Speckled alder, alder

Alder is a colonizing species that invades sites after a forest fire or clear-cutting. It does not tolerate shade, however, and is quickly replaced by more shade-tolerant species. Throughout its distribution area, speckled alder forms a band around the upper limit of the flood plain around most lakes and watercourses. It often dominates plant stands in this band or is found with other shrubs (willows, sweet gale, etc.) or trees that typically grow near watercourses (black spruce, Eastern larch, black ash, red maple). It is often accompanied by various species of herbaceous plants, including sensitive fern, royal fern and cape touch-me-not. Alder enriches the soil with the nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its root nodules. These orange, coral-like nodules sometimes grow as large as a ping-pong ball. Bees gather the pollen to feed their brood. Alder thickets provide young common snipe with protection from their enemies. Ringed grouse and sharp-tailed grouse eat the leaves, buds and fruit. American porcupines eat the catkins. Redpolls, siskins and woodcocks enjoy the fruit and beavers eat the bark and leaves.