Classification

• Province: Laurentian Mixed Forest
  • Section: Northern Superior Uplands
    • Subsection: Border Lakes
• System: Fire Dependent Woodland

Description:

• The Alder/Willow Wetland, about 2.5% of the BWCAW by surface area
• Slow moving subsurface water with dense, nearly impenetrable cover of tall shrubs
• Signature Species
• Speckled Alder, Alnus incana
• Willows, Salix spp.

Indicator
Species:

Trees

• Paper Birch, Betula papyrifera
• Quaking Aspen, Populus tremuloides

Shrubs

• Speckled Alder, Alnus incana
• Labrador Tea, Ledum groenlandicum
• Late Low Blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium

Herbs

• Sedges, Carex ssp

Ground Cover

• Feather Mosses,
• Dicranum Moss, Dicranum spp.
• Hair Cap Mosses,
• Sphagnum Moss, Sphagnum spp.

Landform & Topography:

Soils & Hydrology:

Identification:

• About 23% of the BWCAW by surface area, estimated prior to the great blowdown of 1999. A much larger area today.
• The northern forest subsequent to logging or other disruption
• Signature Species
  • Quaking Aspen, Populus tremuloides
  • Paper Birch, Betula papyrifera

• Alder Flycatcher, Empidonax alnorum
• Black Billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
• Grey Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
• Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum
• American Robin, Turdus migratorius
• Grey Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
• Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum
• Bohemian Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus
• Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum
• Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus
• Philadelphia Vireo, Vireo philadelphicus
• Nashville Warbler, Vermivora ruficapilla
• Orange Crowned Warbler, Vermivora celata
• Northern Parula Warbler, Parula americana
• Chestnut Sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica
• Black Throated Green Warbler, Dendroica virens
• Golden Winged Warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera
• Yellow Warbler, Dendroica petechia
• American Redstart, Setophagia ruticilla
• Black and White Warbler, Mniotilta varia
• Connecticut Warbler, Oporornis agilis
• Mourning Warbler, Oporornis philadelphia
• Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
• Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina
• Clay Colored Sparrow, Spizella pallida
• Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
• Dark Eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis
• Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula
• Brown Headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater
• Common Redpoll, Carduelis flammea
• American Goldfinch, Carduelis tristis
• Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea

• Moose, Alces alces
• White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus

Natural
History

• History

Other
Communities:

Last updated on 30 June, 2004