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CEGL005828 Betula glandulosa / Salix brachycarpa Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Resin Birch / Short-fruit Willow Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: Shrublands of this association have only been described from Rocky Mountain National Park in the high subalpine between 3390 and 3460 m (11,120-11,360 feet) elevation. Stands form dense, low thickets and can be found on both slopes and benches where pitch ranges from flat to somewhat steep (0-49%) and aspect is variable. The surficial geology is granite, and soils are sandy loams and loams. Soils are generally well-drained but can also be moderately well-drained and somewhat poorly drained. Large and small rocks and litter and duff comprise significant ground cover. Betula glandulosa and Salix brachycarpa codominate a dense shrub canopy of 60-100% cover in this association. Betula glandulosa typically has slightly higher coverage (30-80%) than Salix brachycarpa (1-60%) and occasionally dominates the stratum. The shrubs grow <0.5 m tall in most stands but can reach 1 m where growing conditions are favorable. In addition to the two dominant shrubs, Artemisia arctica ssp. arctica, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Juniperus communis, and Salix planifolia can all be found within the shrub layer at low concentrations. This community type often grows at treeline and can contain krummholz Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii intermixed with the true shrub species. The herbaceous stratum is variable, covering between 5-30%. In some stands the shrub layer grows so dense that little else can grow underneath, while in other stands the herbaceous undergrowth is significant. The most common graminoids include Calamagrostis purpurascens, Carex siccata, Carex rupestris var. drummondiana, Festuca brachyphylla ssp. coloradensis, and Trisetum spicatum. The most common forbs include Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis, Campanula spp., Geum rossii var. turbinatum, Minuartia obtusiloba, and Sedum lanceolatum ssp. lanceolatum.

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: Betula glandulosa and Salix brachycarpa codominate a dense shrub canopy of 60-100% cover in this association. Betula glandulosa typically has slightly higher coverage (30-80%) than Salix brachycarpa (1-60%) and occasionally dominates the stratum. The shrubs grow <0.5 m tall in most stands but can reach 1 m where growing conditions are favorable. In addition to the two dominant shrubs, Artemisia arctica ssp. arctica, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Juniperus communis, and Salix planifolia can all be found within the shrub layer at low concentrations. This community type often grows at treeline and can contain krummholz Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii intermixed with the true shrub species. The herbaceous stratum is variable, covering between 5-30%. In some stands the shrub layer grows so dense that little else can grow underneath, while in other stands the herbaceous undergrowth is significant. The most common graminoids include Calamagrostis purpurascens, Carex siccata (= Carex foenea), Carex rupestris var. drummondiana, Festuca brachyphylla ssp. coloradensis, and Trisetum spicatum. The most common forbs include Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis, Campanula spp., Geum rossii var. turbinatum, Minuartia obtusiloba, and Sedum lanceolatum ssp. lanceolatum.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This shrubland occurs in the high subalpine between 3390 and 3460 m (11,120-11,360 feet) elevation. Stands form dense, low thickets and can be found on both slopes and benches where pitch ranges from flat to somewhat steep (0-49%) and aspect is variable. The surficial geology is granite, and soils are sandy loams and loams. Soils are generally well-drained but can also be moderately well-drained and somewhat poorly drained. Large and small rocks and litter and duff comprise significant ground cover.
Geographic Range: This subalpine shrubland association has only been described from Rocky Mountain National Park in north-central Colorado.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D031 2.C.4.Nb
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nb.5 Sitka Alder - Booth''s Willow / Northwest Territory Sedge Montane Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M893 2.C.4.Nb.5
Group 2.C.4.Nb.5.d Willow species - Alder species - Water Birch Riparian & Seep Shrubland Group G527 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Alliance A3770 Wolf''s Willow - Short-fruit Willow - Resin Birch Wet Shrubland Alliance A3770 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Association CEGL005828 Resin Birch / Short-fruit Willow Wet Shrubland CEGL005828 2.C.4.Nb.5.d
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Betula nana - Salix brachycarpa Shrubland (Salas et al. 2005)
Concept Author(s): Salas et al. (2005)

Author of Description: Western Ecology Group

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-23-09
  • Salas, D., J. Stevens, and K. Schulz. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Technical Memorandum No. 8260-05-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 161 pp. plus Appendices A-L (733 pp.).
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.