Print Report

CEGL000582 Populus tremuloides / Cornus sericea Riparian Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association occurs in scattered locations throughout the mountains of Colorado, Montana, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Alberta, and possibly California. This is a moist forest often located in narrow ravines where upland Populus tremuloides forests intermix with the riparian shrub vegetation and at the base of slopes. It occurs from 732-2500 m (2400-8200 feet) in elevation. It also typically occurs on alluvial terraces adjacent to streams and rivers, or near springs and seeps. Stands are located on moist soil, but are not restricted to riparian or wetland habitats. Water tables average 30 cm below the surface, but water depths in several stands were greater than 1 meter. Coarse-textured soils, moderate to steep gradients, and high coarse fragments provide for rapid movement of highly aerated groundwater. Soils range from very rocky and shallow sands to deeper sandy clay loams and silty clay loams. Stands have a deciduous tree canopy that is dominated by Populus tremuloides with and a shrub layer dominated by Cornus sericea, often with several other shrub species, such as Alnus incana, Betula occidentalis, Lonicera involucrata, and several Salix spp., including Salix geyeriana, Salix boothii, Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra, or Salix lutea. The herbaceous undergrowth is relatively sparse, but often diverse with Equisetum arvense, Maianthemum stellatum, Heracleum maximum, Actaea rubra, and Galium triflorum. Cornus sericea is at least as abundant as other shrubs in the stand, and is often the most abundant shrub present. The obligate riparian shrub species distinguish this association from upland Populus tremuloides communities.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is defined as a PNV vegetation type. Padgett et al. (1989) mention two stands dominated by Populus tremuloides and Cornus sericea in the Wasatch Plateau and the Abajo Mountains of Utah [see Misc. Unclassified Tall Deciduous Tree-Dominated Communities (Padgett et al. 1989, p. 47)].

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This association is characterized by an overstory canopy of Populus tremuloides. Other trees occasionally present include Picea engelmannii, Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa, Juniperus scopulorum, and Betula papyrifera. The shrub layer is dominated by Cornus sericea (with greatest cover or at least as abundant as any other shrubs present). Other shrubs that may be present include Alnus incana, Amelanchier alnifolia, Amelanchier utahensis, Crataegus douglasii, Lonicera involucrata, Symphoricarpos spp., and several Salix spp., including Salix geyeriana, Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra (= Salix lasiandra), or Salix lutea. The herbaceous undergrowth is relatively sparse, usually due to the thick shading of the shrub layer. Typical species include Carex nebrascensis, Equisetum arvense, Galium triflorum, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Heracleum maximum, Maianthemum stellatum, Actaea rubra, Aconitum columbianum, and Viola spp.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This is a moist forest often located in narrow ravines where upland Populus tremuloides forests intermix with the riparian shrub vegetation. It occurs from 732-2500 m (2400-8200 feet) in elevation. It also typically occurs on alluvial terraces adjacent to streams and rivers, or near springs and seeps. In the intermountain basin area, stands are located on moist soil, but are not necessarily restricted to riparian or wetland habitats and occurs on benches below buttes. Water tables average 30 cm below the surface, but water depths in several stands were greater than 1 meter. Coarse-textured soils, moderate to steep gradients, and high coarse fragments provide for rapid movement of highly aerated groundwater. Soil texture ranges from very rocky and shallow sands to deeper sandy clay loams and silty clay loams.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in Colorado, Montana, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Alberta, and possibly California.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, CA?, CO, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

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 CEGL000582 Quaking Aspen / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian Forest CEGL000582 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Concept Lineage: overlapped

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus tremuloides / Alnus incana - Cornus stolonifera (Crowe and Clausnitzer 1997) [(p.84)]
= Populus tremuloides / Cornus sericea Forest (Crawford 2003)
= Populus tremuloides / Cornus sericea ssp. sericea Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Populus tremuloides / Cornus sericea (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Populus tremuloides / Cornus sericea Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989)
= Populus tremuloides / Cornus sericea Community Type (Manning and Padgett 1995)
= Populus tremuloides / Cornus sericea Forest (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Populus tremuloides / Cornus sericea Plant Community (Jankovsky-Jones et al. 2001)
= Populus tremuloides / Cornus stolonifera Association (Kovalchik 1993) [(p.88)]
= Populus tremuloides / Cornus stolonifera Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995) [(p.235)]
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: G. Kittel and K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-11-08
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