CDC Logo

BC Conservation Data Centre: Ecological Community Summary

Picea sitchensis / Rubus spectabilis Very Wet Maritime
Sitka spruce / salmonberry Very Wet Maritime

 
Scientific Name: Picea sitchensis / Rubus spectabilis Very Wet Maritime
English Name: Sitka spruce / salmonberry Very Wet Maritime
Scientific Name - Concept Reference: Meidinger, D. 1992. Vegetation classification hierarchy: DBASE September 1992. B.C. Minist. For. Res. Branch, Victoria.
Ecosystem Group: Terrestrial Realm - Flood Group (F): Highbench Flood
Terrestrial Realm - Forest: Coniferous - moist/wet
   
Conservation Status / Legal Designation
Global Status: G3
Provincial Status: S2 (Jan 2020)
BC List: Red
Provincial FRPA list:   
Notable Species:
 
Ecology & Dynamics
Environmental Summary: This high-bench floodplain community occurs on the western slopes of the Coast Mountains and Kitimat Ranges, the west coast of Vancouver Island, and north of Kesley Bay on eastern Vancouver Island. It is found next to larger streams and rivers that experience irregular over-bank flooding. Sites are built up from fluvial deposits over time and are strongly influenced by sub-irrigation. The regosolic soils have a sandy coarse loamy, sandy or silty texture, and may have a capping of finer sediments with coarser sediments at depth. Soils are moist at depth year round, with variable moisture conditions closer to the surface ranging from submesic to hygric. The soil nutrient regime is rich to very rich. These forests are highly productive. (NatureServe 2005, Green and Klinka 1994, Banner et al. 1993).
Vegetation Summary: This coniferous riparian forest ecosystem occurs along coastal rivers in British Columbia. The tree canopy is dominated by Picea sitchensis (Sitka spruce) and Tsuga heterophylla (western hemlock), and may contain Alnus rubra (red alder), Thuja plicata (western redcedar) and Abies amabilis (amabilis fir). The shrub layer is dominated by Oplopanax horridus (devil's club) and Rubus spectabilis (salmonberry), and may contain Ribes bracteosum (stink currant) and Cornus stolonifera (red-osier dogwood). Ferns, indicating the rich nutrient regime, dominate the moderately-developed herb layer. Species present include Gymnocarpium dryopteris (oak fern), Dryopteris expansa (spiny wood fern), Polystichum munitum (sword fern) and Athyrium felix-femina (lady fern), along with Tiarella spp. (foamflowers). The moss layer is dominated by Plagiomnium insigne (coastal leafy moss) with a moderate cover of Rhytidiadelphus loreus (lanky moss) (Green and Klinka 1994, Banner et al. 1993).
Dynamic Processes Summary: This is a late successional mature to climax forest ecosystem. Flooding occurs every few years and may cause the death of some trees. Other causes of tree mortality include windthrow, insects and root-rot. The resulting small gaps produce an all-aged stand structure (NatureServe 2012). Fire was likely a very rare occurrence (Gavin et al. 2003). This ecosystem usually arises from the middle-bench floodplain sites as the accumulation of fluvial sediments raise the site, reducing the flooding frequency and altering the growing conditions on the site (McLennan 1995, MacKenzie and Moran 2004). Erosion can remove these sites from the landscape, though they are more temporally stable than other floodplain ecosystems (Schwab et al. 2002, de Groot et al. 2005).
Spatial Pattern: Linear
 
Distribution
Endemic: Y
   
Authors / Contributors
Author: de Groot, A., Cadrin, C.M., H.K. Yearsley, I. Ronalds and D.S. McLennan
Last updated: Mar 30, 2012
   
References and Related Literature
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.
Banner, A., W. MacKenzie, S. Haeussler, S. Thomson, J. Pojar, and R. Trowbridge. 1993. A field guide to site identification and interpretation for the Prince Rupert Forest Region. B.C. Minist. For., Res. Branch, Victoria, B.C. Land Manage. Handb. No. 26.
Clement, C. 1990. Ecosystem units of the Khutzeymateen and Kateen drainages. Unpubl. rep. prepared for For. Sci. Sect., B.C. Minist. of For., Smithers, B.C. 81pp.
de Groot, A., S. Haussler and D. Yole. 2005. Landscape and Stand Scale Structure and Dynamics, and Conservation Ranking, of the Skeena River Floodplain Forests. Bulkley Valley Centre for Natural Resource Research and Management, Smithers, B.C.
Gavin, D.G., L.B. Brubaker and K.P. Lertzman. 2003. Holocene fire history of a coastal temperate rain forest based on soil charcoal radiocarbon dates. Ecology 84: 186201.
Green, R.N., and K. Klinka. 1994. A field guide to site identification and interpretation for the Vancouver Forest Region. B.C. Minist. For., Res. Branch, Victoria, B.C. Land Manage. Handb. No. 28.
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.
McLennan, D.S. 1995. Vegetation Dynamics and Ecosystem Classification on Alluvial Floodplains in Coastal British Columbia. In K.E. Morgan and M.A. Lashmar (eds). Proceedings of a Workshop Sponsored by Environment Canada and the B.C. Forestry Continuing Studies Network held in Kamloops, BC, 4-5 May, 1993: 33-43. Fraser River Action Plan Special Publication. Environment Canada: North Vancouver, B.C.
NatureServe. 2005e. Global Comprehensive Report for Picea sitchensis - Tsuga heterophylla / Oplopanax horridus - Rubus spectabilis / Gymnocarpium dryopteris Forest. Online. Available: http://natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchCommunityUid=ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.786784.
Schwab, J.W., Hogan, D.L. and I. Weiland. 2002. Floodplain hazard assessment: Application to forest land management in British Columbia, Canada. In P.T. Bobrowsky (ed). Geoenviromental mapping: Methods, theory and practice: 343-368. A.A. Balkema Publishers: The Netherlands.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] (Reconnaissance Level), of the King Island and Ingram-Ellerslie Lake Study Area of the central B.C. coast. March 31, 2006. Prepared for David Byng, Western Forest Products Inc., Campbell River, B.C., by R.N. Green, B.A. Blackwell and Associates Ltd.1:20 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] for the Clayoquot Sound Area (Atleo, Bedwell, Bulson River, Catface, Flores Island, Fortune, Hesquiat, Hesquiat Peninsula, Pretty Girl, Sydney River, Tranquil Creek and Ursus Creek study areas). March 1999h. Prepared for Ministry of Forests, Port Alberni Forest District, by Madrone Consultants Ltd., Duncan, B.C., 1:20,000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] for the Clayoquot Sound Area (Marble study area). March 1999f. Prepared for Ministry of Forests, Port Alberni Forest District, by Madrone Consultants Ltd., Duncan, B.C., 1:20,000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] for the Clayoquot Sound Area (Muriel Ridge study area). March 1999g. Prepared for Ministry of Forests, Port Alberni Forest District, by Madrone Consultants Ltd., Duncan, B.C., 1:20,000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] for the Clayoquot Sound Study Area, Year Four. March 2002f. Prepared for the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Nanaimo Forest District, by Madrone Consultants Ltd., Duncan, B.C. 1:20 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of Indian Arm and Mount Seymour Provincial Parks. 2000d. Prepared for BC Parks, Lower Mainland Region, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, by Innes, T., R. Fuller and D. Spaeth Filatow. 1:20 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of Knight Inlet (TFL 45). 1999c. Prepared for Interfor, by B.A. Blackwell and Associates. 1:20 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of Princess Royal Island. January, 1997c. Norecol, Dames and Moore, Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia. 1:50 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of TFL 41 - Dala Creek. 1997. Acer Resource Consulting. 1:20 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of the Deer Group and Vernon Bay, Vancouver Island, B.C. March 2002d. Madrone Consultants Ltd., Duncan, B.C. 1:20, 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of the Escalante Watershed Unit. March 2002e. Prepared for the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management Coast Region, by Madrone Consultants Ltd., Duncan, B.C. 1:20 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of the Gold River and Conuma Study Areas (TFL 19). February 1999e. Prepared for Western Forest Products Ltd., Gold River Woodlands, by Madrone Consultants Ltd., 1:20 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of the Khutzeymateen River Study Area. 1989. Shearwater Mapping Ltd. 1:20 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of the Lull Sallie Study Area. 2003c. Shearwater Mapping Ltd., Victoria, B.C. 1:20,000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of the Mission Tree Farm. March 31, 2003d. Prepared for District of Mission, B.C., by R.N. Green, B.A. Blackwell and Associates Ltd., B.C. 1:20 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of the Strathcona TSA - Eliza Kaouk Landscape Unit. 2003b. Prepared for Western Forest Products, by B.A. Blackwell and Associates. 1:20 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of the Strathcona TSA - Fullmore Landscape Unit. 2004. Prepared for Western Forest Products, by B.A. Blackwell and Associates. 1:20 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of the Strathcona TSA - Gold Landscape Unit. 2004b. Prepared for Western Forest Products, by B.A. Blackwell and Associates. 1:20 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of the Strathcona TSA - Tahsis Landscape Unit. 2005. Prepared for Western Forest Products, by B.A. Blackwell and Associates. 1:20 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] Report for Effingham River and Toquart Bay. January 2003f. Prepared for Ministry Of Forests Nanaimo Forest District, by Madrone Consultants Ltd., Duncan, B.C. 1:20 000 spatial data.
University of British Columbia Department of Forest Sciences. 1991. Vegetation and Site Classification for Coastal British Columbia. Vegetation and Environment Summaries. Univ. B.C., Vancouver, BC.
 

Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for definitions of the data fields used in this summary report.

Suggested Citation:

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2012. Ecological Community Summary: Picea sitchensis / Rubus spectabilis Very Wet Maritime. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 4, 2026).