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CEGL001090 Cercocarpus montanus / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany / Bluebunch Wheatgrass Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs on windswept ridgelines and rocky slopes on foothills and high plateaus in northwestern Colorado, north-central Utah and western Wyoming. It often occurs as inclusions within larger areas of sagebrush. Elevations range from 1511 to 2600 m (4960-8530 feet). Slopes are moderately to very steep and generally are oriented to a north to east aspect, except in Utah, where south-facing stands occur. The substrate is often calcareous, such as limestone or colluvium derived from formations that include limestone. Soils are shallow to deep, rocky sandy or silty loams, and the soil surface is abundantly covered with organic litter. The vegetation is characterized by a shrub canopy dominated by Cercocarpus montanus (20-45% cover) with an herbaceous understory dominated by Pseudoroegneria spicata (5-15% cover). The total vegetative cover is moderate to dense, ranging from 25% to more than 65%. Associated shrubs include Artemisia tridentata (ssp. vaseyana, ssp. wyomingensis), Amelanchier utahensis, Quercus gambelii, Tetradymia canescens, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and Eriogonum microthecum. The herbaceous stratum has sparse to moderate cover and consists mostly of graminoids. Associated graminoids include Poa fendleriana, Koeleria macrantha, Achnatherum hymenoides, Poa secunda, and Hesperostipa comata. Typical forbs present include Stenotus acaulis and Eriogonum umbellatum.
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 association is characterized by small stands dominated by Cercocarpus montanus (20-45% cover) with an herbaceous understory dominated by Pseudoroegneria spicata (5-15% cover). The total vegetative cover is moderate to dense, ranging from 25% to more than 65%. Associated shrubs include Artemisia tridentata (ssp. vaseyana, ssp. wyomingensis), Amelanchier utahensis, Quercus gambelii, Tetradymia canescens, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and Eriogonum microthecum. The herbaceous stratum has sparse to moderate cover and consists mostly of graminoids. Associated graminoids include Poa fendleriana, Koeleria macrantha, Achnatherum hymenoides, Poa secunda, and Hesperostipa comata. Typical forbs present include Stenotus acaulis and Eriogonum umbellatum.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs on windswept ridgelines and rocky slopes on foothills and high plateaus in northwestern Colorado, north-central Utah and western Wyoming. It often occurs as inclusions within larger areas of sagebrush. Elevations range from 1511 to 2600 m (4960-8530 feet). Slopes are moderately to very steep and generally are oriented to a north to east aspect, except in Utah, where south-facing stands occur. The substrate is often calcareous, such as limestone or colluvium derived from formations that include limestone. Soils are shallow to deep, rocky sandy or silty loams, and the soil surface is abundantly covered with organic litter.
Geographic Range: This association is known from the Uinta Basin in northwestern Colorado, the foothills of the Wasatch Range in north-central Utah and scattered locations in western Wyoming. Baker and Kennedy (1985) speculate that this association is near its southern limit in northwestern Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687987
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D022 | 2.B.2.Nf |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nf.1 Gambel Oak - Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Bitterbrush species Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Shrubland Macrogroup | M049 | 2.B.2.Nf.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.1.b Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Wavyleaf Oak - Skunkbush Sumac Foothill Shrubland Group | G276 | 2.B.2.Nf.1.b |
| Alliance | A3732 Utah Serviceberry - Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Littleleaf Mountain-mahogany Shrubland Alliance | A3732 | 2.B.2.Nf.1.b |
| Association | CEGL001090 Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany / Bluebunch Wheatgrass Shrubland | CEGL001090 | 2.B.2.Nf.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Cercocarpus montanus / Agropyron spicatum var. inerme (Baker 1982b)
= Cercocarpus montanus / Agropyron spicatum Plant Association (Baker and Kennedy 1985)
= Cercocarpus montanus / Agropyron spicatum Plant Association (Baker and Kennedy 1985)
- Baker, W. L. 1982b. Natural vegetation of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Appendix D, pages 1-113 in: J. S. Peterson and W. L. Baker, editors. Inventory of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Unpublished report for the Bureau Land Management, Craig, CO.
- Baker, W. L., and S. C. Kennedy. 1985. Presettlement vegetation of part of northwestern Moffat County, Colorado, described from remnants. Great Basin Naturalist 45(4):747-777.
- 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.
- Brotherson, J. D., D. L. Anderson, and L. A. Szyska. 1984. Habitat relations of Cercocarpus montanus (true mountain mahogany) in central Utah. Journal of Range Management 37:321-324.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- Coles, J., D. Cogan, D. Salas, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, J. Von Loh, and A. Evenden. 2008a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Dinosaur National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR-2008/112. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 814 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.