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CEGL001866 Carex scirpoidea - Geum rossii Alpine Turf
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Northern Single-spike Sedge - Ross'' Avens Alpine Turf
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community has been described for only southwestern Montana in the Tobacco Root, East Pioneer and Madison ranges. Stands may be restricted to non-calcareous substrates, having been reported from granitic, intrusive volcanics, and gneiss parent materials (all non-calcareous) in mountain ranges that have an abundance of exposed calcareous substrates. This association spans nearly the full range of alpine elevations in this portion of Montana, from 2835 to 3152 m (9300-10,340 feet). Sampled sites are about evenly divided between low-gradient slopes and steeper slopes, with all aspects represented. The most characteristic environmental parameter is some degree of enhanced effective moisture (relative to dry turf associations) through increased snowpack or delayed snowmelt. This vegetation occurs as small to large patches, often scattered among boulders that act as eddy current creating snow fences, serving to increase snowpack in their immediate vicinities. Fibrous-rooted graminoids dominate and create an alpine turf community, not much exceeding 1 dm in height, with the exception of flowering stalks. Graminoids average about 40% canopy cover. Though named for Carex scirpoidea, which has a high constancy and average canopy cover (24%) and is considered diagnostic, other Carex spp. (Carex phaeocephala, Carex albonigra, Carex atrosquama) are diagnostic as well (note none of the above-named Carices are employed as naming-species elsewhere in the National Vegetation Classification System). Other high-constancy graminoids include Luzula spicata, Poa alpina, Poa secunda, and Trisetum spicatum, with the moister sites having scattered Deschampsia cespitosa (under 5% cover). Exhibiting 100% constancy and 37% average canopy cover Geum rossii is a conspicuous dominant; other high-constancy forbs include Minuartia obtusiloba, Potentilla diversifolia, Phlox pulvinata, Polygonum bistortoides, Erigeron simplex, Lloydia serotina, and Lupinus argenteus.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: At least within southwestern Montana, this type is well documented by detailed plots, but there is a question about using multiple Carex spp. as diagnostic entities, inferring their ecological equivalence. This association has not been adequately crosswalked with similar alpine communities described from adjacent states/ecoregions or even in-state communities. Potentially similar types (accepting that more than one diagnostic Carex spp. defines this type) exist in Utah (Lewis 1970), Colorado (Komarkova 1976), New Mexico (Baker 1983a), and the North Cascades of Washington (Douglas and Bliss 1977). There are indications that these communities, most especially ~Carex spp. - Geum rossii Alpine Turf (CEGL001870)$$ identified by Bamberg for the Flint Creek, Tobacco Root, Little Belt, Big Belt and Crazy Mountains, may meet the classification criteria established for Carex scirpoidea - Geum rossii, considerably expanding the known range for the type and lowering its rank accordingly. This association is regarded as a geographic/substrate variant of ~Carex scirpoidea - Potentilla diversifolia Alpine Turf (CEGL001867)$$, occurring in ranges with both higher precipitation and acidic parent materials.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Fibrous-rooted graminoids dominate and create an alpine turf community, not much exceeding 1 dm in height, with the exception of flowering stalks. Graminoids average about 40% canopy cover. Though named for Carex scirpoidea, which has a high constancy and average canopy cover (24%) and is considered diagnostic, other Carex spp. (Carex phaeocephala, Carex albonigra, Carex atrosquama) are diagnostic as well (note none of the above-named Carices are employed as naming-species elsewhere in the National Vegetation Classification System). Other high-constancy graminoids include Luzula spicata, Poa alpina, Poa secunda, and Trisetum spicatum, with the moister sites having scattered Deschampsia cespitosa (under 5% cover). Exhibiting 100% constancy and 37% average canopy cover Geum rossii is a conspicuous dominant; other high-constancy forbs include Minuartia obtusiloba, Potentilla diversifolia, Phlox pulvinata, Polygonum bistortoides, Erigeron simplex, Lloydia serotina, and Lupinus argenteus.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands may be restricted to non-calcareous substrates, having been reported from granitic, intrusive volcanics, and gneiss parent materials (all non-calcareous) in mountain ranges that have an abundance of exposed calcareous substrates. This association spans nearly the full range of alpine elevations in this portion of Montana, from 2835 to 3152 m (9300-10,340 feet). Sampled sites are about evenly divided between low-gradient slopes and steeper slopes, with all aspects represented. The most characteristic environmental parameter is some degree of enhanced effective moisture (relative to dry turf associations) through increased snowpack or delayed snowmelt. This vegetation occurs as small to large patches, often scattered among boulders that act as eddy current creating snow fences, serving to increase snowpack in their immediate vicinities.
Geographic Range: This community has been described for only southwestern Montana in the Tobacco Root, East Pioneer and Madison ranges. Its occurrence in Wyoming is unconfirmed.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MT, WY?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685278
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 4 Polar & High Montane Scrub, Grassland & Barrens Class | C04 | 4 |
| Subclass | 4.B Temperate to Polar Alpine & Tundra Vegetation Subclass | S12 | 4.B |
| Formation | 4.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Alpine Tundra Formation | F037 | 4.B.1 |
| Division | 4.B.1.Nb Western North American Alpine Tundra Division | D043 | 4.B.1.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 4.B.1.Nb.2 Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Blackroot Sedge - Moss Campion Alpine Tundra Macrogroup | M099 | 4.B.1.Nb.2 |
| Group | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b Blackroot Sedge - Bellardi Bog Sedge - Cushion Phlox Alpine Turf & Fell-field Group | G314 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
| Alliance | A3155 Blackroot Sedge - Curly Sedge - Bellardi Bog Sedge Rocky Mountain Alpine Turf Alliance | A3155 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001866 Northern Single-spike Sedge - Ross'' Avens Alpine Turf | CEGL001866 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Carex scirpoidea - Geum rossii Herbaceous Vegetation (Cooper et al. 1999)
>< Carex scirpoidea var. scirpoidea Community Type (Douglas and Bliss 1977)
= Carex scirpoidea/Geum rossii c.t. (Cooper et al. 1997)
>< Geum Meadow (Baker 1983a)
< Geum-Sedge and Sedge-Geum communities (Lewis 1970)
>< Carex scirpoidea var. scirpoidea Community Type (Douglas and Bliss 1977)
= Carex scirpoidea/Geum rossii c.t. (Cooper et al. 1997)
>< Geum Meadow (Baker 1983a)
< Geum-Sedge and Sedge-Geum communities (Lewis 1970)
- Baker, W. L. 1983a. Alpine vegetation of Wheeler Peak, New Mexico, USA: Gradient analysis, classification, and biogeography. Arctic and Alpine Research 15(2):223-240.
- Bamberg, S. A., and J. Major. 1968. Ecology of the vegetation and soils associated with calcareous parent materials in three alpine regions of Montana. Ecological Monographs 38(2):127-167.
- 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.
- Cooper, S. V., C. Jean, and B. L. Heidel. 1999. Plant associations and related botanical inventory of the Beaverhead Mountains Section, Montana. Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 235 pp.
- Cooper, S. V., P. Lesica, and D. Page-Dumroese. 1997. Plant community classification for alpine vegetation on Beaverhead National Forest, Montana. Report INT-GTR-362. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 61 pp.
- Cooper, S. V., and P. Lesica. 1992. Plant community classification for alpine vegetation on Beaverhead National Forest, Montana. Conservation Biology Research, Helena, MT. 80 pp.
- Douglas, G. W., and L. C. Bliss. 1977. Alpine and high subalpine plant communities of the North Cascades Range, Washington and British Columbia. Ecological Monographs 47:113-150.
- Komarkova, V. 1976. Alpine vegetation of the Indian Peaks Area, Front Range, Colorado Rocky Mountains. Unpublished dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder. 655 pp.
- Lewis, M. E. 1970. Alpine rangelands of the Uinta Mountains, Ashley and Wasatch national forests, Region 4 of the USDA Forest Service. Unpublished report mimeographed for USDA Forest Service, Region IV, Ogden, UT. 75 pp.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.