Print Report
CEGL000251 Abies concolor / Mahonia repens Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Fir / Creeping Barberry Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This white fir forest occurs in mountains and higher plateaus in the Colorado Plateau and southern Rocky Mountains and ranges from central Utah and southern Colorado south into New Mexico and Arizona, and possibly extends into eastern Nevada. Stands are found on a variety of generally cool and dry sites with gentle to steep slopes (3-50%). Landforms include valleys and plateaus, low and midslopes of hills, mesas, ravines, and canyonsides, and exposed ridge and mountain summits at elevations ranging from 2230 to 2930 m (7300-9600 feet). Aspect is variable, but stands often occur on cooler northerly aspects, especially at mid to lower elevations. Substrates are rapidly drained coarse- to fine-textured loam soils derived from limestone, sandstone, shale, and rhyolitic volcanics. The vegetation is characterized by a moderate to closed tree canopy (25-72% cover) that is generally dominated or codominated by Abies concolor or is at least present in the tree canopy and dominates understory regeneration. Pseudotsuga menziesii is often present to codominant in the canopy. Other trees may be present in the canopy or subcanopy with low to moderate cover, such as Pinus ponderosa, Pinus flexilis, Populus tremuloides, and Picea engelmannii (accidental). The understory is characterized by the sparse to occasionally moderately dense, low-diversity understory with 1-10% cover of the diagnostic dwarf-shrub Mahonia repens. If the shrub layer is moderately dense, then it is dominated by Mahonia repens. Other shrubs may be present and include a few scattered Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Arctostaphylos patula, Holodiscus dumosus, Paxistima myrsinites, Rosa woodsii, or Juniperus communis. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse, with low diversity, and frequently includes the graminoids Carex rossii, Carex geophila, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Poa fendleriana, and the forbs Goodyera oblongifolia, Lathyrus lanszwertii var. leucanthus, Mertensia arizonica, Thalictrum fendleri, and Viola canadensis. Pseudotsuga menziesii and Abies concolor seedlings are typically present.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Abies concolor and Pseudotsuga menziesii codominate the overstory; Pinus ponderosa and Pinus strobiformis are minor seral associates. Picea engelmannii and Abies lasiocarpa are absent or accidental. Shrub layer variable and not consistent. Undergrowth usually is sparse (<1%) cover, especially in mature stands. No shrub or herb is diagnostic or indicative of this type. Mahonia repens does not need to be present.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association includes some white fir / sparse understory habitat types that have Mahonia repens present (Alexander et al. 1984a, DeVelice et al. 1986). ~Pseudotsuga menziesii / Mahonia repens Forest (CEGL000442)$$ is similar except it lacks Abies concolor and can occur outside the range of Abies concolor extending north into Idaho and Oregon (Pfister 1977, Steele et al. 1981, 1983, Cole 1982).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This forest is characterized by a moderate to closed tree canopy (25-72% cover) that is generally dominated or codominated by Abies concolor or is at least present in the tree canopy and dominates understory regeneration. Pseudotsuga menziesii is often present to codominant in the canopy. Other trees may be present in the canopy or subcanopy with low to moderate cover, such as Pinus ponderosa, Pinus flexilis, Populus tremuloides, and Picea engelmannii (accidental). The understory is characterized by the sparse to occasionally moderately dense, low-diversity understory with 1-10% cover of the diagnostic dwarf-shrub Mahonia repens. If the shrub layer is moderately dense, then it is dominated by Mahonia repens. Other shrubs present in stands may include a few scattered Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Amelanchier alnifolia, Arctostaphylos patula, Holodiscus dumosus, Paxistima myrsinites, Rosa woodsii, or Juniperus communis (Moir and Ludwig 1979, Alexander et al. 1984a, Mauk and Henderson 1984, Youngblood and Mauk 1985, DeVelice et al. 1986, Muldavin et al. 1996, Stuever and Hayden 1997a). The herbaceous layer is typically sparse, with low diversity, but is occasionally moderately dense. It is frequently composed of a mixture of graminoids, including Carex rossii, Carex geophila, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Poa fendleriana, Bromus anomalus, and Elymus elymoides, and the forbs Geranium viscosissimum, Goodyera oblongifolia, Lathyrus lanszwertii var. leucanthus (= Lathyrus arizonicus), Mertensia arizonica, Senecio wootonii, Thalictrum fendleri, and Viola canadensis. Pseudotsuga menziesii and Abies concolor seedlings are typically present.
Dynamics: Mahonia repens is adapted to fire and survives by suckering from dormant buds on the rhizomes.
Environmental Description: This white fir forest occurs in mountains and higher plateaus in the Colorado Plateau and southern Rocky Mountains and ranges from central Utah and southern Colorado south into New Mexico and Arizona, and possibly extends into eastern Nevada. Stands are found on a variety of generally cool and dry sites with gentle to steep slopes (3-50%). Landforms include valleys and plateaus, low and midslopes of hills, mesas, ravines, and canyonsides, and exposed ridge and mountain summits at elevations ranging from 2230 to 2930 m (7300-9600 feet) (Moir and Ludwig 1979, Graybosch and Buchanan 1983, Mauk and Henderson 1984, Youngblood and Mauk 1985, Johnston 1987, Roberts et al. 1992, Muldavin et al. 1996, Stuever and Hayden 1997b). Aspect is variable, but stands often occur on cooler northerly aspects, especially at lower elevations. Soils are rapidly drained, sandy loams to silty clay loams derived from limestone, sandstones, shales, and rhyolitic volcanics (Bandelier tuff). The ground surface has low to moderate exposure of bare soil, low to high cover of litter, low to moderate cover of small rocks, sparse to low cover of large rocks, and sparse to moderate cover of downed wood. Litter depths range from 0-2.1 cm.
Geographic Range: This white fir forest association occurs in mountains and higher plateaus in the Colorado Plateau and southern Rocky Mountains and ranges from central Utah and southern Colorado south into New Mexico and Arizona, and possibly extends into eastern Nevada.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM, NV, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687200
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.1 White Fir - Douglas-fir - Blue Spruce Forest Macrogroup | M022 | 1.B.2.Nb.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c White Fir - Douglas-fir Southern Rocky Mountain Dry Forest Group | G226 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Alliance | A3420 White Fir Dry Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3420 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Association | CEGL000251 White Fir / Creeping Barberry Forest | CEGL000251 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Mahonia repens Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii Habitat Type, Berberis repens Phase (Moir and Ludwig 1979) [Mahonia repens present to 7%.]
= Abies concolor / Berberis repens Habitat Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984)
= Abies concolor / Berberis repens Habitat Type (Youngblood and Mauk 1985)
= Abies concolor / Berberis repens Habitat Type (Muldavin et al. 1996)
= Abies concolor / Mahonia repens (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Abies concolor / Mahonia repens Forest (Muldavin et al. 2006)
= Abies concolor / Mahonia repens Plant Association (Larson and Moir 1987)
= Abies concolor / Mahonia repens Plant Community (Roberts et al. 1992)
< Abies concolor / Sparse Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
= Abies concolor / Sparse Habitat Type (DeVelice et al. 1986) [Stand with scattered shrubs; the most consistent Juniperus communis (2% cover), Mahonia repens (2% cover), and Symphoricarpos oreophilus (3% cover).]
= Abies concolor / Sparse Undergrowth Habitat Type (Alexander et al. 1984a)
< Mixed Conifer Type, Abies concolor Phase (Graybosch and Buchanan 1983) [Mahonia repens has highest importance value of all shrubs.]
< Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii Habitat Type, Berberis repens Phase (Moir and Ludwig 1979) [Mahonia repens present to 7%.]
= Abies concolor / Berberis repens Habitat Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984)
= Abies concolor / Berberis repens Habitat Type (Youngblood and Mauk 1985)
= Abies concolor / Berberis repens Habitat Type (Muldavin et al. 1996)
= Abies concolor / Mahonia repens (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Abies concolor / Mahonia repens Forest (Muldavin et al. 2006)
= Abies concolor / Mahonia repens Plant Association (Larson and Moir 1987)
= Abies concolor / Mahonia repens Plant Community (Roberts et al. 1992)
< Abies concolor / Sparse Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
= Abies concolor / Sparse Habitat Type (DeVelice et al. 1986) [Stand with scattered shrubs; the most consistent Juniperus communis (2% cover), Mahonia repens (2% cover), and Symphoricarpos oreophilus (3% cover).]
= Abies concolor / Sparse Undergrowth Habitat Type (Alexander et al. 1984a)
< Mixed Conifer Type, Abies concolor Phase (Graybosch and Buchanan 1983) [Mahonia repens has highest importance value of all shrubs.]
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