Print Report
CEGL001150 Populus tremuloides / Alnus incana Riparian Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen / Gray Alder Riparian Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This riparian plant association is located in narrow ravines and along first- and second-order streams in Colorado at elevations of 2480 to 2930 m (8140-9600 feet). At the upper end of its elevational range it typically occurs where upland Populus tremuloides forests intermix with riparian shrub vegetation, while at lower elevations it occurs where Populus tremuloides persists only in the riparian zone. Stream gradients range from 1 to 30% slopes. Soils are generally skeletal, shallow, sandy and sandy clay loams or deeper sandy clay loams. The open to closed tree canopy has 10-70% cover of Populus tremuloides. Several conifer species can occur, but Populus tremuloides is clearly the dominant tree species. Other tree species that may be present include Pinus contorta, Abies lasiocarpa, Picea pungens, and Pseudotsuga menziesii. The shrub layer is dominated by 10-70% cover of Alnus incana, which is diagnostic of this riparian type. Other associated shrubs may include Salix drummondiana, Lonicera involucrata, Rosa woodsii, and Salix bebbiana. The forb layer can be dense and includes Cardamine cordifolia, Mertensia ciliata, Osmorhiza depauperata, and Senecio triangularis. Graminoid cover may include Calamagrostis canadensis, Equisetum arvense, and Carex disperma. The presence of obligate riparian species in the shrub and forb canopies along the immediate streambank distinguishes this riparian plant association from the adjacent upland Populus tremuloides associations.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is based on 20 quantitative plots completed by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The open to closed tree canopy of this riparian association has 10-70% cover of Populus tremuloides. Several conifer species can occur, but Populus tremuloides is clearly the dominant tree species. Other tree species that may be present include Pinus contorta (20%), Abies lasiocarpa (10%), Picea pungens (1-10%), and Pseudotsuga menziesii (1-10%). The shrub layer is dominated by 10-70% cover of Alnus incana, which is diagnostic of this riparian type. Other associated shrubs may include Salix drummondiana, Lonicera involucrata, Rosa woodsii, and Salix bebbiana. The forb layer can be dense and includes Cardamine cordifolia, Mertensia ciliata, Osmorhiza depauperata, and Senecio triangularis. Graminoid cover may include Calamagrostis canadensis, Equisetum arvense, and Carex disperma. The presence of obligate riparian species in the shrub and forb canopies along the immediate streambank distinguishes this riparian plant association from the adjacent upland Populus tremuloides associations. At the upper end of its elevational range it typically occurs where upland Populus tremuloides forests intermix with riparian shrub vegetation, while at lower elevations it occurs where Populus tremuloides persists only in the riparian zone.
Dynamics: Alnus incana is a long-lived, early-seral species. It is one of the first species to establish on fluvial or glacial deposits.
Environmental Description: This riparian plant association is located in narrow ravines and along first- and second-order streams in Colorado at elevations of 2480 to 2900 m (8140-9600 feet). At the upper end of its elevational range it typically occurs where upland Populus tremuloides forests intermix with riparian shrub vegetation, while at lower elevations it occurs where Populus tremuloides persists only in the riparian zone. Stream gradients range from 1 to 30% slopes. Soils are generally skeletal, shallow, sandy and sandy clay loams or deeper sandy clay loams.
Geographic Range: This plant association has not been described in any previous literature or been documented outside of Colorado. However, it is expected to occur in other Rocky Mountain States.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686302
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Nc Rocky Mountain-Great Basin Montane Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D195 | 1.B.3.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Nc.1 Engelmann Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M034 | 1.B.3.Nc.1 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a Engelmann Spruce - Blue Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Group | G506 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Alliance | A3760 Quaking Aspen Riparian Forest Alliance | A3760 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL001150 Quaking Aspen / Gray Alder Riparian Forest | CEGL001150 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus tremuloides / Alnus incana / Symphoricarpos albus (Crowe and Clausnitzer 1997)
= Populus tremuloides / Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia Forest (Carsey et al. 2003b)
= Populus tremuloides / Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia Forest (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Populus tremuloides / Alnus incana Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Populus tremuloides/Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Quaking aspen/thinleaf alder (Populus tremuloides/Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
= Populus tremuloides / Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia Forest (Carsey et al. 2003b)
= Populus tremuloides / Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia Forest (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Populus tremuloides / Alnus incana Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Populus tremuloides/Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Quaking aspen/thinleaf alder (Populus tremuloides/Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
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- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.