Print Report
CEGL000385 Picea pungens / Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Spruce / Kinnikinnick Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a minor forest type, occurring in small patches on warm, dry and steep south-facing slopes and ridges between 2410 and 2800 m (7000-9200 feet) elevation. It is known primarily from the San Juan Mountains of southern Colorado, northern New Mexico, and along the high plateaus of southern Utah. Stands are a mixed canopy of Picea pungens with Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa. In fact, the presence of Picea pungens is the indicator for this association, even though the combined cover of other conifers present may exceed that of blue spruce. Occasionally Abies concolor and Pinus flexilis are also present to abundant. Populus tremuloides may be abundant in recently disturbed stands. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is characteristic in the low-shrub canopy, with other shrubs that may be present including Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Juniperus communis, and Mahonia repens. Graminoids include Festuca arizonica and Carex rossii, and forbs such as Cirsium calcareum, Fragaria virginiana ssp. glauca, and Arenaria fendleri may be present in the stand.
Diagnostic Characteristics: The overstory may contain varying mixtures of other species, but Picea pungens is at least common and is successfully reproducing. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, the characteristic understory dominant, is well-represented (>5% cover.) Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica may occur as an accidental species.
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 have a mixed canopy of Picea pungens with Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa. In fact, the presence of Picea pungens is the indicator for this association, even though the combined cover of other conifers present may exceed that of blue spruce. Occasionally Abies concolor and Pinus flexilis are also present to abundant. Populus tremuloides may be abundant in recently disturbed stands. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is characteristic in the low-shrub canopy, with other shrubs that may be present including Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Juniperus communis, and Mahonia repens. Graminoids include Festuca arizonica and Carex rossii, and forbs such as Cirsium calcareum, Fragaria virginiana ssp. glauca (= Fragaria ovalis), and Arenaria fendleri may be present in the stand.
Dynamics: Past fire occurrences along with selection cutting are the most common disturbances. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is a seral, shade-intolerant species found in open forests. It grows best in high-light situations, thinning as shade increases. Overtopping cover of other shrubs and site variables such as elevation are primary factors affecting development of its early-seral cover. It is deep-rooted on mineral soil, less so on organic material. It is a sprouting species, possessing latent buds on the horizontal stem and dormant buds on the stembase/rootcrown. Sprouting or suckering following fire may be possible with survival of any of the aforementioned parts. It is best suited to short fire cycles with low fuel buildup and low fire intensity.
Environmental Description: This is a minor forest type, occurring in small patches on warm, dry and steep east- and south-facing slopes and ridges within cold-air drainages between 2410 and 2800 m (7000-9200 feet) elevation.
Geographic Range: This type is known from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and San Juan Mountains of southern Colorado, northern New Mexico, and the high plateaus of southern Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NM, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684208
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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.1 White Fir - Douglas-fir - Blue Spruce Forest Macrogroup | M022 | 1.B.2.Nb.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c White Fir - Douglas-fir Southern Rocky Mountain Dry Forest Group | G226 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Alliance | A3453 Blue Spruce Southern Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3453 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Association | CEGL000385 Blue Spruce / Kinnikinnick Forest | CEGL000385 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Picea pungens - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Johnston 1987)
= Picea pungens - Pseudotsuga menziesii Habitat Type (Moir and Ludwig 1979)
= Picea pungens / Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Picea pungens / Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Habitat Type (DeVelice et al. 1986)
= Picea pungens - Pseudotsuga menziesii Habitat Type (Moir and Ludwig 1979)
= Picea pungens / Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Picea pungens / Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Habitat Type (DeVelice et al. 1986)
- 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/]
- DeVelice, R. L., J. A. Ludwig, W. H. Moir, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1986. A classification of forest habitat types of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. General Technical Report RM-131. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 59 pp.
- Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
- Moir, W. H., and J. A. Ludwig. 1979. A classification of spruce-fir and mixed conifer habitat types of Arizona and New Mexico. Research Paper RM-207. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 47 pp.
- Stuever, M. C., and J. S. Hayden. 1997a. Plant associations of Arizona and New Mexico, edition 3. Volume 1: Forests. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region. Habitat Typing Guides. 291 pp.
- Tendick, A., G. Kittel, J. Von Loh, P. Williams, D. Cogan, J. Coles, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2011b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Bryce Canyon National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2011/442. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1987a. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of northern New Mexico and northern Arizona. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM. Second edition, 170 pp. plus insert.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Youngblood, A. P., and R. L. Mauk. 1985. Coniferous forest habitat types of central and southern Utah. General Technical Report INT-187. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 89 pp.