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CEGL000588 Populus tremuloides / Juniperus communis / Carex geyeri Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen / Common Juniper / Geyer''s Sedge Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This deciduous forest is known from the southern and central Rocky Mountains and northern Colorado Plateau where it occurs on mountain slopes. Elevations range from 2400-2700 m (8000-9000 feet). Stands occur on gentle to moderately steep slopes (<40%) with southeastern aspects. Substrates are variable, but soils tend to be well-drained loams or silty loams. Litter covers much of the ground surface. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense tree canopy dominated by Populus tremuloides, a low-shrub layer (>10% cover) with Juniperus communis dominant or at least prominent, and a Carex geyeri-dominated herbaceous layer. Several other shrubs, such as Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, or Symphoricarpos rotundifolius, may also be present in the low-shrub layer. Scattered conifers may be present in the tree canopy, and occasional Amelanchier alnifolia and conifer saplings are present but do not form a tall-shrub layer. The moderate herbaceous layer is mostly graminoids and characteristically dominated by Carex geyeri or Calamagrostis rubescens, but other graminoids present may include Achnatherum occidentale, Elymus trachycaulus, Festuca thurberi, and the introduced perennial grass Poa pratensis. Forb cover is typically low but may be moderately diverse.
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: The association is characterized by a moderately dense to dense tree canopy dominated by Populus tremuloides, a low-shrub layer (>10% cover) with Juniperus communis dominant or at least prominent, and a Carex geyeri-dominated herbaceous layer (Mueggler 1988). Several other shrubs, such as Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Rosa woodsii, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, or Symphoricarpos rotundifolius, may be present in the low-shrub layer. Scattered conifers (Picea pungens, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus contorta) may be present in the tree canopy, and occasional Amelanchier alnifolia and conifer saplings are present but do not form a tall-shrub layer. The moderate herbaceous layer is mostly graminoids and characteristically dominated by Carex geyeri or Calamagrostis rubescens (Mueggler 1988). Other graminoids present include Achnatherum occidentale, Elymus trachycaulus, Festuca thurberi, and the introduced perennial graminoid Poa pratensis. Forb species have low cover and may include Achillea millefolium, Antennaria microphylla, Arnica cordifolia, Astragalus miser, Galium boreale, Geranium viscosissimum, Lupinus argenteus, Maianthemum stellatum, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), and the introduced Taraxacum officinale.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This deciduous forest is known from the southern and central Rocky Mountains and northern Colorado Plateau where it occurs on mountain slopes. Elevations range from 2400-2700 m (8000-9000 feet). Stands occur on gentle to moderately steep slopes (<40%) with southeastern aspects (Mueggler 1988). Substrates are variable, but soils tend to be well-drained loams or silty loams derived from sandstone (most frequent), Tertiary volcanics, or other rocks. Litter covers much of the ground surface.
Geographic Range: This forest association is known from the southern and central Rocky Mountains and northern Colorado Plateau in Colorado and Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686639
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5
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 | CEGL000588 Quaking Aspen / Common Juniper / Geyer''s Sedge Forest | CEGL000588 | 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: = Populus tremuloides / Juniperus communis / Carex geyeri Community Type (Mueggler 1988)
= Populus tremuloides / Juniperus communis / Carex geyeri Community Type (Mueggler and Campbell 1986)
= Populus tremuloides / Juniperus communis / Carex geyeri Community Type (Mueggler and Campbell 1986)
- 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.
- Coles, J., A. Tendick, J. Von Loh, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/361. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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.
- Mueggler, W. F., and R. B. Campbell, Jr. 1986. Aspen community types of Utah. Research Paper INT-362. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, P. Williams, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Curecanti National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/408. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 797 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.