Habitats used in the Rare Species Guide
Habitats are closely based on the Ecological Systems described for Minnesota's Native Plant Community Classification.
| Upland Forests and Woodlands | ||
|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Description | |
|
Fire Dependent Forest |
Upland forests characterized by plants adapted to fire. Common canopy trees include pines, spruce, balsam fir, aspens, paper birch, and northern pin oak. | |
|
Mesic Hardwood Forest |
Upland forests characterized by plants adapted to shade and rapid nutrient cycling. Sugar maple, basswood, northern red oak, and elm are important canopy trees. | |
| Upland Grasslands, Shrublands and Sparse Vegetation | ||
| Habitat | Description | |
| Cliff | Sparsely vegetated communities on vertical to near-vertical exposures of bedrock. | |
| Talus | Sparsely vegetated communities on accumulations of coarse rocks and soils at the base of cliffs. | |
| Rock Outcrop | Sparsely vegetated communities on exposed bedrock. | |
| Upland Prairie | Grass-dominated communities on moderately well-drained to excessively drained soils. Broad-leaved herbs (forbs) are typically common. | |
| Savanna | Sparsely treed communities on moderately well-drained to excessively drained soils. Grasses often dominating the ground-layer, but broad-leaved herbs (forbs) and low shrubs also common. | |
| Lowland Prairie | Grass-dominated treeless communities on poorly drained soils, usually in depressions or drainage-ways. Sedges are often nearly as common as grasses, and broad-leaved herbs (forbs) are typically common. Low shrubs are sparse to common. | |
| Lake Shore | Non-forested communities on clayey, silty, sandy, or rocky lake shores, typically in the zone between annual low water levels and the upper reach of storm waves and ice scouring. | |
| River Shore | Non-forested communities on clayey, silty, sandy, or rocky river shores, typically in the zone between annual low water levels and the upper limit of impacts from currents and ice scouring. | |
| Wetland Forests | ||
| Habitat | Description | |
| Floodplain Forest | Lowland forests on floodplains. Characterized by plants adapted to an annual flood cycle. Silver maple and cottonwood are the dominant canopy trees on many sites. | |
| Wet Forest | Lowland forests usually dominated by deciduous trees, especially black ash, in shallow basins and along shoreline where nutrient rich soils are saturated much of the year. | |
| Forested Rich Peatland | Lowland forests on peat soils characterized by plants adapted to permanently waterlogged soils and water at nearly neutral pH. Canopy trees include white cedar, tamarack, and black spruce. More species rich than forested acid peatland. | |
| Forested Acid Peatland | Stunted conifer forests on deep, well-developed sphagnum. Black spruce and tamarack are the predominant trees present. | |
| Wetland, Grasslands, Shrublands and Marshes | ||
| Habitat | Description | |
| Non-forested Acid Peatland | Non-forested communities on well-developed sphagnum characterized by plants adapted to permanently waterlogged, acid soils. Dominated by ericaceous shrubs. | |
| Non-forested Rich Peatland | Non-forested communities on peat soils characterized by plants adapted to permanently waterlogged soils and water at nearly neutral pH. Dominated by fine-leaved sedges and shrubs. | |
| Wet Meadow/Carr | Open wetlands on mineral or shallow peat soils. Either dominated by broad-leaved sedges or willows and dogwood. | |
| Marsh | Shallow basin wetlands with emergent vegetation such as cattails and bulrushes. | |
| Rivers and Streams | ||
| Habitat | Description | |
| Small Rivers and Streams | Rivers/streams 2.5-6.1 m in width. | |
| Medium Rivers and Streams | Rivers/streams 6.2-12.1 m in width. | |
| Large Rivers | Rivers 12.2 m or larger in width. | |
| Lakes | ||
| Habitat | Description | |
| Littoral Zone of Lake | Shallow areas of lakes where water mixes from top to bottom. Submersed aquatic plants often occupy this zone. | |
| Deep Water Zone of Lake | Deep water areas of lakes where water forms layers separated by temperature. | |
| Subterranean | ||
| Habitat | Description | |
| Subterranean | Terrestrial, air-filled habitats, ranging from large caves to interstitial crevices below soil horizon. | |