Print Report
CEGL005839 Pinus albicaulis - Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium scoparium / Luzula glabrata Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Whitebark Pine - Subalpine Fir / Grouse Whortleberry / Smooth Woodrush Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is broadly distributed throughout the mid to upper subalpine zones of the northern Rocky Mountains, concentrated in northern Idaho and western Montana and extending into the Canadian Rockies of southwestern Alberta. Its elevation ranges from 1555 to 2380 m (5100-7800 feet). It is strongly associated with moderate to steep warm slopes, usually having a southeast- through south- to west-facing exposure; it consistently occurs from midslopes upwards to slope shoulders and occasionally extending to high-elevation benchlands as well. It is characterized as having relatively heavy snowpack that persists well into the growing season. These sites have well-drained soils derived from a host of parent materials, including volcanics (granitics, andesite, rhyolite), sedimentaries (limestone, dolomite, siltstone), metamorphics (quartzite, argillite, gneiss, mica-schist) and metasediments. The range in soil surface texture is broad, from silty clays to sandy loams with the gravel content averaging about 30% near the surface and increasing markedly with depth. These are very open woodland sites with the tree component often occurring as scattered clumps and, at the highest and coldest extremes, approaching a krummholz form with trees as short as 5.5 m (18 feet) in height when mature. The canopy is generally strongly dominated by Abies lasiocarpa followed distantly in order of decreasing average cover by Pinus albicaulis, Pinus contorta, and Picea engelmannii (this order may change slightly by region and is undoubtedly due to differences in type and severity of disturbance). The undergrowth component is almost invariably species-poor. Tall shrubs are virtually unrepresented, and the short shrubs Vaccinium membranaceum and Lonicera utahensis have high constancy, but only the former has coverages exceeding 5%. The dwarf-shrub component has only two constant species, Vaccinium scoparium and Vaccinium myrtillus, only one of which exhibits high cover in a given location; Phyllodoce empetriformis may be a conspicuous component but its presence is very inconsistent. The graminoid component is singularly dominated by Luzula glabrata with a cover of 5 to 20% (extremes to 50 or 60%, where Xerophyllum tenax cover is low); Carex geyeri is a common component only in central Idaho representation of the type. Xerophyllum tenax is almost invariably the dominant herb, joined by a number of other forbs none of which express high constancy.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Many to most of the stands within this association are merely seral representatives of ~Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Luzula glabrata Woodland (CEGL000317)$$; the association under consideration is recognized, at least in Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park, as having at least 5% canopy cover of Pinus albicaulis. Recognition of a type based on a very minimal cover of a seral tree species (Pinus albicaulis) of broad distribution should provoke questions; the intent of this broadly inclusive type was to capture stands (specifically their locations, particularly in mapping efforts) wherein this highly threatened species occurs or will have once occurred.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: These are very open woodland sites with the tree component often occurring as scattered clumps and, at the highest and coldest extremes, approaching a krummholz form with trees as short as 5.5 m (18 feet) in height when "mature." The canopy is generally strongly dominated by Abies lasiocarpa followed distantly in order of decreasing average cover by Pinus albicaulis, Pinus contorta, and Picea engelmannii (this order may change slightly by region and is undoubtedly due to differences in type and severity of disturbance). The undergrowth component is almost invariably species-poor. Tall shrubs are virtually unrepresented, and the short shrubs Vaccinium membranaceum and Lonicera utahensis have high constancy, but only the former has coverages exceeding 5%. The dwarf-shrub component has only two constant species, Vaccinium scoparium and Vaccinium myrtillus, only one of which exhibits high cover in a given location; Phyllodoce empetriformis may be a conspicuous component but its presence is very inconsistent. The graminoid component is singularly dominated by Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii with a cover of 5 to 20% (extremes to 50 or 60%, where Xerophyllum tenax cover is low); Carex geyeri is a common component only in central Idaho representation of the type. Xerophyllum tenax is almost invariably the dominant herb, joined by a number of other forbs none of which express high constancy.
Dynamics: The Pinus albicaulis component of this association is currently under severe threat from white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), and little relief is expected because the rate of natural resistance in so low (speculated to be 1 in 10,000 trees). Prior to the burgeoning blister rust epidemic, these stands experienced periodic high mortality due to bark beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) attack. The loss of Pinus albicaulis from these stands converts them to ~Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Woodland (CEGL000317)$$ but, most significantly, removes a primary pre-denning food source (wingless, fat-rich seeds) of grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis). Even were two mortality factors not operative, some percentage of these stands would still lose the Pinus albicaulis component through natural succession, Pinus albicaulis being primarily a long-lived (to 600+ years), post-disturbance species.
Environmental Description: This association is broadly distributed throughout the mid to upper subalpine zones of the northern Rocky Mountains, concentrated in northern Idaho and western Montana and extending into the Canadian Rockies of southwestern Alberta. The demonstrated elevation range is from 1555 to 2135 m (5100-7000 feet) in the northern portion of its distribution and 1740 to 2380 m (5700-7800 feet) in its southern occurrence. It is strongly associated with moderate to steep warm slopes, usually having a southeast- through south- to west-facing exposure; it consistently occurs from midslopes upwards to slope shoulders and occasionally extending to high-elevation benchlands as well. It is characterized as having relatively heavy snowpack that persists well into the growing season. These sites have well-drained soils derived from a host of parent materials, including volcanics (granitics, andesite, rhyolite), sedimentaries (limestone, dolomite, siltstone), metamorphics (quartzite, argillite, gneiss, mica-schist) and metasediments. The range in soil surface texture is broad, from silty clays to sandy loams with the gravel content averaging about 30% near the surface and increasing markedly with depth.
Geographic Range: This association is broadly distributed throughout the mid to upper subalpine zones of the northern Rocky Mountains, concentrated in northern Idaho and western Montana and extending into the Canadian Rockies of southwestern Alberta.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, ID, MT, WA, WY?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.730893
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.g Whitebark Pine - Subalpine Fir - Subalpine Larch Northern Rocky Mountain Woodland Group | G223 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.g |
| Alliance | A3368 Whitebark Pine Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3368 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.g |
| Association | CEGL005839 Whitebark Pine - Subalpine Fir / Grouse Whortleberry / Smooth Woodrush Woodland | CEGL005839 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.g |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Abies lasiocarpa / Luzula hitchcockii Habitat Type, Vaccinium scoparium Phase (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium scoparium / Luzula hitchcockii (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [ABLA2/VASC/LUHI ASSOCIATION CES425]
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Habitat Type, Luzula hitchcockii Phase (Steele et al. 1981)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Habitat Type, Luzula hitchcockii Phase (Cooper et al. 1987)
>< Picea engelmannii - Abies lasiocarpa - Larix lyallii / Luzula wahlenbergii Habitat Type (Ogilvie 1969)
>< Picea engelmannii - Abies lasiocarpa / Luzula hitchcockii - Herb Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
>< Picea engelmannii - Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Habitat Type (Ogilvie 1962)
= Pinus albicaulis - Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium scoparium / Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Woodland (Hop et al. 2007)
= Pinus albicaulis-(Abies lasiocarpa)/Vaccinium scoparium-Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Woodland (Crawford et al. 2009)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium scoparium / Luzula hitchcockii (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [ABLA2/VASC/LUHI ASSOCIATION CES425]
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Habitat Type, Luzula hitchcockii Phase (Steele et al. 1981)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Habitat Type, Luzula hitchcockii Phase (Cooper et al. 1987)
>< Picea engelmannii - Abies lasiocarpa - Larix lyallii / Luzula wahlenbergii Habitat Type (Ogilvie 1969)
>< Picea engelmannii - Abies lasiocarpa / Luzula hitchcockii - Herb Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
>< Picea engelmannii - Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Habitat Type (Ogilvie 1962)
= Pinus albicaulis - Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium scoparium / Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Woodland (Hop et al. 2007)
= Pinus albicaulis-(Abies lasiocarpa)/Vaccinium scoparium-Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Woodland (Crawford et al. 2009)
- ANHIC [Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Community database files. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Parks and Protected Areas Division, Alberta Community Development, Edmonton.
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- 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]
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- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
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