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CEGL000311 Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Galium triflorum Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Fragrant Bedstraw Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This forest association occurs in the upper montane and subalpine zone in the central and northern Rocky Mountains. Elevations range from 1060-2075 m (3477-6800 feet), but extend up to 2440 m in the southern and eastern part of its range. Sites are relatively warm with moist soil. Stands are typically found on northern slopes, valley bottoms and benches. In drier mountain ranges, stands are restricted to riparian zones. Upland aspects are typically northerly except where soil moisture is supplemented by seeps. Lowland aspects are variable. Substrates are typically finer textured soils such as silt loams or silts, but include loams and sandy loam. Soils are derived from a variety of parent materials. Litter dominates ground cover often 6 cm deep with low cover of rock and bare ground. Vegetation is characterized by Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii codominating the tree canopy with an understory that includes the presence of indicator species Galium triflorum, Actaea rubra, and Streptopus amplexifolius. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is moderately dense to dense (over 55% cover) and is typically dominated by Picea engelmannii and mature seral tree species, with Abies lasiocarpa dominating the subcanopy and regeneration layers. Important seral species in the tree canopy are Pseudotsuga menziesii, Larix occidentalis, and Pinus contorta, however, their cover seldom exceeds 10-15%. Undergrowth is variable with shrub layers present or not, however, the characteristic herbaceous layer is typically lush and must have some of the above moist-site indicator species present in the stand. Other important understory moist-site indicator species are Angelica arguta, Cornus sericea, Moneses uniflora, Saxifraga odontoloma, and Senecio triangularis. Other species with high constancy include Amelanchier alnifolia, Arnica spp., Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Linnaea borealis, Mahonia repens, Osmorhiza berteroi, Orthilia secunda, Ribes lacustre, Rubus parviflorus, Spiraea betulifolia, Symphoricarpos albus, Thalictrum occidentale, Vaccinium membranaceum, and Vaccinium scoparium.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association overlaps, not completely, Abies lasiocarpa / Galium triflorum Habitat Type of Pfister et al. (1977), and Hansen et al. (1995). Comparison to other moist-site Abies lasiocarpa forest associations is needed to clarify its concept and range. In particular, it is ecologically and compositionally nearly identical with ~Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Streptopus amplexifolius Swamp Forest (CEGL000336)$$. It has been recommended that these two associations be merged into one (S. Cooper pers. comm.).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This Rocky Mountain conifer association is characterized by Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii codominating the tree canopy with an understory that includes the presence of indicator species Galium triflorum, Actaea rubra, and Streptopus amplexifolius. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is moderately dense to dense (over 55% cover) and is typically dominated by Picea engelmannii and mature seral tree species, with Abies lasiocarpa dominating the subcanopy and regeneration layers. Important seral species in the tree canopy are Pseudotsuga menziesii, Larix occidentalis, and Pinus contorta, however, their cover seldom exceeds 10-15%. Undergrowth is variable with shrub layers present or not, however, the characteristic herbaceous layer is typically lush and must have some of the above moist-site indicator species present in the stand. Other important understory moist-site indicator species are Angelica arguta, Cornus sericea (= Cornus stolonifera), Moneses uniflora (= Pyrola uniflora), Saxifraga odontoloma (= Saxifraga arguta), and Senecio triangularis. Other species with high constancy include Amelanchier alnifolia, Arnica spp., Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Linnaea borealis, Mahonia repens, Maianthemum stellatum, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Orthilia secunda (= Pyrola secunda), Ribes lacustre, Rubus parviflorus, Spiraea betulifolia, Symphoricarpos albus, Thalictrum occidentale, Vaccinium membranaceum, and Vaccinium scoparium.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This forest association occurs in the mid-subalpine zone in the central and northern Rocky Mountains. Elevations range from 1060-2075 m (3477-6800 feet), but extends up to 2440 m (8000 feet) in the southern and eastern part of it range. Climate is continental. Sites are relatively warm with moist soil. Stands are typically found on northern slopes, valley bottoms and benches. In drier mountain ranges, stands are restricted to riparian zones. Upland aspects are typically northerly except where soil moisture is supplemented by seeps. Lowland aspects are variable. Substrates are typically finer textured soils such as silt loams or silts, but include loams and sandy loam. Soils are derived from a variety of parent materials including argillite, quartzite, gneiss, schist, basalt, andesite, rhyolite, granite and biotite granite, and calcareous and noncalcareous sedimentary rocks. Litter dominates ground cover often 6 cm deep with low cover of rock and bare ground.
Geographic Range: This forest association occurs in the subalpine zone in central and western Montana within the central and northern Rocky Mountains.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689154
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup | M020 | 1.B.2.Nb.5 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir - Mountain Hemlock Moist Forest & Woodland Group | G218 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
| Alliance | A3614 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Rocky Mountain Moist Forest Alliance | A3614 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
| Association | CEGL000311 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Fragrant Bedstraw Forest | CEGL000311 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Abies lasiocarpa / Galium triflorum Habitat Type (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Galium triflorum Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Galium triflorum Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
- 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.
- Cooper, Steve. Personal communication. Ecologist, Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT.
- Hansen, P. L., R. D. Pfister, K. Boggs, B. J. Cook, J. Joy, and D. K. Hinckley. 1995. Classification and management of Montana''s riparian and wetland sites. Miscellaneous Publication No. 54. Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana. 646 pp. plus posters.
- Hop, K., M. Reid, J. Dieck, S. Lubinski, and S. Cooper. 2007. U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. 131 pp. plus Appendices A-L.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Pfister, R. D., B. L. Kovalchik, S. F. Arno, and R. C. Presby. 1977. Forest habitat types of Montana. General Technical Report INT-34. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 174 pp.
- Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.