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CEGL000169 Pinus contorta / Vaccinium membranaceum Rocky Mountain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Lodgepole Pine / Thinleaf Huckleberry Rocky Mountain Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This type is known from Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks in northwestern Wyoming, southwestern Idaho south to Utah. It occurs on moist slopes and benches having northerly to easterly aspects, between 2055 and 2440 m (6730-8000 feet) in elevation. Soils are loam-based and are well- to moderately well-drained. In Oregon it occurs on moist sites above 1525 m (5000 feet) and below 1830 m (6000 feet), on slopes <15%. In Oregon and Montana, stands are considered seral to ~Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium membranaceum Forest (CEGL000342)$$. The overstory canopy is dominated by Pinus contorta. Other conifers that may be present as incidental individuals are Abies lasiocarpa, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Picea engelmannii. In Montana, stands dominated by Pinus contorta, but with Abies lasiocarpa in the subcanopy, are classified as ~Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium membranaceum Forest (CEGL000342)$$ but would be included here floristically. The undergrowth is usually dominated by Vaccinium membranaceum, with Lonicera utahensis. Other shrubs occasionally present include Shepherdia canadensis and Spiraea betulifolia. Vaccinium scoparium can be well-represented. Herbaceous species include Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, and Arnica cordifolia.
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: The overstory canopy is dominated by Pinus contorta. Other conifers that may be present as incidental individuals are Abies lasiocarpa, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Picea engelmannii. In Montana, stands dominated by Pinus contorta, but with Abies lasiocarpa in the subcanopy, are classified as ~Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium membranaceum Forest (CEGL000342)$$ but would be included here floristically. The undergrowth is usually dominated by Vaccinium membranaceum, with Lonicera utahensis. Other shrubs occasionally present include Shepherdia canadensis and Spiraea betulifolia. Vaccinium scoparium can be well-represented. Herbaceous species include Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, and Arnica cordifolia.
Dynamics: Stands are often considered seral to ~Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium membranaceum Forest (CEGL000342)$$.
Environmental Description: This type is known from Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks in northwestern Wyoming, southwestern Idaho south to Utah. It occurs on moist slopes and benches having northerly to easterly aspects, between 2057 and 2438 m (6729-8000 feet) in elevation. Soils are loam-based and are well- to moderately well-drained. In Oregon it occurs on moist sites from 1372 to 1981 m (4500-6500 feet), on undulating topography, on low slopes (2-20%). Soils are pumice ash (in Oregon), fine sandy loams, well- to moderately well-drained.
Geographic Range: This association is known from Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Wyoming.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, MT, OR, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688213
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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.a Lodgepole Pine Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group | G220 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.a |
| Alliance | A3366 Lodgepole Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Alliance | A3366 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.a |
| Association | CEGL000169 Lodgepole Pine / Thinleaf Huckleberry Rocky Mountain Forest | CEGL000169 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium globulare Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983) [This type includes stands dominated by Pinus contorta with Abies lasiocarpa present only in the subcanopy.]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium globulare Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977) [This type is dominated by Pinus contorta "in seral stands" and reports no Abies lasiocarpa in the stand tables! (p.158)]
= Pinus contorta - (Abies lasiocarpa) / Vaccinium membranaceum / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992) [(p.42)]
= Pinus contorta - (Abies lasiocarpa) / Vaccinium membranaceum Plant Association (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992) [(p.42)]
= Pinus contorta - Vaccinium membranaceum Plant Community (Hall 1973) [(p.35)]
= Pinus contorta / Vaccinium globulare Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
= Pinus contorta/Vaccinium membranaceum Woodland (Crawford et al. 2009)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium globulare Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983) [This type includes stands dominated by Pinus contorta with Pseudotsuga menziesii present only in the subcanopy.]
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium globulare Habitat Type, Vaccinium globulare Phase (Pfister et al. 1977) [This type includes stands where "Pinus contorta is a major component of seral stands" (p.43), where Pseudotsuga menziesii may be present only in the subcanopy.]
< Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium globulare Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977) [This type is dominated by Pinus contorta "in seral stands" and reports no Abies lasiocarpa in the stand tables! (p.158)]
= Pinus contorta - (Abies lasiocarpa) / Vaccinium membranaceum / Calamagrostis rubescens Plant Association (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992) [(p.42)]
= Pinus contorta - (Abies lasiocarpa) / Vaccinium membranaceum Plant Association (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992) [(p.42)]
= Pinus contorta - Vaccinium membranaceum Plant Community (Hall 1973) [(p.35)]
= Pinus contorta / Vaccinium globulare Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
= Pinus contorta/Vaccinium membranaceum Woodland (Crawford et al. 2009)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium globulare Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983) [This type includes stands dominated by Pinus contorta with Pseudotsuga menziesii present only in the subcanopy.]
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Vaccinium globulare Habitat Type, Vaccinium globulare Phase (Pfister et al. 1977) [This type includes stands where "Pinus contorta is a major component of seral stands" (p.43), where Pseudotsuga menziesii may be present only in the subcanopy.]
- 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.
- Crawford, R. C., C. B. Chappell, C. C. Thompson, and F. J. Rocchio. 2009. Vegetation classification of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic national parks. Plant association descriptions and identification keys: Appendices A-G. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCCN/NRTR--2009/D-586. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 586 pp.
- Hall, F. C. 1973. Plant communities of the Blue Mountains in eastern Oregon and southeastern Washington. R6 Area Guide 3-1. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 62 pp.
- Johnson, C. G., and R. R. Clausnitzer. 1992. Plant associations of the Blue and Ochoco mountains. R6-ERW-TP-036-92. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. 163 pp. plus appendices.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Pfister, R. D., B. L. Kovalchik, S. F. Arno, and R. C. Presby. 1977. Forest habitat types of Montana. General Technical Report INT-34. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 174 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.