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CEGL002794 Pinus ponderosa / Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ponderosa Pine / Mountain Big Sagebrush Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This open ponderosa pine woodland is described from the southern Rocky Mountains on sites at 2200 to 2865 m (7215-9400 feet) elevation on dry, moderate to somewhat steep slopes with southerly to easterly aspects. Stands often occur adjacent to sagebrush shrublands. Soils are well-drained or rapidly drained sandy loams and loamy sands derived from granite or sandstone. The vegetation is characterized by an open tree canopy (10-30% cover) dominated by Pinus ponderosa with a moderately dense short-shrub layer dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana (10-30% cover). Tree canopy may have low cover of Pinus edulis, Juniperus osteosperma, or Juniperus scopulorum. The shrub layer may be diverse. Associated shrubs and dwarf-shrubs may include Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia frigida, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Mahonia repens, Opuntia fragilis, Paxistima myrsinites, Purshia tridentata, Ribes cereum, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus, usually with <5% cover each. The herbaceous layer ranges from sparse to moderately dense and is typically dominated by graminoids (to 40% cover). Common associates include Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Elymus spp., Hesperostipa comata, Koeleria macrantha, Muhlenbergia montana, Poa secunda, and introduced species Bromus inermis, Bromus tectorum, and Poa pratensis. Forbs are less significant and few species contribute >1% cover.
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: This woodland association is characterized by an open tree canopy (10-30% cover) dominated by Pinus ponderosa with a moderately dense short-shrub layer dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana (10-30% cover). Tree canopy may have low cover of Pinus edulis, Juniperus osteosperma, or Juniperus scopulorum. The shrub layer may be diverse. Other shrubs and dwarf-shrubs may include Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia frigida, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Mahonia repens, Opuntia fragilis, Paxistima myrsinites, Purshia tridentata, Ribes cereum, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus, usually with <5% cover each. The herbaceous layer ranges from sparse to moderately dense and is typically dominated by graminoids (to 40% cover). Common associates include Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Elymus elymoides, Elymus scribneri, Elymus trachycaulus, Hesperostipa comata, Koeleria macrantha, Muhlenbergia montana, Poa secunda, and introduced species Bromus inermis, Bromus tectorum, and Poa pratensis. Forbs are less significant and few species contribute >1% cover. Possible forbs include Antennaria spp., Achillea millefolium, Artemisia ludoviciana, Eriogonum umbellatum, Heterotheca villosa, Potentilla effusa, and Symphyotrichum campestre var. campestre.
Dynamics: The presence of Artemisia tridentata with Purshia tridentata in the shrub layer indicates shallower soils than monotypic Purshia tridentata shrub layers. Fire will reduce both shrub species in favor of graminoids (Johnston and Huckaby 2001).
Environmental Description: This open ponderosa pine woodland is described from the southern Rocky Mountains on sites at 2200 to 2865 m (7215-9400 feet) elevation on dry, moderate to somewhat steep slopes (10-49%) with southerly to easterly aspects. Stands often occur adjacent to sagebrush shrublands. Soils are well-drained or rapidly drained sandy loams and loamy sands derived from granite or sandstone. The ground cover is a mosaic of bedrock, gravel, sandy soils, organic litter and duff under trees and boulders.
Geographic Range: This association is known from the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park and Dinosaur National Park (Douglas Mountain) in Colorado and may extend into northern Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.784066
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.1 White Fir - Douglas-fir - Blue Spruce Forest Macrogroup | M022 | 1.B.2.Nb.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.1.b Ponderosa Pine Southern Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group | G228 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.b |
| Alliance | A3398 Ponderosa Pine Southern Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3398 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002794 Ponderosa Pine / Mountain Big Sagebrush Woodland | CEGL002794 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.b |
Concept Lineage: CEGL002814 merged into CEGL002794 (duplicate).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus ponderosa / Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana Woodland (Coles et al. 2008a)
>< Pinus ponderosa / Festuca idahoensis Habitat Type, Artemisia tridentata Phase (Mauk and Henderson 1984)
>< Ponderosa pine/bitterbrush-Dark soils with no clay layer (Johnston and Huckaby 2001)
>< Pinus ponderosa / Festuca idahoensis Habitat Type, Artemisia tridentata Phase (Mauk and Henderson 1984)
>< Ponderosa pine/bitterbrush-Dark soils with no clay layer (Johnston and Huckaby 2001)
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- Coles, J., D. Cogan, D. Salas, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, J. Von Loh, and A. Evenden. 2008a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Dinosaur National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR-2008/112. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 814 pp.
- Johnston, B. C., and L. Huckaby. 2001. Ecological types of the Upper Gunnison Basin. Technical Report R2-RR-2001-01. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Denver, CO.
- Kearsley, M. J. C., K. Green, M. Tukman, M. Reid, M. Hall, T. J. Ayers, and K. Christie. 2015. Grand Canyon National Park-Grand Canyon / Parashant National Monument vegetation classification and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR--2015/913. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 75 pp. plus appendices.
- Mauk, R. L., and J. A. Henderson. 1984. Coniferous forest habitat types of northern Utah. General Technical Report INT-170. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 89 pp.
- Reid, M. S., and M. E. Hall. 2010. Vegetation classification of Grand Canyon National Park. Draft report submitted to National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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.).
- Thomas, K. A., M. L. McTeague, L. Ogden, K. Schulz, T. Fancher, R. Waltermire, and A. Cully. 2010. Vegetation classification and distribution mapping report: Canyon de Chelly National Monument. National Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR-2010/306. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 338 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.