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CEGL000620 Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium myrtillus Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen / Whortleberry Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Populus tremuloides forest association is known to occur in Colorado from the northern mountains of the Park Range to the southern mountains of the Sangre de Cristo Range. Stands occur from 2320 to 3170 m (7600-10,400 feet) in elevation on cool, moist sidehills with undulating or straight-slope configurations and primarily on north- or northeast-facing exposures with 20-30% slope, but it can be found on all aspects and gentle to steep slopes. This montane to subalpine forest is dominated by Populus tremuloides. At the lower elevations Pseudotsuga menziesii or Abies concolor are often present and, at times, codominant, while at upper elevations Picea engelmannii, Abies lasiocarpa, or Pinus contorta may be present. There is a dense dwarf-shrub layer that is typically dominated by Vaccinium myrtillus; however, Vaccinium cespitosum (at lower elevation) or Vaccinium scoparium (at higher elevation) may codominate (or dominate). The short-shrub (1-2 m tall) component is sparse, with Jamesia americana, Shepherdia canadensis, Physocarpus monogynus, Salix scouleriana, or Juniperus communis occurring scattered or in small patches. A diverse forb layer with high cover may be part of this association; species include Oryzopsis asperifolia, Arnica cordifolia, Chamerion angustifolium, Erigeron eximius, Linnaea borealis, Lupinus argenteus, Orthilia secunda, and Thermopsis divaricarpa. This association is rapidly seral to conifer-dominated forests; fire suppression reduces aspens and favors conifer replacement. The dominance of Populus tremuloides distinguishes this association from similar, late-successional conifer/Vaccinium associations.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is based on quantitative data from several classification studies. Future studies may warrant splitting this association into three: Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium myrtillus, Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium cespitosum, and Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium scoparium. Powell (1988a) treated this association as 2 community types: Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium myrtillus Community Type (3 plots) and Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium cespitosum Community Type (2 plots). The latter community type is currently included in the concept of ~Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium myrtillus Forest (CEGL000620)$$, but it may warrant separate recognition in the National Vegetation Classification as an association after more survey and classification work are completed.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This montane to subalpine forest association is dominated by Populus tremuloides. At the lower elevations Pseudotsuga menziesii or Abies concolor are often present and, at times, codominant, while at upper elevations Picea engelmannii, Abies lasiocarpa, or Pinus contorta may be present. The short-shrub (1-2 m tall) component is sparse, with Shepherdia canadensis, Physocarpus monogynus, Salix scouleriana, or Juniperus communis occurring in small patches. There is a dense dwarf-shrub layer that is typically dominated by Vaccinium myrtillus; however, Vaccinium cespitosum (at lower elevation) or Vaccinium scoparium (at higher elevation) may codominate or dominate. A diverse forb layer with high cover may be part of this association; species include Oryzopsis asperifolia, Arnica cordifolia, Chamerion angustifolium (= Epilobium angustifolium), Erigeron eximius, Linnaea borealis, Lupinus argenteus, Orthilia secunda, and Thermopsis divaricarpa. This association is rapidly seral to conifer-dominated forests; fire suppression reduces aspens and favors conifer replacement. The dominance of Populus tremuloides distinguishes this association from similar, late-successional conifer/Vaccinium associations.
Dynamics: Populus tremuloides is rapidly seral on sites with Vaccinium species; climax forests on these sites are dominated by conifers. Fire suppression has caused a large decline in the abundance of this community because of stands succeeding to conifer-dominated forests. Conifer stands that still contain low densities of remnant Populus tremuloides could be returned to this seral type if clearcut and burned.
Environmental Description: This southern Rocky Mountain Populus tremuloides forest association occurs from 2320 to 3170 m (7600-10,400 feet) in elevation. Sties are typically cool, moist sidehills with undulating or straight-slope configurations and primarily on north- or northeast-facing exposures with 20-30% slope, buy it may occur on any aspect and from nearly flat to steep slopes (1-100%). Soils vary from clay loam to sandy loam. Correspondingly, the soil drainage can be anywhere from somewhat poorly drained to rapidly drained, depending on stand location.
Geographic Range: This association is known to occur in Colorado from the northern mountains of the Park Range to the southern mountains of the Sangre de Cristo Range.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683751
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup | M020 | 1.B.2.Nb.5 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d Quaking Aspen Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group | G222 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
| Alliance | A2036 Quaking Aspen Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance | A2036 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
| Association | CEGL000620 Quaking Aspen / Whortleberry Forest | CEGL000620 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium cespitosum Community Type (Powell 1988a) [This community type is currently not recognized in the National Vegetation Classification as an association and is included in the concept of ~Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium myrtillus Forest (CEGL000620)$$.]
= Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium myrtillus (Huckaby and Moir 1998)
= Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium myrtillus Community Type (Powell 1988a)
= Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium myrtillus (Huckaby and Moir 1998)
= Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium myrtillus Community Type (Powell 1988a)
- 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.
- Bunin, J. E. 1975c. The vegetation of the west slope of the Park Range, Colorado. Unpublished dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder. 235 pp.
- 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/]
- Huckaby, L. S., and W. H. Moir 1998. Forest communities at Fraser Experimental Forest. Southwestern Naturalist 43(2):204-218.
- Powell, D. C. 1988a. Aspen community types of the Pike and San Isabel national forests in south-central Colorado. Report R2-ECOL-88-01. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Denver, CO. 254 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.
- Salas, D., J. Stevens, and K. Schulz. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Technical Memorandum No. 8260-05-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 161 pp. plus Appendices A-L (733 pp.).
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.