Home/Ecosystems/ Eastern Great Plains Tallgrass Aspen Parkland

Eastern Great Plains Tallgrass Aspen Parkland

EVT 7268Eastern Great Plains Tallgrass Aspen Shrubland

CES205.688GNRShrubShrubland

Summary

This system is found primarily on part of the Glacial Lake Agassiz plain in northwestern Minnesota, ranging into southern Canada. Calcareous glacial drift overlain with lacustrine soils ranging from loamy to gravelly is characteristic of the lakeplain within the range of this system. Historically this system included a mosaic of tallgrass prairie, wet prairie, brush prairie and aspen-oak woodlands. It is dominated by Populus tremuloides with scattered Quercus macrocarpa and Betula papyrifera. Shrubs such as willow (Salix spp.) and hazel (Corylus spp.) are also common. The dominant tallgrass species is Andropogon gerardii often associated with Sorghastrum nutans, Calamagrostis spp., and Sporobolus heterolepis. Fire is the most important natural dynamic in this system and helps maintain the open parkland or brush nature of this system. Wind and grazing are also important dynamics. Conversion to agriculture and fire suppression have decreased the range of this system and allowed more shrubs and trees to establish.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Vegetation

Vegetation is dominated by Populus tremuloides with scattered Quercus macrocarpa and Betula papyrifera. Shrubs such as willow (Salix spp.) and hazel (Corylus spp.) are also common. The dominant tallgrass species is Andropogon gerardii often associated with Sorghastrum nutans, Calamagrostis spp., and Sporobolus heterolepis.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Environment

This system occurs largely on the lakeplain of Glacial Lake Agassiz. This landscape is very flat with soils ranging from fine to somewhat coarse. Drainage is moderate to poor at most sites.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Dynamics

The interaction of fire and regional climate shaped this system. Aspen parklands occur on the margin of the northern prairies and northern forests. The climate will support tallgrass, tree and shrub species, and aspen parklands are a mix of these lifeforms. Frequent fires favor the spread of tallgrass species and reduce woody cover (Svedarsky et al. 1986). Sites not burned as often, due to a fire-protected position on the landscape or to a reduction in fire frequency across the entire landscape, tend to become dominated by trees and shrubs. An average fire-return interval of 10-15 years was estimated by Landfire modelers (Landfire 2007a), though individual areas would have burned less or more often. This system occurs on a very flat landscape and minor variations in topography can create wet prairie or wet shrub pockets within the parkland.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Threats

Reduction in fire frequency and use of sites for agricultural purposes are the two main threats to this system. Reduction in fire frequency quickly results in shrubs and trees spreading into former prairie areas and in a closing of the canopy in former shrublands or woodlands. Many site of this system are on rich soil which can be used for sugar beets or other northern crops, resulting in destruction of the site. Overgrazing by livestock preferentially reduces cover of warm-season grasses in favor of forbs, cool-season grasses, shrubs and trees.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Distribution

This system is found primarily on part of the Glacial Lake Agassiz plain in northwestern Minnesota, ranging into southern Canada.

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.

Tree canopy

Betula papyrifera, Populus tremuloides, Quercus macrocarpa

Tree subcanopy

Cornus sericea ssp. sericea

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Amelanchier alnifolia, Corylus americana

Herb (field)

Andropogon gerardi, Calamagrostis canadensis, Sorghastrum nutans, Sporobolus heterolepis

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

Ecologically Associated Animals (7)

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.

Mammals (1)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Prairie Vole	Microtus ochrogaster	G5

Birds (1)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Whooping Crane	Grus americana	G1

Butterflies & Moths (3)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Manitoba Oakworm Moth	Anisota manitobensis	G2Q
Poweshiek Skipperling	Oarisma poweshiek	G1
Blazing Star Stem Borer	Papaipema beeriana	G3?

Other (2)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Meadow Vole	Microtus pennsylvanicus	G5
Meadow Jumping Mouse	Zapus hudsonius	G5

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

At-Risk Species Associated with this Ecosystem (4)

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 Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank	ESA Status
Manitoba Oakworm Moth	Anisota manitobensis	G2Q	--
Whooping Crane	Grus americana	G1	Endangered; Experimental population, non-essential
Poweshiek Skipperling	Oarisma poweshiek	G1	Endangered
Blazing Star Stem Borer	Papaipema beeriana	G3?	--

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

Component Associations (6)

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.

Name	G-Rank
Betula papyrifera / Corylus cornuta Forest	G2	NatureServe
Populus tremuloides / Corylus americana Forest		NatureServe
Populus tremuloides / Corylus spp. / Andropogon gerardii Woodland		NatureServe
Populus tremuloides - Quercus macrocarpa - Andropogon gerardii Brush Grassland	G2	NatureServe
Quercus macrocarpa - Populus tremuloides / Corylus spp. Woodland	G4	NatureServe
Salix petiolaris - (Betula pumila) / Spartina pectinata - Carex pellita Wet Shrubland		NatureServe

State Conservation Ranks (2)

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.

State	S-Rank
MN	SNR
ND	SNR

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.