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CEGL000242 Abies concolor / Arctostaphylos patula Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Fir / Greenleaf Manzanita Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This woodland association has been reported from mountains and plateaus in southwestern Utah. Elevation ranges from 2390-2680 m (7840-8880 feet). Stands occur on a variety of sites including steep to gentle, middle to lower slopes and benches. Typically sites are relatively cool with northerly aspects common. Substrates are typically loamy soils derived from limestone parent materials. This association is characterized by an uneven-aged, open to moderately dense tree canopy that is dominated or codominated by Abies concolor. Codominants are Pinus ponderosa or Pseudotsuga menziesii. Dense patches of Arctostaphylos patula dominate the open to moderately dense shrub layer. Other shrub species present may include Paxistima myrsinites, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Mahonia repens, Ceanothus spp., Juniperus communis, Ribes cereum, and Purshia tridentata. The herbaceous cover is sparse (<20% cover) and is primarily composed of graminoids with scattered forbs.
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 association is characterized by an uneven-aged, open to moderately dense tree canopy that is dominated or codominated by Abies concolor. Codominants are Pinus ponderosa or Pseudotsuga menziesii. Scattered Juniperus scopulorum or Pinus flexilis trees may also be present. Dense patches of Arctostaphylos patula dominate the open to moderately dense shrub layer. Other shrub species present may include Paxistima myrsinites, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Mahonia repens, Ceanothus spp., Juniperus communis, Ribes cereum, and Purshia tridentata. The herbaceous cover is sparse (<20% cover) and is primarily composed of graminoids with scattered forbs. Common species include Carex rossii, Achnatherum hymenoides, Elymus elymoides, Poa fendleriana, Achillea millefolium, Astragalus miser, Packera multilobata (= Senecio multilobatus), and Frasera speciosa (= Swertia radiata).
Dynamics: These woodlands are thought to have longer fire-return intervals than other woodlands with Arctostaphylos patula-dominated understories. This is presumably due to the presence of Abies concolor and Pseudotsuga menziesii trees, which are both sensitive to fires when young (Roberts et al. 1992). The occurrence of a moderate-intensity fire would likely change the composition of individual stands, favoring the more resistant Pinus ponderosa and larger trees while killing small to intermediate Abies concolor and Pseudotsuga menziesii trees, which are less fire-resistant (Roberts et al. 1992). Arctostaphylos patula generally increases after fire (Roberts et al. 1992).
Environmental Description: This woodland association has been reported from mountains and plateaus in southwestern Utah. Elevation ranges from 2390-2680 m (7840-8880 feet). Stands occur on a variety of sites including steep to gentle, middle to lower slopes and benches. Sites are relatively cool, often with northerly aspects common, but warmer than sites dominated by more mesic understory species such as Symphoricarpos oreophilus or Mahonia repens. Substrates range from sandy to silty loams that are typically derived from limestone parent materials. Bare soil averages 21% cover, but may be much higher (10-80% cover). Litter cover is generally patchy.
Geographic Range: This plant association has been described only in Utah. It ranges across the southern portion of the state from the Pine Valley Mountains, Markagunt, Paunsaugunt, Aquarius plateaus east to the Abajo Mountains.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NV, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686461
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5
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 | CEGL000242 White Fir / Greenleaf Manzanita Forest | CEGL000242 | 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 / Arctostaphylos patula Habitat Type (Youngblood and Mauk 1985)
= Abies concolor / Arctostaphylos patula Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
? Whitefir / Greenleaf Manzanita Habitat Type (Roberts et al. 1992)
= Abies concolor / Arctostaphylos patula Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
? Whitefir / Greenleaf Manzanita Habitat Type (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.
- Cogan, D., J. E. Taylor, and K. Schulz. 2012. Vegetation inventory project: Great Basin National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/MOJN/NRR--2012/568. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 373 pp.
- Cogan, D., M. Reid, K. Schulz, and M. Pucherelli. 2004. Zion National Park, Utah 1999-2003. Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-03-01. Remote Sensing and GIS Group Technical Service Center, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. Appendix F: Vegetation Association Descriptions for Zion.
- Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
- 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.
- Schulz, K. A., and M. E. Hall. 2011. Vegetation inventory project: Great Basin National Park. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network. NatureServe, Western Regional Office, Boulder, CO. 30 pp. plus Appendices A-H.
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- 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.