NVCS

CEGL003749 Populus angustifolia / Invasive Perennial Grasses Ruderal Riparian Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Invasive Perennial Grasses Ruderal Riparian Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level: Association

Type Concept: This riparian association occurs in the foothill and lower montane zones of the Rocky Mountains extending west into the Great Basin and east onto the northern plains. Sites are between 945 and 2490 m (3100-8160 feet) elevation and are found along streams and rivers in broad valleys to narrow canyons. Stands extend onto the floodplain and stream terraces. Generally, soils are well-drained sand, loam or silt with river gravels and cobbles mixed within the matrix. This vegetation is characterized by a moderately open to closed (50-90%c over) tree canopy 10-15-m tall dominated by Populus angustifolia, with an understory dominated by introduced perennial grasses without a notable shrub layer. Acer negundo, Fraxinus velutina, Populus fremontii (in the southwestern part of range), or Salix amygdaloides are often present, and Juniperus scopulorum, Juniperus monosperma, or Juniperus deppeana may be common in subcanopy. Shrubs are absent or present only as scattered individuals. The moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer is frequently dominated or codominated by Poa pratensis, Bromus inermis, or other introduced graminoids, such as Agrostis stolonifera, Agrostis gigantea, Alopecurus geniculatus, Elymus repens, Dactylis glomerata, and Phleum pratense. Native graminoids are often present but have low cover and may include Carex spp., Bromus porteri, Elymus canadensis, Elymus trachycaulus, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, and Pascopyrum smithii. Forb diversity is moderately high but variable. The introduced invasives Cirsium arvense, Melilotus officinalis, and Taraxacum officinale are common on disturbed sites. Adjacent, lower alluvial bars may be dominated by Salix spp. and Alnus spp. and occasionally emergent wetlands. Uplands may be open grasslands and hillslopes that support mixed coniferous spruce-fir forests on north-facing aspects and pine or juniper woodlands on south-facing slopes.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This Populus angustifolia forest association is the result of combining former Populus angustifolia / Poa pratensis Woodland (CEGL005963) and former Populus angustifolia / Bromus inermis Semi-natural Woodland (CEGL005847). It includes all Populus angustifolia forest stands that have a herbaceous layer dominated by introduced graminoids species and lack a shrub layer, although scattered shrubs may be present. It typically occurs as a result of heavy grazing and browsing use.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available

Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This riparian association is characterized by a moderately open to closed (50-90%cover) tree canopy 10-15-m tall dominated by Populus angustifolia, with an understory dominated by introduced perennial grasses without a notable shrub layer. Acer negundo, Fraxinus velutina, Populus fremontii (in southwest), or Salix amygdaloides are often present in the tree canopy at lower elevations and Pinus ponderosa at higher elevations. Juniperus scopulorum, Juniperus monosperma, or Juniperus deppeana may be common in the subcanopy. Shrubs are absent or present only as scattered individuals. Shrub species are varied and include Acer glabrum, Crataegus douglasii, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Cornus sericea ssp. sericea, Juniperus communis, Prunus virginiana, Ribes spp., Rosa woodsii, Rubus deliciosus, Salix irrorata, Salix exigua, Salix lutea, Symphoricarpos spp., and the vine Clematis ligusticifolia. Sapling and seedling/root sprouts of Populus angustifolia and Juniperus spp. may also be present. The moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer is frequently dominated or codominated by Poa pratensis, Bromus inermis, or other introduced graminoids, such as Agrostis stolonifera, Agrostis gigantea, Alopecurus geniculatus, Elymus repens, Dactylis glomerata, and Phleum pratense. Native graminoids are often present but have low cover. Other graminoids include Carex spp., Bromus porteri, Elymus canadensis, Elymus glaucus, Elymus trachycaulus, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), and Pascopyrum smithii. Forb diversity is moderately high but variable. The most abundant forbs are Achillea millefolium, Allium sp., Anemone sp., Artemisia ludoviciana, Chenopodium leptophyllum, Equisetum spp., Geranium sp., Galium boreale, Grindelia squarrosa, Heracleum maximum, Heterotheca villosa, Maianthemum stellatum, Pedicularis procera, Potentilla pulcherrima, Solidago canadensis, Thalictrum fendleri, Thermopsis montana, and Vicia americana. The introduced invasives Cirsium arvense, Melilotus officinalis, and Taraxacum officinale are common on disturbed sites.

Dynamics: Hall and Hansen (1997) suggest that this type may be a grazing or browsing disclimax of their Populus angustifolia / Cornus stolonifera community type. In mature shaded stands, cottonwood reproduction is generally limited to root sprouts.

Environmental Description: This riparian association occurs in the foothill and lower montane zones of the Rocky Mountains extending west into the Great Basin and east onto the northern plains. Sites are between 945 and 2490 m (3100-8160 feet) elevation and are found along streams and rivers in broad valleys to narrow canyons. Stands extend onto the floodplain and stream terraces. Terraces may border the channel but are elevated several meters above the stream. Consequently, the community is only periodically flooded (10- to 25-year recurrence interval). On the older elevated terraces, soils show some development (Inceptisols), with some beginning to develop a rich organic layer from decomposition and leaching of leaves and branches (Mollic Epipedons). On recently aggraded bars, soils lack development (Entisols). These soils are located closer to the active channel and therefore can be wet or moist well within rooting depth. Generally, all soils are well-drained sand, loam or silt with river gravels and cobbles mixed within the matrix.

Geographic Range: This riparian association is widespread in mountainous regions of the Rio Grande, Pecos, and Gila River watersheds and is widely distributed in foothills and lower montane zones throughout much of the Rocky Mountains and Intermountain West from New Mexico to Montana and Idaho extending west into the Great Basin and east onto the northern plains.

Nations: US

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

Plot Analysis Summary: http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.790693

Confidence Level: Moderate

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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation	F026	1.B.3
Division	1.B.3.Nd Western North American Interior Flooded Forest Division	D013	1.B.3.Nd
Macrogroup	1.B.3.Nd.90 Interior West Ruderal Flooded & Swamp Forest & Woodland Macrogroup	M298	1.B.3.Nd.90
Group	1.B.3.Nd.90.a Tamarisk species - Russian-olive Ruderal Riparian Forest & Scrub Group	G510	1.B.3.Nd.90.a
Alliance	A4155 Box-elder - Cottonwood species - Spruce species Ruderal Riparian Forest Alliance	A4155	1.B.3.Nd.90.a
Association	CEGL003749 Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Invasive Perennial Grasses Ruderal Riparian Woodland	CEGL003749	1.B.3.Nd.90.a

Concept Lineage: CEGL005847 and CEGL005963 were lumped to form this new broader type (CEGL003749).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: > Populus angustifolia / Agrostis stolonifera Community (Jones and Walford 1995)
> Populus angustifolia / Bromus inermis Community (Jones and Walford 1995)
> Populus angustifolia / Poa pratensis Community (Jones and Walford 1995)
> Populus angustifolia / Poa pratensis Community Type (Youngblood et al. 1985a)
> Populus angustifolia / Poa pratensis Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989) [Suggests Acer negundo or Fraxinus velutina may be codominant.]
> Populus angustifolia / Poa pratensis Community Type (Youngblood et al. 1985b)
> Populus angustifolia / Poa pratensis Plant Association Type (Muldavin 1991)
= Populus angustifolia / Herbaceous Community Type (Hansen et al. 1995) [Understory dominated by Poa pratensis, Phleum pratense, Dactylis glomerata, and Agrostis stolonifera.]
= Populus angustifolia / Herbaceous Community Type (Hall and Hansen 1997) [Understory dominated by Poa pratensis, Pascopyrum smithii (native), Dactylis glomerata, Agrostis stolonifera, and Elymus repens (= Elytrigia repens).]
= Populus angustifolia / Mesic Graminoid Woodland (Carsey et al. 2003a) [Understory dominated by Poa pratensis, Agrostis stolonifera, or other hay grasses (undescribed association needing further verification).]
< Populus angustifolia Series (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
> Narrowleaf Cottonwood/Kentucky Bluegrass CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)
> Unclassified Cottonwood Communities (Manning and Padgett 1995) [Stands similar to Populus angustifolia / Poa pratensis Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989) were sampled from Carson, Toiyabe, and White Pine ranges.]

Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-10-06

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