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CEGL002326 Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa - Pinus albicaulis / Juniperus communis Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir - Whitebark Pine / Common Juniper Woodland
Colloquial Name: Subalpine Fir - Whitebark Pine / Common Juniper Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This small-patch community occurs on ridge crests and warm-aspect upper slopes of variable steepness. This association occurs on the western slopes of the Fraser River drainage of British Columbia. Specifically it is found on the upper slopes of the Yalakom, Hurley, Stein, and Bridge river drainages, the Cayoosh Creek drainage, as well as the upper slopes of the Camelsfoot Range. Soils are variably textured, developed from morainal and colluvial veneers over bedrock. Sites are dry and nutrient-poor. This subalpine woodland community is characterized by an open canopy Pinus albicaulis and Pinus contorta var. latifolia, with regenerating Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa. The understory is sparse, dominated by Juniperus communis in the shrub layer, sometimes with Vaccinium membranaceum and with Calamagrostis rubescens, Lupinus arcticus ssp. subalpinus in the herb layer. The sparse nonvascular layer consists mainly of lichens. The high constancy and dominance of Pinus albicaulis and Juniperus communis, along with Calamagrostis rubescens, Lupinus arcticus ssp. subalpinus, and Sedum lanceolatum differentiate this association from other related associations.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Quantitative analysis suggests that high constancy and dominance of Pinus albicaulis and Juniperus communis, along with Calamagrostis rubescens, Lupinus arcticus ssp. subalpinus, and Sedum lanceolatum differentiate this association from other related British Columbia associations within the BC suballiance Abies lasiocarpa - Vaccinium membranaceum. Qualitative comparison shows that ~Pinus albicaulis / Juniperus communis Woodland (CEGL000756)$$, known from Idaho and Wyoming, is much drier and lacks Rhododendron albiflorum and Vaccinium membranaceum.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This subalpine woodland community is characterized by an open canopy of Pinus albicaulis, Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa, and minor Pinus contorta var. latifolia. The moderate understory is dominated by Juniperus communis and Vaccinium membranaceum in the shrub layer, and with scattered Calamagrostis rubescens, Lupinus arcticus ssp. subalpinus, Achillea millefolium, and Sedum lanceolatum in the herb layer. The sparse nonvascular layer consists of scattered lichens. The high constancy and dominance of Pinus albicaulis and Juniperus communis, along with Calamagrostis rubescens, Lupinus arcticus ssp. subalpinus, and Sedum lanceolatum differentiate this association from other related associations.
Dynamics: This is a late-successional (mature seral and climax) edaphic forest type. Natural disturbance patterns include frequent wildfire ranging from small spot fires to very large conflagrations which were the primary stand-initiating events. Mean return interval for these fires was about 150 years.
Environmental Description: This small-patch community occurs on ridge crests and warm-aspect upper slopes of variable steepness. Soils are variably textured, developed from morainal and colluvial veneers over bedrock. Sites are dry to very dry and nutrient-poor. Elevational range is from 1500 to 1900 m (4921-6233 feet).
The range of this plant community extends along the western slopes of the Fraser River drainage at elevations from 1500 to 1900 m. More specifically, it is found on the upper slopes of the Yalakom, Hurley, Stein, and Bridge river drainages, the Cayoosh Creek drainage, as well as the upper slopes of the Camelsfoot Range. The distribution is relatively common within a narrow range.
The range of this plant community extends along the western slopes of the Fraser River drainage at elevations from 1500 to 1900 m. More specifically, it is found on the upper slopes of the Yalakom, Hurley, Stein, and Bridge river drainages, the Cayoosh Creek drainage, as well as the upper slopes of the Camelsfoot Range. The distribution is relatively common within a narrow range.
Geographic Range: This association occurs on the western slopes of the Fraser River drainage in British Columbia. Specifically it is found on the upper slopes of the Yalakom, Hurley, Stein, and Bridge river drainages, the Cayoosh Creek drainage, as well as the upper slopes of the Camelsfoot Range.
Nations: CA,US?
States/Provinces: BC, WA?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.735986
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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 | CEGL002326 Subalpine Fir - Whitebark Pine / Common Juniper Woodland | CEGL002326 | 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: = Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa - Pinus albicaulis / Juniperus communis (BCMFRB 1992)
? Pinus albicaulis/Juniperus communis Woodland (Crawford et al. 2009) [PNWCOAST_091 as it occurs in the Cascades is likely the same.]
? Pinus albicaulis/Juniperus communis Woodland (Crawford et al. 2009) [PNWCOAST_091 as it occurs in the Cascades is likely the same.]
- BCCDC [British Columbia Conservation Data Centre]. 2018. Unpublished data on file at British Columbia Conservation Data Center. Ministry of Environment, Victoria.
- BCMFRB [British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Branch]. 1992. Vegetation classification hierarchy: DBASE. September 1992. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria. BC.
- BCMFRB [British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Branch]. 2003a. Vegetation classification hierarchy: BECMaster May 2003. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, BC.
- BCMWLAPPPA [British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Parks and Protected Areas]. 2003. Protected areas overview: Database. December 2003.
- Crawford, R. C., C. B. Chappell, C. C. Thompson, and F. J. Rocchio. 2009. Vegetation classification of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic national parks. Plant association descriptions and identification keys: Appendices A-G. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCCN/NRTR--2009/D-586. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 586 pp.
- Lloyd, D. A., K. Angove, G. Hope, and C. Thompson. 1990. A guide for site identification and interpretation of the Kamloops Forest Region. 2 volumes. Land Management Handbook No. 23. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, BC. [http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/docs/lmh/lmh23.htm]
- Parminter, J., co-author and co-editor. 1995. Biodiversity guidebook: Forest practices code of British Columbia. British Columbia Ministry of Forests and British Columbia Environment, Victoria, BC. ix + 99 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.