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CEGL005914 Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium scoparium / Xerophyllum tenax Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Grouse Whortleberry / Common Beargrass 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 near and west of the Continental Divide where climate is influenced by maritime weather. Elevations range from 1585-2530 m (5200-8300 feet) depending on latitude and landform (frost pockets are lower). Sites are cool and include upper subalpine, wind-swept upper ridge slopes, and frost pockets. Substrates are typically well-drained, coarse- to fine-textured soils (loamy sand to silt) with moderate gravel content (25-36%) that are derived from a wide variety of sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous parent materials. Litter dominates ground surface often over 2 cm deep with low cover of bare ground and rock. Vegetation is characterized by Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii codominating the tree canopy, with the dwarf-shrub Vaccinium scoparium codominating the understory with clumps of Xerophyllum tenax. The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is open to moderately dense (20-70% cover) and is typically codominated by Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii and mature seral trees, with Abies lasiocarpa dominating the subcanopy and regeneration layers. Pinus contorta is the most important seral species, but scattered Pinus albicaulis or Pseudotsuga menziesii may be present. Undergrowth is typically an open to dense dwarf-shrub layer dominated by Vaccinium scoparium (10-50% cover), however, Vaccinium myrtillus or Vaccinium cespitosum may be well-represented. Vaccinium membranaceum may form an open short-shrub layer. The herbaceous layer would be sparse except for cover of Xerophyllum tenax (20-60%). Relatively consistent forbs and graminoids may include Arnica spp., Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Orthilia secunda, Viola orbiculata, and Valeriana sitchensis. Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii is absent or uncommon (<1% cover).
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 Rocky Mountain conifer association is characterized by Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii codominating the tree canopy, with dwarf-shrub Vaccinium scoparium and clumps of Xerophyllum tenax codominating the understory, and Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii absent or uncommon (<1% cover). The evergreen needle-leaved tree canopy is open to moderately dense (20-70% cover) and is typically codominated by Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii and mature seral trees, with Abies lasiocarpa dominating the subcanopy and regeneration layers. Pinus contorta is the most important seral species, but scattered Pinus albicaulis or Pseudotsuga menziesii may be present. Undergrowth is typically an open to dense dwarf-shrub layer dominated by Vaccinium scoparium (10-50% cover), however, Vaccinium myrtillus or Vaccinium cespitosum may be well-represented. Vaccinium membranaceum may form an open short-shrub layer. The herbaceous layer would be sparse except for cover of Xerophyllum tenax (20-60%). Relatively consistent forbs and graminoids may include Arnica spp., Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Orthilia secunda (= Pyrola secunda), Viola orbiculata, and Valeriana sitchensis.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This forest association occurs in the subalpine zone in the central and northern Rocky Mountains near and west of the Continental Divide where climate is influenced by maritime weather. Elevations range from 1585-2530 m (5200-8300 feet) depending on latitude and landform (frost pockets are lower). Sites are cool and include upper subalpine, wind-swept upper ridge slopes, and frost pockets. Substrates are typically well-drained, coarse- to fine-textured soils (loamy sand to silt) with moderate gravel content (25-36%). Soils are derived from a wide variety of sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous parent materials such as andesite, calcareous and noncalcareous argillite, basalt, granite, gneiss, quartzite, quartz monzonite, rhyolite, schist, and calcareous and noncalcareous sedimentary rocks. Litter dominates ground surface often over 2 cm deep with low cover of bare ground and rock.
Geographic Range: This forest association occurs in the subalpine zone in the central and northern Rocky Mountains near and west of the Continental Divide in west-central and northwestern Montana, central and northern Idaho and Alberta.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, ID, MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.731807
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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 | CEGL005914 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Grouse Whortleberry / Common Beargrass Forest | CEGL005914 | 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 / Xerophyllum tenax Forest (Hop et al. 2007)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Habitat Type, Vaccinium scoparium Phase (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Habitat Type, Vaccinium scoparium Phase (Cooper et al. 1987)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Habitat Type, Vaccinium scoparium Phase (Steele et al. 1981)
>< C68: Pinus contorta - Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Habitat Type, Vaccinium scoparium Phase (Pfister et al. 1977)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Habitat Type, Vaccinium scoparium Phase (Cooper et al. 1987)
< Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Habitat Type, Vaccinium scoparium Phase (Steele et al. 1981)
>< C68: Pinus contorta - Abies lasiocarpa / Xerophyllum tenax Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
- 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.
- Allen, L. 2012-2013. Alberta Conservation Information Management System Ecological Community Tracking List. Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Edmonton, AB. [http://tpr.alberta.ca/parks/heritageinfocentre/default.aspx]
- 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.
- Steele, R., R. D. Pfister, R. A. Ryker, and J. A. Kittams. 1981. Forest habitat types of central Idaho. General Technical Report INT-114. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 138 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.