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CEGL002809 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Poa fendleriana Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir / Muttongrass Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This woodland association is only known from a few stands in Curecanti National Recreation Area in western Colorado and from Dinosaur National Monument in Utah. Stands occupy the slopes of canyons and gulches and are on moderately steep to steep (38-70%) sites, between 2178 and 2363 m elevation, and are oriented to northerly aspects. Soils are rapidly drained, coarse-textured and derived from sedimentary rocks. The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense (25 to 50%) tree canopy 10-35 m tall composed of Pseudotsuga menziesii, with an open to moderately dense herbaceous layer dominated by the short bunchgrass Poa fendleriana providing 5 to 25% cover. Single trees of Pinus ponderosa may occur in the canopy, and scattered sapling Pseudotsuga menziesii and Juniperus scopulorum 2-10 m tall form an open subcanopy. Shrubs are generally present but too sparse to constitute a stratum; Cercocarpus montanus, Cercocarpus intricatus, Artemisia tridentata, Ribes spp., Quercus gambelii, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus are common species. The remaining herbaceous layer is mostly composed of graminoids, such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Elymus elymoides, Koeleria macrantha, Poa secunda, and sparse cover of forbs. Pseudoroegneria spicata is absent. Lichens and mosses provide to 25% cover.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association has only been documented from two locations in Curecanti National Recreation Area and one site in Dinosaur National Monument in western Colorado and adjacent Utah. More survey and classification work are needed to change the provisional status of this association.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense (25 to 50%) tree canopy 10-35 m tall composed of Pseudotsuga menziesii, with an open to moderately dense herbaceous layer dominated by the short bunchgrass Poa fendleriana providing 5 to 25% cover. Large Pinus ponderosa may be scattered throughout the canopy, with not more than 10% cover. Scattered young Pseudotsuga menziesii and Juniperus scopulorum 2-10 m tall form a subcanopy. Shrubs are generally present but do not provide enough cover to constitute a stratum; Cercocarpus montanus, Cercocarpus intricatus, Artemisia tridentata, Ribes cereum, Ribes inerme, Quercus gambelii, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus are common species. The remaining herbaceous layer is moderately diverse and mostly composed of graminoids, such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Elymus elymoides, Koeleria macrantha, and Poa secunda. Pseudoroegneria spicata is absent. Forbs are sparse and inconsistent among sites; recorded species include Arenaria congesta, Artemisia frigida, Clematis sp., and Erigeron sp. Lichens and mosses provide up to 25% cover.
Dynamics: This is a relatively dry, open Pseudotsuga menziesii woodland type. It requires an unusual combination of habitat characteristics, which may explain its rarity. Sites must be sheltered and mesic enough to support Pseudotsuga menziesii, but well-drained enough to favor grasses over shrubs in the understory.
Environmental Description: This woodland association is known from only a handful of stands in the Curecanti National Recreation Area and Dinosaur National Monument in western Colorado. More survey and classification work are needed to document the global range of this association. Stands occur on the slopes of canyons and gulches and are on moderately steep to steep (38-70%) sites, between 2178 and 2363 m (7155-7750 feet) elevation, and are oriented to northwest to northeast aspects. Litter, rocks and downed wood cover most of the unvegetated surface. Soils are rapidly drained sandy loam or loamy sand derived from sandstone, alluvium or shale.
Geographic Range: This association is only known from the Curecanti National Recreation Area in western Colorado along the Gunnison River and West Elk Creek. It was also sampled on Split Mountain in Dinosaur National Monument in eastern Utah and at Canyon de Chelly in Arizona. More survey and classification work are needed to document the global range of this association.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.785226
Confidence Level: Low
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.c White Fir - Douglas-fir Southern Rocky Mountain Dry Forest Group | G226 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Alliance | A3454 Douglas-fir Southern Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3454 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Association | CEGL002809 Douglas-fir / Muttongrass Woodland | CEGL002809 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pseudotsuga menziesii / Poa fendleriana Woodland (Tendick et al. 2010)
- Coles, J., A. Tendick, J. Von Loh, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/361. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, P. Williams, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Curecanti National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/408. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 797 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.