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CEGL000540 Populus tremuloides - Pinus flexilis Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen - Limber Pine Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This mixed deciduous-and-evergreen woodland occurs on mountain slopes from western Wyoming south to southern Utah and west to eastern Nevada. Stands generally grow on fairly steep, south-facing slopes with a variety of geologic substrates, at altitudes above 2650 m (8700 feet). Populus tremuloides dominates the tree overstory, and Pinus flexilis contributes substantial cover. Other conifers may be present, but Pinus flexilis clearly contributes more cover. The composition of the undergrowth varies widely among stands, and no species is present in all stands. The large amount of Pinus flexilis in the overstory, relative to other conifers, sets this association apart from other Populus tremuloides - conifer associations.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Mueggler (1988), in his classification of aspen types in the U.S. Forest Service''s Intermountain Region, recognized a number of community types in which Populus tremuloides shares the overstory with Abies lasiocarpa, Abies concolor, Pinus contorta, or Pseudotsuga menziesii. He named the Populus tremuloides - Pinus flexilis cover type to recognize those uncommon stands in which Pinus flexilis is the dominant conifer and the overstory is a mixture of Populus tremuloides and Pinus flexilis.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Populus tremuloides dominates the tree overstory, and Pinus flexilis contributes substantial cover. Other conifers may be present, but Pinus flexilis clearly contributes more cover. The composition of the undergrowth varies widely among stands, and no species is present in all stands. The large amount of Pinus flexilis in the overstory, relative to other conifers, sets this association apart from other Populus tremuloides - conifer associations.
Dynamics: According to Mueggler (1988), it is unclear whether stands of this type are seral to Pinus flexilis woodlands or the overstory will continue to be a mix of Populus tremuloides and Pinus flexilis. He considered them seral, to maintain consistency in the way he treated all Populus tremuloides - conifer community types in his classification. Interestingly, three of the four stands sampled in the Snake Mountains had charcoal and fire scars present (Eddleman and Jaindl 1994). This may indicate fire is important for maintaining this plant community on some sites.
Environmental Description: Stands generally grow on fairly steep, south-facing slopes with a variety of geologic substrates, at altitudes above 2650 m (8700 feet) (Mueggler 1988).
Geographic Range: The geographic range is estimated to encompass 186,480 square km (72,000 square miles), primarily on the Colorado Plateau and in the Great Basin, from the Gros Ventre Mountains of northwestern Wyoming south to the Paunsaugunt Plateau of southern Utah, and west to the Snake Mountains of eastern Nevada. This is the area over which Mueggler (1988) documented his cover type.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, NV, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687698
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.e Limber Pine - Bristlecone Pine Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Woodland Group | G221 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.e |
| Alliance | A0540 Limber Pine Rocky Mountain Woodland Alliance | A0540 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.e |
| Association | CEGL000540 Quaking Aspen - Limber Pine Forest | CEGL000540 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.e |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus tremuloides - Pinus flexilis Cover Type (Mueggler 1988)
= Populus tremuloides - Pinus flexilis Potential Native Plant Community (Eddleman and Jaindl 1994)
= Quaking Aspen - Limber Pine Forest (Populus tremuloides - Pinus flexilis Forest) (Bell et al. 2009)
= Populus tremuloides - Pinus flexilis Potential Native Plant Community (Eddleman and Jaindl 1994)
= Quaking Aspen - Limber Pine Forest (Populus tremuloides - Pinus flexilis Forest) (Bell et al. 2009)
- Bell, J., D. Cogan, J. Erixson, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation inventory project report, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/UCBN/NRTR-2009/277. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 358 pp.
- 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.
- Cogan, D., J. E. Taylor, and K. Schulz. 2012. Vegetation inventory project: Great Basin National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/MOJN/NRR--2012/568. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 373 pp.
- Eddleman, L. E., and R. Jaindl. 1994. Great Basin National Park vegetation analysis. Technical Report NPS/PNROSU/NRTR-94/02. National Park Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Seattle, WA. 110 pp.
- Mueggler, W. F. 1988. Aspen community types of the Intermountain Region. General Technical Report INT-250. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 135 pp.
- Peterson, Eric. Personal communication. Plant Ecologist, Nevada Natural Heritage Program, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Carson City, NV.
- Salas, D. E., J. Stevens, K. Schulz, M. Artmann, B. Friesen, S. Blauer, E. W. Schweiger, and A. Valdez. 2010b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMN/NRR--2010/179. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Schulz, K. A., and M. E. Hall. 2011. Vegetation inventory project: Great Basin National Park. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network. NatureServe, Western Regional Office, Boulder, CO. 30 pp. plus Appendices A-H.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.