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CEGL000600 Populus tremuloides / Ribes montigenum Riparian Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen / Gooseberry Currant Riparian Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This minor riparian forest association is found east of the Continental Divide in a mountainous region of south-central Colorado. Stands occurs along moist streamsides, on wet toeslopes or stream bottoms, between 2900 and 3200 m elevation. Slopes are gentle and straight or concave. Soils are wet. The tree canopy is characterized by a nearly closed canopy of the broad-leaved deciduous tree Populus tremuloides. The understory is very lush, with a moderately dense shrub layer (55% mean cover) and a dense herbaceous layer of over 100% cover. Ribes montigenum dominates the shrub layer with few other shrubs. The dense herbaceous layer is dominated by a mix of perennial grasses and forbs. Bromus ciliatus, Carex siccata and Festuca thurberi are the most important of the graminoids. Dominant forbs include Equisetum arvense, Fragaria virginiana, Geranium richardsonii, and Polemonium pulcherrimum, but many other species contribute to the high cover of the herbaceous layer. Many of these species are indicative of wet or moist site conditions. Diagnostic of this forest association is the tree canopy dominated by Populus tremuloides with a Ribes montigenum-dominated the shrub layer.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is seral to the more widespread ~Picea engelmannii / Ribes montigenum Forest (CEGL000374)$$ of the central Rocky Mountains and may become more common if these forests are burned.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The broad-leaved deciduous tree Populus tremuloides dominates the canopy of this forest association, with over 90% cover. The understory is very lush, with the shrub layer averaging 55% cover, and the herbaceous layer having over 100% cover. Shrubs are primarily broad-leaved deciduous, with Ribes montigenum being the only species occurring with any abundance. The herbaceous layer is dominated by a mix of perennial grasses and forbs. Bromus ciliatus (= Bromopsis ciliata) and Carex siccata (= Carex foenea) are the most important of the graminoids, while many forbs contribute to the high cover of the herbaceous layer. Many of these species are indicative of wet or moist site conditions.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This type is found in a mountainous region just to the east of the Continental Divide. This region includes the highest ranges in the Rocky Mountain system; many peaks are in excess of 4270 m (14,000 feet) elevation. Extensive Pleistocene glaciation occurred in these ranges. The climate is characterized by cool summers and cold winters. An average of 40% of the annual precipitation falls from June through August, with the remainder occurring as winter and early spring snows. Due to a rainshadow effect from the massive San Juan Mountains to the west, annual precipitation (approximately 50.8 cm [20 inches]) is less than what occurs farther south in northern New Mexico. Maximum snowfall accumulations are about 8 m (26 feet). This association occurs along moist streamsides, on wet toeslopes or stream bottoms, between 2960 and 3230 m (9700-10,600 feet) elevation. Slopes are gentle and straight or concave. Soils are wet.
Geographic Range: This minor riparian forest association is found east of the Continental Divide in a mountainous region of south-central Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687253
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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 | CEGL000600 Quaking Aspen / Gooseberry Currant Riparian Forest | CEGL000600 | 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
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- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.