Print Report
CEGL000381 Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Engelmann Spruce / Grouse Whortleberry Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This subalpine forest association occurs in the southern and central Rocky Mountains between 2590 and 3800 m (6600-11,800 feet) elevation in northern New Mexico and Colorado to 1525-2590 m (6600-8600 feet) in north-central Wyoming. Sites are very cool and dry to moist. Stands are common in the middle to upper subalpine zone (near treeline) and occur on a variety of terrain from mid to upper slope drainage bottoms that are gentle to steep. Soils are variable but are often shallow, well-drained to somewhat poorly drained, gravelly, loamy soils derived from granite, sandstone, and various other rocks. Litter and duff and downed wood cover a significant portion of the ground surface (>50%). Moss and lichen cover is often abundant. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense conifer tree canopy dominated by Picea engelmannii, with an understory characterized by a dwarf-shrub layer strongly dominated by Vaccinium scoparium. Abies lasiocarpa is absent or trace. Pinus albicaulis (northern stands only), Pinus flexilis or Picea pungens may also be present in the canopy. Populus tremuloides and Pinus contorta (present to codominant) are the most common seral species, though Pseudotsuga menziesii may occur (trace) at lower elevations. In the understory, Vaccinium myrtillus may be present but is usually trace to less than half the cover of Vaccinium scoparium. Other shrubs may be present in low cover such as Juniperus communis, Ribes montigenum, or Rosa acicularis. Tree regeneration is mostly Picea engelmannii, sometimes with lesser amounts of Pseudotsuga menziesii in lower elevation stands. Herbaceous species such as Antennaria racemosa, Antennaria microphylla, Arnica cordifolia, Carex rossii, Chamerion angustifolium, Deschampsia cespitosa, Erigeron peregrinus, Fragaria virginiana, Senecio amplectens, Lupinus argenteus, Orthilia secunda, Packera sanguisorboides, Pedicularis racemosa, Poa reflexa, Poa nervosa, Podistera eastwoodiae, Polemonium pulcherrimum, Sibbaldia procumbens, Solidago multiradiata, Trifolium dasyphyllum, and Trisetum spicatum may be present with low cover values.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This conifer forest association has a moderately dense to dense tree canopy dominated by Picea engelmannii, with an understory characterized by a dwarf-shrub layer strongly dominated by Vaccinium scoparium. Abies lasiocarpa is absent or trace. Pinus albicaulis (northern stands only), Pinus flexilis, or Picea pungens may also be present in canopy. Populus tremuloides and Pinus contorta (present to codominant) are the most common seral species, though Pseudotsuga menziesii may occur (trace) at lower elevations. In the understory, Vaccinium myrtillus may be present but is usually trace to less than half the cover of Vaccinium scoparium. Other shrubs may be present at low cover such as Juniperus communis, Ribes montigenum, or Rosa acicularis. Tree regeneration is mostly Picea engelmannii, sometimes with lesser amounts of Pseudotsuga menziesii in lower elevation stands. Herbaceous species such as Antennaria racemosa, Antennaria microphylla, Arnica cordifolia, Carex rossii, Chamerion angustifolium, Deschampsia cespitosa, Erigeron peregrinus, Fragaria virginiana, Senecio amplectens (= Ligularia amplectens), Lupinus argenteus, Orthilia secunda, Packera sanguisorboides, Pedicularis racemosa, Poa reflexa, Poa nervosa, Podistera eastwoodiae, Polemonium pulcherrimum, Sibbaldia procumbens, Solidago multiradiata, Trifolium dasyphyllum, and Trisetum spicatum may be present with low cover values (Steele et al. 1983, Mauk and Henderson 1984).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This subalpine forest association occurs in the southern and central Rocky Mountains between 2590 and 3800 m (6600-11,800 feet) elevation in northern New Mexico and Colorado to 1525-2590 m (6600-8600 feet) in north-central Wyoming. Sites are very cool and dry to moist. Stands are common in the middle to upper subalpine zone (near treeline) and occur on a variety of terrain from mid to upper slope drainage bottoms on gentle to steep slopes (Steele et al. 1983, Mauk and Henderson 1984). Soils are variable but are often shallow, well-drained to somewhat poorly drained, gravelly, loamy soils derived from granite, sandstone, and various other rocks. Litter and duff and downed wood cover a significant portion of the ground surface (>50%). Moss and lichen cover is often abundant.
Geographic Range: This subalpine forest association occurs in the southern and central Rocky Mountains from northern New Mexico to north-central Wyoming, west to Utah and possibly extending into Montana.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, MT, NM, OR, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687835
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G5
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.b Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir - Lodgepole Pine Dry-Mesic Forest & Woodland Group | G219 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b |
| Alliance | A3643 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Forest Alliance | A3643 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b |
| Association | CEGL000381 Engelmann Spruce / Grouse Whortleberry Forest | CEGL000381 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium / Polemonium delicatum Habitat Type (Moir and Ludwig 1979) [Upper treeline type; Abies lasiocarpa is codominant is some stands.]
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium (Jones and Ogle 2000)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Habitat Type (Alexander et al. 1986)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Habitat Type (Reed 1976)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Habitat Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Habitat Type (Terwilliger et al. 1979a)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Habitat Type (Hoffman and Alexander 1976)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium (Jones and Ogle 2000)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Habitat Type (Alexander et al. 1986)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Habitat Type (Reed 1976)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Habitat Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Habitat Type (Terwilliger et al. 1979a)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Habitat Type (Hoffman and Alexander 1976)
= Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
- Alexander, R. R., G. R. Hoffman, and J. M. Wirsing. 1986. Forest vegetation of the Medicine Bow National Forest in southeastern Wyoming: A habitat type classification. Research Paper No. RM-271. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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.
- Hoffman, G. R., and R. R. Alexander. 1976. Forest vegetation of the Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming: A habitat type classification. Research Paper RM-170. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 38 pp.
- Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
- Jones, G., and S. Ogle. 2000. Characterization abstracts for vegetation types on the Bighorn, Medicine Bow, and Shoshone national forests. Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Region 2 by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming.
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Mauk, R. L., and J. A. Henderson. 1984. Coniferous forest habitat types of northern Utah. General Technical Report INT-170. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 89 pp.
- Moir, W. H., and J. A. Ludwig. 1979. A classification of spruce-fir and mixed conifer habitat types of Arizona and New Mexico. Research Paper RM-207. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 47 pp.
- Reed, R. M. 1976. Coniferous forest habitat types of the Wind River Mountains, Wyoming. The American Midland Naturalist 95(1):159-173.
- Salas, D., J. Stevens, and K. Schulz. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Technical Memorandum No. 8260-05-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 161 pp. plus Appendices A-L (733 pp.).
- Steele, R., S. V. Cooper, D. M. Ondov, D. W. Roberts, and R. D. Pfister. 1983. Forest habitat types of eastern Idaho - western Wyoming. General Technical Report INT-144. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 122 pp.
- Terwilliger, C., K. Hess, and C. Wasser. 1979a. Key to the preliminary habitat types of Region 2. Addendum to initial progress report for habitat type classification. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins, CO.
- Titus, J. H., M. Kerr, E. Crowe, and B. Kovalchik. 1998. Riparian zones of eastern Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, Portland.
- Wasser, C. H., and K. Hess. 1982. The habitat types of Region II. USDA Forest Service: A synthesis. Final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 140 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.