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CEGL005812 Pinus contorta var. murrayana / Artemisia tridentata Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sierra Lodgepole Pine / Big Sagebrush Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: The lodgepole pine association occurs predominantly on the east side of the Sierra Nevada at middle to upper elevations near the Sierra Crest. Stands occur on the west side of the crest on drier substrates and on edges of well-drained meadows in the subalpine zone. Stands can cover extensive areas but usually are less than 50 acres due to landscape fragmentation. Elevations typically are above 2590 m (8500 feet), and preferred aspects are southeast and southwest. Stands are often located on moderate to somewhat steep slopes, generally on the middle and lower portions of a slope, but sometimes on upper slopes and on broad ridgetops. In comparison to other upper montane associations, this has significantly higher levels of surface gravel and shallower litter depths. Stands of this type are open woodlands with a shrubby understory of Artemisia tridentata. Tree cover is low as compared to many other sites in Sierra forests, and trees tend to occur as scattered clumps and individuals. Stands are dominated by Pinus contorta var. murrayana, with an average 31% cover in the tree overstory. Abies magnifica is often present with an average 21% cover in the tree overstory layer, but in many cases, Pinus contorta is the only component of the overstory; Abies magnifica occurs only as widely scattered individuals in the understory. An open shrub layer dominated by Artemisia tridentata, which averages 18% cover, characterizes understories. Both the shrub and herbaceous layers are substantially higher than most other Sierra forests, and the herbaceous layer is among the highest in the upper montane of the Sierra Nevada.
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 of this type are open woodlands with a shrubby understory of Artemisia tridentata. Tree cover is low as compared to many other sites in Sierra forests, and trees tend to occur as scattered clumps and individuals. Stands are dominated by Pinus contorta var. murrayana, with an average 31% cover in the tree overstory. Abies magnifica is often present with an average 21% cover in the tree overstory layer, but in many cases, Pinus contorta is the only component of the overstory; Abies magnifica occurs only as widely scattered individuals in the understory. An open shrub layer dominated by Artemisia tridentata, which averages 18% cover, characterizes understories. Both the shrub and herbaceous layers are substantially higher than most other Sierra forests, and the herbaceous layer is among the highest in the upper montane of the Sierra Nevada.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Elevations typically are above 2590 m (8500 feet), and preferred aspects are southeast and southwest. Stands are often located on moderate to somewhat steep slopes, generally on the middle and lower portions of a slope, but sometimes on upper slopes and on broad ridgetops. In comparison to other upper montane associations, this has significantly higher levels of surface gravel and shallower litter depths.
Geographic Range: The alliance is widespread in the upper montane and subalpine zone of most major mountain ranges of the western United States. The association occurs predominantly on the east side of the Sierra Nevada at middle to upper elevations near the Sierra Crest. Stands occur on the west side of the crest on drier substrates and on edges of well-drained meadows in the subalpine zone. Along with the Pinus contorta var. murrayana and Abies magnifica - Pinus monticola associations, these are the stands in the upper montane forest that transition into subalpine vegetation at still higher elevations. Stands can cover extensive areas but usually are less than 50 acres due to landscape fragmentation.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684104
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.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.b Sierra Lodgepole Pine Woodland Group | G243 | 1.B.2.Nd.4.b |
| Alliance | A3621 Sierra Lodgepole Pine Subalpine Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3621 | 1.B.2.Nd.4.b |
| Association | CEGL005812 Sierra Lodgepole Pine / Big Sagebrush Forest | CEGL005812 | 1.B.2.Nd.4.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana / Artemisia tridentata (Sawyer et al. 2009) [87.080.02]
= Pinus contorta var. murrayana / Artemisia tridentata Forest (Keeler-Wolf 2002)
= Pinus contorta var. murrayana/Artemisia tridentata Forest (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
= Lodgepole Pine / Sagebrush (Potter 1994)
= Pinus contorta var. murrayana / Artemisia tridentata Forest (Keeler-Wolf 2002)
= Pinus contorta var. murrayana/Artemisia tridentata Forest (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
= Lodgepole Pine / Sagebrush (Potter 1994)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.