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CEGL005940 Acer negundo - Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia Riparian Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Box-elder - Thinleaf Alder Riparian Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is found in the mountainous regions of northern New Mexico in the Rio Grande and Pecos River watersheds. It occurs in lower montane regions, typically in the riparian zone of canyon floors. Elevations range between 1970 and 2160 m (6470-7100 feet). Stands occur on alluvial terraces and bars adjacent to perennial stream channels with gradients up to 5%. Soils include moist Entisols (Typic Fluvaquents and Oxyaquic Udifluvents) that are shallow and have a sandy to loamy layer over a gravelly-cobbly layer, or loamy Mollisols derived from dacite and rhyolitic alluvium. The ground surface is characterized by shrubs rooted among rhizomatous grasses, exposed gravels and soil-intermixed litter patches. The community is at least partially flooded every other year or completely inundated, on average, every four years. Flood debris is often evident near the banks as driftlines or larger debris piles. This riparian forest is characterized by a closed canopy (80-95%) dominated by Acer negundo. Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia may be present in the subcanopy; other tree species are uncommon or absent. Shrubs may vary from poorly represented to abundant, with Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia the most abundant. Occasionally Salix irrorata and a variety of other shrubs may be present. The herbaceous layer is also very diverse but variable, with over 70 grasses and forbs reported for the type.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: At lower elevations, Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia tends to decrease in dominance and drop out of the stand, while at upper elevations Acer negundo will decrease in dominance, being replaced by Picea pungens, or in some cases Populus angustifolia. This type is similar to Acer negundo / Cornus sericea described by Padgett et al. (1989) and ~Acer negundo / Cornus sericea Riparian Forest (CEGL000625)$$ reported for Colorado, Utah, and Idaho.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This riparian forest is characterized a closed canopy (80-95%) dominated by Acer negundo. Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia may be present in the subcanopy; other tree species are uncommon or absent. Shrubs may vary from poorly represented to abundant, with Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia the most abundant. Occasionally Salix irrorata and a variety of other shrubs may be present. The herbaceous layer is also very diverse but variable, with over 70 grasses and forbs reported for the type. The herbaceous layer may be species-rich with cover ranging from well-represented to luxuriant and represented by facultative and obligate wetland species such as Mentha arvensis, Equisetum laevigatum, Agrimonia striata, and Sidalcea candida among forbs, and Carex interior, Carex bolanderi, Agrostis gigantea, and Torreyochloa pallida among graminoids.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association is found in the mountainous regions of northern New Mexico in the Rio Grande and Pecos River watersheds. It occurs in lower montane regions, typically in the riparian zone of canyon floors. Elevations range between 1970 and 2160 m (6470-7100 feet). Stands occur on alluvial terraces and bars adjacent to perennial stream channels with gradients up to 5%. Soils include moist Entisols (Typic Fluvaquents and Oxyaquic Udifluvents) that are shallow and have a sandy to loamy layer over a gravelly-cobbly layer, or loamy Mollisols derived from dacite and rhyolitic alluvium. The ground surface is characterized by shrubs rooted among rhizomatous grasses, exposed gravels and soil-intermixed litter patches. The community is at least partially flooded every other year or completely inundated, on average, every four years. Flood debris is often evident near the banks as driftlines or larger debris piles.
Geographic Range: This association is found in the mountainous regions of northern New Mexico in the Rio Grande and Pecos River watersheds (Sandoval and San Miguel counties).
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.737507
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.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 | A4154 Box-elder - Thinleaf Alder - Red-osier Dogwood Riparian Woodland Alliance | A4154 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL005940 Box-elder - Thinleaf Alder Riparian Forest | CEGL005940 | 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: ? Acer negundo / Cornus sericea Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989)
= Boxelder/Thinleaf Alder CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)
= Boxelder/Thinleaf Alder CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)
- Hibner, C. D. 2009. Special project soil survey of Bandelier National Monument. Natural Resources Conservation Science. In cooperation with the USDI National Park Service and the New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station. [in review]
- Muldavin, E., A. Kennedy, C. Jackson, P. Neville, T. Neville, K. Schulz, and M. Reid. 2011b. Vegetation classification and map: Bandelier National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2011/438. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Muldavin, E., P. Durkin, M. Bradley, M. Stuever, and P. Mehlhop. 2000a. Handbook of wetland vegetation communities of New Mexico. Volume I: Classification and community descriptions. Final report to the New Mexico Environment Department and the Environmental Protection Agency prepared by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
- Padgett, W. G., A. P. Youngblood, and A. H. Winward. 1989. Riparian community type classification of Utah and southeastern Idaho. Research Paper R4-ECOL-89-0. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.