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CEGL008685 Tsuga mertensiana / Sparse Understory Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mountain Hemlock / Sparse Understory Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: Stands of this forest are found throughout the Sierra Nevada, however, predominantly north of the Kings River. This association is found at mid to high elevations (2255-2990 m [7400-9800 feet]) on gentle to somewhat steep (2-29%) slopes. Aspect varies but is often on northeast-facing slopes. Microrelief is usually broken and hummocky. Sites are found at lower to upper portions of slopes and rarely, are on ridgetops. Soils are typically from granitic parent material, however, some stands to the north are derived from volcanic or mixed lithology. These soils are typically greater that 63.5 cm (25 inches) and occasionally greater than 89 cm (35 inches). Very little bare soil is usually exposed. Soil depths range from 35-100 cm (14-40 inches). Soil textures range from sand to loam and are excessively drained to well drained. Stands form a dense forest with an open understory. The tree layer is dominated by Tsuga mertensiana mixed with Abies magnifica. Pinus contorta var. murrayana and Pinus monticola are also important overstory tree species. The understory layers are typically open. Occasional shrub species may include Ribes roezlii and Ribes montigenum. Herb species may include Eucephalus breweri, Hieracium albiflorum, Poa bolanderi, and Carex rossii. Conifer regeneration is high at this association and is dominated by Abies magnifica with significantly lower amounts of Tsuga mertensiana.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands form a dense forest with an open understory. The tree layer is dominated by Tsuga mertensiana mixed with Abies magnifica. Pinus contorta var. murrayana and Pinus monticola are also important overstory tree species. The understory layers are typically open. Occasional shrub species may include Ribes roezlii (= Grossularia roezlii) and Ribes montigenum. Herb species may include Eucephalus breweri (= Chrysopsis breweri), Hieracium albiflorum, Poa bolanderi, and Carex rossii. Conifer regeneration is high at this association and is dominated by Abies magnifica with significantly lower amounts of Tsuga mertensiana (Potter 1994, 1998).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association is found at mid to high elevations (2255-2990 m [7400-9800 feet]) on gentle to somewhat steep (2-29%) slopes. Aspect varies but is often on northeast-facing slopes. Microrelief is usually broken and hummocky. Sites are found at lower to upper portions of slopes and rarely, are on ridgetops. Soils are typically from granitic parent material, however, some stands to the north are derived from volcanic or mixed lithology. These soils are typically greater that 63.5 cm (25 inches) and occasionally greater than 89 cm (35 inches). Very little bare soil is usually exposed. Soil depths range from 35-100 cm (14-40 inches). Soil textures range from sand to loam and are excessively drained to well drained (Potter 1994, 1998).
Geographic Range: Stands of this forest are found throughout the Sierra Nevada, however, predominantly north of the Kings River (Potter 1994, 1998).
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, OR
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683520
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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.Nd Vancouverian Forest & Woodland Division | D192 | 1.B.2.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nd.4 California Red Fir - Mountain Hemlock - Sierra Lodgepole Pine Forest Macrogroup | M025 | 1.B.2.Nd.4 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nd.4.a California Red Fir - Shasta Red Fir - Mountain Hemlock Forest Group | G749 | 1.B.2.Nd.4.a |
| Alliance | A3620 Mountain Hemlock - Sierra Lodgepole Pine Sierran Forest Alliance | A3620 | 1.B.2.Nd.4.a |
| Association | CEGL008685 Mountain Hemlock / Sparse Understory Forest | CEGL008685 | 1.B.2.Nd.4.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Tsuga mertensiana - Abies magnifica x procera association (Odion et al. 2013)
= Tsuga mertensiana (Sawyer et al. 2009) [84.100.04]
= Tsuga mertensiana / Sparse Understory Forest (Keeler-Wolf 2002)
= Tsuga mertensiana / Sparse Understory Forest (DiPaolo et al. 2018)
= Tsuga mertensiana Forest (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
= Mountain Hemlock (Potter 1998)
= Tsuga mertensiana (Sawyer et al. 2009) [84.100.04]
= Tsuga mertensiana / Sparse Understory Forest (Keeler-Wolf 2002)
= Tsuga mertensiana / Sparse Understory Forest (DiPaolo et al. 2018)
= Tsuga mertensiana Forest (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
= Mountain Hemlock (Potter 1998)
- DiPaolo, D. A., D. C. Odion, K. M. Rolih, P. Adamus, and D. A. Sarr. 2018. Vegetation classification and mapping: Crater Lake National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/CRLA/NRR--2018/1663. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 550 pp.
- Keeler-Wolf, T. 2002. Classification of the vegetation of Yosemite National Park and surrounding environs in Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera and Mono counties, California. NatureServe in cooperation with the California Native Plant Society and California Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA. August 2002.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., M. Schindel, S. San, P. Moore, and D. Hickson. 2003a. Classification of the vegetation of Yosemite National Park and surrounding environs in Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera and Mono counties, California. Unpublished report by NatureServe in cooperation with the California Native Plant Society and California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Sacramento, CA.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., P. E. Moore, E. T. Reyes, J. M. Menke, D. N. Johnson, and D. L. Karavidas. 2012. Yosemite National Park vegetation classification and mapping project report. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/YOSE/NRTR--2012/598. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Odion, D. C., D. A. DiPaolo, L. C. Groshong, D. A. Sarr, and S. Mohren. 2013. Vegetation Inventory Project: Oregon Caves National Monument and proposed expansion area. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/ORCA/NRTR--2013/782. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 272 pp.
- Potter, D. A. 1994. Guide to forested communities of the upper montane in the central and southern Sierra Nevada. Technical Publication R5-ECOL-TP-003. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, San Francisco, CA.
- Potter, D. A. 1998. Forested communities of the upper montane in the central and southern Sierra Nevada. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Albany, CA. 319 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.