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CEGL005840 Pinus albicaulis - (Picea engelmannii) / Dryas octopetala Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Whitebark Pine - (Engelmann Spruce) / Eight-petal Mountain-avens Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This northern Rocky Mountain woodland association is described from mountains in Alberta, Canada. Stands of this woodland association are found at subxeric sites, thinly covered with colluvial deposits. They are located at high elevations, between 2060 and 2290 m (6750-7510 feet), on the upper portions of moderate to steep slopes, and occur on west-, northeast-, and south-facing slopes. Soils tend to be rapidly draining Orthic Regosols composed of at least 50% small rocks. Ground cover of rock and bare soil is relatively high (50-65%). This woodland association is codominated by a pole to mature, open tree canopy (<20% cover) of Pinus albicaulis, Picea engelmannii, and Abies lasiocarpa. Heights of these species are between 5 and 15 m. The tree regeneration layer consists of Pinus albicaulis, Picea engelmannii, Larix lyallii, and Abies lasiocarpa with less than 20% cover. Juniperus communis is found in the sparse short-shrub layer, and Dryas octopetala dominates the dwarf-shrub layer with an average cover of 30%. The herbaceous layer is represented by a diversity of species that contribute moderate canopy cover (50%) and reflect the subxeric conditions. Common species include Sedum lanceolatum, Anemone multifida, Festuca brachyphylla, and Saxifraga bronchialis. Numerous nonvascular species and a few epiphytic species are found in these stands as well and make up<20% total cover. Diagnostic of this associations is the Pinus albicaulis-codominated tree canopy with the understory dominated by the dwarf-shrub Dryas octopetala and subxeric herbaceous species Saxifraga bronchialis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: There is relatively high canopy cover of Abies lasiocarpa in 2 of 3 Waterton Lakes plots that may be related to Pinus albicaulis mortality. These stands contain dead Pinus albicaulis trees that were likely killed by white pine blister rust, which continues to reduce canopy cover of that tree. Further investigation and inventory is needed to resolve this classification issue and to determine the full extent of this association that is currently known only from Waterton Lakes National Park.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: No Data Available
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: No Data Available
Geographic Range: This northern Rocky Mountain woodland association is described from the subalpine zone in mountains of Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada.
Nations: CA,US?
States/Provinces: AB
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.732554
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.g Whitebark Pine - Subalpine Fir - Subalpine Larch Northern Rocky Mountain Woodland Group | G223 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.g |
| Alliance | A3368 Whitebark Pine Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3368 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.g |
| Association | CEGL005840 Whitebark Pine - (Engelmann Spruce) / Eight-petal Mountain-avens Woodland | CEGL005840 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.g |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus albicaulis - (Picea engelmannii) / Dryas octopetala Woodland (Hop et al. 2007)
= O31: Pinus albicaulis - Picea engelmannii / Dryas octopetala vegetation type (Achuff et al. 2002)
= O31: Pinus albicaulis - Picea engelmannii / Dryas octopetala 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.