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CEGL005909 Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa - Populus tremuloides - Conifer / Calamagrostis canadensis Riparian Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Cottonwood - Quaking Aspen - Conifer / Bluejoint Riparian Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This tentatively defined association has been sampled in Glacier National Park, Montana. It is found at 1440 to 1585 m (4720-5197 feet) elevation on moderately steep toeslopes, as well as on an outwash fan on a basin floor. The association occurs on both colluvial and glacial deposits, with the majority of stands having well-drained sandy loam soil containing up to 50% argillite gravel. The other stand sampled has poorly drained clay loam soil. Despite the apparently well-drained soils and not necessarily collecting positions, this type is hypothesized to be subirrigated. An open canopy of young to mature mixed tree species characterizes this association. Populus tremuloides, Picea engelmannii, Abies lasiocarpa, and Pinus contorta dominate the tree layers, with individuals of all ages present in varying amounts. Populus tremuloides is the most abundant, with all age classes represented and cover of up to 50% in each layer. No conifer species has more than 20% cover in any layer. Rubus parviflorus and Symphoricarpos albus codominate an open short-shrub layer (10 to 20% average cover each) in all stands. Spiraea betulifolia also has high constancy, but lower cover. The dwarf-shrub Paxistima myrsinites dominates the ground layer in one stand with 30% cover. Calamagrostis canadensis is present in all stands with up to 23% cover, clearly dominating the herbaceous layer. Carex geyeri is also always present, with 3% average cover. Although forb diversity is high, the only forb with high constancy and more than trace cover is Eurybia conspicua. Ground cover is primarily litter and duff with 5% cover of mosses.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This mixed Populus tremuloides-conifer association is apparently transitional between more pure stands of other Populus tremuloides associations and adjacent drier conifer-dominated associations; it also represents a late-successional stage of a process that should result in conifer dominance.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: An open canopy of young to mature mixed tree species characterizes this association. Populus tremuloides, Picea engelmannii, Abies lasiocarpa, and Pinus contorta dominate the tree layers, with individuals of all ages present in varying amounts. Populus tremuloides is the most abundant, with all age classes represented and cover of up to 50% in each layer. No conifer species has more than 20% cover in any layer. Rubus parviflorus and Symphoricarpos albus codominate an open short-shrub layer (10 to 20% average cover each) in all stands. Spiraea betulifolia also has high constancy, but lower cover. The dwarf-shrub Paxistima myrsinites dominates the ground layer in one stand with 30% cover. Calamagrostis canadensis is present in all stands with up to 23% cover, clearly dominating the herbaceous layer. Carex geyeri is also always present, with 3% average cover. Although forb diversity is high, the only forb with high constancy and more than trace cover is Eurybia conspicua (= Aster conspicuus). Ground cover is primarily litter and duff with 5% cover of mosses.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: It is found at 1440 to 1585 m (4720-5197 feet) elevation on moderately steep toeslopes, as well as on an outwash fan on a basin floor. The association occurs on both colluvial and glacial deposits, with the majority of stands having well-drained sandy loam soil containing up to 50% argillite gravel. The other stand sampled has poorly drained clay loam soil. Despite the apparently well-drained soils and not necessarily collecting positions, this type is hypothesized to be subirrigated.
Geographic Range: This tentatively defined association has been sampled in Glacier National Park, Montana.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.730805
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Nc Rocky Mountain-Great Basin Montane Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D195 | 1.B.3.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Nc.1 Engelmann Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M034 | 1.B.3.Nc.1 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nc.1.c Northern Rocky Mountain Lowland-Foothill Riparian Forest Group | G796 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.c |
| Alliance | A0311 Black Cottonwood Northern Rocky Mountain Riparian Forest Alliance | A0311 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.c |
| Association | CEGL005909 Black Cottonwood - Quaking Aspen - Conifer / Bluejoint Riparian Forest | CEGL005909 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa - Populus tremuloides - Conifer / Calamagrostis canadensis Forest (Hop et al. 2007)
- 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.