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CEGL002848 Thuja plicata - Pseudotsuga menziesii - Abies grandis / Mahonia nervosa / Polystichum munitum Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Western Red-cedar - Douglas-fir - Grand Fir / Cascade Barberry / Western Swordfern Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This small-patch forest community occurs on gentle and middle slopes on all aspects within the Georgia Basin of British Columbia and adjacent Washington. These sites occur at elevations from 0 to 190 m. This plant community is characterized by a closed canopy of mixed conifers and a moderate shrub layer dominated by Mahonia nervosa and/or Gaultheria shallon, herb layer dominated by Polystichum munitum, and moss layer dominated by feathermosses. Thuja plicata, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Abies grandis are usually present with high cover and typically codominate the overstory. The moderately well-developed shrub layer consists primarily of moderate cover of Mahonia nervosa and Gaultheria shallon together with low cover of Rosa gymnocarpa and Vaccinium parvifolium. Polystichum munitum, and often Achlys triphylla in British Columbia, dominate the moderately well-developed herb layer often with low cover of Trientalis borealis, Rubus ursinus, Galium triflorum, Festuca subulata, and Trillium ovatum. The moderately well-developed moss layer is dominated by high cover of Eurhynchium oreganum usually with low cover of Leucolepis acanthoneuron and Hylocomium splendens. It is distinguished from the similar but more species-poor ~Pseudotsuga menziesii - (Abies grandis, Thuja plicata) / Mahonia nervosa - Gaultheria shallon Forest (CEGL002845)$$ by high cover of rich-site indicator Polystichum munitum and other species such as Tiarella trifoliata, Trillium ovatum, and the moss Leucolepis acanthoneuron.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is distinguished from the similar Pseudotsuga menziesii - Tsuga heterophylla / Gaultheria shallon / Polystichum munitum Forest (Chappell 2006b), which occurs more commonly in more moist climates, by the relative paucity of Tsuga heterophylla in relation to Thuja plicata and Abies grandis.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This plant community is characterized by a closed canopy and an overstory dominated by high cover of Thuja plicata, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and/or Abies grandis. Low to moderate cover of Acer macrophyllum and Cornus nuttallii are sometimes present in the overstory. Tsuga heterophylla occasionally occurs but is subordinate in importance to Thuja plicata and Abies grandis. The moderately well-developed shrub layer is dominated by moderate cover of Mahonia nervosa and Gaultheria shallon together with low cover of Rosa gymnocarpa and Vaccinium parvifolium. Sometimes there is moderate cover of Holodiscus discolor and low cover of Frangula purshiana (= Rhamnus purshiana). The moderately well-developed herb layer is dominated by low to moderate cover of Polystichum munitum, and often Achlys triphylla as well in British Columbia, with low cover of Trientalis borealis, Rubus ursinus, Galium triflorum, Festuca subulata, and Trillium ovatum. Often there is low to moderate cover of Linnaea borealis and low cover of Tiarella trifoliata, Pteridium aquilinum, Mycelis muralis (= Lactuca muralis), and Lathyrus nevadensis. The moderately well-developed moss layer is dominated by high cover of Eurhynchium oreganum, sometimes with low cover of Leucolepis acanthoneuron and Hylocomium splendens.
Dynamics: This is a mid- to late-successional (mature and climax) edaphic forest community. Stands originated from infrequent stand-replacing fires (perhaps every 150-200 years) and occasionally windthrow. Within mature and old forests, small gaps result from the death of single trees or small groups of trees due to root-rots, bark beetles or windthrow. Stand-maintaining surface fires, both aboriginal and lightning-caused, were more frequent (perhaps every 50-100 years) (Brown and Hebda 1999) prior to European settlement. Surface fires likely maintained a moderately open overstory. Gap dynamics in old forests result in an all-aged stand structure.
Environmental Description: This small-patch forest community occurs on mesic or submesic sites within the Georgia Depression of British Columbia and adjacent Washington, at elevations from 0 to 190 m. It occurs mostly on gentle to steep middle or short slopes on all aspects. Soils are loamy, sandy or silty loams and are sometimes gravelly. Soil moisture regimes are typically mesic or submesic (subxeric), and soil nutrient regimes are typically rich. The range of this type is confined to areas of low annual precipitation (50-100 cm) within the coastal region.
Geographic Range: This community occurs in British Columbia within the Coastal Douglas-fir zone (CDFmm), which occupies a total of 2593 square km. It occurs within the Georgia Depression Ecoregion of British Columbia, specifically in the rainshadow of the Olympic and Vancouver Island mountains, from the Saanich Peninsula (Victoria) northward along the southeast coast of Vancouver Island to Bowser, from Cortes Island southward through the Gulf Islands, and along a narrow strip of the mainland Sunshine Coast near Halfmoon Bay and Powell River and adjacent islands, including southwest Texada Island. It extends into the San Juan Islands and climatically similar areas in Washington (e.g., northeastern Olympic Peninsula, Whidbey Island).
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: BC, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.787997
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.Nd Vancouverian Forest & Woodland Division | D192 | 1.B.2.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nd.3 Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce - Redwood Rainforest Macrogroup | M024 | 1.B.2.Nd.3 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce North-Central Pacific Rainforest Group | G751 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f |
| Alliance | A3609 Grand Fir - Sitka Spruce - Western Red-cedar Forest Alliance | A3609 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f |
| Association | CEGL002848 Western Red-cedar - Douglas-fir - Grand Fir / Cascade Barberry / Western Swordfern Forest | CEGL002848 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pseudotsuga menziesii - Thuja plicata / Gaultheria shallon - Mahonia nervosa / Polystichum munitum (Chappell 2006b) [16 plots]
= Thuja plicata-Pseudotsuga menziesii-Abies grandis/Mahonia nervosa/Polystichum munitum (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_218]
> CDF mm /04 (Green and Klinka 1994)
= Thuja plicata-Pseudotsuga menziesii-Abies grandis/Mahonia nervosa/Polystichum munitum (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_218]
> CDF mm /04 (Green and Klinka 1994)
- 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]. 2003a. Vegetation classification hierarchy: BECMaster May 2003. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, BC.
- BCMFRB [British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Branch]. 2005a. Vegetation classification hierarchy: BECMaster 2005. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, BC.
- BCMFRB [British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Branch]. 2005b. Vegetation and environment plot data: BECMaster January 2005. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, BC.
- BCMWLAP [British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection]. 2004b. Marbled Murrelet. In: Accounts and measures for managing identified wildlife. British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Victoria, BC. 52 pp.
- BCMWLAP [British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection]. 2004d. Spotted Owl. In: Accounts and measures for managing identified wildlife. British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Victoria, BC. 52 pp.
- Brown, K. J., and R. J. Hebda. 1999. Long-term fire incidence in coastal forests of British Columbia. Northwest Science 73:41-43.
- Cadrin, C. M., and M. Wolowicz. 2005. Application of terrestrial ecosystem mapping on coastal British Columbia to conservation status assessments of ecological communities. British Columbia Conservation Data Centre, Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Victoria, BC.
- Chappell, C. B. 1997. Terrestrial forested plant associations of the Puget Lowland. Draft report. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Olympia. 36 pp.
- Chappell, C. B. 2006b. Upland plant associations of the Puget Trough ecoregion, Washington. Natural Heritage Report 2006-01. Washington Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, Olympia, WA. [http://www.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/communities/pdf/intro.pdf]
- Green, R. N., and K. Klinka. 1994. A field guide to site interpretation for the Vancouver Forest Region. British Columbia Ministry of Forests. ISSN 0229-1622 Land Management Handbook 28. 285 pp.
- Meidinger, D., C. Chappell, C. Cadrin, G. Kittel, C. McCain, K. Boggs, J. Kagan, G. Cushon, A. Banner, and T. DeMeo. 2005. International Vegetation Classification of the Pacific Northwest: International correlation of temperate coastal forest plant associations of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. Contributors: B.C. Ministry of Forests, USDA Forest Service, B.C. Conservation Data Centre, Alaska Natural Heritage Program, Washington Natural Heritage Program, and Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center.
- Ward, P., G. Radcliffe, J. Kirkby, J. Illingworth, and C. Cadrin. 1998. Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory: East Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands 1993-1997. Volume 1: Methodology, Ecological Descriptions and Results. Technical Report Series No. 320, Canadian Wildlife Service, Pacific and Yukon Region, Victoria, BC. [http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/acat/documents/r2124/SEI_4206_rpt1_1111625239116_8be42252200c4f0283b18cac66eed366.pdf]
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.