Great Lakes Wet Meadow and Shrub Swamp

EVT 9620Laurentian-Acadian Shrub Swamp
CES201.582GNRShrubRiparian
Summary
This system encompasses shrub swamps and wet meadows on mineral soils of the Northeast and upper Midwest. They are often associated with lakes and ponds, but are also found along streams, where the water level does not fluctuate greatly. They are commonly flooded for part of the growing season but often do not have standing water throughout the season. The size of occurrences ranges from small pockets to extensive acreages. The system can have a patchwork of shrub and graminoid dominance; typical species include Salix spp., Cornus amomum, Alnus incana, Spiraea alba, Calamagrostis canadensis, tall Carex spp., and Juncus effusus. Trees are generally absent and, if present, are scattered.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Distribution
This system is found in New England and northern New York west across the upper Great Lakes to Minnesota, and adjacent Canada, mostly north of the glacial boundary.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Ecologically Associated Plant Species

Plant species that characterize this ecosystem type, organized by vegetation stratum. These are species ecologically associated with the ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific area.

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Alnus incana, Cornus amomum, Ilex verticillata, Spiraea alba

Herb (field)

Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex lacustris, Carex stricta, Carex vesicaria, Eleocharis nitida, Juncus effusus, Oxytropis campestris var. chartacea, Platanthera leucophaea, Polemonium vanbruntiae, Schoenoplectiella hallii, Scirpus ancistrochaetus, Scirpus cyperinus
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Ecologically Associated Animals (11)

Animal species ecologically associated with this ecosystem type based on NatureServe assessment. These are species whose habitat requirements overlap with this ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific roadless area.

Birds (1)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Whooping CraneGrus americanaG1

Reptiles (1)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Kirtland's SnakeClonophis kirtlandiiG2

Amphibians (3)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Gray TreefrogDryophytes versicolorG5
Wood FrogLithobates sylvaticusG5
Spring PeeperPseudacris cruciferG5

Butterflies & Moths (2)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Swamp MetalmarkCalephelis muticumG3
New England BuckmothHemileuca lucinaG4

Insects (4)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Michigan Bog GrasshopperAppalachia arcanaG2G3
Hungerford's Crawling Water BeetleBrychius hungerfordiG2
St. Croix SnaketailOphiogomphus susbehchaG2
Hine's EmeraldSomatochlora hineanaG2G3
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
At-Risk Species Associated with this Ecosystem (12)

Species with conservation concern that are ecologically associated with this ecosystem type. G-Rank indicates global conservation status: G1 (critically imperiled) through G5 (secure). ESA status indicates U.S. Endangered Species Act listing.

Common NameScientific NameG-RankESA Status
Michigan Bog GrasshopperAppalachia arcanaG2G3--
Hungerford's Crawling Water BeetleBrychius hungerfordiG2Endangered
Swamp MetalmarkCalephelis muticumG3--
Kirtland's SnakeClonophis kirtlandiiG2--
Whooping CraneGrus americanaG1Endangered; Experimental population, non-essential
St. Croix SnaketailOphiogomphus susbehchaG2--
Fassett's LocoweedOxytropis campestris var. chartaceaG5T1T2Threatened
Eastern Prairie White-fringed OrchidPlatanthera leucophaeaG2G3Threatened
Bog Jacob's-ladderPolemonium vanbruntiaeG3--
Hall's BulrushSchoenoplectiella halliiG3--
Northeastern BulrushScirpus ancistrochaetusG3Endangered; Proposed for delisting
Hine's EmeraldSomatochlora hineanaG2G3Endangered
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Component Associations (17)

Plant community associations that occur within this ecological system. Associations are the finest level of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) and describe specific, repeating assemblages of plant species. Each association represents a distinct community type that may be found where this ecosystem occurs.

NameG-Rank
Alnus incana - Cornus sericea Midwest Shrub Swamp NatureServe
Alnus incana Shrub Swamp NatureServe
Alnus serrulata / Calamagrostis canadensis Shrub Swamp NatureServe
Calamagrostis canadensis - Carex spp. Laurentian-Acadian Wet MeadowG4 NatureServe
Calamagrostis canadensis - Scirpus spp. - Dulichium arundinaceum Wet Meadow NatureServe
Carex lacustris Midwest Wet MeadowG4 NatureServe
Carex stricta - Carex spp. Wet MeadowG4 NatureServe
Carex stricta - Carex vesicaria Wet Meadow NatureServe
Carex tetanica - Carex prairea - Eleocharis erythropoda - Lysimachia quadriflora Fen NatureServe
Carex utriculata - Carex stricta - Carex lacustris - Carex vesicaria Wet MeadowG4 NatureServe
Cephalanthus occidentalis / Carex spp. Midwest Shrub SwampG4 NatureServe
Cornus sericea - Salix spp. - (Rosa palustris) Shrub SwampG5 NatureServe
Equisetum fluviatile - (Eleocharis palustris) Marsh NatureServe
Juncus effusus Marsh NatureServe
Myrica gale - Spiraea alba - Chamaedaphne calyculata Fen NatureServe
Scirpus cyperinus Wet Meadow NatureServe
Typha latifolia - Caltha palustris Marsh NatureServe
State Conservation Ranks (9)

Subnational conservation status ranks (S-ranks) assigned by Natural Heritage Programs in each state where this ecosystem occurs. S1 indicates critically imperiled at the state level, S2 imperiled, S3 vulnerable, S4 apparently secure, and S5 secure. An ecosystem may be globally secure but imperiled in specific states at the edge of its range.

StateS-Rank
MASNR
MESNR
MISNR
MNSNR
NHSNR
NYSNR
RISNR
VTSNR
WISNR
Roadless Areas (3)

Inventoried Roadless Areas where this ecosystem is present, identified from LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type spatial analysis. Coverage indicates the proportion of each area occupied by this ecosystem type.

Michigan (1)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
Bear SwampHuron-Manistee National Forest2.4%37.44

Minnesota (1)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
Little Indian SiouxSuperior National Forest2.6%10.44

Wisconsin (1)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
09157 - Chase CreekChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest2.4%58.41
Methodology and Data Sources

Ecosystem classification: Ecosystems are classified using the LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) layer, mapped to NatureServe Terrestrial Ecological Systems via a curated crosswalk. Each EVT is linked to the USNVC (U.S. National Vegetation Classification) hierarchy through pixel-level co-occurrence analysis of LANDFIRE EVT and NatureServe IVC Group rasters across all roadless areas.

Vegetation coverage: Coverage percentages and hectares are derived from zonal statistics of the LANDFIRE 2024 EVT raster intersected with roadless area boundaries.

Ecosystem narratives and community species: Sourced from the NatureServe Explorer API, representing professional ecological assessments of vegetation composition, environmental setting, dynamics, threats, and characteristic species assemblages.

IVC hierarchy: The International Vegetation Classification hierarchy is sourced from the USNVC v3.0 Catalog, providing the full classification from Biome through Association levels.

Component associations: Plant community associations listed as components of each NatureServe Ecological System. Association data from the NatureServe Explorer API.

State ranks: Conservation status ranks assigned by NatureServe member programs in each state where the ecosystem occurs.