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CEGL000392 Picea pungens / Juniperus communis Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Spruce / Common Juniper Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These forests occur at middle elevations of 1800 to 3300 m (5900-10,826 feet) in the central and southern Rocky Mountains, usually in moist, concave topographic positions. These communities often occupy sites that are protected from extreme sun and wind, within Pinus ponderosa or Pseudotsuga menziesii montane forests. These forests are typically most common on north-facing slopes, which can be gentle to steep. These forests are characterized by the dominance of Picea pungens in the forest canopy and usually represent a mesic phase of the mixed conifer forests of the southern Rocky Mountains and Colorado Plateau. Other conifers are usually present in these stands, depending upon geographic location, site moisture, and stand history. Common associates include Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies lasiocarpa, and Pinus ponderosa. Populus tremuloides is the only widespread hardwood associate. The shrub layer is usually of only moderate cover and dominated by ericaceous or cold-deciduous species, with the latter group increasing with soil moisture or proximity to watercourses. Common species include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Juniperus communis, Mahonia repens, and Rubus parviflorus. Due to favorable soil moisture, the herbaceous layer is usually a diverse mixture of forbs and graminoids, including Packera cardamine, Fragaria virginiana, Linnaea borealis, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Erigeron eximius, Thalictrum fendleri, Maianthemum stellatum, and Achillea millefolium. Adjacent vegetation is usually Pinus ponderosa - Pseudotsuga menziesii forests at the upslope margin and herbaceous or woody riparian communities where this vegetation grades into streamside wetlands.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is closely aligned with ~Picea pungens / Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Forest (CEGL000385)$$ and ~Picea pungens / Mahonia repens Forest (CEGL000395)$$. The presence and abundance of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi keys to the former, while a lack of Juniperus communis and presence of Mahonia repens keys to the later. Moir and Ludwig (1979) describe a similar Picea pungens - Pseudotsuga menziesii Habitat Type, Juniperus communis Phase that has a mature canopy codominated by the two conifer tree species.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: These forests are characterized by the dominance of Picea pungens in the forest canopy and usually represent a mesic phase of the mixed conifer forests of the southern Rocky Mountains and Colorado Plateau. Other conifers are usually present in these stands, depending upon geographic location, site moisture, and stand history. Common associates include Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies lasiocarpa, and Pinus ponderosa. Populus tremuloides, Populus angustifolia, or Populus balsamifera are common hardwood associates. The shrub layer is usually of only moderate cover and dominated by ericaceous or cold-deciduous species, with the latter group increasing with soil moisture or proximity to watercourses. Common species include Quercus gambelii, Amelanchier alnifolia, Acer glabrum, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Juniperus communis, Mahonia repens, Lonicera involucrata, Shepherdia canadensis, and Rubus parviflorus. Due to favorable soil moisture, the herbaceous layer is usually a diverse mixture of forbs and graminoids, including Carex siccata (= Carex foenea), Festuca arizonica, Arnica cordifolia, Packera cardamine (= Senecio cardamine), Fragaria virginiana, Linnaea borealis, Maianthemum stellatum, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Erigeron eximius, and Achillea millefolium.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: These forests occur at middle elevations of 1800 to 3300 m (5900-10,826 feet) in the central and southern Rocky Mountains, usually in moist, concave topographic positions. Precipitation averages 46-60 cm annually, with the majority falling as growing season rainfall. The temperature regime is continental and winters are moderately severe. Soils are variable. In Wyoming they are reported as silty loams and silty clay loams and are usually young and derived from glacial or alluvially deposited materials. The pH is neutral to slightly alkaline. Youngblood and Mauk (1985) suggest a preference by these forests for non-igneous parent materials. These communities often occupy sites that are protected from extreme sun and wind, within Pinus ponderosa or Pseudotsuga menziesii montane forests. These forests are typically most common on north-facing slopes, which can be gentle to steep. Adjacent vegetation is usually Pinus ponderosa - Pseudotsuga menziesii forests at the upslope margin and herbaceous or woody riparian communities where this vegetation grades into streamside wetlands. One stand in northwestern Wyoming is surrounded by Artemisia tridentata on all sides.
Geographic Range: This association is known from the Colorado Plateau, high plateaus of southern Utah and southern Rocky Mountains in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and may occur in Arizona.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ?, CO, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684327
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5
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 | CEGL000392 Blue Spruce / Common Juniper Forest | CEGL000392 | 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 / Berberis repens Community Type (Kerr and Henderson 1979) [Portions of this type match the Picea pungens / Juniperus communis type.]
= Picea pungens / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Youngblood and Mauk 1985) [p.38.]
= Picea pungens / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Youngblood and Mauk 1985) [p.38.]
- 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.
- Cogan, D., K. Varga, and G. Kittel. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Final Project Report 2002-2005 Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-06-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 87 pp. plus Appendixes A-F.
- Kerr, C. W., and J. A. Henderson. 1979. Upland vegetation classification and map for a test area, Manti-La Sal National Forest. Appendix Report 15 in: J. A. Henderson, L. S. Davis, and E. M. Ryberg, editors. ECOSYM: A classification and information system for wildlife resource management. Utah State University, Logan. 53 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.
- Owns, T., project coordinator, et al. 2004. U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service. 390 pp.
- Roberts, D. W., D. W. Wight, and G. P. Hallsten. 1992. Plant community distribution and dynamics in Bryce Canyon National Park. Unpublished final report for Bryce Canyon National Park Project PX1200-7-0966. 146 pp.
- Tendick, A., B. Friesen, G. Kittel, P. Williams, J. Coles, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2011a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Cedar Breaks National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2011/470. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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.
- 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.