Print Report
CEGL000764 Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Lodgepole Pine / Common Juniper Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This woodland association occurs in the upper montane and subalpine zone throughout much of the Rocky Mountains, although it is more common from along the Continental Divide east where climates are often drier. Sites are warm and dry and occur on nearly level benches, and gentle to very steep slopes. Aspects vary from south at high elevations to north aspect at lower elevations in canyons. Substrates are typically rocky, shallow to moderately deep, well- to excessively well-drained, gravelly or coarse-sandy loam or clay loam. Parent materials are variable, but are more often igneous or metamorphic rocks. The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense (30-70% cover) tree canopy that is often solely dominated by Pinus contorta. However, scattered Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Pinus albicaulis, Pinus flexilis, Pseudotsuga menziesii, or Populus tremuloides trees may be present in some stands, especially in the subcanopy. The understory is typically depauperate and dominated by the conspicuous dwarf-shrub Juniperus communis with 5-15% cover. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is often present with low cover. Other shrubs may be present in low cover. The herbaceous layer is usually sparse with a few scattered species. Diagnostic of this association is the dominance of Pinus contorta in the tree canopy with Juniperus communis dominating the understory.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Many lower subalpine, spruce-fir and upper montane Douglas-fir forest and woodland stands include Pinus contorta trees in a mixed-conifer canopy. To clarify classification, only stands with tree canopies strongly dominated by Pinus contorta (usually >2/3 tree canopy) are considered to be Pinus contorta woodland and forest associations. Juniperus communis, the diagnostic understory species of this association has a broad ecological amplitude occurring on dry to relatively mesic sites at montane and subalpine elevations.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is characterized by an open to moderately dense (30-70% cover) tree canopy that is often solely dominated by Pinus contorta. However, scattered Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Pinus albicaulis, Pinus flexilis, Pseudotsuga menziesii, or Populus tremuloides trees may be present in some stands, especially in the subcanopy. The understory is typically depauperate and dominated by the dwarf-shrub Juniperus communis with 5-15% cover. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is often present with low cover. Other shrubs may be present such as scattered Amelanchier alnifolia, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Rosa woodsii, Salix scouleriana, Shepherdia canadensis, and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi in Utah. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse (<15% cover). Frequent herbaceous species include Antennaria spp., Arnica cordifolia, Carex geyeri, Carex rossii, Chamerion angustifolium, Lupinus argenteus, Penstemon virens, Sedum lanceolatum, Selaginella densa, Packera neomexicana (= Senecio neomexicanus), Thalictrum fendleri, and Thermopsis divaricarpa.
Dynamics: The dominance of Pinus contorta in stands in this association is related to fire history and topo-edaphic conditions (Cooper 1975, Pfister et al. 1977, Steele et al. 1981, 1983, Mauk and Henderson 1984, Cooper et al. 1987). Following stand-replacing fires, Pinus contorta will rapidly colonize and develop into dense stands of even-aged trees. Over time, many of these stands can succeed to dominance by other, more shade-tolerant conifer species. Most forests in this alliance are early- to mid-successional forests which developed following fires and are considered seral to ~Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Juniperus communis Woodland (CEGL000919)$$ or ~Pseudotsuga menziesii / Juniperus communis Forest (CEGL000439)$$ (Oswald 1966, Cooper 1975, Pfister et al. 1977, Steele et al. 1981, 1983), while other stands have a canopy that is dominated by more persistent Pinus contorta that is successfully regenerating, especially on more extreme sites with only scattered Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Pinus flexilis, or Pseudotsuga menziesii.
Environmental Description: This woodland association occurs in the upper montane and subalpine zone throughout much of the Rocky Mountains, although it is more common from the Continental Divide east where climate is often drier. Elevations range from 1280 m (4200 feet) in the Little Rocky Mountains of north-central Montana to 3050 m (10,500 feet) in Colorado and northern Utah. Sites are warm and dry and occur on nearly level benches, and gentle to very steep slopes. Aspects vary from south at high elevations to north aspect at lower elevations in canyons. Substrates are typically rocky, shallow to moderately deep, well- to excessively well-drained, gravelly or coarse-sandy loam or clay loam. Parent materials are variable, but are more often igneous or metamorphic, acidic rocks rather than calcareous sedimentary rocks, which seem to favor Pseudotsuga menziesii regeneration (Pfister et al. 1977, Roberts 1980, Mauk and Henderson 1984).
Geographic Range: This Rocky Mountains woodland association occurs on dry sites in the upper montane and subalpine zone from central Colorado to northern Montana including the Little Rocky Mountains in central Montana.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, MT, NV?, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686896
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.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup | M020 | 1.B.2.Nb.5 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.5.a Lodgepole Pine Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group | G220 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.a |
| Alliance | A4079 Lodgepole Pine Rocky Mountain Woodland Alliance | A4079 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.a |
| Association | CEGL000764 Lodgepole Pine / Common Juniper Woodland | CEGL000764 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Abies lasiocarpa / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Community Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984)
< Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Community Type (Steele et al. 1983) [May occur in PSME/JUCO, PIEN/JUCO, ABLA/JUCO and PIAL/JUCO habitat types as a seral community.]
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Alexander 1986)
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Hess and Alexander 1986)
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Alexander 1985)
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Komarkova et al. 1988b)
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Roberts 1980)
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Pinus contorta Forest (Peet 1980)
< Pinus contorta Forest (Peet 1981)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
< Lodgepole pine forest (Moir 1969a)
< Xeric Pinus contorta - Pseudotsuga Forest (Peet 1980)
< Xeric Pinus contorta - Pseudotsuga Forest (Peet 1981)
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Community Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984)
< Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Community Type (Steele et al. 1983) [May occur in PSME/JUCO, PIEN/JUCO, ABLA/JUCO and PIAL/JUCO habitat types as a seral community.]
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Alexander 1986)
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Hess and Alexander 1986)
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Alexander 1985)
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Komarkova et al. 1988b)
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Roberts 1980)
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Pinus contorta Forest (Peet 1980)
< Pinus contorta Forest (Peet 1981)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
< Lodgepole pine forest (Moir 1969a)
< Xeric Pinus contorta - Pseudotsuga Forest (Peet 1980)
< Xeric Pinus contorta - Pseudotsuga Forest (Peet 1981)
- Alexander, B. G., Jr. 1981. A preliminary forest habitat classification for the Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico. Unpublished thesis, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. 94 pp.
- Alexander, R. M. 1986. Classification of the forest vegetation of Wyoming. Research Note RM-466. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 10 pp.
- Alexander, R. R. 1985. Major habitat types, community types, and plant communities in the Rocky Mountains. General Technical Report RM-123. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 105 pp.
- 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/]
- Cooper, S. V. 1975. Forest habitat types of northwestern Wyoming and contiguous portion of Montana and Idaho. Unpublished dissertation, Washington State University, Pullman. 190 pp.
- Cooper, S. V., K. E. Neiman, R. Steele, and D. W. Roberts. 1987. Forest habitat types of northern Idaho: A second approximation. General Technical Report INT-236.USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 135 pp. [reprinted in 1991]
- Hess, K. 1981. Phyto-edaphic study of habitat types of the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado. Unpublished dissertation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 558 pp.
- Hess, K., and C. H. Wasser. 1982. Grassland, shrubland, and forest habitat types of the White River-Arapaho National Forest. Unpublished final report 53-82 FT-1-19. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 335 pp.
- Hess, K., and R. R. Alexander. 1986. Forest vegetation of the Arapaho and Roosevelt national forests in northcentral Colorado: A habitat type classification. Research Paper RM-266. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 48 pp.
- Hop, K., M. Reid, J. Dieck, S. Lubinski, and S. Cooper. 2007. U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. 131 pp. plus Appendices A-L.
- 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.
- Jones, G., and S. Ogle. 2000. Characterization abstracts for vegetation types on the Bighorn, Medicine Bow, and Shoshone national forests. Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Region 2 by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming.
- Komarkova, V. K., R. R. Alexander, and B. C. Johnston. 1988b. Forest vegetation of the Gunnison and parts of the Uncompahgre national forests: A preliminary habitat type classification. Research Paper RM-163. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 65 pp.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Marr, J. W., D. A. Boyce, and J. W. Todd. 1973b. Preliminary report on the Redcliff project, Eagle County, Colorado. Unpublished report to the D. E. Fleming Company, Denver, and the Colorado River Water Conservation District, Glenwood Springs, by University of Colorado, Boulder. 9 pp.
- Mauk, R. L., and J. A. Henderson. 1984. Coniferous forest habitat types of northern Utah. General Technical Report INT-170. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 89 pp.
- Moir, W. H. 1969a. The lodgepole pine zone in Colorado. The American Midland Naturalist 81(1):87-99.
- Oswald, E. T. 1966. A synecological study of the forested moraines of the valley floor of Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Unpublished thesis, Montana State University, Bozeman. 101 pp.
- Peet, R. K. 1980. Forest vegetation of the northern Colorado Front Range, USA: I. Community composition. Unpublished manuscript prepared for Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. 83 pp.
- Peet, R. K. 1981. Forest vegetation of the Colorado Front Range. Vegetatio 45:3-75.
- Pfister, R. D., B. L. Kovalchik, S. F. Arno, and R. C. Presby. 1977. Forest habitat types of Montana. General Technical Report INT-34. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 174 pp.
- Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
- Roberts, D. W. 1980. Forest habitat types of the Bear''s Paw Mountains and Little Rocky Mountains, Montana. Unpublished thesis, Department of Forestry, University of Montana, Missoula. 116 pp.
- 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.
- Steele, R., S. V. Cooper, D. M. Ondov, D. W. Roberts, and R. D. Pfister. 1983. Forest habitat types of eastern Idaho - western Wyoming. General Technical Report INT-144. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 122 pp.
- Wasser, C. H., and K. Hess. 1982. The habitat types of Region II. USDA Forest Service: A synthesis. Final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 140 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.