Print Report
CEGL002816 Populus tremuloides / Amelanchier alnifolia - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Mixed Graminoid Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen / Saskatoon Serviceberry - Mountain Snowberry / Mixed Graminoid Forest
Colloquial Name: Midwest Red-osier Dogwood - Willow Shrub Swamp
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This aspen forest is found in northwestern Colorado and southwestern Wyoming on moderate to moderately steep slopes (10-30%) of mountains, plateaus and buttes between 2242 and 2724 m elevation. It occurs in small stands on toeslopes, slump slopes, benches, and ridges often with north aspects or in other areas that collect snow or have a higher soil moisture throughout the growing season (seeps). The unvegetated surface generally has low cover of small and large rocks and high cover of leaf litter and downed wood, although in some stands the cover by large rocks may be as high as 40%. Soils are well-drained to poorly drained with soil textures ranging from sandy loam to silt to clay loam. The vegetation is characterized by an open to dense tree canopy 2-10 m tall that is dominated by Populus tremuloides with open to dense shrub layers dominated by tall shrubs Amelanchier alnifolia or Amelanchier utahensis and short shrub Symphoricarpos oreophilus. Scattered Pseudotsuga menziesii or Pinus flexilis may be present in some stands. Other tall shrubs may include Salix scouleriana and Prunus virginiana. Short- and dwarf-shrub associates, such as Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Juniperus communis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Rosa woodsii, Shepherdia canadensis, and Ribes cereum, may be present with low cover. The herbaceous layer is characterized by mixed graminoids, such as Achnatherum lettermanii, Hesperostipa comata, Bromus sp., Carex geyeri, and Poa secunda, and low cover of diverse forbs. Invasive species Poa pratensis and Taraxacum officinale are common in some stands.
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 association is characterized by an open to dense (20-80% cover) tree canopy (2-10 m tall) that is dominated by Populus tremuloides with open to dense shrub layers dominated by tall shrubs Amelanchier alnifolia or Amelanchier utahensis and short shrub Symphoricarpos oreophilus. Emergent Pseudotsuga menziesii trees are observed in some stands, and Pinus flexilis and Populus tremuloides seedlings and saplings provide sparse cover in others. The understory may have distinct tall-shrub (5-80% cover) and short-shrub (10-30% cover) layers or have a mixed appearance. Other tall shrubs may include Salix scouleriana and Prunus virginiana. Short- and dwarf-shrub associates, such as Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Juniperus communis, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Rosa woodsii, Shepherdia canadensis, and Ribes cereum, may be present with low cover. The herbaceous layer is characterized by mixed graminoids, such as Achnatherum lettermanii, Hesperostipa comata, Bromus sp., Carex geyeri, and Poa secunda, and low cover of diverse forbs, such as Astragalus agrestis, Chamerion angustifolium (= Epilobium angustifolium), Galium boreale, Geranium richardsonii, Lupinus argenteus, Lupinus sericeus, Mertensia oblongifolia, and Thalictrum venulosum. Invasive species Poa pratensis and Taraxacum officinale are common in some stands.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This aspen forest is found in northwestern Colorado and southwestern Wyoming on moderate to moderately steep slopes (10-30%) of mountains, plateaus and buttes between 2242 and 2724 m elevation. It occurs in small stands on toeslopes, slump slopes, benches, and ridges often with north aspects or in other areas that collect snow or have a higher soil moisture throughout the growing season (seeps). The unvegetated surface generally has low cover of small and large rocks and high cover of leaf litter and downed wood, although in some stands the cover by large rocks may be as high as 40%. Soils are well-drained to poorly drained with soil textures ranging from sandy loam to silt to clay loam.
Geographic Range: This aspen forest is found in Utah, at Dinosaur National Monument in northwestern Colorado and Fossil Butte Monument in southwestern Wyoming, and is likely more widespread in this region.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NV, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.785411
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.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup | M020 | 1.B.2.Nb.5 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d Quaking Aspen Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group | G222 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
| Alliance | A2036 Quaking Aspen Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance | A2036 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
| Association | CEGL002816 Quaking Aspen / Saskatoon Serviceberry - Mountain Snowberry / Mixed Graminoid Forest | CEGL002816 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus tremuloides / Amelanchier alnifolia - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Mixed Graminoid Forest (Coles et al. 2008a)
- 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.
- Friesen, B. A., S. Blauer, K. Landgraf, J. Von Loh, J. Coles, K. Schulz, A. Tendick, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Fossil Butte National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/319. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 552 pp. [http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/fobu/foburpt.pdf]
- Schulz, K. A., and M. E. Hall. 2011. Vegetation inventory project: Great Basin National Park. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network. NatureServe, Western Regional Office, Boulder, CO. 30 pp. plus Appendices A-H.
- 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.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.