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CEGL000295 Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Actaea rubra Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Red Baneberry Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a moist but well-drained forested association located primarily on north-facing toeslopes, lower and midslopes, near riparian areas and sideslope seepages. It is documented from Idaho, northern Utah, western Wyoming, and Montana. It may occur as a relict in Arizona, but it has not been documented there. This association is found at elevations from 1829 to 3201 m (6000-10,500 feet). Soils are deep and moist. The vegetation is dominated by Abies lasiocarpa and/or Picea engelmannii. Pseudotsuga menziesii and Populus tremuloides are often present. Picea pungens may also co-occur. Stands are typically shrubby (with 5-15% total cover), but no shrub species are consistently present. Common shrub species include Amelanchier, Lonicera, Acer glabrum, Rubus parviflorus, Prunus virginiana, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. The herbaceous undergrowth is clearly dominated by lush forbs; Actaea rubra is almost always present and abundant, often in small clumps scattered throughout the stand. Other forbs typically present are Arnica cordifolia, Galium triflorum, Osmorhiza berteroi, Aconitum columbianum, Equisetum arvense, Geranium richardsonii, Senecio triangularis, Streptopus amplexifolius, and Thalictrum fendleri.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association may occur as a relict type in Arizona. Cooper (1975) notes that this association may be easily confused superficially with his Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium globulare or Picea / Linnaea borealis by noting only the dominant aspects of the vegetation and not accounting for the sometimes inconspicuous indicator species. This type seems to be closely related to ~Picea engelmannii / Galium triflorum Forest (CEGL002174)$$ and ~Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Galium triflorum Forest (CEGL000311)$$.
Pfister et al. (1977) have recognized an Abies lasiocarpa/Galium triflorum for south-central Montana that appears to be related to the Abies lasiocarpa/Actaea rubra of Steele et al. (1983). Steele et al. (1983) have a similar Picea/Galium triflorum for western Wyoming which is typically a moister type. Steele et al. (1981) and Cooper et al. (1987) have denoted an Abies lasiocarpa/Streptopus amplexifolius, for central and northern Idaho, respectively, which is similar to this association by the regular occurrence of Galium triflorum, Streptopus and Senecio triangularis, and by the high productivity of Picea. Youngblood et al. (1985a, 1985b) describe a similar Picea/Galium triflorum c.t. for eastern Idaho and western Wyoming, and for northern Utah which includes some communities belonging to Padgett et al.''s (1989) Conifer/Aconitum columbianum c.t. included in this association.
Pfister et al. (1977) have recognized an Abies lasiocarpa/Galium triflorum for south-central Montana that appears to be related to the Abies lasiocarpa/Actaea rubra of Steele et al. (1983). Steele et al. (1983) have a similar Picea/Galium triflorum for western Wyoming which is typically a moister type. Steele et al. (1981) and Cooper et al. (1987) have denoted an Abies lasiocarpa/Streptopus amplexifolius, for central and northern Idaho, respectively, which is similar to this association by the regular occurrence of Galium triflorum, Streptopus and Senecio triangularis, and by the high productivity of Picea. Youngblood et al. (1985a, 1985b) describe a similar Picea/Galium triflorum c.t. for eastern Idaho and western Wyoming, and for northern Utah which includes some communities belonging to Padgett et al.''s (1989) Conifer/Aconitum columbianum c.t. included in this association.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Abies lasiocarpa is the indicated climax tree. Picea engelmannii may codominate in seral stands and, in some cases, persist to become a minor late-successional species. This is especially true when conditions become excessively wet due to poor drainage, and here Picea has the competitive advantage. The periodic occurrence of a number of cool, moist years in succession could favor Picea sufficiently to maintain its stand dominance on into the late-successional stage (Cooper 1975). Pseudotsuga menziesii and Populus tremuloides are minor seral species commonly present. Steele et al. (1983) and Cooper (1975) note the occurrence of Pinus contorta. Its absence in other studies may be due to Pseudotsuga being favored over Pinus contorta on low altitude, warm sites, or because sites noted were late-seral in development and seral Pinus contorta had long since been eliminated. The shrub stratum is typically sparse. Species present vary locally as extensions of adjacent communities. Such species are Spiraea betulifolia, Lonicera utahensis, Lonicera involucrata, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Paxistima myrsinites, Ribes montigenum, Vaccinium cespitosum, and Vaccinium myrtillus. The forb layer is characteristically dense and diverse with species varying with locality. Aconitum columbianum, Actaea rubra, Equisetum arvense, Galium triflorum, Geranium richardsonii, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Senecio triangularis, Streptopus amplexifolius, and Thalictrum fendleri commonly occur.
Dynamics: Because of its moist conditions, this association should have a low fire frequency (Fischer and Bradley 1987). Under normal moist circumstances, a lush undergrowth of shrubs and herbs usually serves as an effective barrier to rapid fire spread. However, during unusually dry conditions such as periodic summer drought, the combination of deep duff and large amounts of dead rotten fuel can result in severe surface fire. Where dense understories exist, such fires can easily spread to the tree crowns and destroy the stand. Even if a severe surface fire does not crown, there is a good chance the overstory trees will be killed by cambium heating. A stand-destroying fire in the climax or near-climax stage results in an herb/shrub stage followed by a seedling/sapling stage, and, in the continued absence of fire, a mature stand develops.
Environmental Description: This association is found at elevations from 1829-3201 m (6000-10,500 feet). Generally, the association is found at the higher end of this elevational range when at lower latitudes such as southern Utah (Youngblood and Mauk 1985, Padgett et al. 1989). This type is located on moist but well-drained alluvial terraces, on gentle to steep (up to 40%) lower to mid slopes. Exposures are generally northern. This association is a link to the gradual interface between riparian and upland conditions (Padgett et al. 1989). Soils are deep and moist and are mainly derived from sedimentary calcareous substrates, but sometimes from metamorphic quartziferous and igneous andesite substrates. Surface soils are predominantly silt loam but range from loamy to clayey, and some gravel is normally present. Surface rock and bare soil are usually absent due to many sites showing the influence of fluvial deposition, and the expectantly high biomass turnover rates of the undergrowth. Litter depth averages 6.0 cm.
Geographic Range: This association extends from southern Utah northwards into Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, MT, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686949
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4?
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.c Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir - Mountain Hemlock Moist Forest & Woodland Group | G218 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
| Alliance | A3614 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Rocky Mountain Moist Forest Alliance | A3614 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
| Association | CEGL000295 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Red Baneberry Forest | CEGL000295 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Abies lasiocarpa / Aconitum columbianum Habitat Type (Youngblood and Mauk 1985) [found in the southern portion of Utah in the Dixie and Manti-LaSal national forests and Cedar Breaks National Monument from 2680-3050 m (8800-10,000 feet).]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Actaea rubra Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1985) [(p.112)]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Actaea rubra Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983) [found in Idaho and Wyoming in Yellowstone Park and in southern Idaho near the Idaho-Utah border from 2040-2500 m (6700-8200 feet).]
? Abies lasiocarpa / Galium triflorum Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977) [(p.86) no stands are dominated by Actaea rubra.]
< Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Actaea rubra Plant Association (Johnston 1987) [found in western Wyoming and southeastern Idaho from 1830-2500 m (6000-8200 feet).]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Actaea rubra Habitat Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984) [located in the Wasatch Range of Utah and Idaho from 1830-2135 m (6000-7000 feet).]
< Picea spp. - Abies lasiocarpa / Galium triflorum (Cooper 1975) [found in northwestern Wyoming into adjacent portions of Idaho and Montana from 2100-2260 m (6900-7420 feet).]
< Conifer / Aconitum columbianum (Padgett et al. 1989) [found in the Wasatch and Uinta mountains of northern Utah, and the Wasatch Plateau and LaSal Mountains of southern Utah from 1830-3200 m (6000-10,500 feet).]
< Conifer / Actaea rubra (Padgett et al. 1989) [found in the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah between 1830 and 2410 m (6000-7900 feet), and the Abajo and LaSal mountains of southeastern Utah around 2745 m (9000 feet).]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Actaea rubra Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1985) [(p.112)]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Actaea rubra Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983) [found in Idaho and Wyoming in Yellowstone Park and in southern Idaho near the Idaho-Utah border from 2040-2500 m (6700-8200 feet).]
? Abies lasiocarpa / Galium triflorum Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977) [(p.86) no stands are dominated by Actaea rubra.]
< Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Actaea rubra Plant Association (Johnston 1987) [found in western Wyoming and southeastern Idaho from 1830-2500 m (6000-8200 feet).]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Actaea rubra Habitat Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984) [located in the Wasatch Range of Utah and Idaho from 1830-2135 m (6000-7000 feet).]
< Picea spp. - Abies lasiocarpa / Galium triflorum (Cooper 1975) [found in northwestern Wyoming into adjacent portions of Idaho and Montana from 2100-2260 m (6900-7420 feet).]
< Conifer / Aconitum columbianum (Padgett et al. 1989) [found in the Wasatch and Uinta mountains of northern Utah, and the Wasatch Plateau and LaSal Mountains of southern Utah from 1830-3200 m (6000-10,500 feet).]
< Conifer / Actaea rubra (Padgett et al. 1989) [found in the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah between 1830 and 2410 m (6000-7900 feet), and the Abajo and LaSal mountains of southeastern Utah around 2745 m (9000 feet).]
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