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CEGL005911 Populus tremuloides - Conifer / Spiraea betulifolia - Symphoricarpos albus Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen - Conifer / Shinyleaf Meadowsweet - Common Snowberry Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This tentatively defined mixed aspen-conifer forest has been reported from Glacier National Park, Montana. It is a mesic montane association typically located on flat basin floors to moderately steep toeslopes on variable aspects. This type occurs at elevations between 1585 and 1685 m (5200-5530 feet) east of the Continental Divide and near 1135 m (3720 feet) west of the Continental Divide. Soil texture is a moderately well- to well-drained loam to sandy clay loam with moderate gravel content (5-30%) composed of argillite. Parent material is glacial till. Litter, with 60-90% cover, dominates the ground surface, although downed wood may be common with 2-20% cover. Stand age for one of the sampled areas on the west side of Glacier National Park was 60 years. This mixed evergreen-cold deciduous forest occurs in transitional zones between pure aspen stands and mixed evergreen forests on the east side of Glacier National Park and in low-elevation areas that have burned in the last century on the west side of the park. Tree canopy cover averages 60-70% and is dominated by Populus tremuloides with four conifer species, Pinus contorta, Picea engelmannii, Abies lasiocarpa, and Pseudotsuga menziesii. The subcanopy tree layer is dominated by Populus tremuloides, but Abies lasiocarpa and Pseudotsuga menziesii may also be present. The short-shrub layer in the understory is prominent, with Spiraea betulifolia and Symphoricarpos albus the most abundant species. Juniperus communis is often present with low cover. Tall and dwarf-shrubs occur only occasionally, and when present comprise only 5% average cover. Common tall shrubs include Salix scouleriana, Acer glabrum, and Amelanchier alnifolia. Dwarf-shrub species include Clematis columbiana, Juniperus horizontalis, and Mahonia repens. Overall herbaceous abundance is variable with 5-80% cover. Carex geyeri and Calamagrostis rubescens may sometimes be present in these stands with high to very high cover. Dominant forbs include Thalictrum occidentale, Eurybia conspicua, and Chamerion angustifolium. Other common species include Pedicularis bracteosa, Osmorhiza occidentalis, Abies lasiocarpa and Populus tremuloides seedlings, Castilleja miniata, Elymus glaucus, Galium boreale, Lathyrus ochroleucus, and Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule. Cover of nonvascular species is low at 0-5%.
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: Tree canopy cover averages 60-70% and is dominated by Populus tremuloides with four conifer species, Pinus contorta, Picea engelmannii, Abies lasiocarpa, and Pseudotsuga menziesii. The subcanopy tree layer is dominated by Populus tremuloides, but Abies lasiocarpa and Pseudotsuga menziesii may also be present. The short-shrub layer in the understory is prominent, with Spiraea betulifolia and Symphoricarpos albus the most abundant species. Juniperus communis is often present with low cover. Tall and dwarf-shrubs occur only occasionally, and when present comprise only 5% average cover. Common tall shrubs include Salix scouleriana, Acer glabrum, and Amelanchier alnifolia. Dwarf-shrub species include Clematis columbiana, Juniperus horizontalis, and Mahonia repens. Overall herbaceous abundance is variable with 5-80% cover. Carex geyeri and Calamagrostis rubescens may sometimes be present in these stands with high to very high cover. Dominant forbs include Thalictrum occidentale, Eurybia conspicua (= Aster conspicuus), and Chamerion angustifolium. Other common species include Pedicularis bracteosa, Osmorhiza occidentalis, Abies lasiocarpa and Populus tremuloides seedlings, Castilleja miniata, Elymus glaucus, Galium boreale, Lathyrus ochroleucus, and Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule. Cover of nonvascular species is low at 0-5%. Stand age for one of the sampled areas on the west side of Glacier National Park was 60 years.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This is a mesic montane association typically located on flat basin floors to moderately steep toeslopes on variable aspects. This type occurs at elevations between 1585 and 1685 m (5200-5530 feet) east of the Continental Divide and near 1135 m (3720 feet) west of the Continental Divide. Soil texture is a moderately well- to well-drained loam to sandy clay loam with moderate gravel content (5-30%) composed of argillite. Parent material is glacial till. Litter, with 60-90% cover, dominates the ground surface, although downed wood may be common with 2-20% cover. This mixed evergreen-cold deciduous forest occurs in transitional zones between pure aspen stands and mixed evergreen forests on the east side of Glacier National Park and in low-elevation areas that have burned in the last century on the west side of the park.
Geographic Range: This forest has been reported from Glacier National Park, Montana.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: AB?, MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.730812
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?
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.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Nb Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Division | D194 | 1.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nb.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup | M020 | 1.B.2.Nb.5 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir - Mountain Hemlock Moist Forest & Woodland Group | G218 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
| Alliance | A0422 Subalpine Fir - Quaking Aspen Rocky Mountain Moist Forest Alliance | A0422 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
| Association | CEGL005911 Quaking Aspen - Conifer / Shinyleaf Meadowsweet - Common Snowberry Forest | CEGL005911 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus tremuloides - Conifer / Spiraea betulifolia - Symphoricarpos albus Forest (Hop et al. 2007)
- ANHIC [Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Community database files. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Parks and Protected Areas Division, Alberta Community Development, Edmonton.
- 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.