Print Report
CEGL000895 Picea pungens / Festuca arizonica Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Spruce / Arizona Fescue Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This blue spruce woodland association is currently described from Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. It is also reported from Colorado and New Mexico. More survey and classification work are needed to fully characterize this type. It occurs at approximately 2575 m (8450 feet) elevation in somewhat mesic environments. This vegetation type occurs in linear swathes along valley bottoms and cold-air drainages, while various other mixed-conifer associations occur on the adjacent sideslopes. Slopes are flat to low, and aspects are potentially variable. Soils are well-drained, fine-textured silt loams. Populus tremuloides dominates the canopy; however, the presence of Picea pungens both as an emergent and in the subcanopy is indicative of this association. Shrubs are essentially absent. Festuca arizonica dominates the understory, while Carex spp. can also be present. Lupinus argenteus, Antennaria parvifolia, and to some extent Artemisia carruthii, Cirsium sp., Cryptantha setosissima, and Antennaria rosulata are dominant components of the understory.
Diagnostic Characteristics: The overstory may contain varying mixtures of other species, but Picea pungens and Pseudotsuga menziesii are codominant in the overstory. Pinus ponderosa is a common seral tree, often persisting in late succession. Shrubs, although present, are usually scarce. The undergrowth is dominated by various bunchgrasses with sedges often present; dominant graminoids such as Festuca arizonica and Muhlenbergia straminea are well-represented (>5% cover).
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: Picea pungens and Pseudotsuga menziesii are codominant in the overstory, both reproducing successfully. Pinus ponderosa is an early- or mid-seral tree and may codominant in older stands. Where Abies concolor is present, its regeneration will be less than that of Picea pungens. Populus tremuloides, if present, is found only locally in small short-lived clones. All sizes and ages of conifers may be present. Shrubs are minor. The ground vegetation is strongly herbaceous-covered with bunchgrasses dominating. Mosses cover rock and bare soil. Little bare ground occurs due to moss plus litter cover.
Dynamics: Presence of Pinus ponderosa and Populus tremuloides stands scattered throughout the type is indicative of past fire occurrence. However, Populus tremuloides may be absent from many stands and, where present, is found in small short-lived clones. The dominance of many meadow species such as Festuca arizonica and open, park-like forest structure suggest a high fire frequency in the past. Unpublished data at the USFS Rocky Mountain Station indicate that most coniferous forests with grassy understories in the Southwest had as high fire frequencies as reported for Pinus ponderosa / Festuca arizonica stands. Cessation of understory burns during this century have resulted in: (1) increasing proportions of Picea pungens and Abies concolor in regeneration; (2) higher tree densities; (3) cessation of Pinus ponderosa regeneration; and (4) conversion of sun-loving herbs and graminoids to shade-tolerant species such as Carex siccata and Erigeron eximius (Allen et al. 1995).
Environmental Description: This type occurs on all slopes and aspects in elevations ranging from 2304 to 2770 m (7560-9120 feet). Above 2743 m (9000 feet), it is found on southerly aspects and in all positions on the slope. Below 2530 m (8300 feet), it occurs on northerly aspects of lower slopes.
Geographic Range: It is known from the White Mountains and Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, Mogollon and Jemez mountains of New Mexico and the San Juan Mountains of New Mexico and Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684496
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5
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 | CEGL000895 Blue Spruce / Arizona Fescue Woodland | CEGL000895 | 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 / Festuca arizonica (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Picea pungens / Festuca arizonica Woodland (DeVelice et al. 1986)
= Picea pungens / Festuca arizonica Woodland (DeVelice et al. 1986)
- Allen, C. D., R. Touchan, and T. W. Swetnam. 1995. Landscape-scale fire history studies support fire management activities at Bandelier. Park Science (Summer):18-19.
- 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.
- Fitzhugh, E. L., W. H. Moir, J. A. Ludwig, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1987. Forest habitat types in the Apache, Gila, and part of the Cibola national forests. General Technical Report RM-145. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 116 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.
- Kearsley, M. J. C., K. Green, M. Tukman, M. Reid, M. Hall, T. J. Ayers, and K. Christie. 2015. Grand Canyon National Park-Grand Canyon / Parashant National Monument vegetation classification and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR--2015/913. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 75 pp. plus appendices.
- 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.
- Larson, M., and W. H. Moir. 1987. Forest and woodland habitat types of northern New Mexico and northern Arizona. Edition 2. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM.
- Pavek, D. S. 1993d. Picea pungens. In: Fire Effects Information System [Online]. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). [http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/]
- Reid, M. S., and M. E. Hall. 2010. Vegetation classification of Grand Canyon National Park. Draft report submitted to National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1986. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of southern New Mexico and central Arizona (north of the Mogollon Rim). USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM. Second edition, 140 pp. plus insert.
- 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.