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CEGL000590 Populus tremuloides / Senecio bigelovii var. bigelovii Riparian Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen / Nodding Ragwort Riparian Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This plant association is an infrequently occurring community in the Rampart Range and the Wet Mountains of the Front Range of Colorado. It occurs at elevations ranging from 2620-2755 m (8600-9040 feet) on gently sloping east-, west-, or northeast-facing swales on cool, moist sites. The overstory is dominated by Populus tremuloides (50-75% cover) with a minor tree understory of Abies concolor, Picea pungens, Pinus contorta, and Pseudotsuga menziesii. Total shrub cover ranges from 1-30% and may include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Juniperus communis, and Rosa woodsii. The herbaceous layer consists of 22% cover graminoids and 71% cover forbs. The forbs are diverse, but Senecio bigelovii var. bigelovii is always present with at least 20% cover; other forbs that may be present with high cover are Achillea millefolium, Aconitum columbianum, Symphyotrichum laeve, Fragaria virginiana, Geranium richardsonii, Pedicularis procera, Potentilla gracilis, Thalictrum fendleri, and Vicia americana.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is based on 3 plots taken for a U.S. Forest Service study on aspen community types in the Pike and San Isabel national forests.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The overstory is dominated by Populus tremuloides (50-75% cover) with a minor tree understory of Abies concolor (<3% cover), Picea pungens (0-10% cover), Pinus contorta (<3% cover), and Pseudotsuga menziesii (<3% cover). Total shrub cover ranges from 1-30% and may include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (0-10% cover), Juniperus communis (0-15% cover), and Rosa woodsii (0-15% cover). The herbaceous layer consists of 22% cover graminoids and 71% cover forbs. The forbs are diverse, but Senecio bigelovii var. bigelovii (= Ligularia bigelovii) is always present with at least 20% cover (20-45%); other forbs that may be present with high cover are Achillea millefolium (2-15%), Aconitum columbianum (0-10%), Symphyotrichum laeve (= Aster laevis) (0-15%), Fragaria virginiana (10-20%), Geranium richardsonii (5-25%), Pedicularis procera (= Pedicularis grayi) (0-15%), Potentilla gracilis (0-30%), Thalictrum fendleri (0-20%), and Vicia americana (0-30%). These forests are subject to invasion by Poa pratensis and Taraxacum officinale.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: It occurs at elevations ranging from 2620-2755 m (8600-9040 feet) on gently sloping east-, west-, or northeast-facing swales on cool, moist sites.
Geographic Range: This plant association is an infrequently occurring community in the Rampart Range and the Wet Mountains of the Front Range of Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687252
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1?
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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Nc Rocky Mountain-Great Basin Montane Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D195 | 1.B.3.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Nc.1 Engelmann Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M034 | 1.B.3.Nc.1 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a Engelmann Spruce - Blue Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Group | G506 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Alliance | A3760 Quaking Aspen Riparian Forest Alliance | A3760 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL000590 Quaking Aspen / Nodding Ragwort Riparian Forest | CEGL000590 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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/]
- Powell, D. C. 1988a. Aspen community types of the Pike and San Isabel national forests in south-central Colorado. Report R2-ECOL-88-01. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Denver, CO. 254 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.