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CEGL000606 Populus tremuloides / Shepherdia canadensis Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen / Russet Buffaloberry Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Populus tremuloides forest association occurs in eastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and central Colorado. It occurs on dry ridges between 2092 and 3078 m (6860-10,100 feet) elevation. This association is considered one of the driest aspen types. Stands usually occur on steep low to midslopes, although stands have also occurred on near-flat terraces. Soils are often dry, well-drained sandy loams. The tree canopy is dominated by Populus tremuloides. Scattered conifers, such as Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Pseudotsuga menziesii, or Pinus contorta, are frequently present in small amounts. The shrub layer is characterized by the dominance of Shepherdia canadensis. Juniperus communis can also have high cover. Additional shrub associates can include Amelanchier alnifolia, Rosa woodsii, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, and Paxistima myrsinites among others. The herbaceous layer is composed of a mix of graminoids and forbs, the latter often more abundant and diverse. Common (but not consistent) graminoid species include Elymus trachycaulus, Bromus ciliatus, and sometimes Calamagrostis rubescens. Forbs usually present (but no one species consistently so) include Geranium viscosissimum, Lupinus argenteus, Thalictrum fendleri, Osmorhiza berteroi, Fragaria vesca, Galium boreale, and Achillea millefolium. Diagnostic for this association is the prominence of Shepherdia canadensis in the shrub layer, below a Populus tremuloides-dominated overstory.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Distinction between this association and ~Populus tremuloides / Juniperus communis Forest (CEGL000587)$$ is lacking in terms of species composition and is distinct only by the relatively high cover of Shepherdia canadensis. This community may be better classified as a woodland because most stands are relatively open (<60% cover).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This Populus tremuloides forest association has a tree canopy dominated by Populus tremuloides. Scattered conifers, such as Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus flexilis, or Pinus contorta, are frequently present in small amounts (<25% of the tree canopy) . The shrub layer is characterized by dominance of Shepherdia canadensis. Juniperus communis can also have high cover. Additional shrub associates can include Amelanchier alnifolia, Amelanchier utahensis, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Cercocarpus montanus, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Rosa woodsii, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus, among others. The herbaceous layer is composed of a mix of graminoids and forbs, the latter often more abundant and diverse. Typical (but not consistent) graminoid species include Bromus ciliatus, Elymus lanceolatus, Elymus trachycaulus (= Agropyron trachycaulum), Poa secunda, and sometimes Calamagrostis rubescens. Forbs usually present (but no one species consistently so) include Geranium richardsonii, Geranium viscosissimum, Lupinus argenteus, Thalictrum fendleri, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Fragaria vesca, Galium boreale, Chamerion angustifolium (= Epilobium angustifolium), Cirsium undulatum, and Achillea millefolium.
Dynamics: Shepherdia canadensis is a nitrogen-fixing shrub that rapidly colonizes or expands following low-intensity fire (Walkup 1991). This association rapidly succeeds to conifer-dominated forests, often ~Populus tremuloides - Abies lasiocarpa / Shepherdia canadensis Forest (CEGL000529)$$, especially at higher elevations (Youngblood and Mueggler 1981, Mueggler 1988). These will ultimately result in conifer-dominated forests. Rate of succession is dependent on rate of conifer establishment.
Environmental Description: This Rocky Mountain association occurs on dry ridges, slopes, benches and terraces between 2092 and 2400 m (6863-8000 feet) elevation in Idaho and Wyoming and between 2600 and 3078 m (8550-10,100 feet) in Colorado. This association is considered one of the driest aspen types. Stands usually occur on steep low to midslopes, although stands have also occurred on near-flat terraces. There is usually moderate to high cover of leaf litter. Soils are often dry, well-drained sandy loams or clays. Parent materials range from shale and sandstone to granite.
Geographic Range: This association is known from eastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and central Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686603
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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.d Quaking Aspen Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group | G222 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
| Alliance | A2036 Quaking Aspen Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance | A2036 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
| Association | CEGL000606 Quaking Aspen / Russet Buffaloberry Forest | CEGL000606 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Abies lasiocarpa / Arnica cordifolia Habitat Type, Shepherdia canadensis Phase (Steele et al. 1981)
< Populus tremuloides / Juniperus communis Community Type (Youngblood and Mueggler 1981) ["Some stands placed here are now included in Populus tremuloides / Shepherdia canadensis Community Type."]
= Populus tremuloides / Shepherdia canadensis Community Type (Powell 1988a)
= Populus tremuloides / Shepherdia canadensis Community Type (Youngblood and Mueggler 1981)
>< Populus tremuloides / Shepherdia canadensis Community Type (Mueggler 1988)
< Populus tremuloides / Juniperus communis Community Type (Youngblood and Mueggler 1981) ["Some stands placed here are now included in Populus tremuloides / Shepherdia canadensis Community Type."]
= Populus tremuloides / Shepherdia canadensis Community Type (Powell 1988a)
= Populus tremuloides / Shepherdia canadensis Community Type (Youngblood and Mueggler 1981)
>< Populus tremuloides / Shepherdia canadensis Community Type (Mueggler 1988)
- 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.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
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- Mueggler, W. F. 1988. Aspen community types of the Intermountain Region. General Technical Report INT-250. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 135 pp.
- Powell, D. C. 1988a. Aspen community types of the Pike and San Isabel national forests in south-central Colorado. Report R2-ECOL-88-01. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Denver, CO. 254 pp.
- Salas, D. E., J. Stevens, K. Schulz, M. Artmann, B. Friesen, S. Blauer, E. W. Schweiger, and A. Valdez. 2010b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMN/NRR--2010/179. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Salas, D., J. Stevens, and K. Schulz. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Technical Memorandum No. 8260-05-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 161 pp. plus Appendices A-L (733 pp.).
- Steele, R., R. D. Pfister, R. A. Ryker, and J. A. Kittams. 1981. Forest habitat types of central Idaho. General Technical Report INT-114. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 138 pp.
- Walkup, C. J. 1991a. Shepherdia canadensis. In: Fire Effects Information System [Online]. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). [http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/] (accessed March 4, 2005)
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Youngblood, A. P., and W. F. Mueggler. 1981. Aspen community types on the Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming. Research Paper INT-272. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 34 pp.