Print Report
CEGL002152 Populus deltoides / Juniperus scopulorum Floodplain Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern Cottonwood / Rocky Mountain Juniper Floodplain Woodland
Colloquial Name: Eastern Cottonwood / Juniper Floodplain Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This cottonwood community is found in riparian areas of the northwestern Great Plains. Stands occur on broad, flat floodplain terraces of rivers and streams. Soils vary from silty loams to sandy alluvial deposits. The vegetation consists of an open-canopied tree layer. The dominant species is mature Populus deltoides. Juniperus scopulorum, Juniperus virginiana, or a hybrid, may contribute significant cover to both tree and sapling layer. Fraxinus pennsylvanica may be present as small trees, or, more commonly, as saplings. Populus deltoides reproduction is very limited. This community is a seral stage which, without significant disturbance, will eventually change into a Fraxinus pennsylvanica-dominated system. It may represent an invasive stage in ~Populus deltoides - Fraxinus pennsylvanica Floodplain Forest (CEGL000658)$$, where Juniperus invades in the absence of a natural flooding regime. The shrub layer of this community is composed chiefly of Rosa woodsii, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, and small Juniperus scopulorum. The herbaceous stratum typically contains Elymus canadensis, Melilotus officinalis, and Thalictrum dasycarpum.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The former Populus deltoides / Juniperus virginiana Forest (CEGL002094) has been combined with this type. In northern and central Nebraska and central South Dakota, this type can form a semi-natural type, where Juniperus scopulorum or Juniperus virginiana can form dense understories under Populus deltoides. This may arise when natural flooding regimes, which would otherwise prevent establishment of the juniper species, are altered (G. Steinauer pers. comm. 2000). Nebraska does not currently list this type. Floodplain stands that are heavily grazed or have soil disturbances can also be invaded by the junipers.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The dominant species in this community is mature Populus deltoides. It has three times the cover of Juniperus scopulorum. Small amounts of Fraxinus pennsylvanica are often present as small trees and, more commonly, saplings. Juniperus scopulorum also occurs as saplings and seedlings but Populus deltoides reproduction is very limited. This community is a seral stage that may develop into a Fraxinus pennsylvanica-dominated system. Hansen et al. (1984) attributed the abundance of Juniperus scopulorum to adequate light available to the understory layers of the community as a result of wide spacing of the old Populus.
The prevalence of Juniperus scopulorum decreases in the lower layers of this community, while Fraxinus pennsylvanica increases. The shrub layer of this community is composed chiefly of Rosa woodsii, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, and small Juniperus scopulorum. The herbaceous stratum typically contains Toxicodendron rydbergii, Elymus canadensis, Melilotus officinalis, and Thalictrum dasycarpum.
The prevalence of Juniperus scopulorum decreases in the lower layers of this community, while Fraxinus pennsylvanica increases. The shrub layer of this community is composed chiefly of Rosa woodsii, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, and small Juniperus scopulorum. The herbaceous stratum typically contains Toxicodendron rydbergii, Elymus canadensis, Melilotus officinalis, and Thalictrum dasycarpum.
Dynamics: This type is found closest to the river on young, unstabilized floodplains, where it colonizes the freshly deposited alluvial substrates on the meanders of the streams and rivers. Proceeding away from the river, other later successional stages include, in the Little Missouri River drainage, ~Populus deltoides - Fraxinus pennsylvanica Floodplain Forest (CEGL000658)$$ and ~Fraxinus pennsylvanica - (Ulmus americana) / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Floodplain Forest (CEGL002088)$$. As the stream continues to move away from the more recent deposits, the stand may eventually succeed to the Fraxinus pennsylvanica type, a process that could take 100 years (Girard et al. 1989).
Environmental Description: This woodland community is found on soils with an upper profile of silt loam (0-60 cm) and a lower profile of sandy loam (61-90 cm). These soils developed from alluvial deposits. The pH is circumneutral and there is a high water holding capacity. This community occurs on broad, flat floodplains (Girard et al. 1989).
Geographic Range: This cottonwood community is found in riparian areas of the northwestern Great Plains, especially in the Dakotas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ND, SD
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688650
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1G2
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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.4 Eastern Cottonwood - Green Ash / Willow species Flooded & Swamp Forest | M028 | 1.B.3.Na.4 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.4.a Eastern Cottonwood - Green Ash / Western Wheatgrass Floodplain Forest Group | G147 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
| Alliance | A0636 Eastern Cottonwood Floodplain Woodland Alliance | A0636 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
| Association | CEGL002152 Eastern Cottonwood / Rocky Mountain Juniper Floodplain Woodland | CEGL002152 | 1.B.3.Na.4.a |
Concept Lineage: 2094 was merged into this type because the 2 types were determined to be identical; Juniperus scopulorum and Juniperus virginiana hybridize across their zone of overlap.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus deltoides / Juniperus scopulorum Community Type (Girard et al. 1989)
= Populus deltoides / Juniperus scopulorum Woodland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Populus deltoides / Juniperus scopulorum Woodland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Girard, M. M. 1985. Native woodland ecology and habitat type classification of southwestern North Dakota. Ph.D. thesis, North Dakota State University, Fargo.
- Girard, M. M., H. Goetz, and A. J. Bjugstad. 1989. Native woodland habitat types of southwestern North Dakota. Research Paper RM-281. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 36 pp.
- Hansen, P. L., G. R. Hoffman, and A. J. Bjugstad. 1984. The vegetation of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota: A habitat type classification. General Technical Report RM-113. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 35 pp.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- SDNHP [South Dakota Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. South Dakota Natural Heritage Program, Pierre, SD.
- Severson, K. E., and C. E. Boldt. 1977. Problems associated with management of native woody plants in the western Dakotas. Pages 51-57 in: K. L. Johnson, editor. Wyoming Shrublands, Proceedings of the Sixth Wyoming Shrub Ecology Workshop, Buffalo, WY.
- Von Loh, J., D. Cogan, D. J. Butler, D. Faber-Langendoen, D. Crawford, and M. J. Pucherelli. 2000. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 252 pp.