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CEGL000434 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Festuca occidentalis Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir / Western Fescue Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association has only been described from the eastern portions of the Mount Hood National Forest in the Barlow Ranger District. This area is on the east flank of the Cascades near the Washington border. This is a low-elevation, dry forest, found mostly on lower slopes and flats, with slight northern exposures, and an average slope of 21%. Elevations range from 710-965 m (2330-3160 feet), with an average of 825 m (2700 feet). The sites average 84 cm (33 inches) of rain a year and are typically found on low-nutrient, ash-laden soils. In good condition, the stands are grass-rich, open forests or closed woodlands dominated by large, widely spaced Pseudotsuga menziesii (38% cover) and Pinus ponderosa (13% cover) trees. Quercus garryana is found at low cover in the overstory in 75% of the plots. Pseudotsuga menziesii, Quercus garryana, Abies grandis, and Pinus ponderosa can all be found in the understory at low cover values. Shrubs are a minor component, with Symphoricarpos spp., Amelanchier alnifolia, Mahonia aquifolium, and others present at low cover. Festuca occidentalis is the understory dominant, with an average of 17% cover. Carex geyeri, Poa secunda, Melica bulbosa, Festuca idahoensis, Bromus vulgaris, and Bromus carinatus are often found. Forbs are variable and minor, with Fragaria vesca, Lithophragma glabrum, Claytonia perfoliata, and Osmorhiza ssp. being notable. These forests were likely dominated by Pinus ponderosa before European settlement and changes in the fire regimes. The presence of Quercus garryana is successional, and with fire suppression these will disappear. If the native fire regime can be reintroduced, the cover of Pinus ponderosa and Festuca idahoensis will likely significantly increase in these stands. This is distinct from similar associations in Washington, which are much more productive, have significant shrub cover, and little Pinus ponderosa and no Abies grandis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is a distinct, if rare and local association. It occurs in an area where west slope plants have become established due to the presence of the Columbia River Gorge nearby. It seems to be a distinct type from the similar Pseudotsuga menziesii / Acer circinatum / Festuca occidentalis association described by Topik (1989), which is not incorporated into the USNVC. The later type is from adjacent Washington and is much more productive, has significant shrub cover, and has little Pinus ponderosa and no Abies grandis. This type as described here is a drier, more interior woodland, while the Washington type is more closely related to maritime-influenced Douglas-fir communities.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: In good condition, the stands are grass-rich, open forests or closed woodlands dominated by large, widely spaced Pseudotsuga menziesii (38% cover) and Pinus ponderosa (13% cover) trees. Quercus garryana is found at low cover in the overstory in 75% of the plots. Pseudotsuga menziesii, Quercus garryana, Abies grandis, and Pinus ponderosa can all be found in the understory at low cover values. Shrubs are a minor component, with Symphoricarpos spp., Amelanchier alnifolia, Mahonia aquifolium (= Berberis aquifolium), and others present at low cover. Festuca occidentalis is the understory dominant, with an average of 17% cover. Carex geyeri, Poa secunda (= Poa nevadensis), Melica bulbosa, Festuca idahoensis, Bromus vulgaris, and Bromus carinatus are often found. Forbs are variable and minor, with Fragaria vesca, Lithophragma glabrum (= Lithophragma bulbiferum), Claytonia perfoliata (= Montia perfoliata), and Osmorhiza ssp. being notable.
Dynamics: These forests were likely dominated by Pinus ponderosa before European settlement and changes in the fire regimes. The presence of Quercus garryana is successional, and with fire suppression these will disappear. If the native fire regime can be reintroduced, the cover of Pinus ponderosa and Festuca idahoensis will likely significantly increase in these stands.
Environmental Description: This association has only been described from the eastern portions of the Mount Hood National Forest in the Barlow Ranger District. This area is on the east flank of the Cascades near the Washington border. This is a low-elevation, dry forest, found mostly on lower slopes and flats, with slight northern exposures, and an average slope of 21%. Elevations range from 710-965 m (2330-3160 feet), with an average of 825 m (2700 feet). The sites average 84 cm (33 inches) of rain a year and are typically found on low-nutrient, ash-laden soils.
Geographic Range: This is a very local association, found in many locations, but only on the east side of Mount Hood. It is likely that the association can also be found on the southeast side of Mount Adams in Washington, but the area is part of the Yakima Indian Reservation, and has not been well inventoried.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687980
Confidence Level: Low
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.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.2 Ponderosa Pine - Douglas-fir - Limber Pine Central Rocky Mountain Dry Forest Macrogroup | M501 | 1.B.2.Nb.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.2.b Douglas-fir - Ponderosa Pine Central Rocky Mountain Forest Group | G210 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.b |
| Alliance | A3395 Douglas-fir - Ponderosa Pine / Herbaceous Understory Central Rocky Mountain Woodland Alliance | A3395 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL000434 Douglas-fir / Western Fescue Forest | CEGL000434 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pseudotsuga menziesii / Festuca occidentalis (Topik et al. 1988) [(p.55)]
- 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.
- 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.
- Topik, C. 1989. Plant associations and management guide for the Abies grandis zone Gifford Pinchot National Forest. R6-ECOL-TP-006-88. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 110 pp.
- Topik, C., N. M. Halverson, and T. High. 1988. Plant associations and management guide of the ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and grand fir zone, Mt. Hood National Forest. R6-ECOL-TP-004-88. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 136 pp.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.