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M025 Abies magnifica - Tsuga mertensiana - Pinus contorta var. murrayana Forest Macrogroup
Type Concept Sentence: These are short to tall, dense to open forests, tree islands and large forest patches dominated by Abies amabilis, Abies lasiocarpa, Abies magnifica var. magnifica, Abies magnifica var. shastensis, Abies procera, Callitropsis nootkatensis, Pinus albicaulis, Pinus balfouriana, Pinus contorta var. murrayana, Pinus monticola, and/or Tsuga mertensiana. These Pacific coastal subalpine forests approach treeline in mountain regions of the Pacific states, extending from low elevations in southeastern Alaska south into high montane regions of Baja California, Mexico, and the Sierra Nevada of California.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: California Red Fir - Mountain Hemlock - Sierra Lodgepole Pine Forest Macrogroup
Colloquial Name: Vancouverian Subalpine-High Montane Forest
Hierarchy Level: Macrogroup
Type Concept: This macrogroup consists of upper elevation forests of the Pacific states and British Columbia, and extend from southeastern Alaska south into Baja California, Mexico. These forests and woodlands are dominated by Abies amabilis, Abies lasiocarpa, Abies magnifica var. magnifica, Abies magnifica var. shastensis, Abies procera, Callitropsis nootkatensis, Pinus albicaulis, Pinus contorta var. murrayana, Pinus monticola, and/or Tsuga mertensiana. Understories are open, with scattered shrubs and herbaceous species, which do not carry fire should one get started. Structurally these forests can be of short or tall stature, in dense to open, large continuous forests, or occur in small tree islands. Trees can be very large and old and can attain diameters of 1.2 m (4 feet). These high-elevation forests occur in the San Pedro Martir Mountains of Baja California, Mexico, throughout the Sierra Nevada, Transverse and Peninsular ranges of California, the Klamath Mountains and Cascade Range of Oregon and Washington, the coastal mountains and coastal islands of British Columbia, and southeastern Alaska. Elevation changes from south to north, being greater in the south (1600-3600 m [4850-12,000 feet]) and lower in the north (300-2300 m [1000-7500 feet]). Heavy snowpack is a major source of soil moisture throughout the growing season, and deep, late-lying snowpack is a primary environmental factor preventing tree establishment that contributes to the patchiness of the forest at the upper elevational limit.
Diagnostic Characteristics: These are short to tall, dense to open forests, tree islands and patches dominated by Abies amabilis, Abies lasiocarpa, Abies magnifica var. magnifica, Abies magnifica var. shastensis, Abies procera, Callitropsis nootkatensis, Pinus albicaulis, Pinus balfouriana, Pinus contorta var. murrayana, Pinus monticola, or Tsuga mertensiana.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This macrogroup includes what the Alaska Natural Heritage Program calls Maritime Subalpine Fir-Mountain Hemlock Forest.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These forests are dominated by evergreen needle-leaved trees with open canopies and a generally sparse understory.
Floristics: Overstory trees include Abies amabilis, Abies lasiocarpa, Abies magnifica var. magnifica, Abies magnifica var. shastensis, Abies procera, Callitropsis nootkatensis (= Chamaecyparis nootkatensis), Pinus albicaulis, Pinus balfouriana, Pinus contorta var. murrayana, Pinus monticola, and Tsuga mertensiana. Important shrubs include Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Artemisia tridentata, Ceanothus cordulatus, Cercocarpus ledifolius, Chrysolepis sempervirens, Elliottia pyroliflora, Empetrum nigrum, Harrimanella stelleriana, Holodiscus discolor (= Holodiscus microphyllus), Luetkea pectinata, Menziesia ferruginea, Phyllodoce aleutica (or Phyllodoce glanduliflora), Phyllodoce breweri, Ribes montigenum, Rubus pedatus, Vaccinium membranaceum, and Vaccinium ovalifolium. Grasses, forbs and ferns include Blechnum spicant, Carex exserta, Carex filifolia, Carex rossii, Eriogonum incanum, Geum calthifolium, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Nephrophyllidium crista-galli, Penstemon davidsonii, Penstemon newberryi, Poa wheeleri, Streptopus lanceolatus, and Tiarella trifoliata.
Dynamics: Avalanches, tree mortality from insect outbreak and disease, drought, and associated wildfire are drivers of community structure and composition. Stand-replacing fire is important in some stands, becoming much less important in northern and the highest elevation stands, following a "moderate-severity fire regime" (Agee 1993), i.e., high variability in severity and moderate frequency of fires. Where fire is less important, small-gap dynamics predominate.
Environmental Description: Climate: The climate is generally characterized by short, cool summers, rainy autumns and long, cool, wet winters with heavy snow cover for 5-9 months. The heavy snowpack is ubiquitous, but for some more southern exposure and southern stands, summer drought is more significant.
Soil/substrate/hydrology: Stands often occur on ridges and rocky slopes around upper timberline on soils that are often shallow and coarse-textured, rocky substrates and which may be exposed to desiccating winds with ice and snow blasts. Other stands occur on deep, well-drained soils. Elevation changes from south to north, being greater in the south (1600-3600 m [4850-12,000 feet]) and lower in the north (300-2300 m [1000-7500 feet]). Limiting factors can be cold-air drainages or ponding, or coarser soils and short growing season. Some stands are found on subalpine stream benches, slopes, and can be extensive on north-facing aspects and lake margins.
Soil/substrate/hydrology: Stands often occur on ridges and rocky slopes around upper timberline on soils that are often shallow and coarse-textured, rocky substrates and which may be exposed to desiccating winds with ice and snow blasts. Other stands occur on deep, well-drained soils. Elevation changes from south to north, being greater in the south (1600-3600 m [4850-12,000 feet]) and lower in the north (300-2300 m [1000-7500 feet]). Limiting factors can be cold-air drainages or ponding, or coarser soils and short growing season. Some stands are found on subalpine stream benches, slopes, and can be extensive on north-facing aspects and lake margins.
Geographic Range: This macrogroup occurs in the mountains of the Pacific states including coastal southeastern Alaska, British Columbia and Baja California, Mexico. It occurs at upper treeline elevations from the San Pedro Martir Mountains in Baja California, throughout the Sierra Nevada, Transverse, Peninsular and Coast ranges of California, the Klamath Mountains, Modoc Plateau and Warner Mountains of California and Oregon, the Coast and Cascade ranges of Oregon, the Cascade Range of Washington, and the coastal mountains of islands and mainland British Columbia north into southeastern Alaska to Cook Inlet.
Nations: CA,MX,US
States/Provinces: AK, BC, CA, MXBCN, NV, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.835949
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.Nd Vancouverian Forest & Woodland Division | D192 | 1.B.2.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nd.4 California Red Fir - Mountain Hemlock - Sierra Lodgepole Pine Forest Macrogroup | M025 | 1.B.2.Nd.4 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nd.4.a California Red Fir - Shasta Red Fir - Mountain Hemlock Forest Group | G749 | 1.B.2.Nd.4.a |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nd.4.b Sierra Lodgepole Pine Woodland Group | G243 | 1.B.2.Nd.4.b |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nd.4.c Mountain Hemlock - Pacific Silver Fir - Alaska-cedar Wood Group | G849 | 1.B.2.Nd.4.c |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nd.4.d Alaskan Mountain Hemlock Forest Group | G850 | 1.B.2.Nd.4.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < EW Subalpine Fir - Mountain Hemlock Wet Forested (Ecosystems Working Group 1998)
< MF Mountain Hemlock - Amabilis Fir Forested (Ecosystems Working Group 1998)
= Upper Montane/Subalpine Forests and Parklands (Barbour and Billings 2000)
< MF Mountain Hemlock - Amabilis Fir Forested (Ecosystems Working Group 1998)
= Upper Montane/Subalpine Forests and Parklands (Barbour and Billings 2000)
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