversity (e.g., fire, beaver activities, forest insect
outbreaks) by creating a mosaic of shifting dominance relationships and sites characterized by low
competition. Clearly, disturbance is a complex phenomenon. The type, frequency, and intensity of
disturbance are important controls of biodiversity. If management wishes to maximize biodiversity,
it needs to understand that different communities are adapted to different types, frequencies, and
intensities of disturbance.
Blackfoot, as a whole, has fairly low spatial diversity, expressed as repetitive knob and kettle
units. The area is dominated by hummocky ground moraine with relatively low relief knobs and
kettles, clay loam Luvisolic soils, and mature aspen forests and beaver ponds, while at the same time
there is fairly high temporal variability due to a northern continental climate. Thus, Blackfoot would
be expected to have a relatively low plant species and community biodiversity at the scale of the
study area. This is largely the case with two provisos: (1) while community diversity is fairly low,
community richness is not-- mesic mature aspen forests dominate the uplands, but there are many
other community types in the area that occur generally as small patches in the dominant matrix; these
communities are important to management; (2) similarly, while plant species diversity is fairly low
at the plot and study area scales, species richness is not; indeed, the combined species lists of
Griffiths et al. (1997) and this study indicate a flora of circa 509 taxa-- far from depauperate
(Appendix 1).
4.5 Uncommon or Characteristic Community and Site Types
4.5.1 Riparian Zones
Riparian zones (areas adjacent to and affected by flowing water) are rare in the study area as
the Blackfoot is an upland watershed divide characterized by generally closed kettle depressions in
hummocky moraine. Old-growth forests are often associated with the riparian zones. Watercourses
are usually small, first-order streams that may carry flowing water only in the spring. Secondly, many
valleys that might act as streams are instead submerged beneath beaver ponds. One current
exception is the stream that drains Neon Lake (plots 55 and 73, color plate k).The creek flows in an
incised valley of high physical diversity-- ranging from sunny dry slopes to shady alluvial silts,
supporting the highest species richness (many ephemeral) observed in one 0.03 ha plot (112 taxa in
plot 55) and rare or uncommon plants such as Bryum cyclophyllum, Gratiola neglecta, and Lycopus
uniflorus. The valley in question was once under a pond behind a high beaver dam which was
recently breached.
4.5.2 Beaver-Influenced Landscape Units
Prior to human settlement and, in particular, the establishment of the Blackfoot Provincial
Recreation Area, fire and beavers would have been the two primary natural disturbance agents
shaping the landscape. With human settlement of the area came fragmentation of forests in the form
of roads and agricultural fields, which, combined with a policy of total fire suppression, have acted
to eliminate fire as the prime landscape disturbance. With establishment of the Blackfoot PRA, and
its multiple mandate of habitat protection, recreation, agriculture, and industry, human activities
Blackfoot 22
supplanted fire as a primary agent of disturbance. Currently, it is human activity (see section 4.5.4)
and beavers that shape the landscapes of the Blackfoot. Forest insects and disease are secondary
forces (see section 4.5.3).
The importance of beavers in the Blackfoot landscape cannot be overstated. Through their
dam-building and tree cutting they act to increase spatial variation in moisture, temperature, and
vegetation cover. In the absence of beavers, an area of the Cooking Lake Moraine tends to be
dominated by aspen forest on mesic uplands and hygric willow carrs in the lowlands. In the presence
of beavers, some low-lying areas are converted to ponds with associated wet meadows, while some
slopes near beaver ponds (particularly south-facing) are converted to beaver shrublands (see section
4.1.2(8)), while aspen forests and willow carrs continue to cover other areas. Moisture conditions on
a beaver-influenced landscape range from aquatic to subxeric, and from cold and shady to warm and
sunny. The increase in physical variability is expressed in a more diverse suite of communities and
the life forms that inhabit them. With occasional natural breakage of dams or pond/dam
abandonment, temporal variability in moisture conditions and communities is favored by the
presence of beavers.
4.5.3 Landscape Units Influenced by Insects and Disease
In the past, forest insects and tree diseases were often viewed as detrimental agents to be
eradicated or controlled. A more enlightened paradigm is emerging that views insects and disease as
elements of biodiversity that act to shape landscapes, elements that are important and valuable in and
of themselves. Of the more than 250 species of Fungi that are associated with decay of aspen in
North America (Lindsey and Gilbertson 1978), most are saprophytes of standing dead trees or logs.
There are at least 17 species of Fungi that are known to attack live aspen in Alberta (Thomas et al.
1960), and these organisms can be divided into three main categories: trunk rot and stain; root and
butt rot; and sapwood decay and stain in stored logs (Hiratsuka et al. 1990).
The most common cause of aspen trunk rot in Alberta is Phellinus tremulae, followed by
Peniophora polygonia; on balsam poplar, Phellinus tremulae is the most important agent causing
trunk rot, followed by Pholiota destruens (Peterson and Peterson 1992). Three species of Armillaria
(A. ostoyae, A. sinapina, and A. calvescens) are the major causes of butt rot on aspen and balsam
poplar in Alberta (Peterson and Peterson 1992).
Over 300 species of insects have been recorded from aspen in Canada (Peterson and Peterson
1992). The largest group of insects attacking live aspen are the defoliators belonging to the
Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) and the Coleoptera (beetles). Of the Lepidoptera, the four main
species that attack aspen are the tent caterpillar (aspen’s primary defoliator), large aspen tortrix,
Bruce spanworm, and aspen leaf miner. The main beetles are the aspen leaf beetle, American aspen
beetle, poplar borer, poplar and willow borer, bronze poplar borer, and aspen agrilus. Outbreaks of
the tent caterpillar typically last 4-5 years on a 10-year cycle. Evidence suggests that tent caterpillars
by themselves, even after repeated years of severe defoliation, cause little direct mortality; their
effects on aspen seem to be expressed primarily in a transient decline in growth rates (Ives and Wong
1988; Peterson and Peterson 1992, among others).
Few species and processes act in isolation. While a pathogen or an herbivore may not cause
direct tree mortality, together in concert with drought stress, beaver-flooding, acid rain, pollution,
climatic change, etc., they may act to cause significant mortality. This process is observable in the
Blackfoot where there are forest stands in various stages of dieback and regrowth (e.g., plots bf52, 79
(color plate j), and 82 (color plate a)). Snags are abundant in these stands, providing excellent
habitat for insects, insect-eating birds, and cavity-requiring birds and mammals, and their predators.
Release of understory (due to loss of the canopy) typically leads to a lush shrub layer, providing
excellent browse for moose, elk, and deer. The important conclusion is that uncontrolled forest
insects and diseases act to maintain biodiversity.
Blackfoot 23
Under the Blackfoot management plan (Alberta Environmental Protection 1997), however,
action to control insects or diseases “may be taken where insect or disease problems could affect
pasture areas within the Blackfoot, or have significant adverse affects on surrounding lands.” It is
difficult to envision how such control would be justified in that forest insects and diseases are fairly
irrelevant in pastures, and claiming “significant adverse affects on surrounding lands” is more a
matter of values and public education than science.
4.5.4 Weed Disclimaxes
One of the striking features of the plant communities and flora of the Blackfoot is the
prevalence of weeds (plots 59, 65, 77, 78, 83, 85; see section 4.1.2(8)).
The Alberta Weed Control Act was written by and for agricultural interests in an effort to
have legislative control over plants that grow adventively in agricultural fields. As such, the act’s
designations of “restricted”, “noxious”, and “nuisance” weeds are mute on the identification and
classification of weeds of native habitats. Their presence, however, is an indicator of the degree of
agricultural activity in an area. Weeds designated under the act that are present in the Blackfoot are:
spiked (Eurasian) water-milfoil (Myriophyllum exalbescens) (“restricted” weed); perennial sow
thistle (Sonchus arvensis), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), scentless chamomile (Matricaria
perforata), and common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) (“noxious” weeds); and common chickweed
(Stellaria media), rough cinquefoil (Potentilla norvegica), quack grass (Agropyron repens), annual
hawksbeard (Crepis tectorum), hemp-nettle (Galeopsis tetrahit), and dandelion (Taraxacum
officinale) (“nuisance” weeds). Under the Blackfoot management plan (Alberta Environmental
Protection 1997), weeds classified as restricted or noxious under the act will be subject to weed
control, and herbicides may be used.
Many of the most serious weeds of native habitats, however, are missing from the Alberta
Weed Control Act: they are agricultural plants themselves (e.g., smooth brome, Kentucky bluegrass,
crested wheatgrass, the sweet clovers). The spread of these and other weeds across the landscape is a
direct result of crop agriculture (which maintains open, invadable habitats characterized by high soil
nutrient concentrations and much bare ground) and use of “tame” seed mixtures, aided by repeated
soil and vegetation disturbances along roadsides, utility corridors, dugouts, and industrial,
commercial, residential, and recreational sites, etc.
In addition to the expected roadsides, oil/gas developments, picnic areas, shelters, and
parking lots, weed communities or populations occupy wetlands, lake foreshores, areas adjacent to
agricultural fences and developments (and of course, the seeded pastures themselves), boundary
fencelines, and most significantly, the 170 km of maintained trails which provide corridors for
dispersal of weed propagules, and extend into many “native” upland plant communities. The
dominance of smooth brome, along with Kentucky bluegrass, timothy, orchard grass, etc., indicates
that tame seed mixtures may have been used on the trails.
There are two relevant life history characteristics of weeds: invasiveness (the ability to
spread) and persistence (the ability to persist after establishment). Invasive and persistent weeds are
aggressive. White et al. (1993) have classified the major invasive plants of natural habitats in
Canada. Those that occur in the Blackfoot uplands are: Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), smooth
brome (Bromus inermis), and yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) (moderately invasive
aliens), and absinth (Artemisia absinthium), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Canada bluegrass (Poa
compressa), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron pectiniforme), European mountain ash (Sorbus
aucuparia), hemp-nettle (Galeopsis tetrahit), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), and yellow rocket
(Barbarea vulgaris) (minor invasive aliens). Invasive wetland plants of the Blackfoot are: Eurasian
water-milfoil (Myriophyllum exalbescens) and reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) (principal
invasive aliens).
Some weeds, such as smooth brome, Kentucky bluegrass, Canada thistle, and dandelion, have
Blackfoot 24
replaced native vegetation entirely in some areas, or extend many meters from trailsides into native
communities. Smooth brome is a concern because it is easily dispersed by wind, water, and animals
(evidence suggests its seeds survive passage through digestive tracts), and spreads vigorously via
rhizomes; there is no known effective control (White et al. 1993). Canada thistle can outcompete
native plants, decreasing species diversity, and changing the structure and function of communities
(Hutchison 1992). Kentucky bluegrass is similar to brome in its ease of spread and persistence.
The aggressive nature of some of the weeds, and the widespread distribution of the
disclimaxes are of concern to the long-term maintenance of ecological integrity and represent a
management challenge. A key point for management to consider is the persistent nature of these
communities-- many dominated by Canada thistle, smooth brome, Kentucky bluegrass, for example,
are truly disclimaxes-- they can persist for decades. Without a change in management practices, the
weed cover is likely to increase for the following reasons: (1) the aggressiveness of many species; (2)
the continual disturbance in the form of road and trail maintenance, ATVs, bicycles, borrow pits,
native ungulate traffic, and human foot traffic; (3) the widespread use of horses which act to create
weed microsites in their hoof prints and in their nutrient-rich feces; and to introduce weed propagules
in their droppings and on their pelages, and (4) the presence of weed refugia (pastures, dugouts,
roadsides, etc.) from which weed propagules may be dispersed; (5) the use of tame seed mixtures at
well, pipeline, battery sites, staging areas, in the pastures, etc.
4.6 Vegetation of the Blackfoot in Overview
In this section we provide a summary of the vegetation of the Blackfoot that merges Griffiths
et al. (1997) with this study. One of the chief difficulties of describing vegetation is the great variety
of descriptive names (e.g., swamps, carrs, thickets, sloughs, moors, mires, muskegs) that may mean
different things to different people. This nomenclature problem is especially troubling with wetlands
and for that reason we use, wherever possible, the standard wetland types described in National
Wetlands Working Group (1988) and Zoltai and Vitt (1995). Our purpose below is to provide a
quick overview of the vegetation dominants of the non-agricultural portion of the Blackfoot.
4.6.1 Uplands
A.Forests
1. Deciduous Forest
a. Aspen: the most common forest type in the area on well-drained
ridgetops and mid-slopes with the characteristic plants
beaked hazelnut, prickly rose, and bunchberry
b. Aspen - Balsam Poplar: a common variant of moist slopes, slope bases
and wetland margins; red-osier dogwood and low-bush
cranberry are characteristic
c. Balsam Poplar: a variant of the above in which aspen is absent, restricted
to imperfectly to moderately well-drained slope bases, creek
valleys, and wetland margins; the shrub layer is usually lush;
high-bush cranberry often replaces low-bush cranberry
in these forests
2. Mixedwood Forest: admixtures of typically aspen, balsam poplar, and white
spruce with or without paper birch or Alaska birch;
characteristic plants are wild red raspberry, dewberry,
beaked hazelnut, red-osier dogwood and low-bush
cranberry; successional status varies from mature to old-growth
3. White Spruce Forest: like the above, a rare type that exists only in small
patches, often on sites with lower fire probabilities; feather
Blackfoot 25
mosses are typical
B.Grasslands and Dry Shrublands: a few occurrences of these types are found on
the driest slopes, with the characteristic dominants
Kentucky bluegrass, slender wheatgrass, prairie sagewort,
northern bedstraw, Canada wild rye, saskatoon, or chokecherry.
C.Beaver Shrublands: a seral shrub community dependent on beaver activities found on
slopes near beaver ponds with the characteristic prickly rose, wild red
raspberry, purple peavine, accompanied by buckbrush, beaked hazelnut,
saskatoon, chokecherry, bebb’s willow, and bluejoint reedgrass; succession
to deciduous forest takes place in the absence of beavers
D.Weed Disclimaxes: non-native assemblage disturbance communities characterized by
dandelion, white clover, Kentucky and Canada bluegrass, smooth brome,
timothy, Canada thistle, smooth perennial sow thistle, wild red raspberry,
slender wheatgrass, and in wetter areas, bluejoint reedgrass, tickle grass,
Canada thistle, silverweed, duckweed, and nodding beggarticks
4.6.2 Non-Organic Wetlands
E. Swamps (wooded wetland communities characterized by little peat accumulation,
extreme seasonal water level fluctuation, presence of trees or tall shrubs,
and a poorly-developed bryophyte layer; Zoltai and Vitt 1995)
1. White spruce: (e.g., Griffiths plot 28) with red-osier dogwood and the moss
Climacium dendroides; this may be a wooded fen but soil information is
needed
2. Deciduous: Griffiths et al. (1997) described a variety of communities dominated
by river alder, balsam willow, flat-leaved willow, or mixed willows,
sometimes with Alaska birch that are transitional to willow-sedge fens
F. Meadows and Marshes (treeless, nutrient-rich, graminoid-dominated wetlands with high
primary production, high decomposition, sparse bryophytes, little peat
accumulation, and large seasonal water level fluctuations; Zoltai and Vitt
1995)
1. Fresh (water chemistry dominated by calcium and bicarbonate), typically on the
margins of water bodies, along streams, and in depressions
a. Bluejoint Reedgrass wet meadow; the most common type; common in
older drained beaver ponds and seasonally flooded flats;
Drepanocladus aduncus is a characteristic moss; in the absence
of high floods or during a prolonged drying trend, this type
succeeds the following sedge types
b. Awned Sedge, typical of frequently flooded depressions on somewhat
higher ground than the following...
c. Water Sedge, with small bottle sedge, in wet depressions and along
shores
d. Other: narrow reed grass may occur in the above communities; beds of
cattails, bulrushes, and burreeds are common shore communities,
often in partially-floating stands with sedges; short-awned foxtail
communities are found on recently-exposed muds
2. Saline (water chemistry dominated by sodium and sulphate; Zoltai and Vitt
1995)
a. Slender salt-meadow grass and creeping spike rush is a rare type of soils
with the highest salt contents in the area
Blackfoot 26
b. Foxtail barley, wire rush, Kentucky bluegrass, and graceful sedge, along
with creeping white prairie aster, alkali cordgrass and three-square
rush is another rare type, this types occurs on less salty soils than
the slender salt-meadow grass and creeping spike rush
4.6.3 Peatlands
G. Bogs
1. Wooded: Black Spruce Bogs with an understory of labrador tea, cloudberry,
bog cranberry, feather and Sphagnum mosses commonly occupy closed
depressions; bogs that have burned in previous decades are often covered
by Alaska birch; the bogs are transitional to wooded poor fens
H. Fens
1. Wooded: Larch - Black Spruce Poor Fens are characteristic of wooded
peatlands still in contact with groundwater
4.6.4 Aquatic
I. Common Duckweed Mats occupy quiet ponds, often in association with Wolffia or
larger duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza)
J. Pondweed Beds composed of various species, sometimes accompanied by coontail or
spiked water-milfoil, may be found in some larger ponds and lakes
4.7 Old Forest Patches as Revealed by Alberta Vegetation Inventory
The overwhelming majority of vegetation patches (n~661 polygons) in the Blackfoot
originated after 1900. Of those patches with origin dates (n=287), 204 (71%) originated in the 1920s,
a time of widespread fires. Fourteen patches (4.9% of dated patches) originated in or before 1900
(these are indicated on Map 1 with stippling); 13 of which are black spruce-dominated wetlands; 12
originated circa 1900. All 14 of the oldest forest patches occupy sites that discourage firespread-e.g., bogs, often with moats, and the island in Islet Lake. Most of the oldest dated forests in the
Blackfoot are in the Neon -- Arrowhead Lakes area. The white spruce forest on the island in Islet
Lake originated circa 1889. The oldest dated patch is a black spruce - white spruce forest between
Round and Burn Lakes in Field 1A (circa 1890, technically outside the study area).
5. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Many elements (both community and species) of biodiversity exist in the study area in trace
amounts-- a single occurrence, a single patch. It is important for management to know the kinds of
communities and sites that support elements of native biodiversity so that these areas can be
protected and managed wisely. Management of special areas is far more practical than attempting to
manage individual populations. The Blackfoot management objective (Alberta Environmental
Protection 1997:17) for preservation stipulates that the area will be managed to “ensure the long term
viability and health of the natural ecosystem... protect rare, threatened, and endangered wildlife and
vegetation species... protect undisturbed portions of the upland landscape... and wetlands... (and)
maintain sustainable and healthy populations of ungulates and furbearing wildlife species.” Such an
ambitious program requires a clear understanding of the present state of the Blackfoot and a reassessment of management practices.
5.1 Saline Meadows
Blackfoot 27
Soil disturbance and heavy grazing pressure in saline meadows (starred on Map 1) can lead to
dominance of foxtail barley, silverweed, Canada thistle, tickle grass, and other ruderals/weeds, a
process observed along the cattle-grazed shores of Beaverhill Lake (Griffiths et al. 1996, foxtail
barley/alkali grass zone), on bison-impacted summer range in the Sweetgrass area of the PeaceAthabasca Delta (Timoney 1996), and due to repeated haying at Hay Camp, Wood Buffalo National
Park (Raup 1935). Both human soil disturbance and grazing by horses should be avoided in the salt
meadows.
5.2 Grasslands and Dry Shrublands
This rare landscape type is fire-dependent in the boreal mixedwood region of Alberta. Three
occurrences are known from the Blackfoot: NE shore of Blackfoot Lake (plot 64, starred on Map 1),
NE shore of Crooked Lake (Griffiths plot 32), and below a headland west of Elk Push Lake
(Griffiths plot 22). Continued absence of fire will likely result in loss of dry grasslands from the
Blackfoot. A prescribed burning program should be developed to maintain and enhance their cover.
5.3 Old-Growth Forests
Management priorities for old-growth forests should focus on avoidance of human
disturbance resulting from oil/gas and agricultural activities, trail maintenance, and facility
development. Those found in this study are starred on Map 1; old forests found in the Alberta
Vegetation Inventory are stippled on Map 1. The areally dominant community of the Blackfoot
uplands is a mature aspen forest that originated after fire in the 1920s (~75 years ago). As many
aspen forests reach old-growth status sometime between 85-130 years (Timoney 1998), a large
portion of the Blackfoot will, in the coming decades, be old-growth. Such a transition will result in
an increase in biodiversity of flowering plants, mosses, lichens, Fungi, arthropods and other
invertebrates, birds, mammals, etc.
5.4 Riparian Zones
The judicious removal of some beaver dams in selected valleys might be considered as a
means to increase biodiversity for species that require streamside habitats. More investigations for
rare plants and communities should be conducted in selected creek valleys, such as between
Blackfoot and Norris Lakes and between Running Dog and the Geese and Bog Lakes. Management
of riparian zones and water bodies in general should include fencing to eliminate domestic grazing
(both horse and cattle), where applicable, and to prevent domestic animal runoff from reaching
surface waters. Elimination of snow machine use in riparian/wetland areas and on ice surfaces
would help to prevent both riparian/wetland damage and degradation of water quality (Adams 1975;
Timoney 1993; Sheppard undated).
5.5 Beaver-Influenced Landscape
It is interesting to speculate what the Blackfoot landscape might become if all beaver control
were eliminated. It is likely that uncontrolled beaver would cause a net decline in forest cover, an
increase in water cover and shrublands, a desiccation of uplands (due to removal of forest canopies),
and a paludification of lowlands. Larger, less fluctuating water bodies would be favored whose
waters would be deeper, clearer, and less eutrophic than typical ponds. The weedy condition of many
beaver ponds and wetlands in the Blackfoot is an outcome of frequent large and sudden changes in
water level (cycle of dam removal/reflooding) in a multiple use landscape in which weed propagules
are abundant. A decrease in the frequency and severity of water level fluctuations might help to
favor less weedy communities. Survival of rare species ill-adapted to fluctuating conditions, such as
Wolffia, Carex vulpinoidea, and Potamogeton foliosus might also be improved (Griffiths et al. 1997).
Clearly, with Blackfoot’s multiple mandate, a “no beaver control” policy is currently not
Blackfoot 28
feasible. We suggest, however, that management considers a pilot study area isolated from
conflicting land uses where no beaver control be studied. The minimal costs of occasional
photographs and monitoring would be offset by avoidance of expenses for beaver control. The direct
benefits of increased landscape diversity would help to fulfill the Blackfoot’s mandate of habitat
protection. A natural history/education theme could be developed and presented along relevant
portions of the trail system.
5.6 Landscape Units Influenced by Insects and Disease
The processes of dieback and regrowth create an ever-changing spatial and temporal mosaic
important to the maintenance of biodiversity-- all the more important in a landscape in which fire no
longer plays a dominant role. There should be no attempts to “control” insect and disease outbreaks.
5.7 Weed Disclimaxes
Since the weeds have established themselves throughout the Blackfoot, their control presents
management with great challenges. The status quo can only lead to further spread of weeds and their
disclimaxes and a concomitant decline of native biodiversity. At the same time, the multiple mandate
of the Blackfoot limits the potential scope of control activities. The following management
guidelines might help: (1) Exposure of bare soil by machinery should be prevented (e.g., borrow pits
along trails); (2) wherever possible, if vegetation mats are stripped from a site (e.g., a well site), they
should be stockpiled and replaced if the disturbance is short-term (e.g., if a well proves dry); (3) tame
seed mixtures should not be used for revegetation anywhere outside the pastures; the “suggested
native seed” mixes for revegetation identified in the Blackfoot management plan (Alberta
Environmental Protection 1997) should be updated; (4) equestrian trails should be closed whenever
they are wet; (5) blade height during mowing of trails should be at a “high”setting; (6) hiking trails
should be narrowed to 2 m; (7) periodic rotational resting of trails (closure for one year, during
which no mowing or traffic is allowed on the trail) would help to suppress non-native plants
(especially grasses) in favor of forest forbs and shrubs encroaching onto the trails; (8) beaver control
should be minimized (this would necessitate rerouting or periodic closure of trails-- which would
dovetail with trail resting (item 7)); (9) rehabilitation of old, abandoned well sites should focus on
establishment of trees present in the surrounding forest; for aspen and balsam poplar, suckers can be
used; for white spruce, local genotype seedlings should be planted; the reestablishment of a tree
canopy will suppress exotic cover and encourage reestablishment of native understory plants.
5.8 Monitoring Program
A multiple mandate places multiple pressures on the Blackfoot. It is important to know if and
how the Blackfoot is changing over time. Retrospective studies of change, using a time series of
imagery or sediment cores are not well-suited to some of the problems faced by Blackfoot (e.g.,
spread of weeds) because of scale mismatch and insensitivity on the time scales of interest. Shrinking
grassland and dry shrubland might be difficult to monitor with aerial imagery since beaver shrubland
and weed disclimaxes closely resemble true grassland and dry shrubland. Similarly, assessments of
saline meadows and riparian zones or of water quality require on site monitoring.
The distribution of selected weed species should be periodically studied to monitor changes
in Blackfoot’s weed status. This might be done best at specific plots or along transects. Areal extent
and composition should be periodically assessed in the salt meadows, the grasslands and dry
shrublands, and in selected old-growth forests. Permanent plots should be used. Those established in
this study provide a starting point. Rehabilitation of abandoned well sites with native species should
also be monitored. If presribed burning is used to maintain or enhance grasslands, monitoring will be
required to assess changes.
Blackfoot 29
5.9 Revegetation After Disturbance
Revegetation after disturbances such as oil and gas developments presents Blackfoot
management with challenges. The mandate of habitat protection cannot be met if standard
“revegetation mixes” are used, as these often contain aggressive non-native plants, or native plants of
unknown or distant provenance. The primary goal of a revegetation program in a habitat protection
area should be to reestablish the vegetation that was present before disturbance. Toward that end,
photographs should be taken of a site to be disturbed. The organic horizon with its topsoil should be
carefully stockpiled in the event that the disturbance is short-lived. In that event, pre-disturbance
contours should be reestablished and the vegetation mat and topsoil should be returned to its former
position.
Revegetation following longer-term disturbances should focus on establishment of dominant
native trees and shrubs. Only competitively robust trees and shrubs can be relied upon to establish
and achieve dominance on disturbed sites in the face of competition from awnless brome, Canada
thistle, Kentucky bluegrass, etc.
On uplands, aspen, balsam poplar, and white spruce trees should be used, with black spruce,
white spruce, larch (tamarack), and Alaska birch in bogs and fens. On moister uplands, red-osier
dogwood, low-bush cranberry, river alder, and willows (e.g., Bebb’s willow, pussy willow) can be
added to the trees. On average “mesic” sites, prickly rose, saskatoon, and wild red raspberry can be
used, and on the drier forest sites, beaked hazelnut, snowberry and buckbrush may prove useful.
On wet mineral soils where reestablishment of trees and shrubs is proving difficult, bluejoint
reedgrass (Calamagrostis canadensis), awned sedge (Carex atherodes), basket willow (Salix
petiolaris) and plane-leaved willow (S. planifolia) may be used.
In all cases, root fragments or crowns and rhizomes would be the propagules of choice-- and
these can be collected as needed from areas being disturbed for borrow pits, etc., or cooperatively
from other agencies or companies stripping vegetation outside the Blackfoot. One salvaged shrub or
small tree can be divided into several pieces and planted in the organic horizon or topsoil. Lacking
these plant parts, seedlings can be used, either gathered during a disturbance, or purchased. While
tree and shrub seed may appeal due to an appearance of low cost, successful establishment may
prove difficult.
On the driest sites (e.g., south-facing slopes), management may wish to add native grass
seeds to the mixture. Awned wheatgrass (Agropyron trachycaulum var. subsecundum), June grass
(Koeleria macrantha), green needle grass (Stipa viridula), and Canada wild rye (Elymus canadensis)
can be used; on dry, open sand (if any such sites exposed), sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus)
may be useful.
6. REFERENCES CITED
Achuff, P.L. 1994.Natural regions, subregions and natural history themes of Alberta. Revised and
updated. Parks Services, Alberta Environmental Protection, Edmonton.
Adams, E.S. 1975. Effects of lead and hydrocarbons from snowmobile exhaust on brook trout (Salvelinus
fontinalis). Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 104(2): 363-373.
Alberta Energy and Natural Resources. 1983. Integrated Resource Plan: Blackfoot Operational
Development. Resource Evaluation and Planning, Alberta Energy and Natural Resources,
Edmonton, AB.
Alberta Environmental Protection. 1993. Alberta Plants and Fungi -- Master Species List and
Species Group Checklists. Alberta Environmental Protection, Edmonton, AB.
Alberta Environmental Protection. 1994. Ecological Land Survey Site Description Manual.
Alberta Environmental Protection, Edmonton, AB.
Blackfoot 30
Alberta Environmental Protection. 1997. Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Grazing, Wildlife and Provincial
Recreation Area. Management Plan. Alberta Environmental Protection, Edmonton, AB.
ANHIC. 1996. Plant Species of Special Concern. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre,
Edmonton, AB.
ANHIC. 1997. Rare Lichens of Alberta, A Preliminary Tracking List. Alberta Natural Heritage
Information Centre, Edmonton, AB.
Beckingham, J. 1993. Ecosystem associations of northern Alberta. Alberta Forest Service, Timber
Management Branch, Edmonton, AB.
Crum, H.A. and L.E. Anderson. 1981. Mosses of Eastern North America. Two Volumes. Columbia
University Press, New York, N.Y.
Ecoregions Working Group. 1989. Ecoclimatic regions of Canada. Ecol. Land Classif. Series, No. 23,
Environment Canada, Ottawa, ON.
Egan, R.S. 1987. A fifth checklist of the lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied Fungi of the
continental United States and Canada. The Bryologist 90(2): 77-173.
Environment Canada. 1993. Canadian Climate Normals, 1961-90, Prairie Provinces. Minister of
Supply and Services, Ottawa, ON.
Gleason, H.A. and A. Cronquist. 1963. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and
Adjacent Canada. D. Van Nostrand Co., New York, N.Y.
Griffiths, G.C.D., D.E. Griffiths, and W.S. Taylor. 1996. Biophysical and significant areas inventory
of the Lister lake study area (1995). Alberta Environmental Protection, Edmonton.
Griffiths, G.C.D., D.E. Griffiths, and R. Priddle. 1997. Floristic and rare plants survey of the
Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area (1996). Alberta Environmental Protection, Rimbey, AB.
Hammond, H. 1991. Seeing the Forest Among the Trees. Polestar Press, Vancouver, BC.
Hiratsuka, Y., D.A. Gibbard, O. Bakowsky, and G.B. Maier. 1990. Classification and measurement of
aspen decay and stain in Alberta. Northern Forestry Centre, Edmonton, AB. Info. Rep. NOR-X314.
Hutchison, M. 1992. Vegetation management guideline: Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.)
Natural Areas Journal 12: 160-161.
Ireland, R.R., G.R. Brassard, W.B. Schofield, and D.H. Vitt. 1987. Checklist of the mosses
of Canada II. Lindbergia 13: 1-62.
Ives, W.G.H. and H.R. Wong. 1988. Tree and shrub insects of the prairie provinces. Northern Forestry
Centre, Edmonton, AB. Info. Rep. NOR-X-292.
Johnson, D., L. Kershaw, A. MacKinnon, and J. Pojar. 1995. Plants of the Western Boreal Forest
and Aspen Parkland. Lone Pine Publishing, Edmonton, AB.
Lewis, F.J. and E.S. Dowding. 1926. The vegetation and retrogressive changes of peat areas
(“muskegs”) in central Alberta. The Journal of Ecology 14(2): 317-341.
Lewis, F.J., E.S. Dowding, and E.H. Moss. 1928. The vegetation of Alberta. II. The swamp, moor,
and bog forest vegetation of central Alberta. The Journal of Ecology 16(1): 19-70.
Lindsey, J.P. and R.L. Gilbertson. 1978. Basidiomycetes that decay aspen in North America. J. Cramer,
Lehre, West Germany.
Looman, J. 1983. The vegetation of the Canadian Prairie Provinces IV. The woody vegetation, Part 1.
Phytocoenologia 11(3): 297-330.
Looman, J. and K.F. Best. 1979. Budd’s Flora of the Canadian Prairie Provinces. Research Branch,
Agriculture Canada, Publ. 1662. Ottawa, ON.
Maser, C. 1990. The redesigned forest. Stoddart, Toronto, ON
Meslow, E.C., C. Maser, and J. Verner. 1981. Old-growth forests as wildlife habitat. North American
Wildlife Conference 46: 329-335.
Moss, E.H. 1955. The vegetation of Alberta. The Botanical Review 21(9): 493-567.
Blackfoot 31
Moss, E.H. 1983. The Flora of Alberta. Second edition revised by J.G. Packer. Univ. of Toronto Press,
Toronto, ON.
National Wetlands Working Group. 1988. Wetlands of Canada. Ecol. Land Classif. Series, No. 24,
Environment Canada, Ottawa, ON.
Peterson, E.B. and N.M. Peterson. 1992. Ecology, management, and use of aspen and balsam poplar in the
prairie provinces. Northern Forestry Centre, Edmonton, AB. Special Report 1.
Raup, H.M. 1935. Botanical investigations in Wood Buffalo Park. Canada Dept. of Mines and the
National Museum of Canada. Ottawa. Bulletin No. 74.
Schuster, R.M. 1977. Boreal Hepaticae. J. Cramer, Lehre, West Germany.
Scoggan, H. 1979. The Flora of Canada. National Museums of Canada. Ottawa, ON.
Sheppard, K. Undated. Impacts of off-road vehicles on wildlands: a review. Castle-Crown Wilderness
Coalition, Special Publication 7.
Shetsen, I. 1990. Quaternary geology, central Alberta. Map with extended legend, 1:500,000.
Alberta Research Council, Edmonton
Smith, H.C. 1993. Alberta Mammals. An Atlas and Guide. Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
Stelfox, J.B. (editor) 1995. Relationships between stand age, stand structure, and biodiversity in aspen
mixedwood forest in Alberta. Alberta Environmental Centre, Vegreville, AB., and Canadian Forest
Service, Edmonton, AB.
Strong, W.L. and J.M. Thompson. 1995. Ecodistricts of Alberta: summary of biophysical attributes.
Alberta Environmental Protection, Edmonton, AB.
Thomas, G.P., D.E. Etheridge, and G. Paul. 1960. Fungi and decay of aspen and balsam poplar in the
boreal forest region, Alberta. Can. Jour. Bot. 38: 459-466.
Timoney, K. 1993. Ecological impacts of snowmobiles on the Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary,
central Alberta. Report presented to the Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary Public Advisory
Committee by Ms. Carol Smith, 4 March 1993; a shorter version also appeared in The Alberta
Naturalist 23 (2): 5-8.
Timoney, K. 1996. Peace-Athabasca Delta Technical Studies, vegetation monitoring program,
task E2, final report. Parks Canada, Wood Buffalo National Park, Ft. Smith, NT.
Timoney, K. 1998. Old-growth forests of Alberta: types, attributes, issues, and conservation status.
Natural Heritage Planning and Evaluation, Alberta Environment, Edmonton, AB.
Timoney, K.P. and A.L. Robinson. 1996. Old-growth white spruce and balsam poplar forests of the
Peace River Lowlands, Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada: development, structure, and
diversity. Forest Ecology and Management 81: 179-196.
Vitt, D.H., L.A. Halsey, M.N. Thormann, and T. Martin. 1996. Peatland inventory of Alberta Phase
1: Overview of Peatland Resources in the Natural Regions and Subregions of the Province. Report
and Appendix. Alberta Peat Task Force, Edmonton, AB.
White, D.J., E. Haber, and C. Keddy. 1993. Invasive plants of natural habitats in Canada.
Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, ON.
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Vegetatio 118: 131-137.
Blackfoot 32
Appendix 1. Plant species observed at the Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area. Bolded species found in this study are
significant and are discussed in the text. Plants classified as rare in Alberta are marked by a ^ symbol. Plants followed
by an * were found by Griffiths et al. (1997) and were not found in this study. Combined species observations of
Griffiths et al. (1997) and this study total circa 509 taxa. The letter code on the left (the group column) indicates the plant
group: h=liverwort; l=lichen; m=moss; r=native vascular plant of weedy habit in Alberta (i.e., ruderal); v=native vascular
plant of non-weedy habit in Alberta; w=vascular weed non-native to Alberta. Presently, it is not possible to classify the
non-vascular plants as to ruderal and native vs. non-native status. The decision as to r, v, or w status for vascular plants
was based on Moss (1983), Looman and Best (1979), Gleason and Cronquist (1963), and Scoggan (1979).
Grp Species
v
r
v
v
v
r
v
w
w
v
r
v
v
r
m
m
v
v
r
v
v
h
v
v
v
v
w
r
v
r
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
m
Achillea millefolium
Achillea sibirica
Actaea rubra
Adoxa moschatellina
Agastache foeniculum
Agrimonia striata
Agrohordeum macounii
Agropyron pectiniforme*
Agropyron repens
Agropyron trachycaulum
Agrostis scabra
Alnus crispa*
Alnus tenuifolia
Alopecurus aequalis
Amblystegium serpens
Amblystegium tenax
Amelanchier alnifolia
Andromeda polifolia*
Androsace septentrionalis*
Anemone canadensis
Anemone riparia
Aneura pinguis*
Antennaria parvifolia*
Apocynum androsaemifolium
Aralia nudicaulis
Arnica cordifolia
Artemisia absinthium*
Artemisia dracunculus
Artemisia ludoviciana
Aster brachyactis*
Aster ciliolatus
Aster conspicuus
Aster falcatus*
Aster hesperius
Aster laevis
Aster modestus*
Aster puniceus
Astragalus americana
Astragalus bisulcatus
Astragalus dasyglottis*
Astragalus striatus
Aulacomnium palustre
Blackfoot 33
Comments
bf74; locally uncommon
typically as var. subsecundum
bf63; locally uncommon
bf62; regionally rare; western, at e. edge of range
bf64 and sporadic in dry open areas; locally uncommon
w
w
m
m
r
v
v
r
v
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
v
w
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
v
v
v
m
m
v
l
l
v
v
h
v
m
m
m
m
l
l
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
Axyris amaranthoides*
Barbarea vulgaris
Barbula convoluta
Barbula unguiculata
Beckmannia syzigachne
Betula neoalaskana
Betula papyrifera
Bidens cernua
Botrychium virginianum
Brachythecium acuminatum
Brachythecium albicans^
Brachythecium campestre^
Brachythecium cf. plumosum^
Brachythecium rivulare
Brachythecium salebrosum
Brachythecium starkei
Bromus ciliatus
Bromus inermis
Bryoerythrophyllum recurvirostre*
Bryum argenteum
Bryum caespiticium*
Bryum capillare
Bryum cyclophyllum^
Bryum pseudotriquetrum
Bryum weigelii*
Calamagrostis canadensis
Calamagrostis stricta
Calla palustris
Calliergon cordifolium
Calliergon stramineum*
Callitriche verna
Caloplaca cerina
Caloplaca holocarpa
Caltha natans
Caltha palustris*
Calypogeia sp.*
Campanula rotundifolia
Campylium hispidulum
Campylium polygamum^
Campylium radicale^
Campylium stellatum
Candelaria concolor
Candelariella vitellina
Cardamine pensylvanica
Carex aquatilis
Carex atherodes
Carex aurea
Carex backii
Carex bebbii
Carex brunnescens
Carex capillaris*
Carex cf. crawfordii
Carex curta*
Blackfoot 34
bf75;
bf44, 51, 55, 60, 61, 62, 65, 67, 69, 70, 78, 81,83, 84; S2
bf65; S2; possible, according to Dale Vitt; needs confirmation
bf73;
bf55, 73; locally uncommon
bf55, 56, 59, 61, 67, 81,87;
bf55;
bf74; uncommon
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
h
h
v
m
v
w
r
l
w
v
v
v
v
v
w
r
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
v
m
v
m
v
Carex deweyana
Carex diandra*
Carex disperma
Carex gynocrates*
Carex lanuginosa
Carex norvegica
Carex paupercula*
Carex peckii
Carex praegracilis
Carex praticola*
Carex sartwellii*
Carex siccata
Carex sprengelii
Carex stipata
Carex sychnocephala
Carex torreyi
Carex trisperma*
Carex utriculata
Carex vulpinoidea*
Castilleja miniata
Cephalozia connivens*
Cephaloziella sp.
Cerastium nutans
Ceratodon purpureus
Ceratophyllum demersum*
Chenopodium album
Chenopodium leptophyllumn *
Chiloscyphus pallescens*
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum
Chrysosplenium iowense*
Cicuta maculata
Cicuta virosa*
Cinna latifolia
Circaea alpina
Cirsium arvense
Cirsium flodmanii*
Cladonia bacillaris
Cladonia carneola*
Cladonia cervicornis*
Cladonia chlorophaea
Cladonia cornuta
Cladonia deformis
Cladonia fimbriata
Cladonia gracilis
Cladonia mitis
Cladonia rangiferina
Cladonia squamosa*
Cladonia subulata
Clematis occidentalis
Climacium dendroides
Comandra umbellata
Conardia compacta*
Corallorhiza trifida*
Blackfoot 35
outside of bf64; uncommon
bf73; uncommon in AB, common in bf
bf63; uncommon
bf49, 55, 73; at southern limit
bf81; locally uncommon
bf57; uncommon, at e. edge of range in AB
v
v
v
v
v
m
w
w
v
w
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
v
v
r
m
m
m
m
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
r
v
v
v
v
r
v
v
v
v
v
v
w
m
l
Corallorhza maculata f. flavida^
Corallorhza maculata f. puniceus
Cornus canadensis
Cornus stolonifera
Corylus cornuta
Cratoneuron filicinum
Crepis tectorum
Dactylis glomerata
Deschampia cespitosa
Descurainia sophia*
Desmatodon heimii*
Desmatodon obtusifolius
Dicranella sp.
Dicranella varia
Dicranum flagellare*
Dicranum fragilifolium
Dicranum fuscescens*
Dicranum polysetum
Dicranum scoparium*
Dicranum undulatum
Didymodon sp.
Disporum trachycarpum
Draba nemorosa*
Dracocephalum parviflorum
Drepanocladus aduncus
Drepanocladus crassicostatus*
Drepanocladus uncinatus
Drepanocladus vernicosus*
Drosera rotundifolia*
Dryopteris assimilis*
Dryopteris carthusiana
Eleocharis palustris
Elymus canadensis*
Elymus innovatus
Epilobium angustifolium
Epilobium ciliatum
Epilobium leptophyllum*
Epilobium palustre*
Equisetum arvense
Equisetum fluviatile*
Equisetum pratense
Equisetum scirpoides
Equisetum sylvaticum
Erigeron annuus
Erigeron glabellus*
Erigeron lonchophyllus*
Erigeron philadelphicus
Eriophorum chamissonis*
Eriophorum polystachion*
Eriophorum vaginatum*
Erysimum cheiranthoides
Eurhynchium pulchellum
Evernia mesomorpha
Blackfoot 36
bf67
common on trails, roadsides in bf; uncommon weed in AB
near bf77,and @53° 30' 58", 112° 54' 12"; uncommon
bf77; locally uncommon
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Festuca pratensis
Festuca rubra
Flavopunctelia flaventior
Fragaria vesca
Fragaria virginiana
Funaria hygrometrica
Galeopsis tetrahit
Galium boreale
Galium trifidum
Galium triflorum
Gaultheria hispidula*
Gentianella amarella
Geranium bicknellii
Geranium richardsonii
Geum aleppicum
Geum macrophyllum
Glyceria grandis
Glyceria pulchella*
Glyceria striata
Glycyrrhiza lepidota*
Gnaphalium palustre
Gnaphalium uliginosum*
Gratiola neglecta
Gymnocarpium dryopteris*
Habenaria hyperborea*
Habenaria viridis
Halenia deflexa
Haplocladium microphyllum
Helodium blandowii
Heracleum lanatum
Hieracium umbellatum
Hippuris vulgaris
Hordeum jubatum
Hylocomium splendens
Hypnum cupressiforme
Hypnum lindbergii
Hypnum pratense
Hypnum sp.
Hypogymnia physodes
Impatiens capensis
Impatiens noli-tangere
Imshaugia aleurites
Jamesoniella autumnalis*
Juncus balticus
Juncus bufonius
Juncus tenuis
Jungermannia lanceolata*
Koeleria macrantha
Lactuca pulchella
Larix laricina*
Lathyrus ochroleucus
Lathyrus venosus
Ledum groenlandicum
Blackfoot 37
bf54; regionally rare
bf59, sporadic in bf; locally uncommon; western, e. edge of range
bf73, sporadic elsewhere on trails; uncommon, edge of range
bf73; uncommon
bf60; locally uncommon
bf75, 76; locally rare
bf64; locally rare
bf64; locally rare
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Lemna minor
Lemna trisulca
Lepidium densiflorum
Lepidozia reptans*
Leptobryum pyriforme
Limosella aquatica*
Linnaea borealis
Lonicera dioica
Lonicera involucrata
Lophocolea heterophylla*
Lophocolea minor*
Lophozia ventricosa*
Lycopodium annotinum*
Lycopus asper*
Lycopus uniflorus
Lysimachia ciliata
Lysimachia thyrsiflora*
Maianthemum canadense
Malaxis monophylla*
Marchantia polymorpha
Matricaria matricarioides
Matricaria perforata
Matteucia struthiopteris
Medicago falcata
Medicato sativa
Melanelia albertana
Melanelia exasperatula
Melanelia subaurifera
Melanelia subolivacea
Melilotus officinalis
Mentha arvensis
Mertensia paniculata
Mitella nuda
Moehringia lateriflora
Monarda fistulosa
Moneses uniflora*
Monolepis nuttalliana
Muhlenbergia glomerata
Mylia anomola*
Myriophyllum exalbescens*
Ochroclechia arborea
Oncophorus virens*
Oncophorus wahlenbergii
Orthilia secunda
Orthotrichum obtusifolium
Orthotrichum speciosum
Oryzopsis asperifolia*
Osmorhiza depauperata
Oxycoccus microcarpus
Oxycoccus quadripetalus*
Oxytropis deflexa
Oxytropis monticola*
Parmelia sulcata
Blackfoot 38
bf55, 87; locally rare
bf63; uncommon; at northern limit
Blackfoot Staging Area parking lot
bf76; uncommon in AB
bf64; regionally uncommon
seen once in bf66; could not find again (but found by Griffiths et al.)
uncommon in bf; w. of Griffiths plot 22; beaver shrubland
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Parmeliopsis ambigua
Parmeliopsis hyperopta
Parnassia palustris*
Peltigera canina
Peltigera didactyla
Peltigera elisabethae*
Peltigera evansiana^
Peltigera membranacea*
Peltigera praetextata*
Penstemon procerus
Petasites palmatus
Petasites sagittatus*
Petasites vitifolius
Phaeophyscia orbicularis
Phalaris arundinacea
Phascum cuspidatum*
Phleum pratense
Phragmites australis*
Physcia adscendens
Physcia aipolia
Physcia dimidiata^
Physciella melanchra^
Physcomitrium pyriforme*
Physconia detersa
Picea glauca
Picea mariana
Plagiochila asplenioides*
Plagiomnium cuspidatum
Plagiomnium ellipticum
Plagiomnium medium
Plagiothecium denticulatum*
Plagiothecium laetum
Plantago major
Platydictya jungermannioides
Platygyrium repens
Pleurozium schreberi
Poa annua*
Poa compressa
Poa interior
Poa palustris
Poa pratensis
Pohlia cf. lescuriana
Pohlia cruda
Pohlia nutans
Pohlia sphagnicola*
Pohlia wahlenbergii
Polygonum amphibium
Polygonum arenastrum
Polygonum erectum*
Polygonum lapathifolium
Polygonum ramosissimum *
Polytrichum juniperinum
Polytrichum strictum
Blackfoot 39
bf70, 81; rare
bf64, 65; locally uncommon, at northern limit
bf69, 74;
bf56; new to province?
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Populus balsamifera
Populus tremuloides
Potamogeton foliosus*
Potamogeton friesii*
Potamogeton obtusifolius*
Potamogeton pectinatus*
Potamogeton pusillus*
Potamogeton richardsonii*
Potamogeton vaginatus*
Potamogeton zosteriformis*
Potentilla anserina
Potentilla bipinnatifida
Potentilla gracilis
Potentilla norvegica
Potentilla palustris*
Potentilla pensylvanica*
Prunus pensylvanica
Prunus virginiana
Ptilidium pulcherrimum
Ptilium crista-castrensis
Puccinellia distans
Puccinellia nuttalliana*
Punctelia subrudecta
Pylaisiella polyantha
Pyrola asarifolia
Pyrola elliptica
Ramalina dilacerata
Ramalina pollinaria
Ranunculus abortivus
Ranunculus cymbalaria
Ranunculus gmelinii*
Ranunculus macounii
Ranunculus scleratus
Rhizomnium gracile*
Rhizomnium pseudopunctatum*
Ribes americanum
Ribes glandulosum*
Ribes hudsonianum *
Ribes lacustre
Ribes oxyacanthoides
Ribes triste
Riccia fluitans*
Ricciocarpus natans
Rorippa palustris*
Rosa acicularis
Rosa woodsii
Rubus arcticus*
Rubus chamaemorus
Rubus idaeus
Rubus pubescens
Rumex britannica*
Rumex crispus
Rumex maritimus*
Blackfoot 40
bf64, 66; widespread but not abundant in AB
bf49, 50, 66; uncommon
bf61; common in bf, regionally common, otherwise uncommon
locally uncommon, but common in bf
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Rumex occidentalis*
Rumex triangulivalvis*
Sagittaria cuneata
Salix bebbiana
Salix candida*
Salix discolor
Salix lucida*
Salix maccalliana*
Salix myrtillifolia
Salix pedicellaris*
Salix petiolaris*
Salix planifolia*
Salix prolixa
Salix pseudomonticola
Salix pyrifolia *
Salix serissima*
Sanicula marilandica
Scapania glaucocephala*
Schizachne purpurascens
Scirpus acutus
Scirpus microcarpus
Scirpus pungens
Scirpus validus*
Scolochloa festucacea*
Scutellaria galericulata
Senecio congestus
Senecio eremophilus*
Senecio pauperculus
Shepherdia canadensis
Sisyrinchium montanum
Sium suave
Smilacina stellata
Smilacina trifolia
Solidago canadensis
Solidago gigantea
Sonchus arvensis
Sonchus uliginosus
Sorbus aucuparia*
Sparganium eurycarpum*
Spartina gracilis
Sphagnum angustifolium*
Sphagnum fuscum
Sphagnum magellanicum
Sphagnum nemoreum
Sphagnum riparium*
Sphagnum squarrosum*
Sphagnum warnstorfii*
Spirodela polyrhiza
Stachys palustris
Stellaria calycantha
Stellaria longifolia
Stellaria longipes*
Stellaria media*
Blackfoot 41
bf66; at northern limit
bf66; locally uncommon
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Stipa viridula
Symphoricarpos albus
Symphoricarpos occidentalis
Tanacetum vulgare
Taraxacum officinale
Tetraphis pellucida*
Tetraplodon angustatus*
Thalictrum venulosum
Thlaspi arvense
Thuidium recognitum
Tortula mucronifolia
Tortula ruralis*
Tragopogon dubius
Trifolium hybridum
Trifolium pratense
Trifolium repens
Triglochin maritima
Triglochin palustre
Typha latifolia
Urtica dioica
Usnea glabrata
Usnea hirta
Usnea scabrata
Usnea subfloridana
Utricularia vulgaris*
Vaccinium myrtilloides
Vaccinium uliginosum
Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Veronica americana
Veronica peregrina
Viburnum edule
Viburnum trilobum
Vicia americana
Viola adunca
Viola canadensis
Viola cf. palustris
Viola renifolia*
Vulpicida pinastri
Weissia controversa*
Wolffia columbiana*
Wolffia punctata^
Xanthoria fallax
Xanthoria polycarpa
Blackfoot 42
bf64; regionally uncommon
@53 29 29, 112 49 50; S3; =W. borealis; status poorly known
Blackfoot 43
kevin timoney