Print Report
CEGL005843 Picea engelmannii / Salix drummondiana Swamp Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Engelmann Spruce / Drummond''s Willow Swamp Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is uncommon in the montane and lower subalpine zones on the east side of Glacier National Park, Montana, restricted to the edges of lakes and creeks. Stands are located in bottomland floodplains along lakes, ponds, streams, and creeks. These sites occur at low to moderate elevations up to 1525 m (5000 feet) on flat terrain. Soils are variable, ranging from poorly drained, very dark silty clay loam to rapidly drained, very gravelly sand. This variability is due to the location of stands, which occur on sandy creek beds and semipermanently flooded lowlands. Soil is derived from glacio-fluvial deposits and can contain red, green, and tan argillite. Ground cover is variable as well. Litter covers 30-60% of the ground surface, but water may be as high as 20% cover in some areas, while rock and sand may be 50% cover in other areas. This is a subhygric to hydric evergreen woodland that is dominated by Picea engelmannii or Picea engelmannii x glauca hybrids in the overstory and Salix drummondiana in the understory. Tree cover is generally sparse, ranging from 5-20%. Mature Picea engelmannii, measuring 15-20 m, may occur scattered within the dense shrub cover, or medium-sized Picea engelmannii, measuring 5-10 m, may occur with higher cover as more of a woodland. Abies lasiocarpa trees and Picea engelmannii seedlings can also be common. Shrub cover is very high at 60-80%, dominated almost exclusively by Salix drummondiana with heights of 1-2 m. A few other shrubs are present with low cover. Herbaceous cover ranges from 10-30% and is dominated by Calamagrostis canadensis, Elymus glaucus, and Geum macrophyllum. Other high-constancy forbs include Epilobium ciliatum and Galium triflorum. Cicuta douglasii, Carex utriculata, Petasites frigidus var. sagittatus, and Equisetum hyemale may be present with conspicuous cover. Stand age was measured at 45 years in one plot and 95 years in another.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Picea engelmannii and/or Picea engelmannii x glauca (hybrids) are both likely to occur in this plant association, and thus we have included them both as the diagnostic overstory species. Stands can include pure Picea engelmannii and Picea engelmannii x glauca hybrid, or both. Hansen et al. (1995) explained that the frequent absence of mature cones, similar morphology, and ecological amplitudes led them to lump Picea engelmannii and Picea glauca (hybrids) into a single type, as did Pfister et al. (1977).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This is a subhygric to hydric evergreen woodland that is dominated by Picea engelmannii or Picea engelmannii x glauca hybrids in the overstory and Salix drummondiana in the understory. Tree cover is generally sparse, ranging from 5-20%. Mature Picea engelmannii, measuring 15-20 m, may occur scattered within the dense shrub cover, or medium-sized Picea engelmannii, measuring 5-10 m, may occur with higher cover as more of a woodland. Abies lasiocarpa trees and Picea engelmannii seedlings can also be common. Shrub cover is very high at 60-80%, dominated almost exclusively by Salix drummondiana with heights of 1-2 m. A few other shrubs are present with low cover. Herbaceous cover ranges from 10-30% and is dominated by Calamagrostis canadensis, Elymus glaucus, and Geum macrophyllum. Other high-constancy forbs include Epilobium ciliatum and Galium triflorum. Cicuta douglasii, Carex utriculata, Petasites frigidus var. sagittatus (= Petasites sagittatus), and Equisetum hyemale may be present with conspicuous cover. Stand age was measured at 45 years in one plot and 95 years in another.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association is uncommon in the montane and lower subalpine zones on the east side of Glacier National Park, Montana, restricted to the edges of lakes and creeks. Stands are located in bottomland floodplains along lakes, ponds, streams, and creeks. These sites occur at low to moderate elevations up to 1525 m (5000 feet) on flat terrain. Soils are variable, ranging from poorly drained, very dark silty clay loam to rapidly drained, very gravelly sand. This variability is due to the location of stands, which occur on sandy creek beds and semipermanently flooded lowlands. Soil is derived from glacio-fluvial deposits and can contain red, green, and tan argillite. Ground cover is variable as well. Litter covers 30-60% of the ground surface, but water may be as high as 20% cover in some areas, while rock and sand may be 50% cover in other areas.
Geographic Range: This association is known from Glacier National Park, Montana.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: AB?, MT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.731908
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Nc Rocky Mountain-Great Basin Montane Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D195 | 1.B.3.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Nc.1 Engelmann Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M034 | 1.B.3.Nc.1 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a Engelmann Spruce - Blue Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Group | G506 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Alliance | A3757 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Swamp Forest Alliance | A3757 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL005843 Engelmann Spruce / Drummond''s Willow Swamp Woodland | CEGL005843 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Picea engelmannii / Salix drummondiana Woodland (Hop et al. 2007)
- Asebrook, Jen. Personal communication. Glacier Biological Technician, Glacier National Park, West Glacier, MT.
- Hansen, P. L., R. D. Pfister, K. Boggs, B. J. Cook, J. Joy, and D. K. Hinckley. 1995. Classification and management of Montana''s riparian and wetland sites. Miscellaneous Publication No. 54. Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana. 646 pp. plus posters.
- 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.