BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Picea glauca - Pinus contorta / Shepherdia canadensis / Leymus innovatus
white spruce - lodgepole pine / soopolallie / fuzzy-spiked wildrye
| Scientific Name: | Picea glauca - Pinus contorta / Shepherdia canadensis / Leymus innovatus |
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| English Name: | white spruce - lodgepole pine / soopolallie / fuzzy-spiked wildrye |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S3S4 |
| Date Status Assigned: | May 21, 2010 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | May 21, 2010 |
| Reasons: | This ecological community, although relatively common, has experienced some conversion to anthropogenic use in the past (transportation, energy production, agriculture), and intensive prescribed burning for ungulate habitat in localized areas has converted forested ecosystems to shrub/grassland ecosystems. Threat of further conversion and degradation has rapidly increased within the range of this community, including intensifying of oil and gas activities and hydro-electric power generation. In addition, the impacts of changing climates is affecting ecological processes and natural disturbance regimes. The cumulative threats to this ecological community are moderately high. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | F = 20,000-200,000 square km |
| Range Extent Estimate (km2): | 126386 |
| Biogeoclimatic Unit: |
BWBSmk/103
BWBSmw/103 BWBSwk2/103 |
| Range Extent Comments: | The range extent estimate of this ecological community is based on Version 9 of the Biogeclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) map (B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations. 2014). |
| Area of Occupancy Comments: | These ecosystems are generally common within their range and occurrences can be large. |
| Spatial Pattern: | |
| Occurrences | |
| Number of Occurrences: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | B = High |
| Comments: | Cumulative threats from oil and gas extraction activities, roads, transmission corridors and seismic lines, along with some harvesting, prescribed burns, and the projected impacts of climate change (e.g., increased droughty conditions in the growing season, alterated natural disturbance regimes, etc.) result in moderately high threat impact. |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Long-Term Trend: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | B=Moderately vulnerable |
| Environmental Specificity: | C=Moderate. Generalist or community with some key requirements scarce. |
| Comments: | The community occurs on drier sites, generally warm aspects and/or coarse soils; uncommon within its range. |
| Other Rank Considerations: | Occurrences with a higher cover of grasses and herbs provide good ungulate forage. |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | |
| Inventory Needs: | |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | |
| Management: | |
| Version | |
| Author: | Cadrin, C.M. and H.K. Yearsley |
| Date: | May 21, 2010 |
| 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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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. 2010. Conservation Status Report: Picea glauca - Pinus contorta / Shepherdia canadensis / Leymus innovatus. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 9, 2026).