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CEGL000887 Abies concolor / Festuca arizonica Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Fir / Arizona Fescue Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This white fir woodland association occurs in the mountains of Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. This description is based on information from Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado. Additional global information will be added as it becomes available. This association occurs on colluvial slopes and sand ramps with elevation ranging from 2635 to 2950 m. Slopes are gentle to steep and northwest-facing. Soils are well-drained loamy sands. Ground cover is variable with litter and duff and bare soil. This association is characterized by an open to moderately dense canopy codominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii and Abies concolor. Pinus ponderosa and Juniperus scopulorum may also be present. The shrub layer is sparse and may include Symphoricarpos ssp., Artemisia frigida, and Ribes leptanthum. Herbaceous cover ranges from 5-45% and is graminoid-dominated, but with a moderately diverse sparse forb component. Dominant species include Festuca arizonica and Poa fendleriana.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Pinus ponderosa dominates in early- to mid-seral stages; Abies concolor and Pseudotsuga menziesii are codominants with pine in late-seral stands. Picea pungens, Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica, and Picea engelmannii are absent or accidental. In the understory, coverage of shrubs and forbs is subordinate to codominant with graminoids. Festuca arizonica is dominant in the Festuca arizonica phase and absent or minor in the Poa fendleriana phase. The Quercus gambelii phase has <5% cover for Quercus gambelii.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Stuever and Hayden (1997a) identify three phases: (1) Festuca arizonica Phase (typic phase): Known from San Francisco Peaks, Mogollon Plateau, White Mountains and San Juan Mountains. Elevations range from 2139 to 2870 m (7000-9400 feet). Tree species mix of Abies concolor, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Pinus ponderosa; moderate to heavy stocking of Abies concolor regeneration and light to moderate stocking of Pseudotsuga menziesii regeneration. Pinus ponderosa may have scattered regeneration in mature stands. Shrubs are minor except on some stony soils where Mahonia repens may dominate beneath conifers. Understory dominated by bunchgrasses, including Festuca arizonica, Muhlenbergia straminea, and Muhlenbergia montana. Forbs are rich in variety and generally have high cover. (2) Poa fendleriana Phase: Known from the White Mountains of Arizona at elevations of 2620 to 2710 m (8600-8900 feet). Overstory as shown above; Abies concolor and Pseudotsuga menziesii having moderate young and advanced regeneration. Undergrowth characterized by high coverage of grasses and forbs. The grasses are dominated by Poa fendleriana (15-20% cover). Festuca arizonica is absent or rare; other grasses and a very diverse range of forbs make up the remaining undercover. (3) Quercus gambelii Phase: Similar to other phases except Quercus gambelii is a minor seral but constitutes <5% cover. When cover for Quercus gambelii exceeds 5% refer to descriptions to similar types, e.g., ~Abies concolor / Quercus gambelii Forest (CEGL000261)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: No Data Available
Dynamics: Fire history is important in the succession of stands in this type. Under a pre-1890 fire regime, the erratic nature of wildfire creates patchy mosaics of regeneration. Fire is a thinning agent which often kills young/smaller trees at low intensities or may consume entire stands with high-intensity crown fires. In the latter situation, the resulting openings are often conducive to reestablishment of herbs because of the favorable light conditions and temporarily elevated nutrient supply. Low-intensity surface fires can be a useful management tool.
Environmental Description: This type occurs on all aspects and on all slopes within elevations ranging from 2500 to 3000 m (8200-9850 feet) and is widely distributed throughout the mountains of Arizona, New Mexico, and southern Colorado.
Geographic Range: This woodland association occurs in the mountains of Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683162
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Nb Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Division | D194 | 1.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nb.1 White Fir - Douglas-fir - Blue Spruce Forest Macrogroup | M022 | 1.B.2.Nb.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c White Fir - Douglas-fir Southern Rocky Mountain Dry Forest Group | G226 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Alliance | A3420 White Fir Dry Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3420 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Association | CEGL000887 White Fir / Arizona Fescue Woodland | CEGL000887 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Festuca arizonica (Johnston 1987)
= Abies concolor / Festuca arizonica (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Abies concolor / Festuca arizonica Association (Larson and Moir 1987)
= Abies concolor / Festuca arizonica Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
= Abies concolor / Festuca arizonica (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Abies concolor / Festuca arizonica Association (Larson and Moir 1987)
= Abies concolor / Festuca arizonica Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
- Alexander, B. G., Jr., F. Ronco, Jr., E. L. Fitzhugh, and J. A. Ludwig. 1984a. A classification of forest habitat types of the Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico. General Technical Report RM-104. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 29 pp.
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- DeVelice, R. L., J. A. Ludwig, W. H. Moir, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1986. A classification of forest habitat types of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. General Technical Report RM-131. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 59 pp.
- Fitzhugh, E. L., W. H. Moir, J. A. Ludwig, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1987. Forest habitat types in the Apache, Gila, and part of the Cibola national forests. General Technical Report RM-145. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 116 pp.
- Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
- Larson, M., and W. H. Moir. 1987. Forest and woodland habitat types of northern New Mexico and northern Arizona. Edition 2. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM.
- Moir, W. H., and J. A. Ludwig. 1979. A classification of spruce-fir and mixed conifer habitat types of Arizona and New Mexico. Research Paper RM-207. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 47 pp.
- Salas, D. E., J. Stevens, K. Schulz, M. Artmann, B. Friesen, S. Blauer, E. W. Schweiger, and A. Valdez. 2010b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMN/NRR--2010/179. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Stuever, M. C., and J. S. Hayden. 1997a. Plant associations of Arizona and New Mexico, edition 3. Volume 1: Forests. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region. Habitat Typing Guides. 291 pp.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1986. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of southern New Mexico and central Arizona (north of the Mogollon Rim). USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM. Second edition, 140 pp. plus insert.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1987a. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of northern New Mexico and northern Arizona. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM. Second edition, 170 pp. plus insert.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.