Print Report
CEGL002654 Betula occidentalis / Mesic Graminoids Wet Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Water Birch / Mesic Graminoids Wet Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrubland association often occurs as dense bands up to 35 m wide along moderately wide to wide floodplains in mountain valleys of Colorado, Nevada and Utah. Stands also occur in small patches at higher elevations and around seeps and isolated springs on hillslopes away from the valley bottom. These shrublands are characterized by bands of vegetation dominated by Betula occidentalis (40-60% canopy cover) but often including Ribes inerme and Salix bebbiana. This vegetation may extend well way from the channel edge in deep pockets of sandy loam soils. Alnus incana may be codominant. Picea pungens and Juniperus scopulorum may also be present but usually with low cover. Stands with a dense shrub layer may have a limited (<10%) but diverse herbaceous cover. Graminoids typically dominate the herbaceous layer where the most abundant species usually include Carex pellita, Carex deweyana, or Carex nebrascensis. Deschampsia cespitosa and Carex utriculata are often present as well. Forb cover often includes Achillea millefolium, Cardamine cordifolia, Heracleum maximum, Maianthemum stellatum, and Vicia americana. Scouring rushes (Equisetum spp.) may also have significant cover. The introduced grasses Agrostis stolonifera and Poa pratensis may be present in disturbed stands. Diagnostic of this association is the dominance of Betula occidentalis in the shrub layer and the dominance of mesic graminoids in the herbaceous layer.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This plant association has been documented in Nevada, Colorado and Utah. It occurs at slightly lower elevations and on lower-gradient stream reaches than Alnus incana. Presence of coniferous trees in the canopy of some stands may indicate that the stand will become a tree-dominated type. It occupies wetter sites than ~Betula occidentalis / Maianthemum stellatum Wet Shrubland (CEGL001162)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: These shrublands are characterized by bands of vegetation along streams that are dominated by Betula occidentalis (40-60% canopy cover) with a lush mesic graminoid understory. Other shrubs present often include Acer glabrum, Ribes inerme, Rosa woodsii, Rhus trilobata, Salix bebbiana, Salix exigua, or Salix lutea. Alnus incana may be codominant. Picea pungens, Populus angustifolia, and Juniperus scopulorum may also be present but usually with low cover. Stands with a dense shrub layer may have a limited (<10%) but diverse herbaceous cover. Graminoids typically dominate the herbaceous layer where the most abundant species usually include Agrostis gigantea, Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa), Carex deweyana, or Carex nebrascensis. Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex utriculata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Eleocharis palustris, and Glyceria striata are often present as well. Forb cover is typically low. Achillea millefolium, Cardamine cordifolia, Heracleum maximum, Maianthemum stellatum, Mimulus guttatus, Rudbeckia laciniata, and Vicia americana are common associates (Manning and Padgett 1995, Kittel et al. 1999b, Carsey et al. 2003a, 2003b). Scouring rushes (Equisetum arvense, Equisetum laevigatum, Equisetum hyemale) may also have significant cover. The introduced grasses and forbs Agrostis stolonifera, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, and Taraxacum officinale are common in disturbed stands. Large, near-pristine stands are rare.
Dynamics: This association requires a high water table throughout the growing season in order to persist. In stands where the water table has dropped or the stream has incised, the understory becomes less dense and shifts from wetland species-dominated to mesic species such as Maianthemum stellatum and Clematis ligusticifolia.
Environmental Description: This lower montane riparian shrubland association is found in mountain valleys and canyons in Colorado, Nevada and probably Utah, from 1600-2530 m (5250-8300 feet) elevation. Streams were classified as wide, meandering, and cobble-bottomed (Rosgen''s Channel Type: C3) (Rosgen 1996, Kittel et al. 1999b). Stands often occur as dense bands up to 35 m wide along streams in moderately wide to wide floodplains. Sites are often floodplains, stream terraces and benches, but it may also occur in smaller patches around seeps and isolated springs on hillslopes to 35 m away from the valley bottom (Manning and Padgett 1995). Substrates are relatively deep, organic or more commonly moderately well-drained to poorly drained mineral soils. Soil textures range from sandy loam to clay loam with signs of mottling within the top 30 cm (12 inches), and soils are saturated all or most of the growing season (Manning and Padgett 1995, Kittel et al. 1999b, Carsey et al. 2003a, 2003b).
Geographic Range: This shrubland association often occurs as dense bands along moderately wide to wide floodplains in mountain valleys of Colorado, Nevada, and Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NV, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689273
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation | F013 | 2.C.4 |
| Division | 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division | D031 | 2.C.4.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nb.5 Sitka Alder - Booth''s Willow / Northwest Territory Sedge Montane Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup | M893 | 2.C.4.Nb.5 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d Willow species - Alder species - Water Birch Riparian & Seep Shrubland Group | G527 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d |
| Alliance | A3772 Water Birch Wet Shrubland Alliance | A3772 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d |
| Association | CEGL002654 Water Birch / Mesic Graminoids Wet Shrubland | CEGL002654 | 2.C.4.Nb.5.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Betula occidentalis / Poa pratensis Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989) [This type is considered to be a grazing-induced community and is dominated by non-native grasses in the understory.]
= Betula occidentalis / Mesic Graminoid Community Type (Manning and Padgett 1995)
= Betula occidentalis / Mesic Graminoid Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Betula occidentalis / Mesic Graminoid Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Betula occidentalis / Mesic Graminoid Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003b)
>< Betula occidentalis Community Type (Hansen et al. 1995) [This type is considered to be a grazing-induced community and is dominated by non-native grasses in the understory.]
>< Betula occidentalis Community Type (Hall and Hansen 1997) [This type is considered to be a grazing-induced community and is dominated by non-native grasses in the understory.]
= Betula occidentalis / Mesic Graminoid Community Type (Manning and Padgett 1995)
= Betula occidentalis / Mesic Graminoid Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Betula occidentalis / Mesic Graminoid Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Betula occidentalis / Mesic Graminoid Shrubland (Carsey et al. 2003b)
>< Betula occidentalis Community Type (Hansen et al. 1995) [This type is considered to be a grazing-induced community and is dominated by non-native grasses in the understory.]
>< Betula occidentalis Community Type (Hall and Hansen 1997) [This type is considered to be a grazing-induced community and is dominated by non-native grasses in the understory.]
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