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G202 Pseudotsuga menziesii - Pinus strobiformis / Quercus hypoleucoides Forest & Woodland Group
Type Concept Sentence: This Madrean forest and woodland group occurs at upper elevations in mountains in northern Mexico and extends into the mountains of Trans-Pecos Texas, southern New Mexico and southern Arizona and is characterized by an open to closed, conifer and mixed conifer - evergreen broad-leaved tree canopy typically composed of Abies coahuilensis, Abies concolor, Pinus strobiformis, or Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Madrean evergreen oaks that frequently include Quercus hypoleucoides and Quercus rugosa with other oaks such as Quercus arizonica, Quercus chrysolepis, Quercus emoryi, Quercus gravesii, Quercus grisea, Quercus muehlenbergii and maples Acer grandidentatum found mostly in lower elevation stands.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir - Southwestern White Pine / Silverleaf Oak Forest & Woodland Group
Colloquial Name: Madrean Upper Montane Conifer - Oak Forest & Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This forest and woodland group is found at upper elevations in the Sierra Madre Occidentale and Sierra Madre Orientale of Mexico. In the U.S., it occurs in the Sky Islands (Chiricahua, Huachuca, Pinaleno, Santa Catalina, and Santa Rita mountains) and along the Nantanes Rim and in southern New Mexico and the Trans-Pecos region of Texas (it does not occur north of the Mogollon Rim). The vegetation is characterized by large- and small-patch forests and woodlands dominated by Abies coahuilensis, Abies concolor, Pinus strobiformis, or Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Madrean evergreen oaks that include Quercus hypoleucoides and Quercus rugosa. Other oaks found mostly at the lower elevation limit include Quercus arizonica, Quercus chrysolepis, Quercus emoryi, Quercus gravesii, Quercus grisea, and Quercus muehlenbergii. Acer grandidentatum can be a canopy codominant, and Juniperus deppeana or Juniperus flaccida may also be present in the subcanopy. If Quercus gambelii is prominent in the shrub layer, then other Madrean elements are present. Pinus ponderosa and Pinus arizonica may occur as seral species mixed into the stands. Stands occur in cooler upper montane and subalpine sites in the Sierra Madres. Where it occurs in the U.S., it is restricted to the cooler north and east aspects at the upper elevations (1980-2700 m) in the Sky Island ranges. It may also occur at lower elevations in ravines and canyons where there is significant cold-air drainage. Soils are very rocky and derived from granite and rhyolite. It is similar to ~Southern Rocky Mountain White Fir - Douglas-fir Dry Forest Group (G226)$$, but that group typically lacks Madrean elements.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This upper montane Madrean forest and woodland group is characterized by an upper tree canopy dominated by Abies coahuilensis, Abies concolor, Pinus strobiformis, or Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Madrean oaks, especially at higher elevations, where Quercus hypoleucoides and Quercus rugosa are present. Other Madrean species are usually present and further characterize the group. Stands are restricted to upper elevations in the Sierra Madre Occidentale and Sierra Madre Orientale of Mexico and the Sky Islands of southern Arizona and New Mexico, and the Trans-Pecos of Texas.
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: This warm temperate forest and woodland group includes moderately open to closed evergreen, needle-leaved Madrean forests. The upper tree canopy is 20-30 m tall depending on dominant tree species and is typically dominated by needle-leaved trees. Subcanopy and tall-shrub layers are often dominated by evergreen oaks, with other needle-leaved or scale-leaved trees. An open short-shrub layer and a robust herbaceous layer may be present, depending on tree density and substrate.
Floristics: The vegetation is characterized by large- and small-patch forests and woodlands dominated by Abies coahuilensis, Abies concolor, or Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Madrean oaks, especially at higher elevations, where Quercus hypoleucoides and Quercus rugosa are present. Scattered Pinus ponderosa, Pinus strobiformis, and Juniperus deppeana may be present. Other oaks may include Quercus arizonica, Quercus chrysolepis, Quercus emoryi, Quercus gravesii, Quercus grisea, and Quercus toumeyi. If Quercus gambelii is prominent in the shrub layer, then other Madrean elements are also present. An open shrub layer may be present, dominated by Ceanothus fendleri, Cercocarpus montanus, Garrya wrightii, and other oaks. The herbaceous layer may be sparse to moderately dense and is typically dominated by perennial graminoids, such as Muhlenbergia longiligula, Bromus ciliatus var. richardsonii (= Bromus richardsonii), Carex geophila, Koeleria macrantha, and Poa fendleriana. The typically sparse forbs include Comandra umbellata, Galium tinctorium, Hedeoma hyssopifolia, Lathyrus graminifolius, Mirabilis comata (= Oxybaphus comatus), Packera neomexicana, Thalictrum fendleri, and Vicia americana.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This forest and woodland group occurs at the upper elevations in the Sierra Madre Occidentale and Sierra Madre Orientale of Mexico. In the U.S., it occurs on cooler north and east aspects at high elevations (1980-2700 m) in the Sky Islands (Chiricahua, Huachuca, Pinaleno, Santa Catalina, and Santa Rita mountains) and along the Nantanes Rim and in southern New Mexico and the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. Stands may occur at lower elevations in ravines and canyons where there is significant cold-air drainage. Soil/substrate/hydrology: Soils are very rocky and derived from granite and rhyolite.
Geographic Range: This forest and woodland group occurs at the upper elevations in the Sierra Madre Occidentale and Sierra Madre Orientale of Mexico. In the U.S., it occurs on cooler aspects at high elevations in the Sky Islands (Chiricahua, Huachuca, Pinaleno, Santa Catalina, and Santa Rita mountains) and along the Nantanes Rim and in southern New Mexico and the Trans-Pecos region of Texas (it does not occur north of the Mogollon Rim).
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: AZ, MXCHH, MXSON, NM, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.833207
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.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F018 | 1.B.1 |
| Division | 1.B.1.Nd Madrean-Balconian Forest & Woodland Division | D060 | 1.B.1.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.1.Nd.2 Chihuahuan Pine - Douglas-fir / Silverleaf Oak Madrean Montane Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M011 | 1.B.1.Nd.2 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Nd.2.b Douglas-fir - Southwestern White Pine / Silverleaf Oak Forest & Woodland Group | G202 | 1.B.1.Nd.2.b |
| Alliance | A3108 Douglas-fir / Silverleaf Oak - Netleaf Oak Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3108 | 1.B.1.Nd.2.b |
| Alliance | A3109 Bigtooth Maple - Chisos Red Oak - Chinquapin Oak Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3109 | 1.B.1.Nd.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Madrean Subalpine Conifer Forest - 121.5 (Brown et al. 1979)
- Brown, D. E., C. H. Lowe, and C. P. Pase. 1979. A digitized classification system for the biotic communities of North America with community (series) and association examples for the Southwest. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 14:1-16.
- Brown, D. E., editor. 1982a. Biotic communities of the American Southwest-United States and Mexico. Desert Plants Special Issue 4(1-4):1-342.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Fitzhugh, E. L., W. H. Moir, J. A. Ludwig, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1987. Forest habitat types in the Apache, Gila, and part of the Cibola national forests. General Technical Report RM-145. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 116 pp.
- Muldavin, E. H., R. L. DeVelice, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1996. A classification of forest habitat types of southern Arizona and portions of the Colorado Plateau. General Technical Report RM-GTR-287. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 130 pp.