Print Report

CEGL000651 Populus angustifolia / Prunus virginiana Riparian Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Chokecherry Riparian Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This is a riparian woodland of low-elevation (1600-2500 m [5240-8200 feet]) foothills in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming, along the western edge of the Great Plains and in the intermountain basins. Stands of this association occur in narrow to moderately broad stream valleys and narrow canyons in the foothills on narrow, elevated, or steeply sloping streambanks and benches. On these higher terraces, stands are infrequently flooded (10- to 100-year estimated recurrence interval). Stream channels are broad, low- to medium-gradient, and slightly sinuous. Soils are typically shallow sandy clay loams with many fine layers from fluvial deposition. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense (>50% cover) overstory canopy dominated by Populus angustifolia (or in some stands Populus x acuminata) with a moderately dense to very dense shrub layer dominated by Prunus virginiana. Other trees occasionally present with low cover include Juniperus scopulorum, Pinus ponderosa, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Populus tremuloides, and Quercus gambelii, especially at on the fringes of stands. Acer negundo may also be present in substantial amounts. The shrub layer may also include substantial amounts of Acer glabrum, Alnus incana, Amelanchier alnifolia, Cornus sericea ssp. sericea, Betula occidentalis, Ribes spp., Rosa woodsii, Symphoricarpos spp., tree saplings, and the woody vine Parthenocissus vitacea. Salix spp. are typically poorly represented or absent. Prunus virginiana is considered a non-obligate riparian species because it typically grows on the outer edge of the riparian area. The herbaceous cover is moderate to dense and frequently dominated by introduced perennial grasses such as Poa pratensis, Agrostis gigantea, Agrostis stolonifera, Bromus inermis, Bromus tectorum, and Phleum pratense. Native graminoids Carex geyeri, Carex pellita, Carex praegracilis, Elymus canadensis, Elymus trachycaulus, Juncus arcticus, and wet or mesic forbs, such as Equisetum arvense, Galium spp., Hydrophyllum fendleri, Heracleum maximum, and Solidago canadensis, are also common.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type is similar to some stands of ~Populus angustifolia / Cornus sericea Riparian Woodland (CEGL002664)$$, ~Acer negundo - Populus angustifolia / Cornus sericea Riparian Forest (CEGL000627)$$, and ~Populus angustifolia - Acer negundo Riparian Woodland (CEGL005992)$$, when stands include patches of Prunus virginiana or are codominated by Acer negundo. The type needs further survey and classification work to insure it is distinct from these other similar association. Medina (1986) describes a Populus angustifolia / Prunus serotina - Salix bonplandiana community type from southern New Mexico which shares some similarities to this type.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available

Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This riparian woodland association is characterized by a moderately dense (>50% cover) overstory canopy dominated by Populus angustifolia (or in some stands Populus x acuminata), with a moderately dense to very dense shrub layer dominated by Prunus virginiana. Other trees occasionally present with low cover include Juniperus scopulorum, Pinus ponderosa, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Populus tremuloides, and Quercus gambelii, especially on the fringes of stands. Acer negundo may also be present in substantial amounts. The shrub layer may also include substantial amounts of Acer glabrum, Alnus incana, Amelanchier alnifolia, Cornus sericea ssp. sericea, Betula occidentalis, Ribes spp., Rosa woodsii, Symphoricarpos spp., tree saplings, and the woody vine Parthenocissus vitacea. Salix spp. are typically poorly represented or absent. Prunus virginiana is considered a non-obligate riparian species because it typically grows on the outer edge of the riparian area. The herbaceous cover is moderate to dense and frequently dominated by introduced grasses, such as Poa pratensis, Agrostis gigantea, Agrostis stolonifera, Bromus inermis, Bromus tectorum, and Phleum pratense. Native graminoids Carex geyeri, Carex pellita, Carex praegracilis, Elymus canadensis, Elymus trachycaulus, Juncus arcticus, and wet or mesic forbs, such as Equisetum arvense, Galium spp., Hydrophyllum fendleri, Heracleum maximum, and Solidago canadensis, are also common.

Dynamics:  Cottonwood woodlands grow within an alluvial environment that is continually changing due to the ebb and flow of the river. Riparian vegetation is constantly being "re-set" by flooding disturbance. Cottonwood communities are early-, mid- or late-seral, depending on the age class of the trees and the associated species of the stand. Mature cottonwood stands do not sexually regenerate in place on broad meandering rivers but regenerate by "moving" up and down a river reach. Over time, a healthy riparian area supports all stages of cottonwood communities. Populus angustifolia and Populus balsamifera are favored on steeper stream reaches as they are more clonal in nature than other cottonwoods (e.g., Populus deltoides). Gom and Rood (1999) suggest that the frequent physical disturbance along steeper gradient streams encourages clonal sprouting. For Populus angustifolia stands, asexual sprouting does provide for some forest maintenance and expansion. This may be critical to maintaining these stands, as they occur along streams with steeper gradients and less predictable production of nursery sites than cottonwood forests on low-gradient, freely meandering reaches.

Environmental Description:  This is a riparian woodland of low-elevation (1600-2642 m [5240-8200 feet]) foothills in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming, along the western edge of the Great Plains as well as into the intermountain basins. Stands of this association occur in narrow to moderately broad stream valleys and narrow canyons in the foothills on narrow, elevated, or steeply sloping streambanks and benches. On these higher terraces, stands are infrequently flooded (10- to 100-year estimated recurrence interval) (Muldavin et al. 2000a). Stream channels are broad, low- to medium-gradient, and slightly sinuous (Girard et al. 1997, Kittel et al. 1999b, Carsey et al. 2003a). Soils are typically shallow sandy loams or sandy clay loams with many fine layers from fluvial deposition and vary from wet and rocky Fluvaquentic Endoaquolls to drier Fluventic Ustochrepts (Muldavin et al. 2000a).

Geographic Range: This foothill riparian woodland association occurs from the San Juan and Canadian river watersheds in northern New Mexico, north along the Colorado Front Range and on tributaries of the Gunnison River on the western slope of Colorado to north-central Wyoming.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, NM, NV, WY




Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: G2Q

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: >< Populus angustifolia / Prunus serotina - Salix bonplandiana Community Type (Medina 1986)
= Populus angustifolia / Prunus virginiana Community (Marriott and Jones 1989)
= Populus angustifolia / Prunus virginiana Ecological Type (Girard et al. 1997)
= Populus angustifolia / Prunus virginiana Woodland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Populus angustifolia / Prunus virginiana Woodland (Kittel et al. 1999b)
>< Populus angustifolia / Rhus trilobata Woodland (Walford 1996) [The shrub layer of Plot PNR412 is strongly dominated by Prunus virginiana (60% cover) with only 10% cover Rhus trilobata and fits the concept of this association.]
= Narrowleaf Cottonwood/Common Chokecherry CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)

Concept Author(s): G.P. Jones

Author of Description: G.P. Jones, E. Muldavin, K.A. Schulz, and K.S. King

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-16-09

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