Print Report

CEGL003748 Populus tremuloides / Invasive Perennial Grasses Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen / Invasive Perennial Grasses Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is a widespread grazing-induced type found across much of the western U.S. within the range of aspen, including the southern and central Rocky Mountains west into the Colorado Plateau and Great Basin into eastern California and throughout much of Idaho and Montana. Stands typically occur within the elevational range of 1830-2830 m (6000-9280 feet) on flat to moderate (1-27%) benches, alluvial terraces and lower slopes, swales, near springs and especially along stream channels and valley bottoms where livestock congregate. Stands typically have current or past heavy grazing. Aspects and substrates are variable. Soils are often relatively mesic and well-developed (Mollisols) but include sandy, silty, or clay loams derived from recent alluvium, shales, granite or volcanics. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense (40-60% cover) tree canopy 5-15 m tall composed of Populus tremuloides but may include sparse and scattered conifers, such as Pinus contorta, Picea engelmannii, and Abies lasiocarpa. There is no distinct shrub stratum; however, scattered shrubs, such as Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Juniperus communis var. montana, Mahonia repens, Ribes inerme, Rosa woodsii, and Symphoricarpos rotundifolius, may be present. The diagnostic feature of the understory is the lush herbaceous layer that is strongly dominated by introduced perennial graminoids, usually Poa pratensis (20-30% cover or more), or other introduced forage species, such as Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus spp., Bromus inermis, Dactylis glomerata, and Phleum pratense. Other graminoid species may include Bromus carinatus, Bromus ciliatus, Bromus porteri, Carex spp., Elymus trachycaulus, and Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis. Forb cover is generally low but often diverse. Forb species with high frequency include Achillea millefolium, Artemisia ludoviciana, Astragalus miser, Fragaria spp., Galium boreale, Geranium viscosissimum, Ligusticum porteri, Lupinus sp., Potentilla spp., Thalictrum fendleri, Thermopsis divaricarpa, and Trifolium longipes. Introduced species, such Taraxacum officinale and Trifolium spp., are common in this frequently grazing-disturbed type.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The concept of this semi-natural aspen forest association includes aspen stands with understories dominated by introduced herbaceous species, especially forage species that have escaped from cultivation, such as Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus spp., Bromus inermis, Dactylis glomerata, Phleum pratense, Medicago sativa, Melilotus officinalis, and Trifolium spp.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This deciduous forest association is characterized by a moderately dense (40-60% cover) tree canopy 5-15 m tall composed of Populus tremuloides but may include sparse and scattered conifers, such as Pinus contorta, Picea engelmannii, and Abies lasiocarpa. There is no distinct shrub stratum; however, scattered shrubs, such as Artemisia cana, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Juniperus communis var. montana, Mahonia repens, Ribes inerme, Rosa woodsii, and Symphoricarpos rotundifolius, may be present. The diagnostic feature of the understory is the lush herbaceous layer that is strongly dominated by introduced perennial graminoids, usually Poa pratensis (20-30% cover or more), or other introduced forage species, such as Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus spp., Bromus inermis, Dactylis glomerata, and Phleum pratense. Other graminoid species may include Bromus carinatus, Bromus ciliatus, Bromus porteri, Carex spp., Deschampsia cespitosa, Elymus trachycaulus, and Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus). Forb cover is generally low but often diverse. Forb species with high frequency include Achillea millefolium, Artemisia ludoviciana, Astragalus miser, Fragaria spp., Galium boreale, Geranium viscosissimum, Ligusticum filicinum, Ligusticum porteri, Lupinus sp., Maianthemum stellatum, Potentilla spp., Senecio integerrimus, Thalictrum fendleri, Thermopsis divaricarpa, and Trifolium longipes. Introduced species, such Taraxacum officinale and Trifolium spp., are common in this frequently grazing-disturbed type (Mueggler 1988, Powell 1988a, Padgett et al. 1989, Hansen et al. 1995).

Dynamics:  This is a widespread grazing-induced type found across much of the western U.S. (Mueggler 1988). Poa pratensis is a palatable, grazing-tolerant grass that does well where soil moisture is relatively high (Hansen et al. 1995). It is rhizomatous and considered an increaser and invasive under moderate to heavy livestock grazing. Introduced forage species, such as Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus spp., Bromus inermis, Dactylis glomerata, and Phleum pratense, often escape from nearby hay meadows and are naturalized in the subirrigated meadows near streams and mesic uplands.
Environmental Description:  This association is a widespread grazing-induced type found across much of the western U.S. within the range of aspen, including the southern and central Rocky Mountains west into the Colorado Plateau and Great Basin into eastern California and throughout much of Idaho and Montana. Stands typically occur within the elevational range of 1830-2830 m (6000-9280 feet) on typically flat to moderate (1-54%) benches, alluvial terraces and lower slopes, moist hillsides, swales, near springs and especially along stream channels and valley bottoms where livestock congregate. In semi-arid areas, stands are found on seep-saturated hillslopes. Stands typically have current or past heavy livestock grazing. Aspects and substrates are variable. Soils are often relatively mesic and well-developed (Mollisols) but include sandy, silty, or clay loams derived from recent alluvium, shales, granite or volcanics. Surface rock does not play a large role in the surface cover; however, litter and duff may comprise significant ground cover.
Geographic Range: This association is a widespread grazing-induced type found across much of the western U.S. within the range of aspen, including the southern and central Rocky Mountains west into the Colorado Plateau and Great Basin into eastern California and throughout southern and eastern Idaho and much of Montana and western Wyoming.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, WY


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA

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 CEGL003748 Quaking Aspen / Invasive Perennial Grasses Forest CEGL003748 1.B.2.Nb.5.d
Concept Lineage: This new concept is broader than the original type. CEGL003148 merged into CEGL003748.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Populus tremuloides / Agrostis stolonifera Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
> Populus tremuloides / Poa pratensis (Sawyer et al. 2009) [61.111.20]
> Populus tremuloides / Poa pratensis Community Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
> Populus tremuloides / Poa pratensis Community Type (Manning and Padgett 1995)
> Populus tremuloides / Poa pratensis Community Type (Mueggler 1988)
> Populus tremuloides / Poa pratensis Community Type (Mueggler and Campbell 1982)
> Populus tremuloides / Poa pratensis Community Type (Girard et al. 1997)
> Populus tremuloides / Poa pratensis Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989)
> Populus tremuloides / Poa pratensis Community Type (Hall and Hansen 1997)
> Populus tremuloides / Poa pratensis Community Type (Powell 1988a)
> Populus tremuloides / Poa pratensis Community Type (Mueggler and Campbell 1986)
> Populus tremuloides/Poa pratensis Forest [Provisional] (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-11-08
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