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CEGL000241 Abies concolor / Acer grandidentatum Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Fir / Bigtooth Maple Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This forest association has been reported from mountains in Utah, New Mexico and Arizona along the Mogollon Rim north into the high plateaus and Wasatch Range of Utah. Elevation ranges from 1525-2590 m (5000-8500 feet). This mesic community generally occurs on steep, lower slopes and benches with northern aspects and in narrow canyons and ravines. Soils are generally deep, well-drained, coarse and fine-textured alluvium. Abies concolor and Pseudotsuga menziesii codominate the upper tree canopy with the subcanopy or tall-shrub layer dominated by Acer grandidentatum, Quercus gambelii, and Acer negundo. Pinus strobiformis, Pinus ponderosa, Populus tremuloides, and Juglans major may also be present. The short-shrub layer is variable. The herbaceous layer is moderately dense and may include Carex siccata, Bromus ciliatus var. ciliatus, Bromus ciliatus var. richardsonii, Koeleria macrantha, Thalictrum fendleri, and Aquilegia chrysantha. This association transitions to ~Abies concolor / Quercus gambelii Forest (CEGL000261)$$ in drier uplands and to riparian types adjacent to streams.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Abies concolor is the climax stand dominant. The shrub component may exhibit two layers. The tall-shrub layer is diagnostic of this plant association. Here, Acer grandidentatum is always present (common [>1% cover]) and dominates the understory. The low-shrub layer is variable. Low shrubs and herbaceous species comprise the ground cover.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: There are two phases described in Alexander et al. (1987): (1) Typic phase: This is the drier of the two; here, Holodiscus dumosus is absent and graminoids are common. Holodiscus dumosus phase: This phase is found on wetter components of the plant association. Holodiscus dumosus is diagnostic. Bromus canadensis is the dominant graminoid found in this phase.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This mesic forest is characterized by a mixed-species tree canopy with Abies concolor and Pseudotsuga menziesii codominating the upper tree canopy and with the subcanopy or tall-shrub layer dominated by Acer grandidentatum, Quercus gambelii, and Acer negundo. Pinus strobiformis, Pinus ponderosa, Populus tremuloides, and Juglans major may also be present. The short-shrub layer is variable. Short shrub species include Arctostaphylos patula, Juniperus communis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Prunus virginiana, Quercus gambelii (<5% cover), Ribes cereum, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. The herbaceous layer is an open to moderately dense mixture of graminoids and forbs. Grasses commonly present include Achnatherum hymenoides, Bromus ciliatus var. ciliatus, Bromus ciliatus var. richardsonii (= Bromus richardsonii), Carex siccata (= Carex foenea), Koeleria macrantha, Poa fendleriana, and Pseudoroegneria spicata. Scattered forbs include Aquilegia chrysantha, Clematis ligusticifolia, Galium multiflorum, Heuchera parviflora, Maianthemum racemosum (= Smilacina racemosa), Osmorhiza occidentalis, Penstemon platyphyllus, Sedum debile, and Thalictrum fendleri. Seedling trees of Abies concolor and Pseudotsuga menziesii may occur throughout. The exotic annual grass Bromus tectorum is present in some stands.

Dynamics:  Because of the cool, moist conditions characteristic of this habitat type, fires are mostly low-intensity, erratic, and infrequent, resulting in a diversity of stand structures within the type. Mosaics in forest structure are probably caused by erratic nature of past fires (Muldavin et al. 1996).
Environmental Description:  This forest association has been reported from mountains in New Mexico and Arizona along the Mogollon Rim, and in Utah north into high plateaus and the Wasatch Range. Elevation ranges from 1525-2590 m (5000-8500 feet). This mesic community generally occurs on gentle to steep (4-40°) lower slopes and benches with northern aspects and in narrow canyons and ravines. Soils are generally deep, rapidly drained, coarse-textured loams, but range from loamy sands to silty clay loams. Parent materials are derived from quaternary alluvium, and bedrock and colluvium derived from local geologic layers.
Geographic Range: This forest association is widespread throughout the mountains of the Southwest and has been reported from mountains in New Mexico, Arizona and Utah along the Mogollon Rim north into the high plateaus and Wasatch Range of Utah.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, NM, UT


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

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.1 White Fir - Douglas-fir - Blue Spruce Forest Macrogroup M022 1.B.2.Nb.1
Group 1.B.2.Nb.1.d White Fir - Blue Spruce - Douglas-fir Mesic Southern Rocky Mountain Forest Group G225 1.B.2.Nb.1.d
Alliance A3369 White Fir Southern Rocky Mountain Mesic Forest & Woodland Alliance A3369 1.B.2.Nb.1.d
Association CEGL000241 White Fir / Bigtooth Maple Forest CEGL000241 1.B.2.Nb.1.d
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Abies concolor / Acer grandidentatum (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Abies concolor / Acer grandidentatum Habitat Type (Alexander et al. 1987)
= Abies concolor / Acer grandidentatum Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
= Abies concolor / Acer grandidentatum Habitat Type (Alexander et al. 1984a)
= Abies concolor / Acer grandidentatum Habitat Type (Moir and Ludwig 1979)
= Abies concolor / Acer grandidentatum Habitat Type (Muldavin et al. 1996)
Concept Author(s): M.C. Stuever and J.S. Hayden (1997a)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz and G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-14-18
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  • Alexander, B. G., Jr., F. Ronco, Jr., E. L. Fitzhugh, and J. A. Ludwig. 1984a. A classification of forest habitat types of the Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico. General Technical Report RM-104. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 29 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., M. Reid, K. Schulz, and M. Pucherelli. 2004. Zion National Park, Utah 1999-2003. Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-03-01. Remote Sensing and GIS Group Technical Service Center, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. Appendix F: Vegetation Association Descriptions for Zion.
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  • Muldavin, E. H., R. L. DeVelice, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1996. A classification of forest habitat types of southern Arizona and portions of the Colorado Plateau. General Technical Report RM-GTR-287. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 130 pp.
  • Niering, W. A., and C. H. Lowe. 1984. Vegetation of the Santa Catalina Mountains: Community types and dynamics. Vegetatio 58:3-28.
  • Stuever, M. C., and J. S. Hayden. 1997a. Plant associations of Arizona and New Mexico, edition 3. Volume 1: Forests. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region. Habitat Typing Guides. 291 pp.
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  • USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1987b. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of Arizona south of the Mogollon Rim and southwestern New Mexico. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM. Second edition, 168 pp. plus insert.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.