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CEGL003108 Sequoiadendron giganteum Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Giant Sequoia Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These giant forests occur in discrete groves along the western slope of the central and southern Sierra Nevada in California. Most of the 75 identified groves occur south of Kings River. Elevation and aspect varies with latitude with northern stands found primarily between 1370 and 1980 m on southern aspects, and southern stands found between 1730 and 2450 m mostly on northern aspects. Cold temperatures limit the extent at high elevations, and lack of soil moisture limits the extent groves at lower elevations. Sites are flat to gently sloping. Soils are shallow to deep, well-drained, sandy loams with perennial soil moisture often derived from granitic rocks. These montane forests have a moderately dense to dense evergreen, needle-leaved tree canopy characterized by emergent individuals of Sequoiadendron giganteum (50-95 m tall) as the sole or dominant tree, or with mixed conifers interspersed forming a subcanopy. Groves are often dominated by Abies lowiana with emergent individuals of Sequoiadendron giganteum, though at lower elevations Calocedrus decurrens may dominate, and at higher elevations Abies magnifica may dominate. Other tree species may include Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus jeffreyi, Pinus contorta var. murrayana, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus lambertiana, and the broad-leaved tree Quercus kelloggii. The shrub layer is sparse to moderately dense and may include Chrysolepis sempervirens, Chamaebatia foliolosa, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus parvifolius, Ceanothus integerrimus, Ceanothus velutinus, Arctostaphylos patula, Rhododendron occidentale, Ribes spp., Rosa spp., and Rubus spp. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense. Stand structure and composition varies with age of stand (some over 3000 years), elevation, latitude, exposure, soil moisture, and time since most recent fire or disturbance. This Sierra Nevadan association is characterized by the dominance of Sequoiadendron giganteum in the tree canopy although stands may intergrade with the typical mixed conifer forest of the region.
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: Stands of this alliance usually occur as discrete groves and are characterized by emergent individuals of the evergreen needle-leaved tree Sequoiadendron giganteum, which may be the sole or dominant tree in the canopy. Heights of this species can be up to 95 m, while other trees present comprise a lower canopy of 75 m or less. Abies lowiana (= Abies concolor var. lowiana) is the most important associated conifer, but others that are commonly present include Abies magnifica var. magnifica, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus jeffreyi, Pinus contorta var. murrayana, Pinus lambertiana, Calocedrus decurrens(= Libocedrus decurrens), and Pseudotsuga menziesii. The broad-leaved deciduous tree Quercus kelloggii is also occasionally present. Shrubs in the understory are infrequent to common. Similarly, the herbaceous layer can be sparse to abundant. Reproduction of Sequoiadendron is typically sparse in these stands. The shrub layer is sparse to moderately dense and may include Chrysolepis sempervirens (= Castanopsis sempervirens), Chamaebatia foliolosa, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus parvifolius, Ceanothus integerrimus, Ceanothus velutinus, Arctostaphylos patula, Rhododendron occidentale, Ribes spp., Rosa spp., and Rubus spp. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands of the Sequoiadendron giganteum Forest Alliance occur from 1400-2600 m elevation in the montane zone of the Sierra Nevada. The climate is characterized by high annual precipitation (as much as 100 cm annually), a distinct summer dry season, and a proportion of the winter precipitation falling as snow.
Stands occur on all aspects, but the more northerly stands are on slopes of generally southerly aspects, while the southernmost stands occupy north-facing slopes. In all cases, stands are restricted to mesic sites, where soil moisture remains abundant throughout the summer dry season. Stands are often near springs, but apparently are not associated with major streams. Soil parent materials are commonly granitic in origin, and the soils are well-drained loams.
Stands occur on all aspects, but the more northerly stands are on slopes of generally southerly aspects, while the southernmost stands occupy north-facing slopes. In all cases, stands are restricted to mesic sites, where soil moisture remains abundant throughout the summer dry season. Stands are often near springs, but apparently are not associated with major streams. Soil parent materials are commonly granitic in origin, and the soils are well-drained loams.
Geographic Range: These giant forests occur in 75 groves scattered in a belt about 24 km wide and 420 km long on the west slope of California''s Sierra Nevada. Most groves are found in the southern third of the range in Tulare County.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685517
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.Nd Vancouverian Forest & Woodland Division | D192 | 1.B.2.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nd.2 Incense-cedar - Jeffrey Pine - Sierra White Fir Forest Macrogroup | M023 | 1.B.2.Nd.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nd.2.a Incense-cedar - Sugar Pine - Sierra White Fir Forest & Woodland Group | G344 | 1.B.2.Nd.2.a |
| Alliance | A4150 Giant Sequoia Forest Alliance | A4150 | 1.B.2.Nd.2.a |
| Association | CEGL003108 Giant Sequoia Forest | CEGL003108 | 1.B.2.Nd.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sequoiadendron giganteum (Griffin and Critchfield 1976)
< Sequoiadendron giganteum Forest Alliance (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
= Big Tree Forest (#84250) (Holland 1986b)
< Sequoiadendron giganteum Forest Alliance (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
= Big Tree Forest (#84250) (Holland 1986b)
- Aune, P. S., technical coordinator. 1994. Proceedings of the Symposium on Giant Sequoias: Their place in the ecosystem and society. 1992 June 23-25, Visalia, CA. General Technical Report PSW-GTR-151. USDA Forest Service, Pacific and Southwestern Research Station, Visalia, CA. 170 pp.
- Burns, R. M., and B. H. Honkala, technical coordinators. 1990a. Silvics of North America: Volume 1. Conifers. Agriculture Handbook 654. USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC. 675 pp.
- Cheatham, N. H., and J. R. Haller. 1975. An annotated list of California habitat types. Unpublished report. University of California, Natural Land and Water Reserves System.
- Griffin, J. R., and W. B. Critchfield. 1972. The distribution of forest trees in California. Research Paper PSW-82/1972. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Berkeley, CA. 114 pp.
- Griffin, J. R., and W. B. Critchfield. 1976. The distribution of forest trees in California. Research Paper PSW-82. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Berkeley, CA. 115 pp.
- Holland, R. F. 1986b. Preliminary descriptions of the terrestrial natural communities of California. Unpublished report prepared for the California Department of Fish and Game, Nongame-Heritage Program and Natural Diversity Database, Sacramento. 156 pp.
- Reid, M. S., L. S. Engelking, and P. S. Bourgeron. 1994. Rare plant communities of the conterminous United States, Western Region. Pages 305-620 in: D. H. Grossman, K. L. Goodin, and C. L. Reuss, editors. Rare plant communities of the conterminous United States, an initial survey. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
- Rundel, P. W., D. J. Parsons, and D. T. Gordon. 1988. Montane and subalpine vegetation of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges. Pages 559-599 in: M. G. Barbour and J. Major, editors. Terrestrial vegetation of California: New expanded edition. California Native Plant Society, Special Publication No. 9, Sacramento. 1030 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.