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CEGL005874 Phleum pratense - Poa pratensis - Bromus inermis Ruderal Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Timothy - Kentucky Bluegrass - Smooth Brome Ruderal Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is a very common type of disturbed grassland and forest opening on the east side of Glacier National Park, within Waterton Lakes National Park, in the major valleys of Grand Teton National Park and on the Blackfeet Reservation. It is a mesic to dry association located mostly on flat to gentle toeslopes, lowslopes and valley bottoms at variable aspects, and can occur on moderately steep midslopes and on flat basin floors. Elevations range from 945 to 2250 m (3100-7300 feet). Soil texture is typically moderately well- to well-drained sandy loams, silt loams, poorly drained clay loams or sandy clay loams. These soils are also characterized as Orthic and Rego Black Chernozems and Orthic Humic Regosols within Waterton Lakes National Park. These are weakly to well-developed, medium- to coarse-textured soils that have developed on glacio-fluvial and morainal landforms that contain quartzite and argillite. Litter comprises 40-95% of the ground cover. The vegetation, dominated by both non-native grasses and native forbs, is a result of historic and current disturbance. Disturbance includes seeding of pasture grasses, light to intense grazing, and development of out buildings, corrals and housing. Typical herbaceous cover is 40-60%; however, cover can be as low as 20% or as high as 100%. Phleum pratense and Poa pratensis, both non-native grasses, dominate the vegetation, and Bromus inermis is occasionally abundant. Other common species include native forbs Achillea millefolium, Potentilla gracilis, Galium boreale, Fragaria virginiana, Geranium viscosissimum, Perideridia gairdneri, Potentilla gracilis, Symphyotrichum laeve, and the exotic forb Taraxacum officinale. Campanula rotundifolia, Cerastium arvense, Penstemon confertus, Lomatium triternatum, and Vicia americana are often present. Koeleria macrantha, Festuca campestris, and Festuca idahoensis may be abundant within this association as well and may indicate this type''s original composition in upland sites. Other herbaceous species that may have high cover include Lupinus sericeus, Bromus carinatus, Lithospermum ruderale, Erigeron speciosus, Solidago missouriensis, Elymus repens, Monarda fistulosa, Cirsium arvense, Eurybia conspicua, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Hedysarum sulphurescens, and Hedysarum alpinum. Shrub cover is low within this association, typically averaging <5%, but it can be as high as 15%. The most common shrubs, when they are present, include Amelanchier alnifolia, Rosa woodsii, and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is defined by having non-native perennial grasses constituting >25% of the total graminoid cover. It is considered that these non-native species have permanently altered the ecosystem functioning of the original native fescue grasslands and, hence, are unlikely to ever be restorable to their original species composition and ecological functioning.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation, dominated by both non-native grasses and native forbs, is a result of historic and current disturbance. Disturbance includes seeding of pasture grasses, light to intense grazing, and development of out buildings, corrals and housing. Typical herbaceous cover is 40-60%; however, cover can be as low as 20% or as high as 100%. Phleum pratense and Poa pratensis, both non-native grasses, dominate the vegetation, and Bromus inermis is occasionally abundant. Other common species include native forbs Achillea millefolium, Potentilla gracilis, Galium boreale, Fragaria virginiana, Geranium viscosissimum, Symphyotrichum laeve (= Aster laevis), Perideridia gairdneri, and the exotic forb Taraxacum officinale. Campanula rotundifolia, Cerastium arvense, Penstemon confertus, Potentilla gracilis, Lomatium triternatum, and Vicia americana are often present. Koeleria macrantha, Festuca campestris, and Festuca idahoensis are occasionally abundant within this association as well and may indicate this type''s original composition in upland sites. Other herbaceous species that may have high cover include Lupinus sericeus, Bromus carinatus, Lithospermum ruderale, Erigeron speciosus, Solidago missouriensis, Elymus repens, Monarda fistulosa, Cirsium arvense, Eurybia conspicua (= Aster conspicuus), Pseudoroegneria spicata, Hedysarum sulphurescens, and Hedysarum alpinum. Shrub cover is low within this association, typically averaging <5%, but it can be as high as 15%. The most common shrubs, when they are present, include Amelanchier alnifolia, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Rosa woodsii, and Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda
Dynamics: This association has developed following human disturbance, e.g., heavy grazing, haying, and perhaps seeding, which has introduced and permitted establishment of non-native grasses (Achuff et al. 1997). Once the non-native species are established, native grasses will generally not re-invade these stands. If irrigation ceases, stands may convert to weedy annual forb communities.
Environmental Description: This semi-natural meadow association occurs on valley floors and gentle slopes with a 2-29% gradient. Elevations range from 945 to 2225 m (3100-7300 feet). Sites may be flooded for short periods during the early part of the growing season, usually as part of an irrigation regime. Soils are variable in texture and develop from a range of substrates, including glacial till, lake and stream deposits.
Geographic Range: This association has been documented from northern Montana and adjacent Alberta, as well as from northwestern Wyoming. It is widespread throughout the interior western United States as an irrigated hay-producing meadow, but few stands have been sampled, as most are on private lands.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, MT, NE, SD, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.730773
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.Nb Central North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D023 | 2.B.2.Nb |
Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nb.90 Kentucky Bluegrass - Buffalograss - Knapweed species Great Plains Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup | M498 | 2.B.2.Nb.90 |
Group | 2.B.2.Nb.90.b Kentucky Bluegrass - Timothy - Canada Thistle Northern & Central Plains Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Group | G679 | 2.B.2.Nb.90.b |
Alliance | A4250 Timothy - Kentucky Bluegrass - Smooth Brome Ruderal Grassland Alliance | A4250 | 2.B.2.Nb.90.b |
Association | CEGL005874 Timothy - Kentucky Bluegrass - Smooth Brome Ruderal Grassland | CEGL005874 | 2.B.2.Nb.90.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Phleum pratense - Poa pratensis - Bromus inermis Semi-natural Herbaceous Vegetation (Hop et al. 2007)
>< H24: Bromus inermis - Phleum pratense Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
>< H24: Bromus inermis - Phleum pratense Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
- Achuff, P. L., R. L. McNeil, M. L. Coleman, C. Wallis and C. Wershler. 2002. Ecological land classification of Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. Volume I: Integrated resource description. Parks Canada, Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. 226 pp.
- Achuff, P. L., R. L. McNeil, and M. L. Coleman. 1997. Chapter III-Vegetation. Pages 28-93 in: P. L. Achuff, R. L. McNeil, and M. L. Coleman. Ecological land classification of Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. Parks Canada, Waterton Lakes National Park. 250 pp. plus maps.
- 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.
- Youngblood, A. P., W. G. Padgett, and A. H. Winward. 1985a. Riparian community type classification of eastern Idaho-western Wyoming. R4-Ecol-85-01. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Ogden, UT. 78 pp.