Print Report
CEGL000247 Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Erigeron eximius Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Fir - Douglas-fir / Spruce-fir Fleabane Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: The association extends from southern Utah and southern Colorado down into Arizona and New Mexico. It is found at elevations from 2652-3049 m (8700-10,000 feet) on gentle draws and slopes (0-50%) with varying aspects and landforms. This type is located mainly on deep soils such as Haploborolls and Dystrochrepts. It occurs on relatively cool and moist sites and on sites protected from extreme sun and wind. In younger stands, Populus tremuloides is the major seral species, with Abies concolor and Pseudotsuga menziesii codominating as the major late-successional species. Picea pungens and Pinus flexilis may be important as minor late-successional and seral species, respectively. At roughly the latitude of central New Mexico and Arizona, Pinus flexilis is replaced by Pinus strobiformis as a late-seral species, especially on drier sites. Picea engelmannii occurs in frost pockets as a minor late-successional species. Pinus ponderosa is accidental or minor as a seral species. Relative to other associations within this series, shrubs are generally less important as they have low cover values. This is an herb-rich association. Artemisia franserioides, Bromus ciliatus, Carex siccata, Erigeron eximius, Fragaria ssp., Lathyrus spp., and Oreochrysum parryi characteristically exhibit high cover values.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Complex overstory where Abies concolor and Pseudotsuga menziesii codominate; Picea pungens and Pinus flexilis may be important. Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica and Picea engelmannii may occur in frost pockets. Pinus ponderosa is accidental, and seral communities are dominated by Populus tremuloides. The shrub component is less important than in related ~Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Acer glabrum Forest (CEGL000240)$$. The herb layer is typically luxuriant; species diversity and cover are high with Erigeron eximius having up to 30% cover.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: General site characteristics are weakly comparable with the Abies grandis/Clintonia uniflora habitat type of Montana and central Idaho (Pfister et al. 1977, Steele et al. 1981).
Muldavin et al. (1996) describes a Valeriana arizonica Phase occurring along the base of the Mogollon Rim, north-central highlands of Arizona; on northerly aspects of lower ravine slopes at about 2133 m (7000 feet ). Similar to the typic phase, this phase is distinguished in the understory where Erigeron eximius is scarce (<1% cover) or is absent and Valeriana arizonica has high cover.
Muldavin et al. (1996) describes a Valeriana arizonica Phase occurring along the base of the Mogollon Rim, north-central highlands of Arizona; on northerly aspects of lower ravine slopes at about 2133 m (7000 feet ). Similar to the typic phase, this phase is distinguished in the understory where Erigeron eximius is scarce (<1% cover) or is absent and Valeriana arizonica has high cover.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: In younger stands, Populus tremuloides is the major seral species, with Abies concolor and Pseudotsuga menziesii codominating as the major late-successional species. Picea pungens and Pinus flexilis may be important as minor late-successional and seral species, respectively. At roughly the latitude of central New Mexico and Arizona, Pinus flexilis is replaced by Pinus strobiformis as a late-seral species, especially on drier sites (Peet 1988). Picea engelmannii occurs in frost pockets as a minor late-successional species. Pinus ponderosa is accidental or minor as a seral species. Relative to other associations within this series, shrubs are generally less important as they have low cover values (DeVelice et al. 1986). This is an herb-rich association. Artemisia franserioides, Bromus ciliatus (= Bromopsis ciliata), Carex siccata (= Carex foenea), Erigeron eximius, Fragaria ssp., Lathyrus spp., and Oreochrysum parryi characteristically exhibit high cover values.
Dynamics: Light surface fires occur with a 30-year frequency (Fitzhugh et al. 1987). Fire is a major influence in maintaining this association. Abies concolor, having less fire resistance than Pseudotsuga menziesii or Pinus ponderosa, is dominated by the latter species in early-successional stages but becomes dominant in later successional stages due to its greater shade tolerance.
Fire is presumed to have been a major factor in historic development of stands of this plant association. Fires that are light- to moderate-intensity, erratic and infrequent tend to result in a diversity of stand structures within the type. Mosaics in forest structure are probably caused by the erratic nature of past fires (Muldavin et al. 1996). Preliminary findings by Huckaby and Brown (1995) suggest fires are generally less frequent at higher elevations. On one site (Cosmic Ray), mean fire intervals were 31 +/- 28 years, with a range of 1 to 72 years between fires for the 17th through 19th centuries.
Fire is presumed to have been a major factor in historic development of stands of this plant association. Fires that are light- to moderate-intensity, erratic and infrequent tend to result in a diversity of stand structures within the type. Mosaics in forest structure are probably caused by the erratic nature of past fires (Muldavin et al. 1996). Preliminary findings by Huckaby and Brown (1995) suggest fires are generally less frequent at higher elevations. On one site (Cosmic Ray), mean fire intervals were 31 +/- 28 years, with a range of 1 to 72 years between fires for the 17th through 19th centuries.
Environmental Description: This association is found at elevations from 2652-3049 m (8700-10,000 feet) on gentle draws and slopes (0-50%) with varying aspects and landforms. This type is located mainly on deep soils such as Haploborolls and Dystrochrepts. It occurs on relatively cool and moist sites and on sites protected from extreme sun and wind.
Geographic Range: The association extends from southern Utah and southern Colorado down into Arizona and New Mexico.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM, UT?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684711
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.d White Fir - Blue Spruce - Douglas-fir Mesic Southern Rocky Mountain Forest Group | G225 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.d |
| Alliance | A3369 White Fir Southern Rocky Mountain Mesic Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3369 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.d |
| Association | CEGL000247 White Fir - Douglas-fir / Spruce-fir Fleabane Forest | CEGL000247 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Erigeron eximius Plant Association (Johnston 1987) [from 8700-10,000 feet in the Pike, San Isabel, and San Juan national forests of Colorado.]
< Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Erigeron superbus Habitat Type (Moir and Ludwig 1979) [found in the San Juan Mountains, New Mexico, and the Mogollon Plateau, Arizona.]
= Abies concolor / Erigeron eximius (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
? Abies concolor / Erigeron eximius Community Type (DeVelice and Ludwig 1983a) [found in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.]
? Abies concolor / Erigeron eximius Habitat Type (DeVelice et al. 1986) [found in the Jemez Caldera region and the Sangre de Cristo Range of New Mexico, and San Juan Mountains of Colorado from 9200-9500 feet.]
= Abies concolor / Erigeron eximius Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987) [found in the Black Range, San Mateo, Mimbres, and Mogollon mountains in the Gila and Cibola national forests of New Mexico from 8720-9600 feet.]
? Abies concolor / Erigeron eximius Plant Association (Larson and Moir 1987) [found in Arizona, southern Utah, New Mexico, and southern Colorado.]
< Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Erigeron superbus Habitat Type (Moir and Ludwig 1979) [found in the San Juan Mountains, New Mexico, and the Mogollon Plateau, Arizona.]
= Abies concolor / Erigeron eximius (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
? Abies concolor / Erigeron eximius Community Type (DeVelice and Ludwig 1983a) [found in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.]
? Abies concolor / Erigeron eximius Habitat Type (DeVelice et al. 1986) [found in the Jemez Caldera region and the Sangre de Cristo Range of New Mexico, and San Juan Mountains of Colorado from 9200-9500 feet.]
= Abies concolor / Erigeron eximius Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987) [found in the Black Range, San Mateo, Mimbres, and Mogollon mountains in the Gila and Cibola national forests of New Mexico from 8720-9600 feet.]
? Abies concolor / Erigeron eximius Plant Association (Larson and Moir 1987) [found in Arizona, southern Utah, New Mexico, and southern Colorado.]
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- 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/]
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- 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.
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- 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.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1987b. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of Arizona south of the Mogollon Rim and southwestern New Mexico. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM. Second edition, 168 pp. plus insert.
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