Print Report
CEGL000431 Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex rossii Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Fir - Douglas-fir / Ross'' Sedge Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This minor forest association has been described from the southern Rocky Mountains in northern Colorado and New Mexico and possibly Arizona. Stands are found on gentle to typically steep (5-65%), north- to northwest-facing slopes with shallow, coarse-textured, well-drained colluvium at elevations of 1670-2930 m. Stands are recognized by the moderately dense tree canopy dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii, although Pinus ponderosa and Juniperus scopulorum may be present with nearly equal cover. The short-shrub layer is sparse and represented by widely scattered Juniperus communis and Physocarpus monogynus. Carex rossii is the only significant graminoid (4-15% cover), although Carex inops, Carex occidentalis, Koeleria macrantha, Leucopoa kingii, and Poa fendleriana may be present. Common forbs include Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis, Campanula rotundifolia, Cystopteris fragilis, Fragaria virginiana, Heuchera bracteata, Pulsatilla patens ssp. multifida, Saxifraga rhomboidea, and Thalictrum fendleri. Overstory shade is needed for successful regeneration of Pseudotsuga. These forests were originally subject to a high natural fire frequency. Recently, fire-suppression activities have resulted in unnaturally high sapling densities, as well as increased fuel loads. Sapling densities have resulted in a decreasing reproductive success of the shade-intolerant Pinus ponderosa relative to Pseudotsuga menziesii.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This forest association is based on quantitative data from several classification studies, primarily along Colorado''s Front Range, that described Pseudotsuga menziesii-dominated conifer forests (Hess 1981, Peet 1981, Wasser and Hess 1982, Hess and Alexander 1986). The concept of this association was broadened to include Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii mixed-canopy stands with an abundant herbaceous layer dominated by Carex rossii that occur in northern New Mexico (Muldavin et al. 2006). The similar ~Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus monogynus Forest (CEGL000449)$$ has higher shrub coverage (14-35%) by Physocarpus monogynus. Also, ~Pinus ponderosa / Carex rossii Forest (CEGL000183)$$ may occur in adjacent stands, but that association is dominated by Pinus ponderosa and does not occur on north to northwest exposures. Over time and with continued effective fire suppression, these Pinus ponderosa stands may convert to Pseudotsuga menziesii-dominated stands.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This minor forest association is characterized by a moderately dense tree canopy dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii, although Pinus ponderosa, Abies concolor, and Juniperus scopulorum may be present with nearly equal cover. Remnant early-seral Populus tremuloides tree can be present in the canopy. The short-shrub layer is sparse and represented by widely scattered Juniperus communis and Physocarpus monogynus. The Carex rossii-dominated herbaceous layer characterizes the understory with 4-15% cover (Hess 1981, Hess and Alexander 1986). Other graminoids present include Carex inops, Carex occidentalis, Leucopoa kingii (= Festuca kingii), Koeleria macrantha, and Poa fendleriana. Forbs are sparse, but may be diverse, and include Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis (= Achillea lanulosa), Campanula rotundifolia, Cystopteris fragilis, Fragaria virginiana, Heuchera bracteata, Pulsatilla patens ssp. multifida (= Pulsatilla ludoviciana), Saxifraga rhomboidea, and Thalictrum fendleri.
Dynamics: Overstory shade is needed for successful regeneration of Pseudotsuga. These forests were originally subject to a high natural fire frequency. Recently, fire-suppression activities have resulted in unnaturally high sapling densities, as well as increased fuel loads. Sapling densities have resulted in a decreasing reproductive success of the shade-intolerant Pinus ponderosa relative to Pseudotsuga menziesii.
Environmental Description: This minor forest association has been described from the mountains of northern Colorado and northern New Mexico and ranges from 1670 to 2930 m (5700-9640 feet) in elevation. Stands are found on gentle shoulder and toeslopes to steep sideslopes of mountains and canyons (5-65%) often on cooler northeast- to northwest-facing slopes and on southerly slopes at higher elevations. Ground cover is dominated by leaf litter with some exposed soil and rock. Substrates are shallow, well-drained, coarse-textured, often skeletal colluvial soils derived from gneiss, granite, schist, volcanic andesite, rhyolite, and rhyolitic tuffs (Hess 1981, Hess and Alexander 1986).
Geographic Range: This montane forest association has been described from the southern Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado, northern New Mexico and possibly northern Arizona. More survey is needed to locate stands in southern Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM, NV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684819
Confidence Level: High
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
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 | A3420 White Fir Dry Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3420 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Association | CEGL000431 White Fir - Douglas-fir / Ross'' Sedge Forest | CEGL000431 | 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: > Abies concolor / Carex rossii Forest (Muldavin et al. 2006)
> Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex rossii Forest (Muldavin et al. 2006)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex rossii Habitat Type (Hess and Alexander 1986)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex rossii Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex rossii Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex rossii Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Xeric Pinus ponderosa Forest (B3) (Peet 1975) [codominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii, understory codominated by Carex rossii and Leucopoa kingii (= Festuca kingii).]
> Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex rossii Forest (Muldavin et al. 2006)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex rossii Habitat Type (Hess and Alexander 1986)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex rossii Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex rossii Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex rossii Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Xeric Pinus ponderosa Forest (B3) (Peet 1975) [codominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii, understory codominated by Carex rossii and Leucopoa kingii (= Festuca kingii).]
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