Print Report
CEGL005920 Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Streptopus amplexifolius - Luzula glabrata Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Clasping Twisted-stalk - Smooth Woodrush Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is relatively common on high-elevation slopes throughout Glacier National Park, Montana, and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. This woodland association occupies moist, gentle to steep slopes at almost all aspects, and its position on the slope ranges from mid to high slope. Elevation is typically 1910-2230 m (6265-7314 feet). Slopes are composed of morainal or colluvial deposits over calcareous or noncalcareous bedrock, and soils are typically well-drained to rapidly drained with a sandy loam texture. Occasionally stands will develop on gently sloped fluvial fans, with somewhat poorly drained soils. Litter contributes the majority of ground cover in most stands, while bare soil and wood each contribute 10-25% cover. Species composition suggests that these sites have long-persisting snowpacks and soils that are saturated for much of the growing season. The upper tree canopy is open and woodland-like, with cover ranging from 10-30%. Tree height in the upper stratum is usually 5-20 m, dominated by Abies lasiocarpa. Pinus contorta may dominate the upper canopy in seral stands, in a layer 20-35 m tall. Other stands may have shorter trees (2-5 m) with no discernible subcanopy. The subcanopy, when visible, is 2-10 m tall and is also dominated by Abies lasiocarpa. Tall-shrub cover is sparse; common species include Lonicera involucrata and Salix sitchensis. Vaccinium membranaceum is the most common short shrub, however, this species was only present in 50% of sampled stands. Dwarf-shrubs are uncommon. When present, Vaccinium myrtillus and Vaccinium scoparium and/or Dryas octopetala are usually abundant with 10-25% cover. The herbaceous layer is diverse and variable, with a wide variety of moist-site and dry-site forbs contributing 1-25% cover. Thalictrum occidentale had 100% constancy in sampled stands, though cover for this species averaged only 7%. Other forbs with greater than 85% constancy include Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii (average cover 18%), Valeriana sitchensis (average cover 13%), and Chamerion angustifolium. Xerophyllum tenax may contribute up to 20% cover in stands with drier aspects.
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: The upper tree canopy is open and woodland-like, with cover ranging from 10-30%. Tree height in the upper stratum is usually 5-20 m, dominated by Abies lasiocarpa. Pinus contorta may dominate the upper canopy in seral stands, in a layer 20-35 m tall. Other stands may have shorter trees (2-5 m) with no discernible subcanopy. The subcanopy, when visible, is 2-10 m tall and is also dominated by Abies lasiocarpa. Tall-shrub cover is sparse; common species include Lonicera involucrata and Salix sitchensis. Vaccinium membranaceum is the most common short shrub, however, this species was only present in 50% of sampled stands. Dwarf-shrubs are uncommon. When present, Vaccinium myrtillus and Vaccinium scoparium and/or Dryas octopetala are usually abundant with 10-25% cover. The herbaceous layer is diverse and variable, with a wide variety of moist-site and dry-site forbs contributing 1-25% cover. Thalictrum occidentale had 100% constancy in sampled stands, though cover for this species averaged only 7%. Other forbs with greater than 85% constancy include Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii (average cover 18%), Valeriana sitchensis (average cover 13%), and Chamerion angustifolium. Xerophyllum tenax may contribute up to 20% cover in stands with drier aspects.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This woodland association occupies moist, gentle to steep slopes at almost all aspects, and its position on the slope ranges from mid to high slope. Elevation is typically 1910-2230 m (6265-7314 feet). Slopes are composed of morainal or colluvial deposits over calcareous or noncalcareous bedrock, and soils are typically well-drained to rapidly drained with a sandy loam texture. Occasionally stands will develop on gently sloped fluvial fans, with somewhat poorly drained soils. Litter contributes the majority of ground cover in most stands, while bare soil and wood each contribute 10-25% cover. Species composition suggests that these sites have long-persisting snowpacks and soils that are saturated for much of the growing season.
Geographic Range: This association is relatively common on high-elevation slopes throughout Glacier National Park, Montana, and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, ID?, MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.731813
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.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 | CEGL005920 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Clasping Twisted-stalk - Smooth Woodrush Woodland | CEGL005920 | 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 / Streptopus amplexifolius - Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Woodland (Hop et al. 2007)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Valeriana sitchensis - Pedicularis bracteosa - Thalictrum occidentale Vegetation Type (Achuff et al. 2002)
>< Abies lasiocarpa / Valeriana sitchensis - Pedicularis bracteosa - Thalictrum occidentale 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]
- 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.