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CEGL000282 Abies grandis / Symphoricarpos albus Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Grand Fir / Common Snowberry Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This forest community type of Oregon and Washington has been sampled on the Wallowa-Whitman and Malheur national forests of the eastern Blue Mountains Ecoregion. Geomorphic surfaces are floodplains and terraces in narrow to moderately steep, moderately wide, V-, flat- and trough-shaped valleys with moderately steep sideslopes. Valley aspects range from southwest- to north- and northwest-facing. Overstory vegetation is characterized by shade-tolerant Abies grandis; common seral tree species include Picea engelmannii, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus contorta, and Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa. Symphoricarpos albus dominates the shrub layer, with Ribes lacustre, Alnus incana, Acer glabrum, Rubus parviflorus, Amelanchier alnifolia, Philadelphus lewisii, Cornus sericea, Spiraea betulifolia, and Crataegus douglasii occasionally associated. Herbaceous species commonly encountered include Arnica cordifolia, Circaea alpina, Adenocaulon bicolor, Maianthemum stellatum, Achillea millefolium, Elymus glaucus, and Festuca occidentalis.
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: Overstory vegetation is characterized by shade-tolerant Abies grandis; common seral tree species include Picea engelmannii, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus contorta, and Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa. Symphoricarpos albus dominates the shrub layer with Ribes lacustre, Alnus incana, Acer glabrum, Rubus parviflorus, Amelanchier alnifolia, Philadelphus lewisii, Cornus sericea, Spiraea betulifolia, and Crataegus douglasii occasionally associated. Herbaceous species commonly encountered include Arnica cordifolia, Circaea alpina, Adenocaulon bicolor, Maianthemum stellatum, Achillea millefolium, Elymus glaucus, and Festuca occidentalis. The height of the shrub layer averages 0.6 m, and the height of the herbaceous layer averages 30 cm.
Dynamics: The major species of this association, Abies grandis and Symphoricarpos albus, are probably self-perpetuating given a lack of moderate to severe fires. Other associated tall shrubs, Acer glabrum, Amelanchier alnifolia, and Cornus sericea, will decrease in abundance with increasing shade by the overstory Abies grandis and Picea engelmannii canopy. Moderate to severe fires will generally kill the Abies grandis and Picea engelmannii seedlings, saplings and mature trees, and generally leave mature Pinus ponderosa trees on the site. All of the common shrubs characteristic of this association will resprout from root crowns and/or rhizomes following fires and persist over time.
Environmental Description: This community type was sampled on the Wallowa-Whitman and Malheur national forests of the eastern Blue Mountains Ecoregion (Crowe et al. 2004). Geomorphic surfaces are floodplains and terraces in narrow to moderately steep, moderately wide, V-, flat- and trough-shaped valleys with moderately steep sideslopes. Valley aspects range from southwest- to north- and northwest-facing. Rosgen (1996) stream types associated with sites sampled are B3, C4, C5 and E4.
Geographic Range: This forest community type occurs in Oregon and Washington.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: OR, WA?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688774
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?
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.3 Western Hemlock - Grand Fir - Western Larch Mesic Lower Montane Forest Macrogroup | M500 | 1.B.2.Nb.3 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.3.a Grand Fir - Douglas-fir - Western Larch Central Rocky Mountain Forest Group | G211 | 1.B.2.Nb.3.a |
| Alliance | A3362 Grand Fir - Douglas-fir Central Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3362 | 1.B.2.Nb.3.a |
| Association | CEGL000282 Grand Fir / Common Snowberry Forest | CEGL000282 | 1.B.2.Nb.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Abies grandis / Symphoricarpos albus - Floodplain (Crowe and Clausnitzer 1997)
= Abies grandis / Symphoricarpos albus Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Abies grandis / Symphoricarpos albus Floodplain Association (Kovalchik 2001)
< Abies grandis / Symphoricarpos (Topik et al. 1988) [(p.79)]
= Abies grandis / Symphoricarpos albus Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Abies grandis / Symphoricarpos albus Floodplain Association (Kovalchik 2001)
< Abies grandis / Symphoricarpos (Topik et al. 1988) [(p.79)]
- 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.
- Crowe, E. A., B. L. Kovalchik, and M. J. Kerr. 2004. Riparian and wetland vegetation of central and eastern Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Institute for Natural Resources, Oregon State University, Portland. 473 pp. [http://oregonstate.edu/ornhic/ publications.html]
- Crowe, E. A., and R. R. Clausnitzer. 1997. Mid-montane wetland plant associations of the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman national forests. Technical Paper R6-NR-ECOL-TP-22-97. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR.
- Johnson, C. G., Jr., and S. A. Simon. 1987. Plant associations of the Wallowa-Snake Province Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Technical Paper R6-ECOL-TP-255A-86. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. 399 pp. plus appendices.
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
- Kovalchik, B. L. 2001. Classification and management of aquatic, riparian and wetland sites on the national forests of eastern Washington. Part 1: The series descriptions. 429 pp. plus appendix. [http://www.reo.gov/col/wetland_classification/wetland_classification.pdf]
- Rosgen, D. 1996. Applied river morphology. Wildland Hydrology, Pagosa Springs, CO.
- Titus, J. H., M. Kerr, E. Crowe, and B. Kovalchik. 1998. Riparian zones of eastern Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, Portland.
- Topik, C., N. M. Halverson, and T. High. 1988. Plant associations and management guide of the ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and grand fir zone, Mt. Hood National Forest. R6-ECOL-TP-004-88. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 136 pp.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Williams, C. K., and B. G. Smith. 1990. Forested plant associations of the Wenatchee National Forest. Unpublished draft prepared by the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 217 pp.