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CEGL000387 Picea pungens / Carex siccata Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Spruce / Dry-spike Sedge Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This blue spruce forest association occurs in Arizona and New Mexico. This description is based on information from Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, and additional global information will be added as it becomes available. This high-elevation association occurs on the North Rim from 2347 to 2683 m (7700-8802 feet) elevation in mesic environments. It occurs in canyons, cold-air drainage channels, and on adjacent sideslopes. Slopes are low to moderate (up to 30°) and are usually west- or south-facing. Soils are primarily silt loams. Stands have a high cover of litter, some bare soil, and occasionally significant moss cover. There is minor evidence of fire in several stands; however, the mesic nature of this association and its typical positioning along cold-air drainages have precluded any significant influence from fire. Picea pungens, Pinus ponderosa, and occasionally low cover of Populus tremuloides dominate the canopy of this mesic, mixed-conifer community. Picea pungens, Populus tremuloides, and Abies concolor are common components of the subcanopy. Shrub layers are typically sparse. Juniperus communis is the most frequent and abundant short shrub, while Rosa woodsii occurs occasionally as a dwarf-shrub with extremely low cover. Carex siccata clearly dominates the herbaceous layer. Poa fendleriana and Bromus ciliatus are also common graminoids, typically at low cover. Forb cover is very sparse in this vegetation type. Antennaria parvifolia, Achillea millefolium, and Fragaria virginiana are common components of the understory. Seedlings of Populus tremuloides are ubiquitous and seedlings of Abies concolor and Picea pungens are also very common. This association essentially hosts the highest species richness of all high-elevation, forested community types in Grand Canyon National Park, with 32 species per 400-square-meter plot. This may be a result of the vicinity of this vegetation type, which occurs in cold-air drainages, to the adjacent meadow communities (which are often particularly species-rich).
Diagnostic Characteristics: The overstory may contain varying mixtures of other species, but Picea pungens is at least common and is successfully reproducing. Ground vegetation layer is strongly herbaceous with graminoids appearing to provide the greatest coverage (forbs may actually have greater coverage).
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: Picea pungens and Pseudotsuga menziesii are climax codominants, both reproducing successfully. Pinus ponderosa, Populus tremuloides, and Pinus strobiformis are conspicuous seral trees. Abies concolor is usually absent or has a minor role. On colder sites where Picea engelmannii is present, its regeneration is less abundant than that of Picea pungens and Pseudotsuga menziesii combined. All sizes and ages may be present. A minor shrub layer is present with kinds and numbers of species inconsistent. The ground vegetation is a strongly herbaceous-covered with graminoids having the appearance of greater abundance than forbs which may have more actual coverage. Cryptogams are abundant (>25% cover) to luxuriant (>50% cover), especially mosses (Stuever and Hayden 1997a).
Dynamics: Presence of Pinus ponderosa and Populus tremuloides stands scattered throughout the type is indicative of past fire occurrence. Fire-created openings may demonstrate herb dominance for only a few years. Rapid re-establishment of Populus tremuloides from root suckering soon regains tree dominance. In some locations, Picea pungens may regenerate under dense cover of Populus tremuloides following fire.
Environmental Description: This type occurs on lower slopes and drainages, streamsides, and forest borders of grassy parks. Elevations range from 2621 to 2774 m (8600-9100 feet) (Stuever and Hayden 1997a).
Geographic Range: This association is known from the White and Blue mountains and Kaibab Plateau of Arizona; Mogollon, Jemez, and Zuni mountains and Mount Taylor of New Mexico; and San Juan Mountains of Colorado, with probable wider distribution.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689037
Confidence Level: Low
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 | A0165 Blue Spruce Southern Rocky Mountain Mesic Forest Alliance | A0165 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.d |
| Association | CEGL000387 Blue Spruce / Dry-spike Sedge Forest | CEGL000387 | 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: = Picea pungens / Carex foenea (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Picea pungens / Carex siccata Habitat Type (Larson and Moir 1987)
= Picea pungens / Fraxinus ovalis (now Fragaria virginiana ssp. virginiana) (Alexander et al. 1984b)
= Picea pungens / Carex siccata Habitat Type (Larson and Moir 1987)
= Picea pungens / Fraxinus ovalis (now Fragaria virginiana ssp. virginiana) (Alexander et al. 1984b)
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- Alexander, B. G., Jr., F. Ronco, Jr., A. S. White, and J. A. Ludwig. 1984b. Douglas-fir habitat types of northern Arizona. General Technical Report RM-108. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 13 pp.
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- DeVelice, R. L., and J. A. Ludwig. 1983a. Climax forest series of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Pages 45-53 in: Proceedings of the Workshop on Southwestern Habitat Types, 6-8 April 1983, Albuquerque, NM. USDA Forest Service, Southwest Region, Albuquerque, NM.
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- Kearsley, M. J. C., K. Green, M. Tukman, M. Reid, M. Hall, T. J. Ayers, and K. Christie. 2015. Grand Canyon National Park-Grand Canyon / Parashant National Monument vegetation classification and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR--2015/913. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 75 pp. plus appendices.
- Larson, M., and W. H. Moir. 1987. Forest and woodland habitat types of northern New Mexico and northern Arizona. Edition 2. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM.
- Moir, W. H., and J. A. Ludwig. 1979. A classification of spruce-fir and mixed conifer habitat types of Arizona and New Mexico. Research Paper RM-207. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 47 pp.
- Reid, M. S., and M. E. Hall. 2010. Vegetation classification of Grand Canyon National Park. Draft report submitted to National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1983b. Plant associations of Region Two. Third edition. USDA Forest Service, Region Two, Range, Wildlife, and Ecology, Denver, CO. 379 pp.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1987a. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of northern New Mexico and northern Arizona. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM. Second edition, 170 pp. plus insert.
- 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.