Print Report
CEGL000581 Populus tremuloides / Ceanothus velutinus Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen / Snowbrush Ceanothus Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs on the slopes of ridges and mountains in northwestern Wyoming and western Colorado. Elevations range from 2225-2680 m (7300-8800 feet). These forests occur on north to northeast slopes in Colorado and southern slopes in Wyoming. Soils vary from very well-drained, non-skeletal sandy loam and loam to very coarse rocky colluvium, and may be shallow to deep. Stands are often located at the middle to upper portions of the slope; slopes range from level to more than 100%. Populus tremuloides makes up a pure, but often open, tree canopy, while the shrub layer consists of a variable mix in which Ceanothus velutinus is usually dominant. Other common shrub species include Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Rosa woodsii, Rubus parviflorus, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Amelanchier alnifolia, Spiraea betulifolia, and Sorbus scopulina. The herbaceous layer is diverse and may include Eucephalus engelmannii, Eurybia glauca, Lathyrus lanszwertii, Lupinus spp., Thalictrum fendleri, Machaeranthera canescens, Arnica cordifolia, Iliamna rivularis, Calamagrostis rubescens, Bromus porteri, Bromus carinatus, Achnatherum lettermanii, and Carex geyeri. This association appears to be maintained by stand-replacing fire, as both Populus tremuloides and Ceanothus velutinus will resprout after a cool fire. The seeds of Ceanothus velutinus and the rootstocks of Populus tremuloides can persist in the soil for more than 100 years, and re-establish themselves from seeds and sprouts following a hot fire.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is only known from Colorado and Wyoming. No other studies reviewed mentioned Populus tremuloides-dominated communities with any Ceanothus spp. in the understory. Bunin (1975c) indicated the existence of a variant of this association in which Rubus parviflorus was the dominant shrub; however, there are no other references to Ceanothus spp. as a component of ~Populus tremuloides / Rubus parviflorus Forest (CEGL000602)$$. Other studies did mention Populus tremuloides associations with some of the same understory species (such as Symphoricarpos oreophilus and Amelanchier alnifolia); however, these did not include reference to any Ceanothus spp. Johnston (1987) suggested that this association would fit better as a phase of his Populus tremuloides / Amelanchier alnifolia - Prunus virginiana Plant Association; however, no Ceanothus is mentioned. This is probably a fire-maintained type that succeeds to another association with enough time post fire.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Populus tremuloides makes up a pure, but often open, tree canopy, while the shrub layer consists of a variable mix in which Ceanothus velutinus is usually dominant. Other common shrub species include Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Rosa woodsii, Rubus parviflorus, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Amelanchier alnifolia, Spiraea betulifolia, and Sorbus scopulina. The herbaceous layer is diverse and may include Eucephalus engelmannii (= Aster engelmannii), Eurybia glauca, Lathyrus lanszwertii, Lupinus spp., Thalictrum fendleri, Machaeranthera canescens, Arnica cordifolia, Iliamna rivularis, Calamagrostis rubescens, Bromus porteri, Bromus carinatus, Achnatherum lettermanii, and Carex geyeri.
Dynamics: This association appears to be maintained by stand-replacing fire, as both Populus tremuloides and Ceanothus velutinus will resprout after a cool fire. The seeds of Ceanothus velutinus and the rootstocks of Populus tremuloides can persist in the soil for more than 100 years, and re-establish themselves from seeds and sprouts following a hot fire.
Environmental Description: This association occurs on the slopes of ridges and mountains in northwestern Wyoming and western Colorado. Elevations range from 2225-2680 m (7300-8800 feet). These forests occur on north to northeast slopes in the southern part of the range, and southern slopes in the northern part of the range. Soils vary from very well-drained, non-skeletal sandy loam and loam to very coarse rocky colluvium, and may be shallow to deep. Stands are often located at the middle to upper portions of the slope; slopes range from level to more than 100%. The unvegetated ground surface is well-covered by litter and downed wood.
Geographic Range: This association is known from scattered, isolated stands in Montrose, Gunnison, Moffat and Routt counties of western Colorado, and north of Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688104
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.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup | M020 | 1.B.2.Nb.5 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d Quaking Aspen Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group | G222 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
| Alliance | A2036 Quaking Aspen Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance | A2036 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
| Association | CEGL000581 Quaking Aspen / Snowbrush Ceanothus Forest | CEGL000581 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Populus tremuloides / Amelanchier alnifolia - Prunus virginiana Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
- 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.
- Bunin, J. E. 1975a. Aspen forests of the west slope of the Park Range, north-central Colorado. Unpublished paper presented at the 1975 AIBS/ESA Meetings, 17-22 August 1975, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 22 pp.
- Bunin, J. E. 1975c. The vegetation of the west slope of the Park Range, Colorado. Unpublished dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder. 235 pp.
- 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/]
- 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.
- Coles, J., A. Tendick, J. Von Loh, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/361. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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.
- 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.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, P. Williams, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Curecanti National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/408. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 797 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.