Print Report
CEGL001207 Salix geyeriana / Carex utriculata Wet Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Geyer''s Willow / Northwest Territory Sedge Wet Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: Throughout its distribution, this association occurs in mountains and high valleys at elevations ranging from 1310 to 2740 m (4300-9000 feet). This is the wettest of the Salix geyeriana-dominated willow shrublands. It is most common on broad, level floodplains but does occur in narrow bands along smaller streams in open U-shaped valleys. Valley bottom gradients are usually low. Surface microtopography is often hummocky as a result of the irregular buildup of organic material. Stands have a 1- to 3-m tall, nearly closed canopy to open clumps that are dominated by the deciduous shrub Salix geyeriana, with a thick carpet of graminoids in the undergrowth that is dominated by Carex utriculata. A diversity of other shrubs may be present but usually in low amounts. Some of these subordinate shrubs are present in the upper canopy along with Salix geyeriana, such as Salix boothii, Salix drummondiana, Salix monticola, and Alnus incana. Often there are shorter shrubs present but usually with not more than 20% cover. Shorter shrub species include Salix planifolia, Salix wolfii, Betula glandulosa, Ribes inerme, Lonicera involucrata, or Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda. Carex utriculata clearly dominates the understory. Other sedges and grasses, such as Carex aquatilis, Carex interior, Carex scopulorum, Carex simulata, Carex praegracilis, or Calamagrostis canadensis, may be present, but they have low cover. Forb species are sparse, but Geum macrophyllum appears to be the most constant species across the range of this type.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Many studies throughout the Rocky Mountain west have documented this association. All of these classifications have used the old name Carex rostrata, which is now known to be strictly boreal. This name is superseded by Carex utriculata (Reznicek 1987).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Salix geyeriana dominates the overstory and can have large, often widely spaced clumps. Salix geyeriana can be as much as 3 m tall. A diversity of other shrubs may be present but usually in low amounts. Some of these subordinate shrubs are present in the upper canopy along with Salix geyeriana, such as Salix boothii, Salix drummondiana, Salix monticola, and Alnus incana. Often there are shorter shrubs present but usually with not more than 20% cover. Shorter shrub species include Salix planifolia, Salix wolfii, Betula glandulosa, Ribes inerme, Lonicera involucrata, and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Potentilla fruticosa). Carex utriculata clearly dominates the understory. Other sedges and grasses, such as Carex aquatilis, Carex interior, Carex scopulorum, Carex simulata, Carex praegracilis, or Calamagrostis canadensis, may be present, but they have low cover. Forb species are sparse, but Geum macrophyllum appears to be the most constant species across the range of this type.
Dynamics: This association is the wettest of all Salix geyeriana types. Prolonged, intense utilization by livestock and wild ungulates may shift the site potential to a drier grazing disclimax, characterized by more open stands with exotic grasses, such as Poa pratensis and Agrostis stolonifera, dominating the understory. Beavers may exert a significant influence on sites as well. Active dams maintain high water tables needed to support this type. However, sustained removal of willows by beavers may reduce the site to a Carex utriculata association. When beaver abandon a site, the dams eventually deteriorate, and the water table may drop, shifting the site potential to ~Salix geyeriana / Calamagrostis canadensis Wet Shrubland (CEGL001205)$$. The wet organic soils can be strongly impacted by livestock and heavy machinery, but the dense roots and rhizomes of Carex utriculata bind the soil and stabilize the site. Loss of the shallow water table, through soil damage and/or stream incision, will initially shift undergrowth composition towards drier graminoids and forbs. Willow regeneration will be limited, and the mature individuals will eventually become decadent. Carex utriculata provides a very high level of streambank stabilization.
Environmental Description: Throughout its distribution, this association occurs in mountains and high valleys at elevations ranging from 1310 to 2740 m (4300-9000 feet). This is the wettest of the Salix geyeriana-dominated willow shrublands. It is most common on broad, level floodplains but does occur in narrow bands along smaller streams in open U-shaped valleys. Valley bottom gradients are usually low. Surface microtopography is often hummocky as a result of the irregular buildup of organic material. Hydrology of these sites is usually maintained through subirrigation, and soil moisture is maintained at or near the surface in most cases. These sites may or may not be annually flooded during high water in the spring and early summer. This association occurs on a range of soil types that are typically wet, cold, and organic or have organic surface horizons. They are generally classified as Mollisols and Histisols. Organic surface horizons, often extending to a depth of 45 cm (18 inches) or more, are riddled with fibrous roots and plant material. Soil textures are categorized as fine, generally silts and clays. Deeper alluvial mineral deposits are composed of coarse and fine sands and gravels. The soils are usually mottled, indicating seasonal flooding and water table recession.
Geographic Range: This association has been document in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685548
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation | F013 | 2.C.4 |
| Division | 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division | D031 | 2.C.4.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nb.5 Sitka Alder - Booth''s Willow / Northwest Territory Sedge Montane Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup | M893 | 2.C.4.Nb.5 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d Willow species - Alder species - Water Birch Riparian & Seep Shrubland Group | G527 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d |
| Alliance | A3769 Booth''s Willow - Geyer''s Willow - Yellow Willow Montane Wet Shrubland Alliance | A3769 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d |
| Association | CEGL001207 Geyer''s Willow / Northwest Territory Sedge Wet Shrubland | CEGL001207 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Salix / Carex rostrata (Kovalchik 1987) [p.84. Includes stands of Salix geyeriana or Salix boothii with Carex utriculata in the understory.]
= Salix geyeriana - Salix spp. / Carex utriculata Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Salix geyeriana - Salix spp. / Carex utriculata Plant Association (Phillips 1977)
< Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata - Carex aquatilis Community Type (Mutz and Queiroz 1983) [p.65 and Appendix G. Includes one stand dominated by Carex aquatilis in the understory; the other 3 stands match our concept with Carex utriculata in the understory.]
= Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata Community (Jones 1992c)
= Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata Community Type (Manning and Padgett 1995) [p.116.]
< Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata Community Type (Hansen et al. 1995) [p.304. Includes stands dominated solely by Salix boothii and combinations of Salix geyeriana and Salix boothii. See Classification Comments regarding notes on Carex rostrata.]
= Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989) [p.67.]
= Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata Community Type (Walford et al. 2001) [p.R-77.]
< Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata Community Type (Youngblood et al. 1985a) [p.30. Some stands dominated by Carex aquatilis are included.]
< Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata Habitat Type (Hall and Hansen 1997) [p.206. Includes stands dominated by Salix boothii and stands with more Carex aquatilis than Carex utriculata.]
= Salix geyeriana / Carex utriculata Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Salix geyeriana / Wet Carex Ecological Type (Girard et al. 1997) [p.149.]
< Salix spp. / Carex rostrata Community Type (Tuhy and Jensen 1982) [p.62. Includes stands dominated by Salix wolfii, Salix planifolia, Salix geyeriana, or Salix drummondiana, all with a Carex utriculata understory. At least 3 plots match the pure Salix geyeriana / Carex utriculata type (p.162).]
= Geyer willow/beaked sedge (Salix geyeriana/Carex utriculata) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
= Salix geyeriana - Salix spp. / Carex utriculata Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Salix geyeriana - Salix spp. / Carex utriculata Plant Association (Phillips 1977)
< Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata - Carex aquatilis Community Type (Mutz and Queiroz 1983) [p.65 and Appendix G. Includes one stand dominated by Carex aquatilis in the understory; the other 3 stands match our concept with Carex utriculata in the understory.]
= Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata Community (Jones 1992c)
= Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata Community Type (Manning and Padgett 1995) [p.116.]
< Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata Community Type (Hansen et al. 1995) [p.304. Includes stands dominated solely by Salix boothii and combinations of Salix geyeriana and Salix boothii. See Classification Comments regarding notes on Carex rostrata.]
= Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989) [p.67.]
= Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata Community Type (Walford et al. 2001) [p.R-77.]
< Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata Community Type (Youngblood et al. 1985a) [p.30. Some stands dominated by Carex aquatilis are included.]
< Salix geyeriana / Carex rostrata Habitat Type (Hall and Hansen 1997) [p.206. Includes stands dominated by Salix boothii and stands with more Carex aquatilis than Carex utriculata.]
= Salix geyeriana / Carex utriculata Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Salix geyeriana / Wet Carex Ecological Type (Girard et al. 1997) [p.149.]
< Salix spp. / Carex rostrata Community Type (Tuhy and Jensen 1982) [p.62. Includes stands dominated by Salix wolfii, Salix planifolia, Salix geyeriana, or Salix drummondiana, all with a Carex utriculata understory. At least 3 plots match the pure Salix geyeriana / Carex utriculata type (p.162).]
= Geyer willow/beaked sedge (Salix geyeriana/Carex utriculata) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
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