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CEGL005886 Populus tremuloides / Amelanchier alnifolia Avalanche Chute Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen / Saskatoon Serviceberry Avalanche Chute Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is scattered infrequently on avalanche chutes and other steep slopes in Glacier National Park in Montana, Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, and Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. This mesic, montane to lower subalpine association is present within avalanche chutes at a broad range of elevations, from 1130 to 2396 m (3720-7860 feet) on moderate to steep, south- and east-facing midslopes. Soils are rapidly to well-drained sandy loams, characterized as Orthic and Cumulic Regosols developed on fluvial and colluvial landforms. These are generally weakly developed, strongly acidic to neutral soils that are coarse-textured. Litter dominates the ground surface with 40-85% cover. Frequent avalanches maintain the shrubby structure of this deciduous shrubland. Tall shrubs are dominant and some stands have a more pronounced short-tree layer, ranging from 1-5 m in height. Populus tremuloides dominates both the tall-shrub and tree layer. Pseudotsuga menziesii may also be present, sometimes becoming emergent over other vegetation. Picea engelmannii, Abies lasiocarpa, and Pinus ponderosa trees are also sometimes scattered in the canopy. Total short-shrub cover is 20-70%, and common shrubs are Amelanchier alnifolia, Acer glabrum, Spiraea betulifolia, Shepherdia canadensis, Sorbus scopulina, Prunus pensylvanica, Rubus parviflorus, Lonicera utahensis, Symphoricarpos albus, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. Total herbaceous cover ranges from 20-100% and high-constancy species include Chamerion angustifolium, Eurybia conspicua, Carex geyeri, Elymus glaucus, Populus tremuloides seedlings, Thalictrum occidentale, Calamagrostis rubescens, and Calamagrostis canadensis.
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: Tall shrubs are dominant, and some stands have a more pronounced short-tree layer, ranging from 1-5 m in height. Populus tremuloides dominates both the tall-shrub and tree layer. Pseudotsuga menziesii may also be present, sometimes becoming emergent over other vegetation. Picea engelmannii, Abies lasiocarpa, and Pinus ponderosa trees are also sometimes scattered in the canopy. Total short-shrub cover is 20-70%, and common shrubs are Amelanchier alnifolia, Acer glabrum, Spiraea betulifolia, Shepherdia canadensis, Sorbus scopulina, Prunus pensylvanica, Rubus parviflorus, Lonicera utahensis, Symphoricarpos albus, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. Total herbaceous cover ranges from 20-100%, and high-constancy species include Chamerion angustifolium, Eurybia conspicua (= Aster conspicuus), Carex geyeri, Elymus glaucus, Populus tremuloides seedlings, Thalictrum occidentale, Calamagrostis rubescens, and Calamagrostis canadensis.
Dynamics: Frequent avalanches maintain the shrubby structure of this deciduous shrubland.
Environmental Description: This mesic, montane to lower subalpine association is present within avalanche chutes at a broad range of elevations, from 1130 to 2396 m (3720-7860 feet) on moderate to steep, south- and east-facing midslopes. Soils are rapidly to well-drained sandy loams, characterized as Orthic and Cumulic Regosols developed on fluvial and colluvial landforms. These are generally weakly developed, strongly acidic to neutral soils that are coarse-textured. Litter dominates the ground surface with 40-85% cover. Frequent avalanches maintain the shrubby structure of this deciduous shrubland.
Geographic Range: This association has only been documented in Glacier National Park, Montana, Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, and Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, MT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.728688
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D022 | 2.B.2.Nf |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nf.2 Saskatoon Serviceberry / Idaho Fescue - Bluebunch Wheatgrass Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup | M048 | 2.B.2.Nf.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.2.d Blueberry species - Rusty Menziesia / Common Beargrass Central Rocky Mountain-Vancouverian Mesic Shrubland Group | G305 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.d |
| Alliance | A3968 Subalpine Fir - Quaking Aspen / Rocky Mountain Maple Central Rocky Mountain Avalanche Chute Shrubland Alliance | A3968 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.d |
| Association | CEGL005886 Quaking Aspen / Saskatoon Serviceberry Avalanche Chute Shrubland | CEGL005886 | 2.B.2.Nf.2.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus tremuloides / Amelanchier alnifolia Avalanche Chute Shrubland (Hop et al. 2007)
- Allen, L. 2012-2013. Alberta Conservation Information Management System Ecological Community Tracking List. Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Edmonton, AB. [http://tpr.alberta.ca/parks/heritageinfocentre/default.aspx]
- 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.
- Hop, K., M. Reid, J. Dieck, S. Lubinski, and S. Cooper. 2007. U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. 131 pp. plus Appendices A-L.
- Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.