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CEGL000616 Populus tremuloides / Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Thalictrum fendleri Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen / Mountain Snowberry / Fendler''s Meadowrue Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a major aspen forest association common in the mountains of the Colorado Plateau, the eastern Great Basin, and the central and southern Rocky Mountains. Stands can occur from 1585-2848 m (5200-9340 feet) elevation but generally occur at moderate elevations. Stands grow on gentle slopes of less the 25% or mountains and mesas, rather than on benches or flats. The vegetation is characterized by a Populus tremuloides-dominated overstory canopy (40-100% cover), with an open, yet distinct low-shrub stratum composed of Symphoricarpos oreophilus or Symphoricarpos rotundifolius. Other tree species present include Abies lasiocarpa and Pseudotsuga menziesii with low cover (generally <5% cover) and several other conifers in trace amounts. Other low shrubs present include Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, and Rosa woodsii. Tall shrubs may be present but are never abundant enough to form a distinct stratum. The herbaceous layer is rich with many forbs. The most abundant forbs are Thalictrum fendleri, Geranium viscosissimum, Helianthella uniflora, Osmorhiza berteroi, Lathyrus lanszwertii, Galium boreale, Achillea millefolium, and the introduced species Taraxacum officinale. Common graminoids include Bromus carinatus, Poa secunda, Elymus trachycaulus, and the introduced Poa pratensis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is differentiated from the similar Populus tremuloides / Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Calamagrostis rubescens Community Type (Mueggler 1988) by the lack of the principal indicator species Calamagrostis rubescens or Carex geyeri, reduced prominence of Lupinus argenteus, and a greater abundance of Bromus carinatus, Pseudostellaria jamesiana, and annuals.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This montane forest association has a relatively simple vegetation structure. The dominant overstory canopy is Populus tremuloides (40-100% cover with 70% average), with an open, yet distinct low-shrub stratum composed of Symphoricarpos oreophilus or Symphoricarpos rotundifolius (Mueggler 1988). Other tree species present include Abies lasiocarpa and Pseudotsuga menziesii with low cover (generally <5% cover). Several other conifers may be present in trace amounts, such as Abies concolor, Picea pungens, Pinus contorta, and Pinus flexilis. Other low shrubs present include Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Mahonia repens (= Berberis repens), Paxistima myrsinites, and Rosa woodsii. Tall shrubs, such as Acer glabrum, Amelanchier alnifolia, and Prunus virginiana, may be present but are never abundant enough to form a distinct stratum. The herbaceous layer is rich with many forbs. The most abundant forbs are Thalictrum fendleri, Geranium viscosissimum, Helianthella uniflora, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Lathyrus lanszwertii, Galium boreale, Achillea millefolium, and the introduced species Taraxacum officinale (Mueggler 1988). Common graminoids include Bromus carinatus, Poa secunda, Elymus trachycaulus, and the introduced Poa pratensis.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This is a major aspen forest association common in the mountains of the Colorado Plateau, the eastern Great Basin, and the central and southern Rocky Mountains. Stands can occur between 1585 and 2848 m (5200-9340 feet) elevation but generally occur at moderate elevations between 1828 and 2651 m (6000-8700 feet) (Mueggler 1988). Stands grow on gentle slopes of less the 25% or mountains and mesas, rather than on benches or flats. They are found on all aspects and on soil derived from igneous and sedimentary parent materials.
Geographic Range: This is a major aspen forest association common in the mountains of the Colorado Plateau, the eastern Great Basin, and the central and southern Rocky Mountains from the Abajo Mountains in southern Utah, northern and eastern Nevada, eastern Idaho, and into western Wyoming and western Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, NV, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689613
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5
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.d Quaking Aspen Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group | G222 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
| Alliance | A2036 Quaking Aspen Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance | A2036 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
| Association | CEGL000616 Quaking Aspen / Mountain Snowberry / Fendler''s Meadowrue Forest | CEGL000616 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Populus tremuloides / Arnica cordifolia Community Type (Youngblood and Mueggler 1981) ["Part of the stands are now in this type."]
>< Populus tremuloides / Astragalus miser Community Type (Youngblood and Mueggler 1981) ["Part of the stands are now in this type."]
= Populus tremuloides / Paxistima myrsinites - Geranium viscosissimum Community Type (Mueggler and Campbell 1982)
= Populus tremuloides / Symphoricarpos oreophilus - Poa pratensis Community Type (Mueggler and Campbell 1982)
>< Populus tremuloides / Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Carex geyeri Community Type (Mueggler and Campbell 1986) ["Minor portion of the stands have been included in this type."]
= Populus tremuloides / Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Thalictrum fendleri Community Type (Mueggler 1988)
>< Populus tremuloides / Symphoricarpos oreophilus Community Type (Youngblood and Mueggler 1981) ["Part of the stands are now in this type."]
>< Populus tremuloides / Symphoricarpos oreophilus Habitat Type (Hoffman and Alexander 1980) ["About half of the stands are similar."]
>< Populus tremuloides / Astragalus miser Community Type (Youngblood and Mueggler 1981) ["Part of the stands are now in this type."]
= Populus tremuloides / Paxistima myrsinites - Geranium viscosissimum Community Type (Mueggler and Campbell 1982)
= Populus tremuloides / Symphoricarpos oreophilus - Poa pratensis Community Type (Mueggler and Campbell 1982)
>< Populus tremuloides / Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Carex geyeri Community Type (Mueggler and Campbell 1986) ["Minor portion of the stands have been included in this type."]
= Populus tremuloides / Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Thalictrum fendleri Community Type (Mueggler 1988)
>< Populus tremuloides / Symphoricarpos oreophilus Community Type (Youngblood and Mueggler 1981) ["Part of the stands are now in this type."]
>< Populus tremuloides / Symphoricarpos oreophilus Habitat Type (Hoffman and Alexander 1980) ["About half of the stands are similar."]
- 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., K. Varga, and G. Kittel. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Final Project Report 2002-2005 Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-06-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 87 pp. plus Appendixes A-F.
- Coles, J., A. Tendick, J. Von Loh, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/361. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Hoffman, G. R., and R. R. Alexander. 1980. Forest vegetation of the Routt National Forest in northwestern Colorado: A habitat type classification. General Technical Report RM-221. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 41 pp.
- Mueggler, W. F. 1988. Aspen community types of the Intermountain Region. General Technical Report INT-250. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 135 pp.
- Mueggler, W. F., and R. B. Campbell, Jr. 1982. Aspen community types on the Caribou and Targhee national forests in southeastern Idaho. Research Paper INT-294. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 32 pp.
- Mueggler, W. F., and R. B. Campbell, Jr. 1986. Aspen community types of Utah. Research Paper INT-362. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, P. Williams, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Curecanti National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/408. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 797 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Youngblood, A. P., and W. F. Mueggler. 1981. Aspen community types on the Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming. Research Paper INT-272. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 34 pp.