Print Report

CEGL001113 Quercus gambelii - Cercocarpus montanus / (Carex geyeri) Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gambel Oak - Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany / (Geyer''s Sedge) Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This mixed montane shrubland is reported from foothills, mountains and mesatops in western Colorado and Utah. Stands occur on gentle, moderate and steep slopes. Aspect varies with elevation with low-elevation stands restricted to more mesic northern and eastern aspects, and higher elevation stands occurring on southern and western aspects. Substrates are typically shallow and rocky, derived from sandstone and shale parent materials, and range from sandy- to clayey-textured soil. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense thicket of tall (2-5 m) deciduous shrubs (on unstable, eroding or talus slopes the shrub canopy may be open). Codominance of Quercus gambelii and Cercocarpus montanus (at least 10% cover of each) is diagnostic of this plant association, but Amelanchier utahensis is often also abundant to codominant. Low cover of other mixed shrub associates is common. Arctostaphylos patula, Arctostaphylos pungens, Artemisia tridentata, Fendlera rupicola, Fraxinus anomala, Peraphyllum ramosissimum, Physocarpus monogynus, Purshia tridentata, Prunus virginiana, Rhus trilobata, Rosa woodsii, Quercus turbinella, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and Yucca spp. may be present depending on geography. Occasional Juniperus osteosperma and Pinus edulis trees may also be present. The herbaceous layer is generally sparse because of the dense overstory, but Carex geyeri may provide low to moderate cover.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This plant association is similar to other montane Gambel oak shrublands except for the codominance of Cercocarpus montanus (10% cover or more). Other shrubs species may be present to codominant.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This association is characterized by a moderately dense to dense thicket of tall deciduous shrubs 2-5 m tall (on unstable, eroding or talus slopes the shrub canopy may be more open). Codominance of Quercus gambelii and Cercocarpus montanus (at least 10% cover of each) is diagnostic of this plant association, but Amelanchier utahensis is often also abundant to codominant. Low cover of other mixed shrub associates is common. Arctostaphylos patula, Arctostaphylos pungens, Artemisia bigelovii, Artemisia tridentata, Ephedra viridis, Fendlera rupicola, Fraxinus anomala, Mahonia fremontii, Peraphyllum ramosissimum, Physocarpus monogynus, Purshia tridentata, Rhus trilobata, Rosa woodsii, Quercus turbinella, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Tetradymia canescens, and Yucca spp. may be present depending on geography. Occasional Juniperus osteosperma, Juniperus scopulorum, and Pinus edulis trees may be present also. The herbaceous layer is generally sparse because of dense overstory. It is typically composed of scattered graminoids such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Carex geyeri, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa fendleriana, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and forbs such as Artemisia ludoviciana, Chaetopappa ericoides, Cirsium neomexicanum, Erigeron utahensis, Heterotheca villosa, Hymenopappus filifolius, Lathyrus spp., Lepidium montanum, Lupinus spp., Packera multilobata (= Senecio multilobatus), Pedicularis centranthera, Tetraneuris acaulis (= Hymenoxys acaulis), and Vicia americana. The non-native grass Bromus tectorum may also be present to abundant in disturbed stands.

Dynamics:  Fire is important in maintaining the montane shrublands, as burning eliminates Juniperus osteosperma and Pinus edulis trees, but not the more fire-adapted shrub species. Quercus gambelii is a fire-adapted species with a well-developed root system used to draw moisture from a large volume of soil allowing for rapid resprouting after fire (Clary 1992). Muldavin et al. (1998b) reported that, in the Organ Mountains in southwestern New Mexico after a severe fire, Quercus gambelii resprouted into a dense thicket that excluded both herbaceous understory and conifer species. Cercocarpus montanus is also fire-adapted. Although its branches are usually killed by fire, it burns less readily than many other shrubs and sprouts vigorously from the root crown after most fires (Pase and Lindenmuth 1971, Bradley et al. 1992).
Environmental Description:  This mixed montane shrubland association is reported from foothills, mountains and mesa tops in western Colorado and Utah. Elevation ranges from 1550-2500 m (5850-8200 feet). Stands occur on flat to steep slopes. Aspect varies with elevation with low elevation stands restricted to more mesic northern and eastern aspects, and higher elevation stands occurring on southern and western aspects. Substrates range from shallow and rocky, derived from sandstone, shale and alluvium or colluvium parent materials. Soil textures range from sandy to clayey to rapidly drained loamy sands.
Geographic Range: This montane shrubland association occurs in the foothills, mountains and mesatops of Utah and western Colorado.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, UT


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D022 2.B.2.Nf
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nf.1 Gambel Oak - Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Bitterbrush species Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Shrubland Macrogroup M049 2.B.2.Nf.1
Group 2.B.2.Nf.1.a Gambel Oak - Serviceberry species - Chokecherry Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Shrubland Group G277 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Alliance A3735 Gambel Oak - Mountain Snowberry Shrubland Alliance A3735 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Association CEGL001113 Gambel Oak - Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany / (Geyer''s Sedge) Shrubland CEGL001113 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Quercus gambelii - Amelanchier utahensis - (Artemisia tridentata - Cercocarpus montanus - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Carex geyeri (Baker 1982b)
< Chaparral Zone (Erdman 1962)
< Mixed Mountain Shrubland (Keammerer and Peterson 1981)
< Mixed Shrub Association (Schmoll 1935)
? Mixed Shrubs Vegetation Type (Ferchau 1973) [Cercocarpus montanus not mentioned.]
< Valley, Dry-slope Mixed Shrub Type (Ellis and Hackney 1981)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz, J. Coles and G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-24-09
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