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CEGL001062 Acer glabrum Drainage Bottom Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Rocky Mountain Maple Drainage Bottom Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This shrubland association occurs in major upland drainage bottoms in the mountains of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada and California at elevations of 1400 to 2620 m (4590-8600 feet) in the north extent and 2500 to 2620 m (8200-8600 feet) in the south. Sites are moderately sloping (10-20%) and typically found on the cooler north and east aspects. Substrates are relatively moist, gravelly soils. Vegetation is characterized by a relatively dense tall-shrub layer, dominated by the cold-deciduous shrub Acer glabrum, sometimes with abundant Prunus virginiana and occasional Populus tremuloides trees present. Scattered Populus tremuloides saplings, Alnus incana, Betula occidentalis, and Salix bebbiana may also be present in this layer. An open to moderately dense short-shrub layer is often present and composed of a variety of shrubs, such as Artemisia frigida, Juniperus communis, Mahonia repens, Populus tremuloides seedlings, Philadelphus lewisii, Ribes spp., Rosa woodsii, Rubus spp., Symphoricarpos spp., or Sambucus racemosa. The moderately dense to dense (50-90% cover) herbaceous layer may be dominated by either perennial forbs or grasses and is often diverse, with Bromus hordeaceus, Calamagrostis canadensis, and mesic forbs such as Heracleum spp., Maianthemum spp., Osmorhiza spp., Ranunculus uncinatus, Thalictrum fendleri, Galium aparine and Stellaria media present.

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 a relatively dense tall-shrub layer, dominated by the cold-deciduous shrub Acer glabrum, sometimes with abundant Prunus virginiana and occasional Populus tremuloides trees present. Scattered Populus tremuloides saplings, Alnus incana, Betula occidentalis, and Salix bebbiana may also be present in this layer. A short-shrub layer is often present and composed of a variety of shrubs, such as Artemisia frigida, Juniperus communis var. montana, Mahonia repens, Populus tremuloides seedlings, Philadelphus lewisii, Ribes oxyacanthoides ssp. setosum (= Ribes setosum), Ribes inerme, Ribes lacustre, Rosa woodsii, Rubus idaeus, Rubus deliciosus, Symphoricarpos spp., or Sambucus racemosa. The moderately dense to dense (50-90% cover) herbaceous layer may be dominated by either perennial forbs or grasses and is often diverse. Common perennial forbs include Achillea millefolium, Artemisia ludoviciana, Cirsium sp., Erigeron spp., Galium boreale, Heracleum maximum, Heracleum sphondylium, Maianthemum spp., Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Osmorhiza depauperata, Ranunculus uncinatus, Thalictrum fendleri, Urtica dioica, and Veronica americana. Common grasses include Bromus hordeaceus (= Bromus mollis), Calamagrostis canadensis, and introduced species Agrostis stolonifera, Bromus inermis, Phleum pratense, Poa palustris, and Poa pratensis. Annual forbs include Galium aparine and Stellaria media.

Dynamics:  Stands tend to be relatively small and patchy being restricted to drainage bottoms. Anecdotal evidence suggests that disturbance may play a part in establishing stands.
Environmental Description:  This shrubland association occurs in major upland drainage bottoms in the mountains of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada and California at elevations of 1400 to 2620 m (4590-8600 feet) in the north extent and 2500 to 2620 m (8200-8600 feet) in the south. Sites are moderately sloping (10-20%) and typically found on the cooler north and east aspects. Substrates are relatively moist, gravelly soils. Adjacent stands include Populus tremuloides forests downslope on flatter sites and conifer forests on drier upland sites.
Geographic Range: This shrubland association occurs in major upland drainage bottoms and slopes in the mountains of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada and California.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, CO, MT, NV, WY


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4?

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D022 2.B.2.Nf
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nf.2 Saskatoon Serviceberry / Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup M048 2.B.2.Nf.2
Group 2.B.2.Nf.2.d Blueberry species - Rusty Menziesia / Common Beargrass Central Rocky Mountain-Vancouverian Mesic Shrubland Group G305 2.B.2.Nf.2.d
Alliance A3968 Subalpine Fir - Quaking Aspen / Rocky Mountain Maple Central Rocky Mountain Avalanche Chute Shrubland Alliance A3968 2.B.2.Nf.2.d
Association CEGL001062 Rocky Mountain Maple Drainage Bottom Wet Shrubland CEGL001062 2.B.2.Nf.2.d
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Acer glabrum / Swida sericea Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986) [Found on steep, coarse scree slopes in canyons in moist protected microsites, not drainage bottoms.]
= Acer glabrum drainage bottom (provisional) Association (Evens et al. 2014)
< Mixed Shrub Drainage Bottom Community Type (Scow et al. 1986)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-06-17
  • 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.
  • Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
  • Komarkova, V. 1986. Habitat types on selected parts of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre national forests. Unpublished final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins, CO. 270 pp. plus appendices.
  • MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
  • 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.).
  • 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.
  • Scow, K. L., L. D. Culwell, and L. A. Larsen. 1986. Vegetation inventory of the Chartam Project Area, Broadwater County, Montana. Unpublished report prepared for Western Energy Company by Westech, Helena, MT. 91 pp.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.