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CEGL000139 Pinus contorta / Calamagrostis rubescens Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Lodgepole Pine / Pinegrass Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is found in the upper montane and subalpine zone of the central and northern Rocky Mountains on cool, dry sites. It typically occurs on gentle to moderately steep, lower slopes, benches and valley bottoms where soils are better developed. Soils are gravelly, sandy or silt loams. Ground cover is dominated by litter with low cover of rock and bare ground. The vegetation is characterized by a Pinus contorta-dominated tree canopy with a grassy understory. The tree canopy varies from open to nearly closed (30-90% cover) and often is solely dominated by Pinus contorta. However, in some stands Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Pinus albicaulis, or Pseudotsuga menziesii trees may be present, especially in the subcanopy. Scattered dwarf- and short shrubs are often present, but they seldom form a distinct layer. Common dwarf- and short shrubs may include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Amelanchier alnifolia, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Prunus virginiana, Spiraea betulifolia, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Lonicera utahensis, and Vaccinium scoparium. The moderately dense (30-50% cover) herbaceous layer is dominated by the perennial graminoids Calamagrostis rubescens and Carex geyeri. Diagnostic of this association is the dominance of Pinus contorta in the tree canopy with Calamagrostis rubescens dominating the graminoid layer. Also, the cover of Calamagrostis rubescens is greater than Vaccinium scoparium.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Most forests in this association are early- to mid-successional forests which developed following fires and are considered seral to ~Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Calamagrostis rubescens Forest (CEGL000301)$$ or ~Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Woodland (CEGL000429)$$ (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.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This upper montane and subalpine conifer association is characterized by a Pinus contorta-dominated tree canopy with a grassy understory. The tree canopy varies from open to nearly closed (30-90% cover) and is often solely dominated by Pinus contorta. However, in some stands scattered Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Pinus albicaulis, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Populus tremuloides, or Pinus flexilis trees may be present, especially in the subcanopy. Some stands have only a tall-shrub canopy of trees, with no mature canopy cover, as the site was burned 10-15 years prior. Scattered dwarf- and short shrubs are often present, but they seldom form a distinct layer and except for Arctostaphylos uva-ursi have low cover. Common dwarf- and short shrubs may include Amelanchier alnifolia, Lonicera utahensis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Prunus virginiana, Spiraea betulifolia, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and Vaccinium scoparium. The moderately dense (30-50% cover) herbaceous layer is dominated by the perennial graminoids Calamagrostis rubescens and Carex geyeri. The herbaceous layer is densest in openings between trees. Other common herbaceous species include Arnica cordifolia, Carex rossii, Chamerion angustifolium, Lupinus argenteus, Festuca idahoensis, Orthilia secunda, Geranium viscosissimum, and Packera streptanthifolia.
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 association are early- to mid-successional forests which developed following fires and are considered seral to ~Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Calamagrostis rubescens Forest (CEGL000301)$$ or ~Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Woodland (CEGL000429)$$ (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 association is found in the upper montane and subalpine zone of the central and northern Rocky Mountains. It is more common east of the Continental Divide. Elevations range between 1050 and 2477 m (3440-8122 feet) depending on longitude and aspect. It typically occurs on cool, dry sites on lower slopes, benches and valley bottoms where soils are better developed. Topography is rolling with gentle to moderately steep slopes. Soils are gravelly, sandy, silt loams, or clay-based, derived from a variety of parent materials, excepting alkaline, calcareous, sedimentary substrates (Cooper 1975). Ground cover is dominated by litter with low cover of rock and bare ground.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in the upper montane and subalpine zone of the central and northern Rocky Mountains.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, MT, OR, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687489
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 | A3366 Lodgepole Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Alliance | A3366 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.a |
| Association | CEGL000139 Lodgepole Pine / Pinegrass Forest | CEGL000139 | 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: = Pinus contorta / Calamagrostis rubescens Association (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992)
= Pinus contorta / Calamagrostis rubescens Community (Oswald 1966)
= Pinus contorta / Calamagrostis rubescens Community Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
= Pinus contorta / Calamagrostis rubescens Community Type (Steele et al. 1983)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Cooper 1975) [Seral stands especially on non-sedimentary substrates.]
= Pinus contorta / Calamagrostis rubescens Community (Oswald 1966)
= Pinus contorta / Calamagrostis rubescens Community Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
= Pinus contorta / Calamagrostis rubescens Community Type (Steele et al. 1983)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type (Cooper 1975) [Seral stands especially on non-sedimentary substrates.]
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