Print Report

CEGL001109 Quercus gambelii / Amelanchier alnifolia Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gambel Oak / Saskatoon Serviceberry Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This montane shrubland association has been described from mountains and plateaus of Utah and western Colorado. Elevation ranges from 1830-2745 m (6000-9000 feet). Sites include nearly level mesas to steep mountain slopes (to 40%). Soils are gravelly loams. Litter usually dominates the ground surface (about 60% cover), with rock cover also abundant. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense tall-shrub layer (2-5 m tall) that is dominated by Quercus gambelii (10-90% cover) with a sparse to moderately dense short-shrub layer dominated by Amelanchier alnifolia or Amelanchier pallida. If Amelanchier utahensis is present, it is subdominant. Arctostaphylos patula, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, and Cercocarpus montanus may also be present with low cover (<10%) and do not codominate. Other shrubs and dwarf-shrubs present may include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Artemisia nova, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Mahonia repens, Prunus virginiana, Purshia tridentata, Opuntia spp., Rosa spp., and Symphoricarpos spp. The relatively sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer is a diverse mixture of grasses and forbs. Graminoids commonly present are Bromus porteri, Carex spp., Elymus elymoides, Festuca thurberi, Koeleria macrantha, Poa fendleriana, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. Common forbs include Achillea millefolium, Astragalus sp., Erigeron speciosus, Eriogonum sp., Galium spp., Ipomopsis aggregata, Ligusticum porteri, Lathyrus spp., Lupinus argenteus, Phlox longifolia, Penstemon palmeri, Potentilla pulcherrima, Solidago velutina, Thalictrum fendleri, or Vicia americana. Introduced species such as Bromus tectorum and Poa pratensis are frequently present.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

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: This association is characterized by a moderately dense to dense tall-shrub layer (2-5 m tall) that is dominated by Quercus gambelii (10-90% cover) with a sparse to moderately dense short-shrub layer dominated by Amelanchier alnifolia or Amelanchier pallida. If Amelanchier utahensis is present, it is subdominant. Arctostaphylos patula, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, and Cercocarpus montanus may also be present with low cover (<10%) and do not codominate. Other shrubs and dwarf-shrubs present may include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Artemisia nova, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Mahonia repens, Prunus virginiana, Purshia tridentata, Opuntia spp., Rosa spp., and Symphoricarpos spp. The relatively sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer is a diverse mixture of grasses and forbs. Graminoids commonly present are Bromus porteri, Carex siccata (= Carex foenea), Carex geyeri, Carex hoodii, Carex rossii, Elymus elymoides, Festuca thurberi, Koeleria macrantha, Poa fendleriana, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. Common forbs include Achillea millefolium, Astragalus sp., Erigeron speciosus, Eriogonum sp., Galium spp., Ipomopsis aggregata, Ligusticum porteri, Linum lewisii, Lathyrus lanszwertii var. leucanthus (= Lathyrus leucanthus), Lathyrus pauciflorus, Lupinus argenteus, Phlox longifolia, Penstemon palmeri, Potentilla pulcherrima, Solidago velutina (= Solidago sparsiflora), Thalictrum fendleri, or Vicia americana. Introduced species such as Bromus tectorum and Poa pratensis are frequently present.

Dynamics:  Fire is important in maintaining these 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). However, Artemisia tridentata shrubs are killed by burns and do not resprout (Wright et al. 1979). Artemisia tridentata will re-establish relatively quickly (about 10-20 years) if a seed source is nearby (Bunting 1987). If fire-return intervals are more frequent than 10 years, then Artemisia tridentata has difficulty recovering (Bunting 1987, Everett 1987). Artemisia tridentata may be able to persist in this community where an open shrub canopy and a sparse herbaceous layer limit fire movement and make it unlikely that it would burn except under extreme conditions.
Environmental Description:  This montane shrubland association has been described from mountains and plateaus of Utah and western Colorado. Elevation ranges from 1830-2745 m (6000-9000 feet). Sites include nearly level mesas to steep mountain slopes (to 40%). Soils are gravelly loams. Litter usually dominates the ground surface (about 60% cover), with rock cover also abundant.
Geographic Range: This montane shrubland association has been described from mountains and plateaus of Utah and western Colorado.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, UT


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G5

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 CEGL001109 Gambel Oak / Saskatoon Serviceberry Shrubland CEGL001109 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: < Amelanchier utahensis - Amelanchier alnifolia - Quercus gambelii / Carex geophila - Carex geyeri Ecological Type (Johnston 2001)
= Quercus gambelii / Amelanchier alnifolia Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986)
< Quercus gambelii / Amelanchier alnifolia Plant Association (Johnston 1987) [Johnston includes oak/snowberry and oak/choke cherry.]
= Quercus gambelii / Amelanchier pallida Community (Blackburn et al. 1969d) [Amelanchier pallida used to be a variety of Amelanchier alnifolia but is now considered a species-level taxa (Kartesz 1999). We need to review the ecology of the species to determine if it is better included in this type or in the drier ~Quercus gambelii / Amelanchier utahensis Shrubland (CEGL001110)$$.]
< Quercus-Rhus Association (Evans 1926)
= Oak stands of northern Utah (Ream 1964)
= Oak-serviceberry-snowberry-bedstraw Community Type (Johnston 2001) [Quercus gambelii - Amelanchier alnifolia - Amelanchier utahensis - Symphoricarpos rotundifolius / Galium septentrionale Community Type]
= Type 4 Community Type (Kunzler et al. 1981)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-27-06
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