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CEGL000913 Tsuga heterophylla / Arctostaphylos nevadensis Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Western Hemlock / Pinemat Manzanita Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is an evergreen conifer woodland association generally found on dry rocky sites on lower slope positions in the eastern Cascades of Washington. Soils are shallow and stony often with rock outcrops. The name of the type reflects potential vegetation. The existing vegetation is dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus contorta var. latifolia in the main canopy. Tsuga heterophylla or Pinus monticola are found in the canopy of some stands. The overstory canopy is less than 50% cover and trees are often stunted. The undergrowth is patchy with a matted dwarf- shrub layer of Arctostaphylos nevadensis occasionally with Linnaea borealis or Gaultheria ovatifolia. Other shrubs, such as Vaccinium membranaceum, Paxistima myrsinites, Spiraea betulifolia, or Mahonia nervosa, may be present though with low abundance. The herbaceous layer is sparse and patchy. These can be severely degraded sites by heavy elk grazing.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is a community type described within a PNV-based classification. It stated that this is a seral community type that with increased soil development with succession will support Abies amabilis forest. That process will take centuries. Tsuga heterophylla is in 4 of 6 stands used in the description (6 plots) in the overstory and in the understory with an average cover of 7 and 3%, respectively. It is confined to moist microsites. Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus contorta are the most constant and abundant overstory species with Abies lasiocarpa and Pinus monticola. This represents an existing vegetation type with the proposed name of Pseudotsuga menziesii - (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) / Arctostaphylos nevadensis. It differs compositionally from ~Abies grandis / Arctostaphylos nevadensis Woodland (CEGL000915)$$ in having little if any Pinus ponderosa or Abies grandis (that is, more Pinus contorta, Pinus monticola, Abies lasiocarpa), and less graminoid cover ( Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Festuca occidentalis) and found generally at higher elevations, on less steep slopes and lower slope positions.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The existing vegetation is dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus contorta var. latifolia in the main canopy. Tsuga heterophylla or Pinus monticola are found in the canopy of some stands. The overstory canopy is less than 50% cover and trees are often stunted. The undergrowth is patchy with a matted dwarf- shrub layer of Arctostaphylos nevadensis occasionally with Linnaea borealis or Gaultheria ovatifolia. Other shrubs, such as Vaccinium membranaceum, Paxistima myrsinites, Spiraea betulifolia, or Mahonia nervosa, may be present though with low abundance. The herbaceous layer is sparse and patchy.
Dynamics: These can be severely degraded sites by heavy elk grazing.
Environmental Description: This is an evergreen conifer woodland association generally found on dry rocky sites on lower slope positions in the eastern Cascades of Washington. Soils are shallow and stony often with rock outcrops.
Geographic Range: This association is restricted to the transition between the Omernik''s North Cascades ecoregion and the eastern Cascades slope level 3 ecoregion, and to a few sections of Bailey''s Eastern Cascades (M242C) in Washington.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689312
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.3 Western Hemlock - Grand Fir - Western Larch Mesic Lower Montane Forest Macrogroup | M500 | 1.B.2.Nb.3 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.3.c Grand Fir - Douglas-fir East Cascades Forest Group | G212 | 1.B.2.Nb.3.c |
| Alliance | A3582 Western Hemlock - Grand Fir Cascadian Mesic Cove Forest Alliance | A3582 | 1.B.2.Nb.3.c |
| Association | CEGL000913 Western Hemlock / Pinemat Manzanita Woodland | CEGL000913 | 1.B.2.Nb.3.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Tsuga heterophylla / Arctostaphylos nevadensis (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [TSHE/ARNE COMMUNITY TYPE CHS144]
- 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.
- Lillybridge, T. R., B. L. Kovalchik, C. K. Williams, and B. G. Smith. 1995. Field guide for forested plant associations of the Wenatchee National Forest. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-359. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 335 pp.
- Omernik, J. M. 1995. Ecoregions: A framework for environmental management. Pages 49-62 in: W. S. Davis and T. P. Simon, editors. Biological assessment and criteria: Tools for water resource planning and decision making. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Williams, C. K., and B. G. Smith. 1990. Forested plant associations of the Wenatchee National Forest. Unpublished draft prepared by the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 217 pp.