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BC Conservation Data Centre: Ecological Community Summary

Carex sitchensis / Sphagnum spp.
Sitka sedge / peat-mosses

 
Scientific Name: Carex sitchensis / Sphagnum spp.
English Name: Sitka sedge / peat-mosses
Scientific Name - Concept Reference: 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.
Ecosystem Group: Wetland Realm - Peatland Group: Fen Wetland Class (Wf)
   
Conservation Status / Legal Designation
Global Status: G2
Provincial Status: S2 (Jan 2014)
BC List: Red
Provincial FRPA list:   
Notable Species:
 
Ecology & Dynamics
Environmental Summary: This ecological community is generally found at low elevations in the wettest climatic regions of the west coast. It typically occurs on sloping fens where there is some gradual flow (sluggish) of shallow surface water in hollows and drainage channels within the peatland sites. It may also be found at the edges of ponds or basins with similar site conditions. Soils are typically fibrisols (poorly decomposed and recognizable plant matter) and occur on shallow peat veneers or deep blankets of peat. Soils are very wet, slightly to moderately acidic and of poor to medium nutirent regime (Mackenzie and Moran 2004).
Vegetation Summary: This community is typified by a dense cover of Carex sitchensis (Sitka sedge). A variety of Sphagnum species are abundant, indicative of the wider hydrological tolerance of Sphagnum spp. in coastal climates. S. angustifolium, S. capillifolium, S. fuscum and S. magellanicum occur on sites with poorer nutrient conditions, and on intermediate nutrient conditions S.centrale, S. squarrosum, S. subnitens, S. subsecundum, S. teres, and S. warnstorfii may occur. Comarum palustre (common cinquefoil) commonly occurs but with low cover. Other species that tend to occur less commonly and with lower cover include some or all of the following: Calamagrostis canadensis (bluejoint reedgrass), Menyanthes trifoliata (buckbean), Sanguisorba stipulata (Sitka burnet), Viola palustris var. palustris (marsh violet) and Aulacomnium palustre (glow moss) (Mackenzie and Moran, 2004).
Dynamic Processes Summary: This fen ecosystem commonly includes mineral soil materials found within organic layers, which indicates past successional change between fen and marsh or swamp conditions over a long period of time.
Spatial Pattern: Small patch
 
Distribution
Endemic: Y
   
Authors / Contributors
Author: Cadrin, C.M. and H.K. Yearsley
Last updated: Aug 27, 2013
   
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.H. MacKenzie, J. Pojar, A. MacKinnon, S.C. Saunders, and H. Klassen. 2014. A field guide to ecosystem classification and identification for Haida Gwaii. Prov. B.C., Victoria, B.C. Land Manag. Handb. 68. www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Lmh/Lmh68.htm
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.
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.
Predictive Ecosystem Mapping [PEM] - EcoGen of the Morice Forest District. March 2001b. Ministry of Forests Research Branch, Ministry of Forests Prince Rupert Region and, Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management Skeena Region. 1:20 000 spatial data.
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 Princess Royal Island. January, 1997c. Norecol, Dames and Moore, Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia. 1:50 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of TFL 39 - Mamin Blackwater Study Area. 1998e. Shearwater Mapping Ltd., Victoria, B.C. 1:20 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of TFL 39 - Peel and Security River Study Area. 1998d. Prepared for Weyerhauser, by Shearwater Mapping Ltd. 1:20 000 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 Namu (Koeye) Study Area. 2003e. Shearwater Mapping Ltd., Victoria, B.C. 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] of the Tulsequah Chief Mine and Access Road Expanded Study Area. October, 2002h. Prepared for the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Smithers, B.C., by Robert Fuller and Forest Information Systems. Victoria, B.C. 1:20 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of the Tulsequah Chief Study Area. 1996c. JMJ Holdings Inc., Nelson, B.C. 1:50 000 spatial data.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping [TEM] of the Upper Yakoun River. 1996d. Prepared for Weyerhauser, by Shearwater Mapping Ltd. 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.
 

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. 2013. Ecological Community Summary: Carex sitchensis / Sphagnum spp.. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 7, 2026).