Print Report
CEGL000313 Abies lasiocarpa / Lathyrus lanszwertii Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir / Nevada Pea Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community is found in northern Arizona, central New Mexico and possibly Utah between 2950 and 3110 m (9700-10,200 feet) elevation on moderately steep west- and south-facing slopes. Soils are derived from volcanics. Climate is relatively cool and dry. Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii are the major climax species. Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus strobiformis, and Populus tremuloides are the major seral species. Acer glabrum, Salix scouleriana, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus are the principal shrub components. The forb layer is fairly herbaceous, with Lathyrus lanszwertii var. leucanthus and Vicia americana dominating.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands contain Abies lasiocarpa and sometimes Picea engelmannii but may be dominated by Abies concolor or Pinus strobiformis. Shrub and forb layers in understory with Lathyrus lanszwertii var. leucanthus and other forbs dominating.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The Abies lasiocarpa / Lathyrus arizonicus of Fitzhugh et al. (1987) differs from that of Moir and Ludwig (1979) in that Fitzhugh''s type is dominated by Pinus strobiformis, possibly due to more extreme environmental conditions (Peet 1988), while Moir''s type is dominated by a mixture of Abies lasiocarpa and Populus tremuloides. In both studies, Picea engelmannii is occasional.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii are the major climax species. Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus strobiformis, and Populus tremuloides are the major seral species. The Abies lasiocarpa / Lathyrus arizonicus of Fitzhugh et al. (1987) differs from that of Moir and Ludwig (1979) in that Fitzhugh''s type is dominated by Pinus strobiformis, possibly due to more extreme environmental conditions (Peet 1988), while Moir''s type is dominated by a mixture of Abies lasiocarpa and Populus tremuloides. In both studies, Picea engelmannii is occasional. Acer glabrum, Salix scouleriana, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus are the principal shrub components. The forb layer is fairly herbaceous, with Lathyrus lanszwertii var. leucanthus (= Lathyrus arizonicus) and Vicia americana dominating. Other commonly occurring forbs are Geranium richardsonii, Oreochrysum parryi (= Haplopappus parryi), and Maianthemum stellatum. This type occurs at the lower edge of the Picea - Abies zone and may adjoin stands dominated by Abies concolor, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies lasiocarpa, and Picea engelmannii.
Dynamics: Fires tend to be stand-replacing fires at long intervals (Fischer and Clayton 1983). They are most common during drought and frequently spread upslope from forests below. These fires create openings for the regeneration of shade-intolerant seral trees such as Populus tremuloides.
Stand structure is intimately associated with Abies lasiocarpa''s susceptibility to insects and disease. Root and butt rot (Armillaria mellea and Fomes annosus) are largely responsible for this tree''s relatively short life span. Yellow witches'' broom rust (Melampsorella caryophyllacearum) can cause significant growth impact with moderate levels of infection. Bark beetles and trunk borers are also responsible for a great deal of mortality. Once weakened, trees are more susceptible to windthrow or stem breakage which creates openings in the canopy (Henderson et al. 1977).
Stand structure is intimately associated with Abies lasiocarpa''s susceptibility to insects and disease. Root and butt rot (Armillaria mellea and Fomes annosus) are largely responsible for this tree''s relatively short life span. Yellow witches'' broom rust (Melampsorella caryophyllacearum) can cause significant growth impact with moderate levels of infection. Bark beetles and trunk borers are also responsible for a great deal of mortality. Once weakened, trees are more susceptible to windthrow or stem breakage which creates openings in the canopy (Henderson et al. 1977).
Environmental Description: This community is found between 2950 and 3110 m (9700-10,200 feet) elevation on moderately steep west- and south-facing slopes. Moir and Ludwig (1979) report the soils of stands to be derived from volcanics. Climate is relatively cool and dry.
Geographic Range: This community is found in northern Arizona (San Francisco Peaks), central New Mexico (Mt. Taylor, Whitewater Baldy, Mogollon, San Juan mountains) and possibly Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, NM, UT?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689427
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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.b Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir - Lodgepole Pine Dry-Mesic Forest & Woodland Group | G219 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b |
| Alliance | A3641 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Southern Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Forest Alliance | A3641 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b |
| Association | CEGL000313 Subalpine Fir / Nevada Pea Forest | CEGL000313 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Abies bifolia / Lathyrus lanszwertii var. arizonica (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Lathyrus arizonicus Habitat Type (Moir and Ludwig 1979) [found in the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona between 2955 and 2987 m (9700-9800 feet).]
= Abies lasiocarpa / Lathyrus arizonicus Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987) [found only at 3110 m (10,200 feet) on Whitewater Baldy in the Mogollon Mountains, Gila National Forest, New Mexico.]
= Abies lasiocarpa / Lathyrus arizonicus Habitat Type (Larson and Moir 1987)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Lathyrus arizonicus Habitat Type (Moir and Ludwig 1979) [found in the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona between 2955 and 2987 m (9700-9800 feet).]
= Abies lasiocarpa / Lathyrus arizonicus Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987) [found only at 3110 m (10,200 feet) on Whitewater Baldy in the Mogollon Mountains, Gila National Forest, New Mexico.]
= Abies lasiocarpa / Lathyrus arizonicus Habitat Type (Larson and Moir 1987)
- 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.
- Fischer, W. C., and B. D. Clayton. 1983. Fire ecology of Montana forest habitat types east of the Continental Divide. General Technical Report INT-141. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 83 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.
- Henderson, J. A., S. A. Simon, and S. B. Hartvigsen. 1977. Plant community types and habitat types of the Price District Manti-La Sal National Forest. Unpublished report prepared for Utah State University, Department of Forestry and Outdoor Recreation, Logan.
- 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.
- Moir, W. H., and J. A. Ludwig. 1979. A classification of spruce-fir and mixed conifer habitat types of Arizona and New Mexico. Research Paper RM-207. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 47 pp.
- Peet, R. K. 1988. Forests of the Rocky Mountains. Pages 64-101 in: M. G. Barbour and W. D. Billings, editors. North American Terrestrial Vegetation. Cambridge University Press, New York.
- Rominger, J. M., and L. A. Paulik. 1983. A floristic inventory of the plant communities of the San Francisco Peaks Research Natural Area. General Technical Report RM-96. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 9 pp.
- 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.
- 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.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.