Print Report
CEGL001969 Geum rossii - Sibbaldia procumbens Alpine Snowbed
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ross'' Avens - Creeping Sibbaldia Alpine Snowbed
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This vegetation association has been described from alpine snowbanks of the Front Range of Colorado. Stands occur on sites where moderate (1-2 m) snow accumulates, in areas protected from the prevailing winter winds, such as the lee sides of knobs, ridges and saddles. Aspects are often southerly or easterly. This is a late-melting snowbed community that occurs on gentle to moderate slopes to undulating terraces (from solifluction). Sites remain saturated until snowbanks are melted in early to mid July, and then soils warm and dry rapidly. Soils are shallow to moderately deep, well-drained, gravelly, sandy loam. Soil surface has high cover of gravel, rock, and bare ground. The vegetation is characterized by an to open to moderately dense vascular herbaceous layer (10-50%) composed of Geum rossii and Sibbaldia procumbens and a number of associates. Selaginella densa is often a dominant plant species (about 20% cover). Associated species with low cover are Artemisia norvegica, Artemisia scopulorum, Carex elynoides, Erigeron simplex, Festuca brachyphylla, Lewisia pygmaea, Minuartia obtusiloba, Polygonum bistortoides, Ranunculus adoneus, Solidago simplex var. nana, Trifolium parryi, and Trisetum spicatum. Cryptograms generally are poorly represented. Diagnostic of this snowbed community is the dominance of Geum rossii and Sibbaldia procumbens.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: There are many similar Geum rossii-codominated associations that need further review and crosswalking to clarify classification.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This alpine plant association is characterized by an to open to moderately dense vascular herbaceous layer (10-50%) composed of Geum rossii and Sibbaldia procumbens and a number of associates. Selaginella densa is often a dominant plant species (about 20% cover). Associated species with low cover are Artemisia norvegica, Artemisia scopulorum, Castilleja occidentalis, Carex elynoides, Carex rupestris var. drummondiana, Deschampsia cespitosa, Erigeron simplex, Festuca brachyphylla, Lewisia pygmaea, Luzula spicata, Minuartia obtusiloba, Polygonum bistortoides, Ranunculus adoneus, Silene acaulis, Solidago simplex var. nana (= Solidago decumbens), Trifolium parryi, and Trisetum spicatum (Eddleman 1963, Osburn 1963, Welden 1981). Cryptograms are poorly represented.
Dynamics: Geum rossii has one of the widest ecological amplitudes among alpine taxa occurring in almost any alpine habitat (Komarkova 1986). However, there are few habitats where it can dominate, including disturbed areas (gopher gardens), and certain snowbed and fell-field communities (Willard 1963, Komarkova 1986).
Environmental Description: This vegetation association has been described from alpine snowbanks of the Front Range of Colorado. Elevations range from 3400 to 3700 m (11,150-12,100 feet). Stands occur on sites where moderate (1-2 m) snow accumulates, in areas protected from the prevailing winter winds, such as the lee sides of knobs, ridges and saddles. Aspects are often southerly or easterly. This is a late-melting snowbed community that occurs on gentle to moderate slopes to undulating terraces (from solifluction). Sites remain saturated until snowbanks are melted in early to mid July, and then soils warm and dry rapidly (Eddleman 1963). Soils are shallow to moderately deep, well-drained, gravelly, sandy loam over gravel substrates derived from granite. Soil surface has high cover of gravel, rock, bare ground and often Selaginella densa.
Geographic Range: This vegetation association is found near alpine snowbanks of the Front Range of Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683954
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GU
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.b Blackroot Sedge - Bellardi Bog Sedge - Cushion Phlox Alpine Turf & Fell-field Group | G314 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
| Alliance | A3172 Drummond''s Rush - Parry''s Rush - Creeping Sibbaldia Rocky Mountain Alpine Snowbed Alliance | A3172 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001969 Ross'' Avens - Creeping Sibbaldia Alpine Snowbed | CEGL001969 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Geum - Sibbaldia - Gravel Community (Eddleman 1967)
= Geum - Sibbaldia Stand (Welden 1981)
< Geum rossii Stand Type II (Osburn 1963) [Plots #2, 20 21. # 21 is strongly codominated by Geum rossii and Sibbaldia procumbens, although Trifolium parryi and Polygonum bistortoides are also present.]
= Geum - Sibbaldia Stand (Welden 1981)
< Geum rossii Stand Type II (Osburn 1963) [Plots #2, 20 21. # 21 is strongly codominated by Geum rossii and Sibbaldia procumbens, although Trifolium parryi and Polygonum bistortoides are also present.]
- Bell, K. L., and L. C. Bliss. 1979. Autecology of Kobresia bellardii: Why winter snow accumulation limits local distribution. Ecological Monographs 49(4):377-402.
- Benedict, J. B. 1977b. A master plan for the Bunker Hill Placer Preserve, Boulder County, Colorado. Unpublished report prepared for The Nature Conservancy, Denver, CO. 61 pp.
- 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.
- 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/]
- Eddleman, L. E. 1963. Abrupt transitions in alpine communities. Journal of the Colorado-Wyoming Academy of Science 5(4):39-40 (Abstract).
- Eddleman, L. E. 1967. A study of phyto-edaphic relationships in alpine tundra of northern Colorado. Unpublished dissertation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 148 pp.
- Komarkova, V. 1986. Habitat types on selected parts of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre national forests. Unpublished final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins, CO. 270 pp. plus appendices.
- Osburn, W. S., Jr. 1963. The dynamics of fallout distribution in a Colorado alpine tundra snow accumulation ecosystem. Pages 51-71 in: S. Vincent and A. W. Klement, Jr., editors. Radioecology: Selected papers from the Symposium. Reinhold Publishing Company, New York, and American Institute of Biological Science.
- 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.).
- Spencer, J. P. 1975. The effects of winter weather modification on alpine plant communities in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado. Unpublished thesis, University of Colorado, Boulder. 122 pp.
- Welden, C. W. 1981. Pattern in alpine tundra. Unpublished thesis, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 144 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Willard, B. E. 1963. Phytosociology of the alpine tundra of Trail Ridge, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Unpublished dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder.