Title
Scandinavian birch forests (Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii) with dwarf shrubs, mosses and lichens (Empetrum hermaphroditum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Deschampsia flexuosa, Pleurozium schreberi, Dicranum fuscescens, Cladina mitis, Cladina rangiferina)
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Norway: central (border region to Sweden) and north Norway, interior Finnmark (not on the map); north-west Sweden: from Atoko to Risback; north Finland (not on the map)
area frequency
16 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Cladonio-Betuletum (Nordhagen1943) Kielland-Lund 1973 (= Betuletum empetro-cladinosum); Empetro-Betuletum (Nordhagen 1943) Kielland-Lund 1973 (= Betuletum empetro-hylocomiosum Nordhagen 1943); subalpine Empetrum-Lichenes-type, subalpine Empetrum-Lichenes-Pleurozium-type Hämet-Ahti 1963.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Montane forest of 2-4 m height consisting of Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii with Juniperus communis, Betula nana and widespread Salix species in the shrub layer. Patches of lichens and dwarf shrubs alternate with one another in the herb and moss layers.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii
Shrub layer
Juniperus communis, Betula nana, Salix spp.
Herb layer
Deschampsia flexuosa, Empetrum hermaphroditum, Phyllodoce caerulea, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Cladina mitis, Cladina rangiferina, Dicranum fuscescens, Pleurozium schreberi, Polytrichum juniperinum, Stereocaulon paschale
Diagnostically important species
Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii; Empetrum hermaphroditum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Deschampsia flexuosa; Pleurozium schreberi, Dicranum fuscescens, Cladina mitis, Cladina rangiferina
Ecological variants
No details
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
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Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
No details
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
high mountain vegetation (A4), alpine vegetation (B41, B42), birch forests (C9, C10), spruce forests (D1, D4), pine forests (D42), palsa mires (S14), aapa mires (S15).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
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grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
No details
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
---
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
highlands, mountain slopes
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
subalpine; 600-1000 m
Geology (bedrock)
silicate basement rock (Precambrian granite, gneiss), covered by Pleistocene moraine sediments of different thickness
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
ranker, podzoles; (stony orthic podzols; dystric leptosols; dystric regosols)
soil texture
loamy sand, stony
soil moisture, water balance
moderately fresh to very dry
soil fertility
oligotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VIII(VI)5, X
average annual temperature
-3 to 1 °C
average annual precipitation
700-1100 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
10-12 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
-16 to -12 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
---
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Very widespread, not endangered.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
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causes of endangerment
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required measures for protection and restitution
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Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Sweden: Sarek (national park), Peljekaise (national park), Hotagsfjällen (Jämtland).
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Hämet-Ahti 1963; Kielland-Lund 1973; Nordhagen 1936
Compiled by
L. Påhlsson
