* limited to sites with higher soil calcium
Vascular plant nomenclature follows Rhoads and Block (2007). Bryophyte nomenclature follows Crum and Anderson (1981).

International Vegetation Classification Associations:

USNVC Crosswalk:

None

Representative Community Types:

Reed Canarygrass Wet Meadow (CEGL006044)

NatureServe Ecological Systems:

Central Appalachian River Floodplain (CES202.608)

NatureServe Group Level:

None

Origin of Concept

Zimmmerman 2008

Pennsylvania Community Code*

na : Not Available

*(DCNR 1999, Stone 2006)

Similar Ecological Communities

Floodplain Meadow and Big Bluestem – Indian-grass Riverine Grassland are similar to the Reed Canary-grass Floodplain Grassland in position on the floodplain and in soils but differs in species composition. The near monotypic stand of reed canary-grass (Phalaris arundinacea) is the most defining character for the Reed Canary-grass Floodplain Grasslands and it is often found on deeper, sandy soils.

Fike Crosswalk

None; this type is new to the Pennsylvania Plant Community Classification developed from river floodplain classification studies in the Susquehanna and Ohio River Basins.

Conservation Value

This habitat represents a modified grassland community type on the river floodplain, influenced by human disturbance, alteration of the natural flooding regime, deposition of sediment from excessive erosional events upstream and invasion of the non-native species reed canary-grass (Phalaris arundinacea). Native plants, often those of native floodplain grasslands and herbaceous communities are threatened by the expanding reed canary-grass. This invasion into native communities results in loss of habitat for a number of important and rare insect species, namely tiger beetles (genus Cicindela), and ground beetles (order Carabidae) and others. While this community is associated with decreasing native species diversity, the community also serves as a buffer for sediment and pollution runoff from adjacent developed lands by slowing the flow of surficial water, causing sediment to settle within this wetland.

Threats

This type is not threatened and represents a plant community type dominated by one plant species: reed canary-grass (Phalaris arundinacea). Invasion by non-native plants may be equally devastating as native floodplain plants are displaced and has lead to destruction and/or shifts in community function and dynamics within other plant communities. In particular, this community can completely displace Hairy-fruited Sedge (Carex trichocarpa) Floodplain Wetland and Twisted Sedge (Carex Torta) Stream Margin.

In addition to reed canary-grass, Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), giant knotweed (F. sachalinensis), and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) may be present in this type. Construction of flood-control and navigational dams has resulted in drastic changes to the timing and duration of flood events. These dams have, in some cases, slowed the river flow resulting in deposition of finer sediments favored by many invasive plants.

Management

It is important to prevent the spread of this community through invasive species control (herbicide and manual removal) and to maintain a natural buffer around the wetland to minimize the spread of this community into adjacent vegetation.

Range Map

Pennsylvania Range

Statewide

Global Distribution

Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming. This community also occurs in Canada in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.

Baker, M.E., and B.V. Barnes. 1998. Landscape ecosystem diversity of river floodplains in northwestern Lower Michigan, U.S.A. Canadian Journal of Forestry Research 28: 1405-1418.

Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. La Roe. 1979. Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Washington, D.C. 131 pp.

Edinger, Gregory J., D.J. Evans, Shane Gebauer, Timothy G. Howard, David M. Hunt, and Adele M. Olivero. 2002. Ecological Communities of New York State. Second Edition. A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke's Ecological Communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany, NY. 136 pp.

Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.

Gregory, S.V., F.J. Swanson, W.A. McKee, and K.W. Cummins. 1991. An ecosystem perspective of riparian zones. Bioscience 41: 540-551.

NatureServe. 2009. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Central Databases. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. Available http://www.natureserve.org/explorer.

NatureServe. 2009. NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, Virginia. USA

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). 1999. Inventory Manual of Procedure. For the Fourth State Forest Management Plan. Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, Division of Forest Advisory Service.  Harrisburg, PA. 51 ppg.

Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Classification, Assessment and Protection of Non-Forested Floodplain Wetlands of the Susquehanna Drainage. Report to: The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry, Ecological Services Section. US EPA Wetlands Protection State Development Grant no. CD-98337501.

Stone, B., D. Gustafson, and B. Jones. 2006 (revised). Manual of Procedure for State Game Land Cover Typing.  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Game Commission, Bureau of Wildlife Habitat Management, Forest Inventory and Analysis Section, Forestry Division.  Harrisburg, PA. 79 ppg.

Ward, J.V. 1998. Riverine landscapes: Biodiversity patterns, disturbance regimes, and aquatic conservation. Biological Conservation 83: 269-278.

Zimmerman, E., and G. Podniesinski. 2008. Classification, Assessment and Protection of Floodplain Wetlands of the Ohio Drainage. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Pittsburgh, PA. Report to: The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Office of Conservation Science. US EPA Wetlands Protection State Development Grant no. CD-973081-01-0.