BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Betula nana / Carex aquatilis
scrub birch / water sedge
| Scientific Name: | Betula nana / Carex aquatilis |
|---|---|
| English Name: | scrub birch / water sedge |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S3S4 |
| Date Status Assigned: | April 25, 2022 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | March 26, 2022 |
| Reasons: | This wide-ranging wetland ecosystem is moderately threatened by impacts of climate change, hydrological changes associated with wildfires, mining, and hydrological alteration associated with roads. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | G = 200,000-2,500,000 square km |
| Range Extent Estimate (km2): | 386346 |
| Biogeoclimatic Unit: |
BWBSdk/Wf02
BWBSdk1/Wf02 BWBSmk/Wf02 BWBSmw/Wf02 ESSFdc1/Wf02 ESSFdc2/Wf02 ESSFdc3/Wf02 ESSFdk1/Wf02 ESSFdk2/Wf02 ESSFdv/Wf02 ESSFdv1/Wf02 ESSFdv2/Wf02 ESSFmh/Wf02 ESSFmv2/Wf02 ESSFwc3/Wf02 ESSFwk2/Wf02 ESSFwm1/Wf02 ESSFxc/Wf02 ESSFxc1/Wf02 ESSFxc2/Wf02 ESSFxc3/Wf02 ESSFxv2/Wf02 ICHmc2/Wf02 ICHmk1/Wf02 ICHmk4/Wf02 ICHvk2/Wf02 ICHwk2/Wf02 ICHwk3/Wf02 ICHwk4/Wf02 IDFdk1/Wf02 IDFdk3/Wf02 IDFdk4/Wf02 IDFdk5/Wf02 IDFdm2/Wf02 IDFxk/Wf02 MSdc2/Wf02 MSdk/Wf02 MSdk1/Wf02 MSdk2/Wf02 MSdm1/Wf02 MSdm2/Wf02 MSdw/Wf02 MSxk/Wf02 MSxk1/Wf02 MSxk2/Wf02 MSxk3/Wf02 MSxv/Wf02 SBPSdc/Wf02 SBPSmc/Wf02 SBPSmk/Wf02 SBPSxc/Wf02 SBSdk/Wf02 SBSdw1/Wf02 SBSmc2/Wf02 SBSmm/Wf02 SBSvk/Wf02 SBSwk1/Wf02 SBSwk2/Wf02 SWBmk/Wf02 |
| Range Extent Comments: | The range extent of this ecological community based on Version 12 of the Biogeclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) map (B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations. 2021) is estimated to be 386,346 km2. This ecological community is known to occur in the following biogeoclimatic units: BWBSdk, BWBSmk, BWBSmw, BWBSwk1, ESSFdc1, ESSFdc2, ESSFdc3, ESSFdk1, ESSFdk2, ESSFdv2, ESSFmc, ESSFmh, ESSFmk, ESSFmv2, ESSFwc3, ESSFwk2, ESSFwm1, ESSFxc1, ESSFxc2, ESSFxv2, ICHmc2, ICHmk1, ICHmk2, ICHmk3, ICHmk4, ICHvk2, ICHwk2, ICHwk3, ICHwk4, IDFdk1, IDFdk2, IDFdk3, IDFdk4, IDFdk5, IDFdm2, IDFxk, IDFxm, MSdc2, MSdc3, MSdk, MSdm1, MSdm2, MSdw, MSxk1, MSxk2, MSxv, SBPSdc, SBPSmc, SBPSmk, SBPSxc, SBSdk, SBSdw1, SBSdw2, SBSdw3, SBSmc2, SBSmk1, SBSmm, SBSmw, SBSvk, SBSwk1, SBSwk2, and SBSwk3. Distribution is based on the biogeoclimatic site series catalogue (BECdb; accessed February 2022), ecosystem mapping, and the BEC Master plot database (accessed February 2022). |
| Area of Occupancy (km2): | GH = 500-20,000 kmē |
| Area of Occupancy Estimate (km2): | 4814 |
| Area of Occupancy Comments: | There are approximatedly 37,029 km2 of wetlands in the range of this element (Freshwater Atlas Wetlands, 2008; accessed March 2022). Freshwater Atlas Wetland mapping dates from 2008; thus the area of wetlands my have declined since that time due to climate change. This wetland is common throughout much of its range (MacKenzie and Moran 2004). This element comprised about 13% of the area of all wetlands in extensive wetland mapping in the Cariboo Natural Resource Region (Iverson, 2022). If this proportion is consistent throughout its range, it would occupy approximately 4814 km2. |
| Spatial Pattern: | Large patch |
| Occurrences | |
| Number of Occurrences: | DE = 81 to >300 |
| Comments: | There are 56 plots in the BEC Master database that could potentially be element occurrences. |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | U = Unknown |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | BC = High - medium |
| Comments: | This wetland ecosystem is moderately threatened by impacts of climate change, hydrological changes associated with wildfires, mining, and hydrological alteration associated with roads. |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | EF = Decline of 10-50% |
| Comments: | There is little data available for losses of organic wetlands in BC. |
| Long-Term Trend: | EF = Decline of 10-50% |
| Comments: | There is little data available for losses of organic wetlands in BC. |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | B=Moderately vulnerable |
| Environmental Specificity: | B=Narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements common. |
| Comments: | This is one of the more common wetland ecosystems occurring in the interior peatlands, and primarily occurs permanently saturated organic soils (MacKenzie and Moran 2004). |
| Other Rank Considerations: | |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | Research and monitor effects of transportation networks and utility lines on hydrological regime and the effects of climate change on hydrology. |
| Inventory Needs: | |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | |
| Management: | |
| Version | |
| Author: | Iverson, K. |
| Date: | March 26, 2022 |
| References | |
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B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations. Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) Map, WHSE_FOREST_VEGETATION.BEC_BIOGEOCLIMATIC_POLY [ESRI ArcSDE format]. Version 9. Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Forest Analysis and Inventory Branch, Victoria, B.C. Updated Regularly.
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DeLong, C., A. Banner, W. MacKenzie, B. Rogers, and B. Kaytor. 2011. A field guide to ecosystem identification for the Boreal White and Black Spruce Zone of British Columbia. B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C. Land Manage. Handb. No. 65.
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MacKenzie, W.H. and J.R. Moran. 2004. Wetlands of British Columbia: a guide to identification. Res. Br., B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C. Land Manage. Handb. No. 52.
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Skaien, C.L., Deepa, S.F., and Straka, J. 2023. "Atlin Wetlands 2023: BAPID 6667: Wetland Polygons for Atlin, BC". BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2022. Conservation Status Report: Betula nana / Carex aquatilis. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Aug 25, 2025).