Print Report
CEGL000428 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Bromus ciliatus Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir / Fringed Brome Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Pseudotsuga menziesii forest association is found on the Colorado Plateau and Rocky Mountains of Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. This description is based on information from Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado. Additional global information will be added as it becomes available. This association is known from one location, occurring on a mountain flank at 3030 m elevation. Slopes are moderately steep (18°) and northeast-facing. Soils are well-drained sandy loam. The single sample of this association is characterized by a homogeneous dense canopy of Pseudotsuga menziesii. The herbaceous understory is sparse and includes Bromus ciliatus, Trisetum spicatum, and Piptatheropsis micrantha.
Diagnostic Characteristics: The most shade-tolerant tree present is Pseudotsuga menziesii. Bromus ciliatus is abundant, often luxuriant. Festuca arizonica is usually scarce or not present. Forbs are well-represented and often abundant. Acer glabrum may be well-represented in the shrub layer. Picea engelmannii and/or Abies concolor are absent or accidental.
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: The single sample of this association at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is characterized by a homogeneous dense canopy of Pseudotsuga menziesii (55-65%). The herbaceous understory is sparse, with 15-25% total cover, and includes Bromus ciliatus, Trisetum spicatum, and Piptatheropsis micrantha (= Piptatherum micranthum).
Dynamics: Fire frequency is not documented for this type, however, grass fires are thought to have occurred (Fitzhugh et al. 1987). Bromus ciliatus is generally top-killed by fire. With moderate- or high-intensity fire, recovery is very slow. Seeds probably can survive grass fires (Esser 1994c).
Environmental Description: This association, found in southeastern Arizona, southwest to central New Mexico, and local in northern New Mexico, occurs on cold, wet, windy sites at 2830 to 3090 m (9300-10,100 feet) elevation. Sites become dry in May and June. At Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, it occurs on a mountain flank at 3030 m elevation. Slopes are moderately steep (18°) and northeast-facing. Soils are well-drained sandy loam.
Geographic Range: This forest association is found on the Colorado Plateau and Rocky Mountains of Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685268
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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 | A3370 Douglas-fir Southern Rocky Mountain Mesic Forest Alliance | A3370 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.d |
| Association | CEGL000428 Douglas-fir / Fringed Brome Forest | CEGL000428 | 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: = Pseudotsuga menziesii / Bromus ciliatus (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Bromus ciliatus Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Bromus ciliatus Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
- Alexander, B. G., Jr., E. L. Fitzhugh, F. Ronco, Jr., and J. A. Ludwig. 1987. A classification of forest habitat types of the northern portion of the Cibola National Forest, NM. General Technical Report RM-143. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 35 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.
- Esser, L. L. 1994c. Bromus ciliatus. In: Fire Effects Information System [Online]. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). [http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/]
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.