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CEGL000249 Abies concolor / Juniperus communis Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Fir / Common Juniper Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This montane forest association occurs on a wide variety of aspects, slopes and landforms and is found in southern Utah on the Markagunt, Sevier and Paunsaugunt plateaus, in the Escalante and Tushar mountains and in the southern Rocky Mountains in northern New Mexico. Sites range between 2400 and 2850 m (7900-9360 feet) in elevation. Soils are often gravelly, rapidly drained loams (sandy to silty clay loams) and silts. Litter accumulations tend to be high but may be non-uniform and patchy. The vegetation is characterized by an open to closed tree canopy (10-70% cover) that is dominated or codominated by Abies concolor with a sparse to moderately dense understory dominated by clumps of the short shrub Juniperus communis. Pseudotsuga menziesii is frequently a codominant with other trees such as Picea pungens, Pinus flexilis, Pinus strobiformis (southern latitudes), Populus tremuloides, and Juniperus scopulorum. Abies lasiocarpa and Pinus ponderosa are accidental in the tree canopy and have relatively low cover. Other shrubs include scattered Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Shepherdia canadensis, Rosa woodsii, Ribes cereum, Paxistima myrsinites, Mahonia repens, or Ceanothus martinii. Acer glabrum is typically absent. The herbaceous layer is generally depauperate but can range as high as 10% cover in some stands. Carex rossii, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Bromus anomalus, and Poa fendleriana are the most consistent species.
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: This mixed montane forest has an open to closed tree canopy (10-70% cover). Abies concolor is the indicated late-seral tree and usually dominates mature stands. Pseudotsuga menziesii, Picea pungens, Pinus flexilis, Pinus strobiformis (southern latitudes), and Populus tremuloides are seral associates. Abies lasiocarpa and Pinus ponderosa are accidental in the tree canopy and have relatively low cover. Some stands may have scattered saplings of Abies concolor, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus flexilis, Populus tremuloides, or Juniperus scopulorum. The undergrowth is characterized by a clumpy, typically open to moderately dense, short-shrub layer of Juniperus communis (5-65% cover). Other shrubs, such as Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Shepherdia canadensis, Rosa woodsii, Ribes cereum, Paxistima myrsinites, Mahonia repens (= Berberis repens), or Ceanothus martinii, may be present with low cover. Acer glabrum is typically absent. The herbaceous layer is generally depauperate but can range as high as 10% cover in some stands. Carex rossii, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Bromus anomalus, Elymus elymoides, and Poa fendleriana are the most consistent graminoids. Among forbs, mesic species such as Fragaria vesca, Pyrola chlorantha, and Thalictrum fendleri are the most frequent and abundant.
Dynamics: Fire is critical to the maintenance of Populus tremuloides in this association. The dominance of Abies concolor and occurrence of Picea pungens increase in later seral stages due to their greater shade tolerance and susceptibility to fire in comparison to Pinus flexilis and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Fischer and Bradley 1987).
Environmental Description: This montane forest association occurs on a wide variety of aspects, slopes and landforms such as low to high slopes of ridges, hills, mesas, plateaus, valleys, ravines, canyons, saddles and rolling mesatops. Sites range between 2410 and 2850 m (7900-9360 feet) in elevation. Soils are often gravelly, rapidly drained loams (sandy to silty clay loams) and silts. Amounts of bare soil and exposed rock are relatively uniform. Litter accumulations tend to be high but may be non-uniform and patchy, with depths averaging 3.2 cm. Parent materials include limestone, basaltic and andesitic volcanics, rhyolite, rhyolitic tuffs, and the Pink and White members of the Claron Formation (soft limestone).
Geographic Range: This conifer forest is found in Utah on the Markagunt, Sevier and Paunsaugunt plateaus and the Escalante and Tushar mountains and in the southern Rocky Mountains in northern New Mexico.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, NM, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685856
Confidence Level: High
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.c White Fir - Douglas-fir Southern Rocky Mountain Dry Forest Group | G226 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Alliance | A3420 White Fir Dry Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3420 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Association | CEGL000249 White Fir / Common Juniper Forest | CEGL000249 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Abies concolor / Juniperus communis Forest (Muldavin et al. 2006)
= Abies concolor / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Youngblood and Mauk 1985)
= Abies concolor / Juniperus communis Plant Community (Roberts et al. 1992)
= Abies concolor / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Youngblood and Mauk 1985)
= Abies concolor / Juniperus communis Plant Community (Roberts et al. 1992)
- 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.
- Fischer, W. C., and A. F. Bradley. 1987. Fire ecology of western Montana forest habitat types. General Technical Report INT-223. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 95 pp.
- Kearsley, M. J. C., K. Green, M. Tukman, M. Reid, M. Hall, T. J. Ayers, and K. Christie. 2015. Grand Canyon National Park-Grand Canyon / Parashant National Monument vegetation classification and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR--2015/913. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 75 pp. plus appendices.
- 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.
- Muldavin, E., P. Neville, C. Jackson, and T. Neville. 2006. A vegetation map of Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico. Natural Heritage New Mexico Publication No. 06-GTR-302. Natural Heritage New Mexico, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 59 pp.
- Reid, M. S., and M. E. Hall. 2010. Vegetation classification of Grand Canyon National Park. Draft report submitted to National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Roberts, D. W., D. W. Wight, and G. P. Hallsten. 1992. Plant community distribution and dynamics in Bryce Canyon National Park. Unpublished final report for Bryce Canyon National Park Project PX1200-7-0966. 146 pp.
- Tendick, A., B. Friesen, G. Kittel, P. Williams, J. Coles, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2011a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Cedar Breaks National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2011/470. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Tendick, A., G. Kittel, J. Von Loh, P. Williams, D. Cogan, J. Coles, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2011b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Bryce Canyon National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2011/442. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Youngblood, A. P., and R. L. Mauk. 1985. Coniferous forest habitat types of central and southern Utah. General Technical Report INT-187. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 89 pp.