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CEGL000443 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Muhlenbergia montana Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir / Mountain Muhly Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This forested plant association occurs on mountains and plateaus in Trans-Pecos Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. Sites are variable and include rocky ridgetops, gentle to steep slopes, streamsides, broken lava flows and cinder cones. Elevation ranges from 2655-2970 m (8700-9750 feet) on steep south- and west-facing slopes, and down to 2290 m (7500 feet) on cool, northerly slopes. Substrates are generally dry, shallow, well-drained, gravelly or cobbly, coarse-textured soils. Lower elevation soils may be deep sand or cinder. The vegetation is characterized by an open to nearly closed evergreen tree canopy dominated or codominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii with a Muhlenbergia montana-dominated graminoid layer. Other tree species may include large Pinus ponderosa (often codominant) and scattered Pinus strobiformis, Pinus flexilis, Pinus edulis, or Juniperus spp. (especially on drier sites). Abies concolor is not present or accidental. Quercus gambelii may be present in the subcanopy (tree form) or tall-shrub layer, but with less than 5% cover. Shrub cover is typically sparse (<10% cover) and consists of scattered Ceanothus fendleri, Cercocarpus montanus, Holodiscus dumosus, Mahonia repens, Quercus grisea, or Ribes cereum. The herbaceous layer is dominated by graminoids and is moderately dense and diverse. Muhlenbergia montana is the most consistent graminoid species and typically dominates. Forb cover is sparse.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Although Muhlenbergia montana is often present to well-represented, it does not have to be present in this plant association. Pseudotsuga menziesii is codominant with Pinus ponderosa. The understory has more shrubs and forbs than a typic Pinus ponderosa / Muhlenbergia montana plant association. Quercus gambelii, if present, is <5% canopy cover. Abies concolor is absent or accidental.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Two phases of this association are described by Stuever and Hayden (1997a). The limber pine (Pinus flexilis) phase is described from higher elevation stands in northern New Mexico (Muldavin et al. 1996) and the two-needle pinyon (Pinus edulis) phase from more southern latitudes where Pinus edulis, Pinus strobiformis, Juniperus deppeana, and Juniperus scopulorum are common seral species. (Stuever and Hayden 1997a).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This plant association is characterized by an open to nearly closed evergreen tree canopy dominated or codominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii with a Muhlenbergia montana-dominated graminoid layer. Other tree species may include large Pinus ponderosa (often codominant) and scattered Pinus flexilis (northern stands), Pinus strobiformis, Pinus edulis, Juniperus deppeana, or Juniperus scopulorum (especially on drier sites and southern stands). Abies concolor is not present or is accidental. Quercus gambelii may be present in the subcanopy (tree form) or tall-shrub layer, but with less than 5% cover. Shrub cover is typically sparse (<10% cover) and consists of scattered Ceanothus fendleri, Cercocarpus montanus, Holodiscus dumosus, Mahonia repens, Quercus grisea, or Ribes cereum. The herbaceous layer is dominated by graminoids and is moderately dense and diverse. Muhlenbergia montana is the most consistent graminoid species and typically dominates. Other graminoids include Blepharoneuron tricholepis, Bromus spp., Carex rossii, Elymus elymoides, Koeleria macrantha, Poa fendleriana, but not Festuca arizonica or Muhlenbergia straminea (= Muhlenbergia virescens). The forb cover is sparse. Common species are Artemisia ludoviciana, Geranium caespitosum, Lithospermum multiflorum, Packera neomexicana, Pseudocymopterus montanus, and Thalictrum fendleri (Alexander et al. 1987, Fitzhugh et al. 1987, Muldavin et al. 1996, Stuever and Hayden 1997b). The graminoid layer has greater than or equal cover as shrub.
Dynamics: Both diagnostic species are tolerant of surface fire. Pseudotsuga menziesii develops thick fire-resistant bark with age, and Muhlenbergia montana resprouts after burning, although it may take a few years to recover to pre-burn density (Fischer and Bradley 1987, Wright et al. 1979). Fire-return interval can be low in areas in dry, rocky stands where surface fire is limited by lack of continuous fine fuels. The sparse shrub layer reduces the risk of crown fire by limited ladder fuel to the crown of overstory trees. If fire frequency is high, the more fire-resistant tree Pinus ponderosa will be favored and may become dominant (Stuever and Hayden 1997a). Disturbance of tree canopy favors graminoids (Alexander et al. 1987). Improper livestock grazing (where accessible) can result in converting the herbaceous layer from graminoids to unpalatable forbs (Fitzhugh et al. 1987). Drier sites tend to have more graminoids, and more mesic stands have more shrubs (Alexander et al. 1987).
Environmental Description: This forested plant association occurs on mountains and plateaus in Trans-Pecos Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. Sites are variable and include rocky ridgetops, gentle to steep slopes, streamsides, broken lava flows and cinder cones. Elevation ranges from 2650-2970 m (8700-9750 feet) on steep south- and west-facing slopes, and down to 2245 m (7500 feet) on cool, northerly slopes. Substrates are generally dry, shallow, well-drained, gravelly or cobbly, coarse-textured soils. Lower elevation soils maybe deep sands or cinder.
Geographic Range: This forest association occurs on mountains and plateaus in Trans-Pecos Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689426
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.1 White Fir - Douglas-fir - Blue Spruce Forest Macrogroup | M022 | 1.B.2.Nb.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c White Fir - Douglas-fir Southern Rocky Mountain Dry Forest Group | G226 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Alliance | A3454 Douglas-fir Southern Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3454 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Association | CEGL000443 Douglas-fir / Mountain Muhly Forest | CEGL000443 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pseudotsuga menziesii / Muhlenbergia montana (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Muhlenbergia montana Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
? Pseudotsuga menziesii/Muhlenbergia montana Habitat Type (Alexander et al. 1987)
? Pseudotsuga menziesii/Muhlenbergia montana Habitat Type (Muldavin et al. 1996)
? Pseudotsuga menziesii/Muhlenbergia montana Plant Association (Larson and Moir 1987)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Muhlenbergia montana Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
? Pseudotsuga menziesii/Muhlenbergia montana Habitat Type (Alexander et al. 1987)
? Pseudotsuga menziesii/Muhlenbergia montana Habitat Type (Muldavin et al. 1996)
? Pseudotsuga menziesii/Muhlenbergia montana Plant Association (Larson and Moir 1987)
- Alexander, B. G., Jr., E. L. Fitzhugh, F. Ronco, Jr., and J. A. Ludwig. 1987. A classification of forest habitat types of the northern portion of the Cibola National Forest, NM. General Technical Report RM-143. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 35 pp.
- 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.
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
- Fischer, W. C., and A. F. Bradley. 1987. Fire ecology of western Montana forest habitat types. General Technical Report INT-223. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 95 pp.
- Fitzhugh, E. L., W. H. Moir, J. A. Ludwig, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1987. Forest habitat types in the Apache, Gila, and part of the Cibola national forests. General Technical Report RM-145. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 116 pp.
- Hansen, M., J. Coles, K. A. Thomas, D. Cogan, M. Reid, J. Von Loh, and K. Schulz. 2004c. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Sunset Crater National Monument, Arizona, vegetation classification and distribution. U.S. Geological Survey Technical Report. Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ. 188 pp.
- 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.
- Muldavin, E. H., R. L. DeVelice, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1996. A classification of forest habitat types of southern Arizona and portions of the Colorado Plateau. General Technical Report RM-GTR-287. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 130 pp.
- Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, T. Neville, P. Neville, A. Kennedy, H. Hulse, P. Arbetan, K. Schultz, M. Hall, and M. Reid. 2013c. Vegetation classification and map: El Malpais National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2013/803. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. [http://nhnm.unm.edu/vlibrary/pubs_archive/nhnm/nonsensitive/R13MUL01NMUS.pdf]
- 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.
- TNHS [Texas Natural History Survey]. No date. Unpublished data. Texas Natural History Survey, The Nature Conservancy, San Antonio.
- 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.
- Walsh, R. A. 1995. Muhlenbergia montana. In: Fire Effects Information System [Online]. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). [http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/]
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Wright, H. A., L. F. Neuenschwander, and C. M. Britton. 1979. The role and use of fire in sagebrush-grass and pinyon-juniper plant communities: A state of the art review. General Technical Report INT-58. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT.