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CEGL005892 Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Clintonia uniflora - Xerophyllum tenax Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Bride''s Bonnet - Common Beargrass Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association has been described only for the northern Rocky Mountains. It occupies most of what was considered the dry and cold portion of the former Abies lasiocarpa / Clintonia uniflora association. It is found predominantly on well-drained sites with south- or west-facing exposures and all degrees of slope steepness; it is seldom found on toeslope positions or steam terraces. Within a given landscape (Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park) it exhibited a wide elevational range, from 1340 to 1800 m (4400-5900 feet); this upper elevation is extreme and beyond the elevational limits of Clintonia uniflora, but within the distributional limits of Tiarella trifoliata. Parent materials are dominated by granitics, quartzites, mica schists, and partially metamorphosed sedimentary types, such as argillite. In northern Idaho and western Montana ash caps of varying thickness are common. In local landscapes it grades to Abies grandis / Xerophyllum tenax - Clintonia uniflora or Thuja plicata / Clintonia uniflora at lower elevations, and above, or on drier sites, to Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax (which may be dominated by seral tree species). The tree canopy is dominated by a variable combination of Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii; cover of the upper canopy generally ranges from 60 to 80%. Seral tree species (Pinus contorta, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Larix occidentalis) are relatively more successful in post-disturbance colonization than they are in other Clintonia uniflora-characterized sites (stands dominated by seral tree species comprise a separate set of associations). This response essentially reflects the warmer, more open sites that following disturbance do not so readily regenerate to shrub dominance. The undergrowth is dominated by a low- to mid-shrub, discontinuous layer of Vaccinium membranaceum; other high-constancy shrubs, which seldom exceed 15% cover, include Lonicera utahensis, Spiraea betulifolia, Rubus parviflorus, Paxistima myrsinites, Acer glabrum, and Amelanchier alnifolia. The graminoid component often comprises less than 1% cover, and there are none that appear with even moderate constancy. The forb layer is generally dominated by Xerophyllum tenax, whose cover ranges from barely greater than 1% to 60 or 70% in more open stands. The other diagnostic forbs, Clintonia uniflora and Tiarella trifoliata, seldom exceed 5% cover. Other forbs of high constancy and occasional layer dominance include Thalictrum occidentale, Orthilia secunda, Viola orbiculata, Arnica latifolia (or Arnica cordifolia), Goodyera oblongifolia and Osmorhiza berteroi.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is derived from the Abies lasiocarpa / Clintonia uniflora Habitat Type (climax association), Xerophyllum tenax Phase (Cooper et al. 1987), by elevating this phase to the association level; this phase (now association) has been abundantly documented (at least 40 plots). This association is actually a subset of the habitat type, including those stands where Abies lasiocarpa and/or Picea engelmannii are dominant. As noted above, seral tree species are well-represented in this type and, where stands are conspicuously dominated by them, unique and separate plant associations are recognized.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The tree canopy is dominated by a variable combination of Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii; cover of the upper canopy generally ranges from 60 to 80%. Throughout Montana many of the Picea populations show clear hybridization between Picea engelmannii and Picea glauca; however, most populations exhibit the Picea engelmannii characteristics more strongly. It is notable that with a shift to more of an existing vegetation-based classification that this type constitutes much less of the landscape than it would have under the concept of potential vegetation types. This is because seral tree species (Pinus contorta, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Larix occidentalis) are relatively more successful in post-disturbance colonization than they are in other Clintonia uniflora-characterized sites (stands dominated by seral tree species comprise a separate set of associations). This response essentially reflects the warmer, more open sites that following disturbance do not so readily regenerate to shrub dominance. The undergrowth is dominated by a low- to mid-shrub, discontinuous layer of Vaccinium membranaceum; other high-constancy shrubs, which seldom exceed 15% cover, include Lonicera utahensis, Spiraea betulifolia, Rubus parviflorus, Paxistima myrsinites, Acer glabrum, and Amelanchier alnifolia. The graminoid component often comprises less than 1% cover, and there are none that appear with even moderate constancy. The forb layer is generally dominated by Xerophyllum tenax, whose cover ranges from barely greater than 1% to 60 or 70% in open stands. The other diagnostic forbs, Clintonia uniflora and Tiarella trifoliata, seldom exceed 5% cover. Other forbs of high constancy and occasional layer dominance include Thalictrum occidentale, Orthilia secunda, Viola orbiculata, Arnica latifolia (or Arnica cordifolia), Goodyera oblongifolia, and Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis). There are regional distinctions within the forb layer with northern Idaho having several forbs of high constancy including Anemone piperi, Trillium ovatum, Coptis occidentalis, and Mitella stauropetala.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association has been described only for the northern Rocky Mountains. It occupies most of what was considered the dry and cold portion of former Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Clintonia uniflora Forest (CEGL000307). It is found predominantly on well-drained sites with south- or west-facing exposures and all degrees of slope steepness; it is seldom found on toeslope positions or steam terraces. Within a given landscape (Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park) it exhibits a wide elevational range, from 1340 to 1800 m (4400-5900 feet); this upper elevation is extreme and beyond the elevational limits of Clintonia uniflora. Parent materials are dominated by granitics, quartzites, mica schists, and partially metamorphosed sedimentary types, such as argillite. In northern Idaho and western Montana ash caps of varying thickness are common.
Geographic Range: This association has been described only for the northern Rocky Mountains of extreme northeastern Washington, northern Idaho and western Montana, extending north into southwestern Alberta; this type is to be expected in western British Columbia based on environmental parameters.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, ID, MT, OR?, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.730817
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5
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 | A3614 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Rocky Mountain Moist Forest Alliance | A3614 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
| Association | CEGL005892 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Bride''s Bonnet - Common Beargrass Forest | CEGL005892 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.c |
Concept Lineage: This association (CEGL000307) was based on a Habitat Type concept, including the phases of the H.T. in this association. Phases of the H.T. have now been split out into association elements, as well as the seral components of the H.T.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Clintonia uniflora - Xerophyllum tenax Forest (Hop et al. 2007)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Clintonia uniflora Habitat Type, Xerophyllum tenax Phase (Cooper et al. 1987)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Clintonia uniflora Habitat Type, Xerophyllum tenax Phase (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Pachistima myrsinites Habitat Type (Daubenmire and Daubenmire 1968)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Plant Association (Williams et al. 1995)
>< Picea engelmannii - Abies lasiocarpa / Menziesia ferruginea / Vaccinium membranaceum - Xerophyllum tenax Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
= Picea engelmannii - Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Habitat Type, Pachistima myrsinites variant (Ogilvie 1962)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Clintonia uniflora Habitat Type, Xerophyllum tenax Phase (Cooper et al. 1987)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Clintonia uniflora Habitat Type, Xerophyllum tenax Phase (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Pachistima myrsinites Habitat Type (Daubenmire and Daubenmire 1968)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Plant Association (Williams et al. 1995)
>< Picea engelmannii - Abies lasiocarpa / Menziesia ferruginea / Vaccinium membranaceum - Xerophyllum tenax Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
= Picea engelmannii - Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Habitat Type, Pachistima myrsinites variant (Ogilvie 1962)
- ANHIC [Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Community database files. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Parks and Protected Areas Division, Alberta Community Development, Edmonton.
- 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.
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- Cooper, S. V., K. E. Neiman, R. Steele, and D. W. Roberts. 1987. Forest habitat types of northern Idaho: A second approximation. General Technical Report INT-236.USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 135 pp. [reprinted in 1991]
- Daubenmire, R. F., and J. B. Daubenmire. 1968. Forest vegetation of eastern Washington and northern Idaho. Washington State University Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin No. 60. 104 pp.
- 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.
- Ogilvie, R. T. 1962. Ecology of spruce forests on the east slope of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta. Unpublished dissertation, Washington State University, Pullman. 189 pp.
- Pfister, R. D., B. L. Kovalchik, S. F. Arno, and R. C. Presby. 1977. Forest habitat types of Montana. General Technical Report INT-34. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 174 pp.
- 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.
- Williams, C. K., B. F. Kelly, B. G. Smith, and T. R. Lillybridge. 1995. Forest plant associations of the Colville National Forest. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-360. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 140 pp.