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CEGL000890 Abies concolor - (Pseudotsuga menziesii) / Jamesia americana - Holodiscus dumosus Scree Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Fir - (Douglas-fir) / Five-petal Cliffbush - Rockspirea Scree Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This white fir woodland association occurs in the southern Rocky Mountains in southern Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona at elevations between 2370 and 2900 m (7780-9250 feet). Stands are found on moderately steep to very steep (45-85%) colluvial slopes that may occur on any aspect, but they are often found on cool northerly aspects. Soils are shallow, poorly developed and rocky loams or clay loams, often with surfaces covered with talus and scree. Soils can be saturated (seeps) and range from somewhat poorly drained to rapidly drained. Cover of litter and duff, wood and moss is often moderate to high, but not as high as rock and gravel. The vegetation is characterized by a very open (10%) tree canopy on steep scree fields to a moderately closed canopy on sheltered canyon slopes (up to 75% cover). The overstory is dominated by Abies concolor with Pseudotsuga menziesii as the common codominant or subdominant. Other conifers, such as several species of Pinus and Juniperus scopulorum, may be present in the canopy. Populus tremuloides can be well-represented in the canopy. The understory is a mixture of mesic tall shrubs that are well-represented to abundant and typically dominated by Jamesia americana and/or Holodiscus dumosus. Physocarpus monogynus can also codominate some stands. Other frequent shrubs may include Ribes spp., Robinia neomexicana, Rubus idaeus, and Symphoricarpos spp. The herbaceous layer is typically low in cover and diversity. Saxifraga bronchialis ssp. austromontana is a common forb. Where shrub cover is lower, graminoids such as Carex rossii, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, and Koeleria macrantha may be more prevalent.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This white fir scree association includes former Abies concolor / Holodiscus dumosus Scree Woodland (CEGL000889). Holodiscus dumosus and Jamesia americana are often both present to codominant and share some reference types (Fitzhugh et al. 1987, Stuever and Hayden 1997a).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This woodland is characterized by a very open (10%) tree canopy on steep scree fields to a moderately closed canopy on sheltered canyon slopes (up to 75% cover). The overstory is dominated by Abies concolor with Pseudotsuga menziesii as the common codominant or subdominant. While other conifers, such as Pinus aristata, Pinus flexilis, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus strobiformis, and Juniperus scopulorum, are uncommon in the canopy, Populus tremuloides can be well-represented. The understory is a mixture of mesic tall shrubs that are well-represented to abundant and typically dominated by Jamesia americana and/or Holodiscus dumosus. Physocarpus monogynus can also codominate some stands Other frequent shrubs may include Ribes cereum, Ribes inerme, Ribes leptanthum, Robinia neomexicana, Rubus idaeus, and Symphoricarpos spp. The herbaceous layer is typically low in cover and diversity. Saxifraga bronchialis ssp. austromontana is a common forb. Where shrub cover is lower, graminoids such as Carex rossii, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, and Koeleria macrantha may be more prevalent.
Dynamics: This association tends to have an open canopy because of active colluvial processes and lack of growing sites on these typically steep rocky slopes.
Environmental Description: This white fir woodland occurs in the southern Rocky Mountains in southern Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona at elevations between 2370 and 2900 m (7780-9250 feet). Stands are found on moderately steep to very steep (45-85%) colluvial slopes that may occur on any aspect, but they are often found on cool northerly aspects. Soils are shallow, poorly developed and rocky loams or clay loams, often with the surface covered with talus and scree. Soils can be saturated (seeps) and range from somewhat poorly drained to rapidly drained. Cover of litter and duff, wood and moss is often moderate to high, but not as high as rock and gravel. Substrates are derived from volcanic andesite, rhyolite, and rhyolitic tuffs.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in the southern Rocky Mountains in southern Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684988
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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 | CEGL000890 White Fir - (Douglas-fir) / Five-petal Cliffbush - Rockspirea Scree Woodland | CEGL000890 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.d |
Concept Lineage: ABCO/HODU CEGL000889 and ABCO/JAAM CEGL000890 lumped as both associations are very similar occurring on rocky slopes and scree with Jamesia americana and/or Holodiscus dumosus dominating the understory.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Acer glabrum Plant Association, Holodiscus dumosus Phase (Moir and Ludwig 1979)
= Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Acer glabrum, Holodiscus dumosus phase (Stuever and Hayden 1997a) [lists Jamesia americana as common associate; this reference is an update of Larson and Moir (1987).]
= Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Holodiscus dumosus Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
>< Abies concolor / Berberis repens Habitat Type (Muldavin et al. 1996) [This habitat type also occurs on cool, dry to mesic canyon slopes and may have Holodiscus dumosus present. Steep midslopes sites would be most similar.]
? Abies concolor / Holodiscus dumosus (Scree) Habitat Types (DeVelice et al. 1986) [a white fir scree type that has both Jamesia americana and Holodiscus dumosus were relatively consistent along with Ribes inerme with high constancy (50-75%) and relatively high cover (2-4%).]
= Abies concolor / Holodiscus dumosus (Scree) Habitat Types (Fitzhugh et al. 1987) [Jamesia americana is more consistent and averages higher cover than Holodiscus dumosus.]
>< Abies concolor / Sparse Undergrowth Habitat Type (Alexander et al. 1984a) [Holodiscus dumosus present with 5% cover.]
= Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Acer glabrum, Holodiscus dumosus phase (Stuever and Hayden 1997a) [lists Jamesia americana as common associate; this reference is an update of Larson and Moir (1987).]
= Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Holodiscus dumosus Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
>< Abies concolor / Berberis repens Habitat Type (Muldavin et al. 1996) [This habitat type also occurs on cool, dry to mesic canyon slopes and may have Holodiscus dumosus present. Steep midslopes sites would be most similar.]
? Abies concolor / Holodiscus dumosus (Scree) Habitat Types (DeVelice et al. 1986) [a white fir scree type that has both Jamesia americana and Holodiscus dumosus were relatively consistent along with Ribes inerme with high constancy (50-75%) and relatively high cover (2-4%).]
= Abies concolor / Holodiscus dumosus (Scree) Habitat Types (Fitzhugh et al. 1987) [Jamesia americana is more consistent and averages higher cover than Holodiscus dumosus.]
>< Abies concolor / Sparse Undergrowth Habitat Type (Alexander et al. 1984a) [Holodiscus dumosus present with 5% cover.]
- Alexander, B. G., Jr., F. Ronco, Jr., E. L. Fitzhugh, and J. A. Ludwig. 1984a. A classification of forest habitat types of the Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico. General Technical Report RM-104. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 29 pp.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Moir, W. H., and J. A. Ludwig. 1979. A classification of spruce-fir and mixed conifer habitat types of Arizona and New Mexico. Research Paper RM-207. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 47 pp.
- Muldavin, E. H., R. L. DeVelice, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1996. A classification of forest habitat types of southern Arizona and portions of the Colorado Plateau. General Technical Report RM-GTR-287. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 130 pp.
- Muldavin, E., A. Kennedy, C. Jackson, P. Neville, T. Neville, K. Schulz, and M. Reid. 2011b. Vegetation classification and map: Bandelier National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2011/438. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Salas, D. E., J. Stevens, K. Schulz, M. Artmann, B. Friesen, S. Blauer, E. W. Schweiger, and A. Valdez. 2010b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMN/NRR--2010/179. 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.
- Stuever, M. C., and J. S. Hayden. 1997b. Plant associations of Arizona and New Mexico. Volume 2: Woodlands. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Habitat Typing Guides. 196 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.