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CEGL000439 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Juniperus communis Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir / Common Juniper Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Rocky Mountain forest association occurs from northwestern Montana south into central and eastern Idaho, western Wyoming and north-central Colorado. These forests occupy gentle to steep slopes (11-100%), on dry, exposed rocky slopes and ridgetops, at lower to mid elevations of the forested zone, from 1430 to 2930 m (4690-9620 feet) in elevation. Sites are relatively dry and occur on all aspects. Substrates are typically coarse-textured soils derived from a variety of parent materials. This association includes stands dominated by the evergreen needle-leaved tree Pseudotsuga menziesii or a mixed montane conifer tree canopy. Pseudotsuga menziesii is the dominant tree species in the overstory and often in the understory as well. Pinus ponderosa, Pinus flexilis, Pinus contorta, or Pinus albicaulis are occasionally present to codominant on drier sites, Populus tremuloides on moister sites. The low-shrub layer is dominated by near-continuous to large patches of Juniperus communis. Other shrubs include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Jamesia americana, Juniperus horizontalis, Mahonia repens, Purshia tridentata, Ribes cereum, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, or Shepherdia canadensis. The herbaceous cover is generally depauperate in the southern and central Rockies, with less than 10% cover of grasses or forbs. Forb species typically provide less than 5% cover and include Achillea millefolium, Arnica cordifolia, Astragalus miser, and Packera streptanthifolia. Grass species also contribute less than 5% herbaceous canopy cover and include Muhlenbergia montana, Danthonia parryi, Bouteloua gracilis, or Festuca arizonica. However, occurrences in the northern Rockies may have relatively high herbaceous cover (30-60%), and individual stands can be diverse. Common grasses include Pseudoroegneria spicata and Festuca campestris. A number of forbs contribute to the overall diversity, although the cover for any one species is not high. Antennaria rosea, Penstemon confertus, and Allium cernuum have high constancy, and Selaginella densa var. scopulorum may be abundant on some sites, particularly those where rock outcrops are present.
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: This association includes stands dominated by the evergreen needle-leaved tree Pseudotsuga menziesii or a mixed montane conifer tree canopy. Although total canopy cover may vary from sparse to dense, Pseudotsuga menziesii is the dominant tree species in the overstory and often in the subcanopy as well. Populus tremuloides, Picea pungens, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus flexilis, Pinus contorta, or Pinus albicaulis are occasionally present to codominant on drier sites, Populus tremuloides on moister sites. Total cover of the shrub and herbaceous layers tends to be negatively correlated with canopy closure. Scattered tall shrubs such as Prunus virginiana may be present, but they do not form a layer. The low-shrub layer is dominated by patches of Juniperus communis, which may vary in cover from 1% to more than 75%. Other shrubs may include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Jamesia americana, Juniperus horizontalis, Mahonia repens, Purshia tridentata, Ribes cereum, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and Shepherdia canadensis. The herbaceous cover is generally depauperate in the southern and central Rockies, with less than 10% cover of grasses or forbs. Forb species typically provide less than 5% cover and include Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis (= Achillea lanulosa), Antennaria spp., Arnica cordifolia, Artemisia ludoviciana, Astragalus miser, Geranium caespitosum, Packera streptanthifolia (= Senecio streptanthifolius), and Penstemon spp. Grass species also contribute less than 5% herbaceous canopy cover and include Muhlenbergia montana, Danthonia parryi, Bouteloua gracilis, or Festuca arizonica. However, occurrences in the northern Rockies may have relatively high herbaceous cover (30-60%), and individual stands can be diverse. Common grasses include Pseudoroegneria spicata and Festuca campestris. A number of forbs contribute to the overall diversity, although the cover for any one species is not high. Antennaria rosea, Penstemon confertus, and Allium cernuum have high constancy, and Selaginella densa var. scopulorum may be abundant on some sites, particularly those where rock outcrops are present.
Dynamics: Juniperus communis is easily eliminated by fire (Steele et al. 1981), as are young trees of Pseudotsuga menziesii.
Environmental Description: These Douglas-fir forests occupy dry, exposed rocky slopes, benches and ridgetops throughout the Rocky Mountains of Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. Slopes are gentle to steep (11-100%), at the lower to mid elevations of the forested zone, from 1430 to 2930 m (4690-9620 feet) in elevation. Sites are relatively dry and occur on all aspects. Soils are typically coarse-textured, rocky, and extremely well-drained. They may be derived from a variety of parent materials, including granite, sandstone, siltstone and glacial till. The ground surface is often rocky and mostly covered by litter and duff. Bare rock can be as much as 40% of the cover, often encrusted with lichens; litter depth is usually less than 6 cm.
Geographic Range: This forested association occurs from northwestern Montana south into central and eastern Idaho, western Wyoming and northern Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, MT, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689038
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.2 Ponderosa Pine - Douglas-fir - Limber Pine Central Rocky Mountain Dry Forest Macrogroup | M501 | 1.B.2.Nb.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.2.c Douglas-fir Middle Rocky Mountain Montane Forest & Woodland Group | G215 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.c |
| Alliance | A3462 Douglas-fir Middle Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3462 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.c |
| Association | CEGL000439 Douglas-fir / Common Juniper Forest | CEGL000439 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Pseudotsuga menziesii / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Juniperus communis Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
< Pseudotsuga menziesii / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1981)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Juniperus communis Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
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