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CEGL005919 Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium / Thalictrum occidentale Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Grouse Whortleberry / Western Meadowrue Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This forest association occurs in the subalpine zone in the central and northern Rocky Mountains. Sites are cool and moist north slopes and benches, but may occur on any aspect. Elevations range from 1770 to 2625 m (5805-8600 feet). Substrates are typically well-drained, medium- to fine-textured soils with moderately low gravel content (15%) that are derived from a variety of parent materials. Litter dominates ground surface often 5 cm deep with low cover of bare ground and rock. The vegetation is characterized by Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii codominating the tree canopy with Vaccinium scoparium or Vaccinium myrtillus well-represented to dominant in the dwarf-shrub layer and Thalictrum occidentale, Viola orbiculata, and/or Valeriana sitchensis common in the herbaceous layer. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is open to moderately dense (over 25% cover) and is typically codominated by Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, and often Pinus contorta (seral), with Abies lasiocarpa dominating the subcanopy and regeneration layers. Undergrowth is typically a moderately dense dwarf-shrub layer dominated by Vaccinium scoparium or Vaccinium myrtillus. Other consistent shrubs and dwarf-shrubs include Juniperus communis, Spiraea betulifolia, and Vaccinium membranaceum. The sparse to moderate herbaceous layer is dominated by forbs. Other consistent forbs include Arnica spp., Eucephalus engelmannii, Osmorhiza berteroi, and Orthilia secunda.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: ~Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium myrtillus Forest (CEGL000343)$$ of the Colorado Rockies is very similar to this type. However, in the northern Rockies, Vaccinium scoparium and Vaccinium myrtillus intergrade with each other and occur on very similar habitats (Pfister et al. 1977); vegetation types where they occur have never been separated into different associations or habitat types (Pfister et al. 1977, Cooper et al. 1987).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This Rocky Mountain conifer association is characterized by Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii codominating the tree canopy with Vaccinium scoparium well-represented to dominant in the dwarf-shrub layer and Thalictrum occidentale, Viola orbiculata, and/or Valeriana sitchensis common. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is open to moderately dense (over 25% cover) and is typically codominated by Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, and often Pinus contorta (seral stand), with Abies lasiocarpa dominating the subcanopy and regeneration layers. Undergrowth is typically a moderately dense dwarf-shrub layer dominated by Vaccinium scoparium or Vaccinium myrtillus. Other consistent shrubs and dwarf-shrubs include Juniperus communis, Spiraea betulifolia, and Vaccinium membranaceum. The sparse to moderate herbaceous layer is dominated by forbs. Consistent forbs include Arnica spp., Eucephalus engelmannii, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Orthilia secunda (= Pyrola secunda), Thalictrum occidentale, Viola orbiculata, and/or Valeriana sitchensis. Calamagrostis rubescens and Carex geyeri have high constancy, but are not well-represented, and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Mahonia repens are uncommon.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This forest association occurs in the subalpine zone in the central and northern Rocky Mountains. Elevations are 2225-2625 m (7300-8600 feet) in the southern range, but extend down to 1770-1850 m (5805-6068 feet) in the northern extent. Sites are cool and moist north slopes and benches, but may occur on any aspect. Substrates are typically well-drained, medium to finer textured soils with moderately low gravel content (15%) that are derived from a variety of parent materials such as argillite, quartzite, gneiss, schist, granite and biotite granite, and calcareous and noncalcareous sedimentary rocks. Litter dominates ground surface often 5 cm deep with low cover of bare ground and rock.
Geographic Range: This forest association occurs mostly east of the Continental Divide in the subalpine zone in the central and northern Rocky Mountains in western Montana and may extend into mountains in adjacent Idaho and Wyoming.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, ID?, MT, WY?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.731800
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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 | CEGL005919 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Grouse Whortleberry / Western Meadowrue Forest | CEGL005919 | 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: = Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium / Thalictrum occidentale Forest (Hop et al. 2007)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium scoparium Habitat Type, Thalictrum occidentale Phase (Pfister et al. 1977)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium scoparium Habitat Type, Thalictrum occidentale Phase (Pfister et al. 1977)
- ANHIC [Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Community database files. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Parks and Protected Areas Division, Alberta Community Development, Edmonton.
- 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]
- 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.
- 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.