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CEGL001133 Ribes montigenum Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gooseberry Currant Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs in small patches in openings between trees in the subalpine, lower, stabilized portion of scree slopes and along small drainages near patches of krummholz (near treeline) in the upper subalpine and lower alpine of the southern Rocky Mountains. Sites are often sloping, xeric, warm, with low cover of winter snow. Slope can range from gentle to steep (1-100%), and aspect is also variable but tends to be warmer especially at higher elevation. The stands often occur in rocky drainages or on shallow benches where running water or snowmelt collects and contributes to seasonally moist soil conditions. Substrates tend to be rocky, with vegetation often growing in pockets of soil between the rocks. The soil ranges from sandy to loamy to clayey but typically has moderate to high organic content. Depending on slope position and substrate, the soil can be somewhat poorly drained to rapidly drained. Bedrock and large rock combined make up 15-35% of the plot''s ground cover. Leaf litter and duff cover is often high, 10-35% of the ground surface. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense shrub layer <1 m tall dominated by Ribes montigenum. Other shrubs present may include Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Salix brachycarpa, Salix planifolia, Vaccinium myrtillus, Sambucus racemosa, Ribes laxiflorum, or Rubus idaeus. The herbaceous layer is moderately dense and composed of a mixture of grasses such as Carex hoodii, Elymus trachycaulus, and forbs Achillea millefolium, Aquilegia coerulea, Campanula rotundifolia, Erigeron elatior, Polemonium pulcherrimum, Penstemon whippleanus, Pseudocymopterus montanus, and Thalictrum sparsiflorum. Diagnostic of this shrubland association is the dominance of Ribes montigenum.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is characterized by a moderately dense to dense shrub layer <1 m tall dominated by Ribes montigenum. Other shrubs present may include Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Salix brachycarpa, Salix planifolia, Vaccinium myrtillus, Sambucus racemosa, Ribes laxiflorum, or Rubus idaeus. The herbaceous layer is moderately dense and composed of a mixture of grasses such as Carex hoodii, Elymus trachycaulus, and forbs Achillea millefolium, Aquilegia coerulea, Campanula rotundifolia, Erigeron elatior, Polemonium pulcherrimum, Penstemon whippleanus, Pseudocymopterus montanus, and Thalictrum sparsiflorum.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs in small patches in openings between trees in the subalpine, lower, stabilized portion of scree slopes and along small drainages near patches of krummholz (near treeline) in the upper subalpine and lower alpine of the southern Rocky Mountains between 3250 and 3575 m (10,650-11,725 feet) elevation. Sites are often sloping, xeric, warm, with low cover of winter snow (Komarkova 1979). Slope can range from gentle to steep (1-100%), and aspect is also variable but tends to be warmer especially at higher elevation. The stands often occur in rocky drainages or on shallow benches where running water or snowmelt collects and contributes to seasonally moist soil conditions. Substrates tend to be rocky, with vegetation often growing in pockets of soil between the rocks. The soil ranges from sandy to loamy to clayey but typically has moderate to high organic content. Depending on slope position and substrate, the soil can be somewhat poorly drained to rapidly drained. Bedrock and large rock combined make up 15-35% of the plot''s ground cover. Leaf litter and duff cover is often high, 10-35% of the ground surface, and in some cases, dead wood can cover another 15%. Soils have been classified as Cryorthent and Pergelic Cryofibrist organic soil over scree (Komarkova 1979, 1986).
Geographic Range: This shrubland association occurs in small patches in openings between trees in the subalpine and lower alpine in the southern Rocky Mountains.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NV, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689709
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GU
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 4 Polar & High Montane Scrub, Grassland & Barrens Class | C04 | 4 |
| Subclass | 4.B Temperate to Polar Alpine & Tundra Vegetation Subclass | S12 | 4.B |
| Formation | 4.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Alpine Tundra Formation | F037 | 4.B.1 |
| Division | 4.B.1.Nb Western North American Alpine Tundra Division | D043 | 4.B.1.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 4.B.1.Nb.2 Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Blackroot Sedge - Moss Campion Alpine Tundra Macrogroup | M099 | 4.B.1.Nb.2 |
| Group | 4.B.1.Nb.2.a Eight-petal Mountain-avens - Mountain-heath species - Arctic Willow Alpine Dwarf-shrubland & Krummholz Group | G316 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.a |
| Alliance | A3175 Wax Currant - Gooseberry Currant - Shrubby-cinquefoil Alpine Shrubland Alliance | A3175 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.a |
| Association | CEGL001133 Gooseberry Currant Shrubland | CEGL001133 | 4.B.1.Nb.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Ribes montigenum - Polemonium pulcherrimum ssp. delicatum Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986)
= Ribes montigenum / Aquilegia caerulea Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Ribes montigenum / Polemonium pulcherrimum Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Association Aquilegio coeruleae - Ribesetum montigeni (Komarkova 1976) (Komarkova 1979)
= Association: Aquilegio coeruleae - Ribesetum montigeni (Komarkova 1976) (Komarkova 1976)
= Ribes montigenum / Aquilegia caerulea Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Ribes montigenum / Polemonium pulcherrimum Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Association Aquilegio coeruleae - Ribesetum montigeni (Komarkova 1976) (Komarkova 1979)
= Association: Aquilegio coeruleae - Ribesetum montigeni (Komarkova 1976) (Komarkova 1976)
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