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CEGL000371 Picea engelmannii / Moss Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Engelmann Spruce / Moss Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This dry, cold spruce forest occurs in the southwestern United States from northern Arizona and New Mexico to southern Colorado. It occurs on summits, ridges, and upper slopes from 2780-3500 m (9110-11,500 feet) in elevation. Soils are very well-drained and cryic with lithic or skeletal profiles. The tree canopy is solely characterized by Picea engelmannii. Seral species include Abies concolor, Pinus aristata, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and occasionally Pinus strobiformis or Populus tremuloides. The shrub and herbaceous layers are sparse. Sporadic shrubs include Juniperus communis, Shepherdia canadensis, Vaccinium scoparium, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ribes montigenum, or Lonicera utahensis, all of which have less than 10% total cover. The herbaceous layer is likewise sparse; herbs with low cover include Arnica cordifolia, Orthilia secunda, Pyrola chlorantha, Carex rossii, or Muhlenbergia montana. Nonvascular plants are dominant in this association. This association is characterized by the dominance of Picea engelmannii in the tree canopy with a lack of Abies lasiocarpa over a dominant but sometimes patchy moss layer and sparse shrubs and herbs.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Picea engelmannii dominates the overstory. Pseudotsuga menziesii may or may not have a codominant role. Abies lasiocarpa is minor or absent. The prominent feature is the sparse undergrowth and the moss cover.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Compare this association to ~Picea engelmannii / Hypnum revolutum Forest (CEGL000368)$$; once bryophytes are actually identified this association may prove to be the same thing. The relationship with ~Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Moss Forest (CEGL000321)$$ likewise needs to be clarified; limits of relative cover of Abies lasiocarpa need to be determined, otherwise these two associations should probably be lumped.
Two phases are recognized by Stuever and Hayden (1997a): typical and interior Pseudotsuga menziesii. These are geographic variations rather than actual phases. The following "phases" are based on compilations from available references: typical phase: High-elevation (>3048 m [10,000 feet]), cold slopes with Picea engelmannii occurring in all sizes and dominating overstory; moderate to heavy regeneration of Abies lasiocarpa, but mature sizes less frequent. Pseudotsuga menziesii is of minor importance as a seral tree. This phase is known from San Francisco Peaks and Pinaleno Mountains in Arizona, and Sangre de Cristo and San Juan mountains of New Mexico and Colorado, respectively. Interior Pseudotsuga menziesii phase: comparatively warmer, dry slopes at slightly lower elevations (>2896 m [9500 feet]); Picea engelmannii as climax dominant and Abies lasiocarpa usually absent except on Mount Taylor; Pseudotsuga menziesii being an important seral tree. This phase is known to exist on Mount Taylor, Black Mountain (Mogollons), and San Mateo Mountains, NM; and the White and Chiricahua mountains in Arizona.
Two phases are recognized by Stuever and Hayden (1997a): typical and interior Pseudotsuga menziesii. These are geographic variations rather than actual phases. The following "phases" are based on compilations from available references: typical phase: High-elevation (>3048 m [10,000 feet]), cold slopes with Picea engelmannii occurring in all sizes and dominating overstory; moderate to heavy regeneration of Abies lasiocarpa, but mature sizes less frequent. Pseudotsuga menziesii is of minor importance as a seral tree. This phase is known from San Francisco Peaks and Pinaleno Mountains in Arizona, and Sangre de Cristo and San Juan mountains of New Mexico and Colorado, respectively. Interior Pseudotsuga menziesii phase: comparatively warmer, dry slopes at slightly lower elevations (>2896 m [9500 feet]); Picea engelmannii as climax dominant and Abies lasiocarpa usually absent except on Mount Taylor; Pseudotsuga menziesii being an important seral tree. This phase is known to exist on Mount Taylor, Black Mountain (Mogollons), and San Mateo Mountains, NM; and the White and Chiricahua mountains in Arizona.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The tree canopy of this cold, dry spruce forest is solely characterized by Picea engelmannii. Seral species include Abies concolor, Pinus aristata, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and occasionally Pinus strobiformis or Populus tremuloides. The shrub and herbaceous layers are sparse. Sporadic shrubs include Juniperus communis, Shepherdia canadensis, Vaccinium scoparium, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ribes montigenum, or Lonicera utahensis, all of which have less than 10% total cover. Herbs with low cover include Arnica cordifolia, Orthilia secunda, Pyrola chlorantha, Carex rossii, or Muhlenbergia montana. Nonvascular plants are dominant in this association.
Dynamics: This association occurs on sites that are presumably too cold or dry for Abies lasiocarpa. One successional pathway [see Alexander et al. (1987)] suggests that following complete overstory removal, shrubs and graminoids would become established. At some unknown amount of time and sets of factors later, overstory colonization by Populus tremuloides could occur. Later establishment of Pseudotsuga menziesii beneath the Populus tremuloides would provide the cooler microsite conditions needed for establishment of Picea engelmannii and Abies lasiocarpa. At lower elevations, post-disturbance succession begins with a Populus tremuloides - Pseudotsuga menziesii community converting to a stand containing only Pseudotsuga menziesii and then to a late-seral mixed-codominance stage.
Environmental Description: This dry, cold spruce forest occurs in the southwestern United States from northern Arizona and New Mexico to southern Colorado. It occurs on summits, ridges, and upper slopes from 2780-3500 m (9110-11,500 feet) in elevation. Soils are very well-drained and cryic with lithic or skeletal profiles.
Geographic Range: This subalpine forest occurs in the southwestern United States from northern Arizona and New Mexico to southern Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM, NV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685938
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup | M020 | 1.B.2.Nb.5 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir - Lodgepole Pine Dry-Mesic Forest & Woodland Group | G219 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b |
| Alliance | A3641 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Southern Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Forest Alliance | A3641 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b |
| Association | CEGL000371 Engelmann Spruce / Moss Forest | CEGL000371 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Picea engelmannii / Moss (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Picea engelmannii / Moss Habitat Type (DeVelice et al. 1986)
< Picea engelmannii / Moss Habitat Type (Moir and Ludwig 1979)
= Picea engelmannii / Moss Habitat Type (Larson and Moir 1987)
= Picea engelmannii / Moss Habitat Type (Alexander et al. 1987)
= Picea engelmannii / Moss Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
< Picea engelmannii / Moss Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Picea engelmannii / Moss Habitat Type (DeVelice et al. 1986)
< Picea engelmannii / Moss Habitat Type (Moir and Ludwig 1979)
= Picea engelmannii / Moss Habitat Type (Larson and Moir 1987)
= Picea engelmannii / Moss Habitat Type (Alexander et al. 1987)
= Picea engelmannii / Moss Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
< Picea engelmannii / Moss Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
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