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CEGL005868 Elymus repens Ruderal Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quackgrass Ruderal Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs on disturbed low-elevation sites, including floodplains, on the east side of Glacier National Park in Montana and in western Colorado. This community develops in response to disturbance and is composed mainly of noxious weeds, exotics and native increaser species. This association was sampled on flat to gently sloping lower slopes, toeslopes and valley bottoms at elevations between 1450 and 1555 m (4750-5100 feet) in Montana and between 1710 and 2285 m (5610-7500 feet) in Colorado. Soils are derived from glacial or fluvial deposits but are variable in soil texture, ranging from moderately well-drained sandy loams to clay loams to poorly drained gravel and rock. Litter dominates the ground surface. This montane, mesic to subhygric herbaceous association has low overall species diversity due to the dominance of Elymus repens, an exotic rhizomatous grass. Elymus repens is a highly invasive species in mesic areas and tends to exclude other species once established. Overall herbaceous cover ranges from 25-85% with Elymus repens clearly dominating this association with 5-80% cover. Other species sometimes present with low cover include Cerastium arvense, Carex spp., Symphyotrichum laeve, Achillea millefolium, Equisetum laevigatum, Iva axillaris, Taraxacum officinale, Poa palustris, and Penstemon confertus.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Identification of this association is usually unequivocal as Elymus repens tends to form dense monocultures exclusive of most other species.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This montane, mesic to subhygric herbaceous association has low overall species diversity due to the dominance of Elymus repens (= Elytrigia repens var. repens), an exotic rhizomatous grass. Elymus repens is a highly invasive species in mesic areas and tends to exclude other species once established. Overall herbaceous cover ranges from 25-85% with Elymus repens clearly dominating this association with 5-80% cover. Other species sometimes present with low cover include Cerastium arvense, Carex spp., Symphyotrichum laeve (= Aster laevis), Achillea millefolium, Equisetum laevigatum, Iva axillaris, Taraxacum officinale, Poa palustris, and Penstemon confertus.
Dynamics: Although characterized as an early-seral dominant (Gross and Werner 1982), Elymus repens is a highly invasive species in mesic areas and tends to exclude other species once established. It is tolerant of mildly saline conditions. It hybridizes readily with other wheatgrasses (e.g., Pascopyrum smithii, Pseudoroegneria spicata) and has fair to good forage value for domestic livestock. Many of the occurrences in the western U.S. can be traced to plantings of Elymus repens or hybrids for pasture or hay (Beetle 1955).
Environmental Description: This association is characteristic of disturbed low-elevation sites, including floodplains, in western Colorado and in Glacier National Park, Montana. It is very likely to be more common and widespread than is currently documented. This community develops in response to disturbance and is composed mainly of noxious weeds, exotics and native increaser species. It occurs on flat to gently sloping lower slopes, toeslopes and valley bottoms at elevations between 1450 and 1555 m (4750-5100 feet) in Montana and between 1710 and 2285 m (5610-7500 feet) in Colorado. Soils are derived from glacial or fluvial deposits but are variable in soil texture, ranging from moderately well-drained sandy loams to clay loams to poorly drained gravel and rock. Litter dominates the ground surface.
Geographic Range: This association has been documented from stands in northwestern Montana and western Colorado. It is likely to be much more common and widely distributed than the limited data indicate.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.730719
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
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.90 Smooth Brome - Knapweed species - Pepperweed species Western North American Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup | M493 | 2.B.2.Nf.90 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.90.a Western North American Interior Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Group | G624 | 2.B.2.Nf.90.a |
| Alliance | A2658 Quackgrass Ruderal Grassland Alliance | A2658 | 2.B.2.Nf.90.a |
| Association | CEGL005868 Quackgrass Ruderal Grassland | CEGL005868 | 2.B.2.Nf.90.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Elymus repens Semi-natural Herbaceous Vegetation (Hop et al. 2007)
- Beetle, A. A. 1955. Wheatgrasses of Wyoming. Bulletin 336. Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, Laramie, WY. 24 pp.
- 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.
- Coles, J., D. Cogan, D. Salas, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, J. Von Loh, and A. Evenden. 2008a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Dinosaur National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR-2008/112. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 814 pp.
- Gross, K. L., and P. A. Werner. 1982. Colonizing abilities of "biennial" plant species in relation to ground cover: Implications for their distributions in a successional sere. Ecology 63(4):921-931.
- 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.
- 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.