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CEGL000885 Abies concolor / Cercocarpus ledifolius Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Fir / Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This woodland association has only been described in Utah. It is most frequently found in the Pine Valley Mountains of southwestern Utah, but also occurs on the Wasatch, Paunsaugunt and Tavaputs plateaus, the Tushar and Pahvant mountains of the Fishlake National Forest, and Bryce Canyon National Park. This community ranges from 2130-2860 m (7000-9400 feet) elevation on gentle to steep, straight or convex slopes with northern exposures. This association is found primarily on andesitic volcanics but also on other igneous and sedimentary substrate. Surface soils are mostly loam and silt loam. Abies concolor is the climax tree for this association, although few mature stands have been observed. Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa dominate the sites as the major seral species, with Pinus flexilis and Juniperus scopulorum occurring more infrequently and in smaller amounts as minor seral species. The shrub layer is often dense, with Cercocarpus ledifolius, Quercus gambelii, Amelanchier alnifolia, Mahonia repens, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus commonly present. Carex rossii and Poa fendleriana are the most characteristic graminoids. Forbs are negligible.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Youngblood and Mauk (1985) described this plant association. No other studies to date have described it.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Abies concolor is the climax tree for this association, although few mature stands have been observed. Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa dominate the sites as the major seral species, with Pinus flexilis and Juniperus scopulorum occurring more infrequently and in smaller amounts as minor seral species. The shrub layer is often dense, with Cercocarpus ledifolius, Quercus gambelii, Amelanchier alnifolia, Mahonia repens (= Berberis repens), and Symphoricarpos oreophilus commonly present. Carex rossii and Poa fendleriana are the most characteristic graminoids. Forbs are negligible.
Dynamics: Stands have burned as a result of historic logging, and the natural fire interval is relatively short. Abies lowiana becomes increasingly more resistant to fire with age. Fires that are carried by undergrowth species, such as Quercus gambelii, Juniperus communis, and graminoids, easily destroy young Abies lowiana whose low branches and thin bark increase its susceptibility. Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa are favored by these fires.
Environmental Description: This community ranges from 2130-2860 m (7000-9400 feet) elevation on gentle to steep, straight or convex slopes with northern exposures. This association is found primarily on andesitic volcanics but also on other igneous and sedimentary substrates. Surface soils are mostly loam and silt loam. Most sites have high amounts of exposed rock and bare soil with litter accumulations averaging 2.6 cm. Although there are no long-term climatic data available for this association, the stands described in Youngblood and Mauk (1985) were restricted to areas which receive summer moisture. Mauk and Henderson (1984) hypothesize that the northern limit of the entire series, near Logan, Utah, may correspond to a mean January temperature of about 32°F, at which point, any lower temperature limits seedling establishment.
Geographic Range: This association has only been described in Utah. It is most frequently found in the Pine Valley Mountains of southwestern Utah, but also occurs on the Wasatch, Paunsaugunt and Tavaputs plateaus, the Tushar and Pahvant mountains of the Fishlake National Forest, and Bryce Canyon National Park.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, NV, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689529
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.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 | A3420 White Fir Dry Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3420 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Association | CEGL000885 White Fir / Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany Woodland | CEGL000885 | 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: No Data Available
- 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.
- Cogan, D., J. E. Taylor, and K. Schulz. 2012. Vegetation inventory project: Great Basin National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/MOJN/NRR--2012/568. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 373 pp.
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- Mauk, R. L., and J. A. Henderson. 1984. Coniferous forest habitat types of northern Utah. General Technical Report INT-170. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 89 pp.
- Reid, M. S., and M. E. Hall. 2010. Vegetation classification of Grand Canyon National Park. Draft report submitted to National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Schulz, K. A., and M. E. Hall. 2011. Vegetation inventory project: Great Basin National Park. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network. NatureServe, Western Regional Office, Boulder, CO. 30 pp. plus Appendices A-H.
- Tendick, A., G. Kittel, J. Von Loh, P. Williams, D. Cogan, J. Coles, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2011b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Bryce Canyon National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2011/442. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Youngblood, A. P., and R. L. Mauk. 1985. Coniferous forest habitat types of central and southern Utah. General Technical Report INT-187. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 89 pp.