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CEGL005844 Betula papyrifera / Acer glabrum Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Paper Birch / Rocky Mountain Maple Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is locally common on the west side of Glacier National Park, Montana. It occurs on steep to very steep, mostly south-facing slopes at elevations between 1000 and 1200 m (3300-3900 feet). Soils are well-drained sandy loams or loams on colluvial landforms of argillite, including talus slopes. Generally these soils contain angular green argillite cobbles. Litter dominates the ground surface with 40-95% cover. All sampled areas have burned in natural wildfires in the last 100 years. This association is a montane, mesic, mixed evergreen-deciduous woodland that occurs as a result of hot, stand-replacing fires followed by precipitation events that erode much of the soil mantle from the slope. Consequently, few conifers establish, allowing Betula papyrifera to dominate. The upper tree canopy ranges from 30-60% cover with heights of 10-15 m. The tree subcanopy ranges from 5-60% cover. Betula papyrifera dominates with 20-50% cover. Other tree species that may be present include Pseudotsuga menziesii, Populus tremuloides, Larix occidentalis, and Pinus monticola. The tall-shrub layer ranges from 10-60% cover with heights 1-5 m. Acer glabrum and Amelanchier alnifolia are dominant; Rubus parviflorus is also common. Betula papyrifera and Pseudotsuga menziesii saplings, Philadelphus lewisii, Prunus virginiana, Salix scouleriana, and Holodiscus discolor may be present with moderate to high cover. Symphoricarpos albus and Paxistima myrsinites are the most common short shrubs. Mahonia repens can dominate the dwarf-shrub layer. The herbaceous cover is low, ranging from 5-20%. Aralia nudicaulis is the most dominant forb. Other high-constancy species include Elymus glaucus, Chamerion angustifolium, Symphyotrichum laeve, and Penstemon albertinus. Nonvascular cover ranges from 0-10%.
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: This association is a montane, mesic, mixed evergreen-deciduous woodland that occurs as a result of hot, stand-replacing fires followed by precipitation events that erode much of the soil mantle from the slope. Consequently, few conifers establish, allowing Betula papyrifera to dominate. The upper tree canopy ranges from 30-60% cover with heights of 10-15 m. The tree subcanopy ranges from 5-60% cover. Betula papyrifera dominates with 20-50% cover. Other tree species that may be present include Pseudotsuga menziesii, Populus tremuloides, Larix occidentalis, and Pinus monticola. The tall-shrub layer ranges from 10-60% cover with heights 1-5 m. Acer glabrum and Amelanchier alnifolia are dominant; Rubus parviflorus is also common. Betula papyrifera and Pseudotsuga menziesii saplings, Philadelphus lewisii, Prunus virginiana, Salix scouleriana, and Holodiscus discolor may be present with moderate to high cover. Symphoricarpos albus and Paxistima myrsinites are the most common short shrubs. Mahonia repens can dominate the dwarf-shrub layer. The herbaceous cover is low, ranging from 5-20%. Aralia nudicaulis is the most dominant forb. Other high-constancy species include Elymus glaucus, Chamerion angustifolium, Symphyotrichum laeve (= Aster laevis), and Penstemon albertinus. Nonvascular cover ranges from 0-10%.
Dynamics: All sampled areas have burned in natural wildfires in the last 100 years.
Environmental Description: It occurs on steep to very steep, mostly south-facing slopes at elevations between 1000 and 1200 m (3300-3900 feet). Soils are well-drained sandy loams or loams on colluvial landforms of argillite, including talus slopes. Generally these soils contain angular green argillite cobbles. Litter dominates the ground surface with 40-95% cover.
Geographic Range: This association is locally common on the west side of Glacier National Park, Montana.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.731039
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.d Quaking Aspen Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group | G222 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
| Alliance | A3367 Paper Birch Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3367 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
| Association | CEGL005844 Paper Birch / Rocky Mountain Maple Woodland | CEGL005844 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Betula papyrifera / Acer glabrum Woodland (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.