Print Report
CEGL001065 Amelanchier alnifolia / Pseudoroegneria spicata - Bunchgrass Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Saskatoon Serviceberry / Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Bunchgrass Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community is found in the mountains of northwestern Montana and in the northwestern Great Plains on moderately deep to deep fine loam soils which often have a high percentage of rock fragments. It is dominated by short shrubs and mid grasses. Amelanchier alnifolia is the most common shrub. Others include Artemisia tridentata, Purshia tridentata, Spiraea betulifolia, Symphoricarpos spp., Rhus trilobata, Cercocarpus montanus, and Prunus virginiana. In the higher elevation stands, occasionally Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus ponderosa, Picea engelmannii, and Betula papyrifera are present within a young tree canopy, but these have insignificant cover. Typical grasses (mostly bunchgrasses) are Festuca idahoensis, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Leucopoa kingii, Achnatherum nelsonii ssp. dorei, Carex rossii, and Carex geyeri. Forbs include Achillea millefolium, Penstemon confertus, and Eriogonum flavum.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: It has been proposed to rename this type Amelanchier alnifolia / Bunchgrass Shrubland to recognize that the graminoid component of this type is variable, although site parameters are similar across its range. Pseudoroegneria spicata is a good indicator species for this type''s name, so for now we will retain the current nomenclature.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The shrub layer is dominated by Amelanchier alnifolia and/or Prunus virginiana either of which are considered diagnostic and whose combined cover often exceeds 50%. Other shrubs consistently present, though not exhibiting coverages much in excess of 5%, are Symphoricarpos spp., Spiraea betulifolia, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda; in the plains and southern portion of the type''s distribution Rhus trilobata, Artemisia tridentata, and Purshia tridentata may be common. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is more common in the northern representation of this type. In the higher elevation stands, occasionally Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus ponderosa, Picea engelmannii, and Betula papyrifera are present within a young tree canopy, but these have insignificant cover. The graminoid component , though dominated by those of tussock form, also differs slightly by region with Festuca campestris, Carex geyeri, and Bromus carinatus being more important to the north and Pseudoroegneria spicata, Leucopoa kingii (= Festuca kingii), Achnatherum nelsonii ssp. dorei (= Stipa columbiana), and Carex rossii more important to the south; Festuca idahoensis is constant at low coverages throughout the association. There are no diagnostic forbs but a number with high constancy that also occur in mesic grasslands/open forests include Galium boreale, Eurybia conspicua (= Aster conspicuus), Balsamorhiza sagittata, Campanula rotundifolia, Eriogonum flavum, Eriogonum umbellatum, Geranium viscosissimum, Lithospermum ruderale, Lomatium dissectum, Potentilla gracilis, Potentilla glandulosa, and Penstemon confertus.
Dynamics: In the southern portion of the type''s range and in certain locations in the foothills and lower elevation sites along the Rocky Mountain Front, this is conceived to be a long-term stable (climax) vegetation type. Northward in its range this type becomes more associated with disturbance phenomena, particularly stand-replacing fire and erosion (subsequent) and is distinctly a seral type. However, reforestation may require well in excess of 100 years if soil loss has accompanied the disturbance. Stumps and burned, downed logs were common on some sites within the northern range. Also ubiquitous in the northern range is the severe browsing on Amelanchier; on some sites this species is no higher than 0.4-0.5 m, though its potential is several times this height.
Environmental Description: This small-patch association has been documented from Wyoming and Montana and extends northward along the Rocky Mountain Front and foothills well into Alberta, at elevations between 1330 and 1829 m (4361-5996 feet). It is associated with somewhat different environmental parameters depending on locality. In Wyoming it is found in plains landscapes on deep and relatively fine-textured soils with a high rock component. To the north it has been described from sites as disparate as the foothill''s mosaic of grasslands, shrublands and forest openings, a gravelly alluvial fan at foothills/mountains transition, to an upper subalpine site that has experienced a hot burn in the last 50 years. The bulk of hard data come from Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park where this type is largely successional, having resulted from stand-replacing fire. Sites here are on primarily south- through west-facing, moderate to steep slopes, often on spur ridges or wind-buffeted slope shoulders . These sites probably have shallow soils before burning, and there are indications (e.g., pedicelling) that soil loss occurred following the fires and continues to this day. There is considerable exposed substrate and rock, not infrequently exceeding 20% on northern range examples of this association. These sites are well- to rapidly drained.
Geographic Range: This small-patch association has been documented from Wyoming and Montana and extends northward along the Rocky Mountain Front and foothills well into Alberta.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, MT, NV, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683491
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4Q
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D022 | 2.B.2.Nf |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nf.2 Saskatoon Serviceberry / Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup | M048 | 2.B.2.Nf.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.2.b Saskatoon Serviceberry - Snowberry species - Smooth Sumac Central Rocky Mountain Shrubland Group | G272 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.b |
| Alliance | A3963 Saskatoon Serviceberry Central Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Shrubland Alliance | A3963 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001065 Saskatoon Serviceberry / Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Bunchgrass Shrubland | CEGL001065 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Amelanchier alnifolia / Agropyron spicatum Community Type (Harvey 1980)
= S23: Amelanchier alnifolia - Prunus virginiana Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
= S23: Amelanchier alnifolia - Prunus virginiana Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
- Achuff, P. L., R. L. McNeil, M. L. Coleman, C. Wallis and C. Wershler. 2002. Ecological land classification of Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. Volume I: Integrated resource description. Parks Canada, Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. 226 pp.
- Allen, L. 2012-2013. Alberta Conservation Information Management System Ecological Community Tracking List. Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Edmonton, AB. [http://tpr.alberta.ca/parks/heritageinfocentre/default.aspx]
- 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.
- Erixson, J., D. Cogan, and J. Von Loh. 2011b. Vegetation inventory project report: Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Report NPS/UCBN/NRR--2011/434 National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Harvey, S. J. 1980. The potential and current vegetation of the Sun River Game Range. Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Helena, MT. 85 pp.
- Hop, K., M. Reid, J. Dieck, S. Lubinski, and S. Cooper. 2007. U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. 131 pp. plus Appendices A-L.
- Jones, G. 1992b. Wyoming plant community classification (Draft). Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, Laramie, WY. 183 pp.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Peterson, E. B. 2008. International Vegetation Classification alliances and associations occurring in Nevada with proposed additions. Nevada Natural Heritage Program, Carson City, NV. 348 pp.
- Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
- WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.