Print Report
CEGL000294 Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Acer glabrum Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Rocky Mountain Maple Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This minor forest association occurs in the upper montane and subalpine zone in the southern, central and northern Rocky Mountains. Sites are cool, relatively moist slopes or riparian areas. Stands are typically found on moderate to very steep canyon and mountain slopes, as well as on nearly flat valley bottoms and on benches with moderate to gentle slopes. Aspects are typically northerly or shaded (in canyon). Lowland aspects are variable. Substrates may be gravelly or not, typically with loam- or sandy loam-textured soil, although finer textured soils are reported. Litter dominates the ground cover often 3-8 cm deep with low cover of rock and bare ground. The vegetation is characterized by a tree canopy codominated by Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii with the tall shrub Acer glabrum dominating the understory. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is open to moderately dense (30-80% cover) and typically dominated by Abies lasiocarpa with lesser amounts of Picea engelmannii. Scattered Pinus contorta, Abies concolor, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Picea pungens, and Populus tremuloides trees may be present. The tall-shrub layer is open (patchy) to moderately dense. Acer glabrum dominates or codominates with other tall shrubs such as Amelanchier alnifolia or Sorbus scopulina. An open to moderately dense short-shrub layer is often present with species such as Lonicera utahensis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Physocarpus malvaceus, Rosa spp., Rubus parviflorus, Ribes spp., Symphoricarpos spp., Vaccinium spp. and the vine Clematis columbiana. The herbaceous layer is composed of diverse forbs with graminoids present to codominant. Species with high constancy include Arnica cordifolia, Bromus spp., Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Carex rossii, Elymus glaucus, Erigeron eximius, Lathyrus lanszwertii, Osmorhiza berteroi, Penstemon wilcoxii, Maianthemum stellatum, and Thalictrum spp.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: One plot was recently reported from Rocky Mountain National Park, otherwise it is not known from Colorado. Plots with Acer glabrum-dominated understories from similar associations (and habitat types) may be misclassified and need further review.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This minor Rocky Mountain conifer association is characterized by a tree canopy codominated by Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii with tall shrub Acer glabrum dominating the understory. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is open to moderately dense (30-80% cover) and is typically dominated by Abies lasiocarpa with lesser amounts of Picea engelmannii. Scattered Pinus contorta, Abies concolor, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Picea pungens, and Populus tremuloides trees may be present. The tall-shrub layer is open (patchy) to moderately dense. Acer glabrum dominates or codominates with other tall shrubs such as Amelanchier alnifolia, Sorbus scopulina, Spiraea betulifolia, or sometimes Prunus virginiana or Salix scouleriana. An open to moderately dense short-shrub layer is often present with species such as Lonicera utahensis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Physocarpus malvaceus, Rosa spp., Rubus parviflorus, Ribes lacustre, Symphoricarpos albus, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Vaccinium cespitosum, Vaccinium membranaceum, and the vine Clematis columbiana. Herbaceous layer is composed of diverse forbs with graminoids present to codominant. Species may include Arnica cordifolia, Bromus carinatus, Bromus ciliatus, Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Carex rossii, Elymus glaucus, Erigeron eximius, Lathyrus lanszwertii, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Penstemon wilcoxii, Maianthemum stellatum, Thalictrum fendleri, or Thalictrum occidentale.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This minor forest association occurs in the upper montane and subalpine zone in the southern, central and northern Rocky Mountains. Elevations range from 2955-3050 m (9700-10,000 feet) in southern latitudes (Sandia Mountains) to 1980-3020 m (6500-9900 feet) on the Wasatch Plateau and down to 1375-1980 m (4510-6500 feet) in the northern Rocky Mountains. Sites are cool, relatively moist slopes or riparian. Stands are typically found on moderate to very steep canyon and mountain slopes, as well as on nearly flat valley bottoms and on benches with moderate to gentle slopes. Aspects are typically northerly or shaded (in canyon). Lowland aspects are variable. Substrates may be gravelly or not, typically with loam- or sandy loam-textured soil, although finer textured soils are reported. Substrates are derived from various parent materials including sandstone, granite, andesite, rhyolite, quartz monzonite or limestone. Litter dominates ground cover often 3-8 cm deep with low cover of rock and bare ground.
Geographic Range: This upper montane and subalpine association is widespread, occurring in the southern, central and northern Rocky Mountains from the Sandia Mountains to the Wasatch Plateau and Uinta Mountains, north to Glacier National Park.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, MT, NM, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688006
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5
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.c Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir - Mountain Hemlock Moist Forest & Woodland Group | G218 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
| Alliance | A3615 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Southern Rocky Mountain Moist Forest Alliance | A3615 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
| Association | CEGL000294 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Rocky Mountain Maple Forest | CEGL000294 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Abies lasiocarpa / Acer glabrum Habitat Type (Alexander et al. 1987)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Acer glabrum Habitat Type (Henderson et al. 1976)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Acer glabrum Habitat Type (Youngblood and Mauk 1985)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Acer glabrum Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Acer glabrum Habitat Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Acer glabrum Habitat Type, Pachistima myrsinites Phase (Steele et al. 1983)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Acer glabrum Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Erigeron eximius Habitat Type (Larson and Moir 1987)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Acer glabrum Habitat Type (Henderson et al. 1976)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Acer glabrum Habitat Type (Youngblood and Mauk 1985)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Acer glabrum Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Acer glabrum Habitat Type (Mauk and Henderson 1984)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Acer glabrum Habitat Type, Pachistima myrsinites Phase (Steele et al. 1983)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Acer glabrum Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Erigeron eximius Habitat Type (Larson and Moir 1987)
- Alexander, B. G., Jr., E. L. Fitzhugh, F. Ronco, Jr., and J. A. Ludwig. 1987. A classification of forest habitat types of the northern portion of the Cibola National Forest, NM. General Technical Report RM-143. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 35 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., K. Varga, and G. Kittel. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Final Project Report 2002-2005 Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-06-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 87 pp. plus Appendixes A-F.
- Henderson, J. A., R. L. Mauk, D. L. Anderson, R. Ketchie, P. Lawton, S. Simon, R. H. Sperger, R. W. Young, and A. Youngblood. 1976. Preliminary forest habitat-types of northwestern Utah and adjacent Idaho. A report for the Department of Forestry and Outdoor Recreation, Utah State University, Logan. 99 pp.
- Hop, K., M. Reid, J. Dieck, S. Lubinski, and S. Cooper. 2007. U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. 131 pp. plus Appendices A-L.
- 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.
- Larson, M., and W. H. Moir. 1987. Forest and woodland habitat types of northern New Mexico and northern Arizona. Edition 2. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM.
- 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.
- Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
- 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., R. D. Pfister, R. A. Ryker, and J. A. Kittams. 1981. Forest habitat types of central Idaho. General Technical Report INT-114. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 138 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.
- WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Youngblood, A. P., and R. L. Mauk. 1985. Coniferous forest habitat types of central and southern Utah. General Technical Report INT-187. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 89 pp.