Anoka Ecosystems:
Tamarack Swamp
Tamarack swamps, including Sphagnum Tamarack Swamps, Minerotrophic Tamarack Swamps, and Seepage Tamarack Swamps, form on organic, peat soils, because they often fare better on acidic, nutrient-poor soils than most other wetland trees do. Many stands in Anoka County occur in dense stands on shallow peat along lakes, floodplains and nutrient poor wetlands. In the absence of significant disturbance, Tamarack swamps often succeed shrub swamps, rich fens, poor fens, and sometimes Hardwood Swamps. Tamarack seeds and saplings thrive on open sunlight. Individual tamaracks are often seen in the middle of sedge meadows, fens and shrubs hummocky shrub swamps.
Tamarack Swamps contain a variety of different species, but by definition must have more than 50% cover being tamarack trees. In addition to the tamarack, species such as black spruce, paper birch, yellow birch, white pine, blace ash, American elm, or red maple may be part of the canopy. The understory is largely defined by the variety of Tamarack Swamp, but all types of Tamarack Swamp have a mixture of shrubs, forbs and grasses in the understory.
Sources:
"Minnesota Land Cover Classification System: User Manual." Version 5.3 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Central Region, 2004.
"Minnesota's Native Vegetation: A Key to Natural Communities" Version 1.5 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, 1993.
Wovcha, D, Delaney, B, Nordquist, G. Minnesota's St. Croix River Valley and Anoka Sandplain: A Guide to Native Habitats Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 1995.
