Print Report

CEGL001128 Shepherdia argentea Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Silver Buffaloberry Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This mesic buffaloberry shrubland is found in the northern Great Plains of the United States and Canada, and on the western slope of Colorado south to the Paunsaugunt Plateau, Utah. Stands occur on stream terraces, rolling uplands, and badlands, and where moisture is more plentiful than the surrounding landscape, such as in swales, ravines, near streams and ditches, and on northwest- to east-facing slopes. The vegetation is dominated by a moderate to dense canopy of medium-tall shrubs. The most abundant of these, Shepherdia argentea, is typically 1.5-3 m tall. Other common shrub species are Juniperus horizontalis, Prunus virginiana, Ribes spp., Rhus aromatica, Rosa woodsii, and Symphoricarpos occidentalis. Graminoids and forbs may have only half the cover of the shrub layer and are quite variable. Graminoids include Poa pratensis, Pascopyrum smithii, and Bromus spp. Common forbs are Achillea millefolium, Artemisia ludoviciana, and Parietaria pensylvanica. This community occurs in the landscape as either narrow bands along streams or in small thickets.

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: The vegetation is dominated by a moderate to dense canopy of medium-tall shrubs. The most abundant of these, Shepherdia argentea, is typically 1.5-3 m tall. Other species commonly found in the shrub layer are Juniperus horizontalis, Prunus virginiana, Ribes spp., Rhus aromatica, Rosa woodsii, Salix exigua, and Symphoricarpos occidentalis. Herbaceous species may be sparse to abundant in this community. Occasionally a tree may be emergent, such as Pinus ponderosa. Graminoids and forbs may be quite variable and have only half the cover of the shrub layer (Hansen and Hoffman 1988, USFS 1992). Graminoids include Poa pratensis, Pascopyrum smithii, and Bromus spp. Common forbs are Achillea millefolium, Artemisia ludoviciana, and Parietaria pensylvanica. Litter may accumulate in this community (DeVelice et al. 1995). In Utah, mature Pinus ponderosa may have a few scattered individuals.

Dynamics:  Livestock and deer frequent these thickets and establish numerous trails throughout. The disturbances open the stands for the invasion of such species as Symphoricarpos occidentalis, Toxicodendron rydbergii, Achillea millefolium, Artemisia ludoviciana, Monarda fistulosa, Nepeta cataria, and Taraxacum officinale (Hansen and Hoffman 1988).
Environmental Description:  This community is found on stream terraces, rolling uplands, and badlands. It occurs where moisture is more plentiful than the surrounding landscape, such as in swales, ravines, near streams and ditches, and on northwest- to east-facing slopes (Hansen and Hoffman 1988, DeVelice et al. 1995). This trend is more pronounced in Wyoming, Colorado and Utah where this community is found only near streams, and it may be less pronounced in Saskatchewan and northern Montana. Soils are loamy sand, sandy loam, silty loam, or loam and are derived from glacial drift, siltstone, or sandstone (USFS 1992, DeVelice et al. 1995). This community does not flood often, but some sites show evidence of a high water table (DeVelice et al. 1995).
Geographic Range: This mesic buffaloberry shrubland is found in the northern Great Plains of the United States and Canada, extending from Colorado northward to the Dakotas and to Alberta and Saskatchewan. It is found in the northern Great Plains on stream terraces, rolling uplands, and badlands. Although restricted in distribution in Alberta, it is a dominant type in many areas within its range. It also occurs along streams and gentle floodplains of the western slope of Colorado and on the Paunsaugunt Plateau of southern Utah.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, CO, MT, ND, NE, SD, SK, UT, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nd Eastern North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D323 2.C.4.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nd.5 Prairie Cordgrass - Cattail species - Bulrush species Great Plains Marsh, Wet Meadow, Shrubland & Playa Macrogroup M071 2.C.4.Nd.5
Group 2.C.4.Nd.5.c Dogwood species - Chokecherry / Western Wheatgrass Great Plains Riparian Wet Meadow & Shrubland Group G337 2.C.4.Nd.5.c
Alliance A3590 Buffaloberry Wet Shrubland Alliance A3590 2.C.4.Nd.5.c
Association CEGL001128 Silver Buffaloberry Wet Shrubland CEGL001128 2.C.4.Nd.5.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Shepherdia argentea (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Shepherdia argentea Community Type (Thompson and Hansen 2002)
= Shepherdia argentea Community Type (DeVelice et al. 1995)
= Shepherdia argentea Community Type (Hansen et al. 1984)
= Shepherdia argentea Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
= Shepherdia argentea Habitat Type (USFS 1992)
= Shepherdia argentea Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Shepherdia argentea Shrubland (Cooper et al. 2001)
= Shepherdia argentea Shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Silver Buffaloberry Dominance Type (Jones and Walford 1995)
Concept Author(s): J. Drake

Author of Description: J. Drake, L. Allen and G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-24-09
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