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G749 Abies magnifica var. magnifica - Abies magnifica var. shastensis - Tsuga mertensiana Forest Group

Type Concept Sentence: This group includes high-elevation forests and woodlands of the Sierra Nevada north into southern Oregon, and are dominated by Abies magnifica var. magnifica, Abies magnifica var. shastensis, Abies procera, and/or Tsuga mertensiana.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: California Red Fir - Shasta Red Fir - Mountain Hemlock Forest Group

Colloquial Name: Sierra-Cascade Red Fir - Mountain Hemlock Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group includes high-elevation (1600-2700 m [4850-9000 feet]) forests and woodlands from the southern Sierra Nevada north and west into southern Oregon. These forests and woodlands are dominated by Abies magnifica var. magnifica, Abies magnifica var. shastensis, Abies procera, and/or Tsuga mertensiana. Other conifers that can occur in varying mixtures include Pinus contorta var. murrayana, Pinus monticola, Pinus jeffreyi, and Pinus albicaulis. Pinus contorta in Oregon indicates lower productivity where it intergrades with Abies magnifica var. shastensis. Associations range from mesic to moist, and some sites have mesic indicator species, such as Ligusticum grayi or Thalictrum fendleri. Common understory species include Ceanothus cordulatus (in seral stands), Chrysolepis sempervirens, Quercus sadleriana, Quercus vacciniifolia, Ribes viscosissimum, Symphoricarpos mollis, Symphoricarpos rotundifolius, and Vaccinium membranaceum. Characteristic forbs include Eucephalus breweri, Pedicularis semibarbata, and Hieracium albiflorum. Heavy snowpack is a major source of soil moisture throughout the growing season. The limiting factors can be either cold-air drainage or ponding, or coarser soils (pumice versus ash, for example). This group commonly occurs above mixed conifer forests with Abies lowiana and overlaps in elevation with forests and woodlands of Pinus contorta var. murrayana. On volcanic sites of lower productivity, stands may be more open woodland in structure and with poor-site understory species such as Wyethia mollis. This group is typically found on deep, well-drained soils throughout this elevational zone from the southern Sierra Nevada north into the southern Cascades, Klamath Mountains, North Coast Ranges of northern California and southern Oregon. Soils in the North Coast Ranges and Klamath Mountains are mainly derived from granitic and metasedimentary substrates. Driving ecological processes include occasional blowdown, insect outbreaks and stand-replacing fire.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Diagnostic characteristics are the dominance of Abies magnifica var. magnifica, Abies magnifica var. shastensis, and/or Abies procera.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Former groups G242 and G244 have been merged into this group. These are the moist subalpine forests and woodlands of California, the southern Cascades of Oregon, and the Klamath Mountains. Exactly where geographically this group transitions to ~North-Central Pacific Mountain Hemlock - Silver Fir Woodland Group (G849)$$ is not determined, but generally will be where Abies amabilis becomes a more significant component of the subalpine Tsuga mertensiana forests. Where associations dominated by Abies procera belong is still not clear. They are mentioned in this group, as well as two others. This will require some additional work to clarify, but since there are only one or two of them in the NVC, they are a minor issue. At warmer and lower sites of California, Abies lowiana can codominate with Abies magnifica; these associations have been placed in ~Californian Montane Conifer Forest & Woodland Group (G344)$$ on the advice of T. Keeler-Wolf (pers. comm. 2013).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This group contains tall evergreen needle-leaved trees (15-30 m), forming a continuous canopy, more forest than woodland; however, some stands are open due to heavy late-lying snow drifts that limit tree in-filling. Shrub undergrowth is low-statured (<1 m) and open.

Floristics: In the high-elevation (1600-2700 m [4850-9000 feet]) region, stands are dominated by Abies magnifica var. magnifica, Abies magnifica var. shastensis (= Abies x shastensis), and/or Abies procera. The limiting factors can be either cold-air drainages or ponding, or coarser soils (pumice versus ash, for example). Other conifers that can occur in varying mixtures with Abies magnifica include Pinus contorta var. murrayana, Pinus monticola, Tsuga mertensiana, Pinus jeffreyi, and Pinus albicaulis. Stands in the central Sierra Nevada are dominated by Tsuga mertensiana and Pinus contorta var. murrayana; other important conifers and locally dominant species include Abies magnifica, Pinus albicaulis, and Pinus monticola. Important shrubs include Phyllodoce breweri and Ribes montigenum. Grasses and forbs include Carex exserta, Carex rossii, and Poa wheeleri. This group is generally found on moist sites and some sites have mesic indicator species, such as Ligusticum grayi or Thalictrum fendleri. Common understory species include Quercus vacciniifolia, Ribes viscosissimum, Chrysolepis sempervirens, Ceanothus cordulatus (in seral stands), Vaccinium membranaceum, Symphoricarpos mollis, and Symphoricarpos rotundifolius. Characteristic forbs include Eucephalus breweri, Pedicularis semibarbata, and Hieracium albiflorum. This group commonly occurs above mixed conifer forests with Abies lowiana (= Abies concolor var. lowiana) and overlaps in elevation with forests and woodlands of Pinus contorta var. murrayana. On volcanic sites of lower productivity, stands may be more open woodland in structure and with poor-site understory species such as Wyethia mollis.

Dynamics:  Driving ecological processes include occasional blowdown, insect outbreaks and stand-replacing fire. Stand-replacing fire is important but so are moderately frequent (about once every 40 years) low- to moderate-severity fires. The group is characterized by a "moderate-severity fire regime" (Agee 1993), i.e., high variability in severity and moderate frequency of fires. See also Pitcher (1987), Taylor and Halpern (1991), and Chappell and Agee (1996) for documentation of fire regime in these forests.
Environmental Description:  Soil/substrate/hydrology: Heavy snowpack is a major source of soil moisture throughout much of the growing season. This group includes high-elevation (1600-2700 m [4850-9000 feet]) forests and woodlands. Stands are typically found on deep, well-drained soils throughout this elevational zone from the southern Sierra Nevada north and west into southern Oregon. The limiting factors can be either cold-air drainages or ponding, or coarser soils (pumice versus ash, for example). Many stands are found on subalpine stream benches, slopes, and can be extensive on north-facing aspects and lake margins.
Geographic Range: This group occurs at subalpine elevations from the southern Sierra Nevada north into the southern Cascades, Klamath Mountains, North Coast Ranges of northern California and southern Oregon.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, NV, OR


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
Alliance A3619 California Red Fir - Shasta Red Fir Forest Alliance A3619 1.B.2.Nd.4.a
Alliance A3620 Mountain Hemlock - Sierra Lodgepole Pine Sierran Forest Alliance A3620 1.B.2.Nd.4.a
Concept Lineage: G242 & G244 merged to form G749 (MSR 3-12-13)

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Red Fir: 207 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): F.H. Eyre (1980)

Author of Description: M.S. Reid

Acknowledgements: P. Moore, J. Sawyer

Version Date: 11-09-15
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