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CEGL000985 Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii Krummholz
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Krummholz
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These dwarf-tree shrublands occur in the upper treeline areas of the Rocky Mountains. Elevations range from 3600 m in Colorado down to 2000 m in northern Montana and Canada. Climate is cold, temperate, often with heavy winter snow, and short cool summers. Sites are nearly level to steeply sloping. Stands are often extensive on more mesic north aspects. Sites are windswept most of the year by prevailing westerly winds. Winter winds are especially intense, desiccate and kill needles and stems, and deform branches that are above the snowpack. Soils are shallow, lithic, gravelly or sandy loams, and rock outcrops are common. Stands form a mosaic of dense patches of dwarfed evergreen conifer trees (usually less than 2 m tall, with occasional taller wind-flagged individuals) in alpine meadows or fell-fields. The woody canopy is dominated by stunted Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii. Pinus albicaulis, Pinus flexilis, or Pinus aristata may be present to codominant. Occasional Pinus contorta or Larix lyallii may be present in some stands. Picea engelmannii is more prominent on more xeric sites in more southern latitudes, and Abies lasiocarpa is more prominent on mesic sites and in the north. Other woody species may be present, including shrubs and dwarf-shrubs such as Phyllodoce glanduliflora, Kalmia polifolia, Ribes montigenum, Vaccinium membranaceum, and Vaccinium scoparium. The herbaceous layer is sparse under dense shrub canopies, or may be dense turf where the shrub canopy is open and where soil is not limiting. It is often dominated by mesic or xeric alpine forb and graminoid species but may include subalpine species especially in protected areas.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association has only been described from Colorado, northwestern Montana and Alberta, but occurs elsewhere in the Rocky Mountains. Differences is understory composition in southern Rocky Mountain stands and northern Rocky Mountain stands may justify creating new associations. More survey and classification work are needed.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands form a mosaic of dense patches of dwarfed evergreen conifer trees (usually less than 2 m tall, with occasional taller wind-flagged individuals) in alpine meadows and turf or fell-fields. The woody canopy is dominated or codominated by stunted Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii. Occasional Pinus albicaulis, Pinus flexilis, Pinus aristata, Pinus contorta, or Larix lyallii may be present to codominant. Picea engelmannii is more prominent on more xeric sites and in more southern latitudes, and Abies lasiocarpa is more prominent on more mesic sites and in the north. Other woody species, including shrubs and dwarf-shrubs such as Phyllodoce glanduliflora, Kalmia polifolia, Ribes montigenum, Vaccinium membranaceum, and Vaccinium scoparium, may be present. The herbaceous layer is sparse under dense shrub canopy, or may be dense turf where the shrub canopy is open and where soil is not limiting. It is often dominated by mesic or xeric alpine forb and graminoid species but may include subalpine species especially in protected areas. Common species may include the forbs Antennaria spp., Arenaria fendleri, Arnica spp., Artemisia scopulorum, Astragalus kentrophyta, Erigeron peregrinus, Erigeron rydbergii, Draba oligosperma, Geum rossii, Minuartia obtusiloba, Phlox pulvinata, Polemonium pulcherrimum, Orthilia secunda, Potentilla diversifolia, Sedum lanceolatum, Sibbaldia procumbens, Silene acaulis, Smelowskia calycina, Streptopus amplexifolius, Thalictrum occidentale, Trifolium dasyphyllum, Valeriana sitchensis, Veratrum viride, and the graminoids Calamagrostis purpurascens, Carex elynoides, Carex rupestris var. drummondiana, Carex heteroneura, Festuca brachyphylla, Kobresia myosuroides, Luzula glabrata, Luzula spicata, Phleum alpinum, Poa alpina, and Trisetum spicatum.
Dynamics: In the harsh wind-swept environment where these shrublands occur, trees are stunted and flagged from wind damage. The stands or patches often originate when Picea engelmannii or Pinus albicaulis colonize a sheltered site such as the lee side of a rock. Abies lasiocarpa then can colonize in the shelter of the Picea engelmannii and may form a dense canopy by branch layering (Habeck 1969, Zwinger and Willard 1996). Sexual reproduction and the role of disturbances from frost heaving and small mammal burrows that expose mineral soil need further investigation (Habeck and Choate 1963).
Environmental Description: These dwarf-tree shrublands occur in the upper treeline areas of the Rocky Mountains. Elevations range from 3600 m in Colorado down to 2000 m in northern Montana and Canada. Climate is cold, temperate, often with heavy winter snow, and short cool summers. Sites are nearly level to steeply sloping. Stands are often extensive on more mesic north aspects. Sites are windswept most of the year by prevailing westerly winds. Winter winds are especially intense, desiccate and kill needles and stems, and deform branches that are exposed above the snowpack. Soils typically are shallow, lithic, gravelly or sandy loams typically derived from granite or schist. Soils formed in colluvium and glacial till can be deep and well-drained. Rock outcrop is common.
Geographic Range: These shrublands occur near upper treeline in the Rocky Mountains. Stands have only been described from Colorado, Montana and Alberta, but likely occur in similar habitats in adjacent states.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, CO, MT, UT?, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683535
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 4 Polar & High Montane Scrub, Grassland & Barrens Class | C04 | 4 |
| Subclass | 4.B Temperate to Polar Alpine & Tundra Vegetation Subclass | S12 | 4.B |
| Formation | 4.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Alpine Tundra Formation | F037 | 4.B.1 |
| Division | 4.B.1.Nb Western North American Alpine Tundra Division | D043 | 4.B.1.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 4.B.1.Nb.2 Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Blackroot Sedge - Moss Campion Alpine Tundra Macrogroup | M099 | 4.B.1.Nb.2 |
| Group | 4.B.1.Nb.2.a Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Mountain-heath species - Arctic Willow Alpine Dwarf-shrubland & Krummholz Group | G316 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.a |
| Alliance | A3640 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Limber Pine Dry-Mesic Rocky Mountain Krummholz Alliance | A3640 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.a |
| Association | CEGL000985 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Krummholz | CEGL000985 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Salix glauca Habitat Type / Association (Komarkova 1986)
= Cushion Krummholz (Wardle 1968)
= Krummholz Community (Hartman and Rottman 1988)
>< Mesic Krummholz (G1) (Peet 1981) [Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii krummholz with more mesic herbaceous layer. Mesic portions of these stands may be similar in appearance.]
>< S22: Abies lasiocarpa / Arnica cordifolia Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
> Xeric Krummholz (G2) (Peet 1981) [Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii krummholz with more xeric herbaceous layer.]
= Cushion Krummholz (Wardle 1968)
= Krummholz Community (Hartman and Rottman 1988)
>< Mesic Krummholz (G1) (Peet 1981) [Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii krummholz with more mesic herbaceous layer. Mesic portions of these stands may be similar in appearance.]
>< S22: Abies lasiocarpa / Arnica cordifolia Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
> Xeric Krummholz (G2) (Peet 1981) [Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii krummholz with more xeric herbaceous layer.]
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