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CEGL001853 Carex elynoides - Geum rossii Alpine Turf
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blackroot Sedge - Ross'' Avens Alpine Turf
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Rocky Mountain association is found in exposed, upland subalpine and alpine environments. Sites are typically dry meadow and alpine turf at middle to lower alpine and around treeline but may occur on moist fell-fields. Stands often occur near the top of convex slopes that are moderate to somewhat steep. Aspects are variable, but sites tend to be exposed to winter wind that limits depth of snowpack. Soils are moderately well-drained to well-drained loams or sandy loams. Soils are relatively well-developed for the alpine with several centimeters of organic material usually present. There is significant cover of large and small surface rocks and bare ground, especially in transition areas with fellfields. Vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense (>50% cover) herbaceous layer dominated by Carex elynoides, occurring at 30-70% cover. Codominants are typically Geum rossii but may also include significant cover of Carex nardina, Festuca brachyphylla, Castilleja occidentalis, Selaginella densa, and Trifolium nanum. Cover of cushion plants is typically low except in fellfield transition areas or disturbed sites. Low dwarf-shrub cover (<5%) of Artemisia arctica ssp. arctica and Salix planifolia may be present.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Bamberg (1961) suggests that this association is ecologically equivalent to the Kobresia myosuroides stand types that form the stable, climatic (late-seral) matrix community in the southern Rocky Mountains; however, in the southern Rocky Mountains, this association tends to be more patchy in distribution with Kobresia myosuroides-dominated turf forming the matrix.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This alpine turf association is characterized by a moderately dense to dense (>50% cover) herbaceous layer dominated by Carex elynoides, occurring at 30-70% cover. Codominants are typically Geum rossii but may also include significant cover of Festuca brachyphylla, Carex nardina, Castilleja occidentalis, Selaginella densa, and Trifolium nanum. Other constant species with low cover are Agoseris glauca, Androsace septentrionalis, Arenaria spp., Erigeron simplex, Kobresia myosuroides, Luzula spicata, Minuartia obtusiloba, Oreoxis alpina, Poa alpina, Poa glauca ssp. rupicola (= Poa rupicola), Polygonum bistortoides, Potentilla spp., Saxifraga rhomboidea, Trifolium dasyphyllum, and Trisetum spicatum. Cover of cushion plants is typically low except in fellfield transition areas or disturbed sites. Low dwarf-shrub cover (<5%) of Artemisia arctica ssp. arctica and Salix planifolia may be present.
Dynamics: Disturbance such as heavy grazing by elk is thought to increase the number of forb species (Komarkova 1986). Dry meadow and turf are exposed to extreme winter wind that limits depth of snowpack to what can be trapped by the dry stalks and stubble of low sedges and Kobresia. Heavy grazing will remove the dry stalks and reduce the amount of snow-trapped moisture available during the following growing season. Prolonged grazing will kill turf plants (Zwinger and Willard 1996).
Environmental Description: This Rocky Mountain association is found in exposed, upland subalpine and alpine environments between the elevations of 3360 and 3965 m (11,030-13,000 feet) in Colorado and 2870 to 2990 m (9400-9800 feet) in Montana. Sites are typically dry meadow and alpine turf at middle to lower alpine and around treeline but may occur on moist fell-fields. Stands often occur near the top of convex slopes that are moderate to somewhat steep. Aspects are variable, but sites tend to be exposed to strong winter winds that limit depth of snowpack. Soils are moderately well-drained to well-drained loams or sandy loams. Soils are relatively well-developed for the alpine with several centimeters of organic material usually present. One stand occurred on Cryumbrepts soil with pH 5.3. Parent materials are often granite or gneiss. There is significant cover of large and small surface rocks and bare ground, especially in transition areas with fellfields.
Geographic Range: This dry alpine turf association is found in windswept upland subalpine and alpine environments in the Rocky Mountains.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, MT, NV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688838
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 4 Polar & High Montane Scrub, Grassland & Barrens Class | C04 | 4 |
| Subclass | 4.B Temperate to Polar Alpine & Tundra Vegetation Subclass | S12 | 4.B |
| Formation | 4.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Alpine Tundra Formation | F037 | 4.B.1 |
| Division | 4.B.1.Nb Western North American Alpine Tundra Division | D043 | 4.B.1.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 4.B.1.Nb.2 Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Blackroot Sedge - Moss Campion Alpine Tundra Macrogroup | M099 | 4.B.1.Nb.2 |
| Group | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b Blackroot Sedge - Bellardi Bog Sedge - Cushion Phlox Alpine Turf & Fell-field Group | G314 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
| Alliance | A3155 Blackroot Sedge - Curly Sedge - Bellardi Bog Sedge Rocky Mountain Alpine Turf Alliance | A3155 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001853 Blackroot Sedge - Ross'' Avens Alpine Turf | CEGL001853 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Carex - Geum - Kobresia Alpine Meadow (Braun 1969) [Mt. Evans.]
= Carex elynoides - Castilleja occidentalis Habitat Type (Komarkova 1986) [Gunnison (12,385 feet elevation).]
= Carex elynoides / Acomastylis rossii Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Carex elynoides Grassland Association (Ramaley 1919a)
< Carex elynoides Vegetation Type (Jones and Ogle 2000)
< Kobresia-Turf (Eddleman 1967)
= Dry Carex Meadow Stand-Type (Bamberg 1961) [MT and WY.]
= Dry Meadow (Carex elynoides - Geum rossii - Hymenoxys grandiflora) (Rottman 1984) [Stoney Basin in southwestern Colorado (12,880-13,000 feet elevation).]
< Dry-Moist Meadow Community (Hartman and Rottman 1985)
= Carex elynoides - Castilleja occidentalis Habitat Type (Komarkova 1986) [Gunnison (12,385 feet elevation).]
= Carex elynoides / Acomastylis rossii Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Carex elynoides Grassland Association (Ramaley 1919a)
< Carex elynoides Vegetation Type (Jones and Ogle 2000)
< Kobresia-Turf (Eddleman 1967)
= Dry Carex Meadow Stand-Type (Bamberg 1961) [MT and WY.]
= Dry Meadow (Carex elynoides - Geum rossii - Hymenoxys grandiflora) (Rottman 1984) [Stoney Basin in southwestern Colorado (12,880-13,000 feet elevation).]
< Dry-Moist Meadow Community (Hartman and Rottman 1985)
- Bamberg, S. A. 1961. Plant ecology of alpine tundra area in Montana and adjacent Wyoming. Unpublished dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder. 163 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.
- Braun, C. E. 1969. Population dynamics, habitat, and movements of white-tailed ptarmigan in Colorado. Unpublished dissertation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 189 pp.
- Cogan, D., J. E. Taylor, and K. Schulz. 2012. Vegetation inventory project: Great Basin National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/MOJN/NRR--2012/568. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 373 pp.
- Eddleman, L. E. 1967. A study of phyto-edaphic relationships in alpine tundra of northern Colorado. Unpublished dissertation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 148 pp.
- Hartman, E. L., and M. L. Rottman. 1985. The alpine vascular flora of the Mt. Bross massif, Mosquito Range, Colorado. Phytologia 57(2):133-151.
- 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.
- Jones, G., and S. Ogle. 2000. Characterization abstracts for vegetation types on the Bighorn, Medicine Bow, and Shoshone national forests. Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Region 2 by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming.
- Komarkova, V. 1986. Habitat types on selected parts of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre national forests. Unpublished final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins, CO. 270 pp. plus appendices.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Ramaley, F. 1919a. The role of sedges in some Colorado plant communities. American Journal of Botany 6:120-130.
- Rottman, M. L. I. 1984. A floristic analysis of three alpine basins in the northern San Juan Mountains, Colorado. Unpublished dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder. 331 pp.
- Salas, D. E., J. Stevens, K. Schulz, M. Artmann, B. Friesen, S. Blauer, E. W. Schweiger, and A. Valdez. 2010b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMN/NRR--2010/179. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Salas, D., J. Stevens, and K. Schulz. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Technical Memorandum No. 8260-05-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 161 pp. plus Appendices A-L (733 pp.).
- Schulz, K. A., and M. E. Hall. 2011. Vegetation inventory project: Great Basin National Park. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network. NatureServe, Western Regional Office, Boulder, CO. 30 pp. plus Appendices A-H.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Zwinger, A. H., and B. E. Willard. 1996. Land above the trees: A guide to American alpine tundra. Johnson Books, Boulder, CO. 425 pp.