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A0981 Salix monticola Wet Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This is a montane riparian shrubland alliance that is characterized by a tall, nearly closed canopy of Salix monticola often with one or more other willow species such as Salix geyeriana, Salix drummondiana, Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra, Salix planifolia, and Salix wolfii. It occurs in the Rocky Mountains along stream reaches in wide to narrow valleys (20-500 m) with broad, swift-moving streams and active, flat (3-8%) floodplains. Elevations range between 2310 and 3350 m.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Park Willow Wet Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Park Willow Wet Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This is a montane riparian shrubland alliance that is characterized by a tall, nearly closed canopy of Salix monticola often with one or more other willow species such as Salix geyeriana, Salix drummondiana, Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra, Salix planifolia and Salix wolfii. Other shrubs may be present as well, such as Cornus sericea, Betula glandulosa, and Lonicera involucrata. The forb layer is dense (up to 50%) and consists of Angelica ampla, Galium boreale, Geum macrophyllum, Senecio bigelovii, Solidago canadensis, and others. Graminoids can also be very abundant with species such as Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex utriculata, and Carex aquatilis. This alliance occurs in the Rocky Mountains along stream reaches in wide to narrow valleys (20-500 m) with broad, swift-moving streams and active, flat (3-8%) floodplains. Elevations range between 2310 and 3350 m. Large stands occur between meanders and at the edges of beaver ponds. The ground surface is usually undulating, from past flooding or beaver activity. These shrublands occur right at stream''s edge, and up to 15 m from the channel, usually >0.5 m above the channel elevation. Soils are predominantly heavy silty clays with occasional to abundant mottling evident. Some stands occur on coarse, well-drained alluvium.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Riparian shrublands dominated by Salix monticola.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This tall willow species does not range as widely as others in the Rocky Mountains, so it seems prudent to keep it as its own alliance. It could be included with ~Salix boothii - Salix geyeriana - Salix lutea Montane Wet Shrubland Alliance (A3769)$$, as many of the willow species included there can co-occur with Salix monticola.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is dominated by a tall (2-5 m) broad-leaved deciduous shrub. It forms a thick, closed canopy (30-75%) with a short-shrub layer (25-35% cover). The graminoid and forb layer varies widely among associations, but percent cover averages 30%.
Floristics: Plant associations within this alliance are intermittent in the montane areas of the Rocky Mountains. They are temporarily flooded, cold-deciduous shrublands dominated by Salix monticola. The tall-shrub layer is characterized by a tall, nearly closed canopy of Salix monticola (8-70%), typically with Salix geyeriana (40-50%) or Salix drummondiana (10%). Other shrubs present include Betula glandulosa, Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra (= Salix lasiandra), Salix planifolia, and Salix wolfii. The short-shrub layer is dominated by Cornus sericea and Lonicera involucrata. The forb layer is dense (up to 50%) and consists of Angelica ampla, Galium boreale, Geum macrophyllum, Senecio bigelovii, Solidago canadensis, and others. Calamagrostis canadensis comprises a dense graminoid layer of 40-50% cover. Carex utriculata and Carex aquatilis also contribute to the graminoid understory in several associations.
Dynamics: Several associations within this alliance are influenced by beaver activity. Carex utriculata usually forms monotypic stands at the edge of ponds, where a persistent high water table limits the occurrence of other species. Carex stands are slowly invaded by Salix spp. as the ground becomes less saturated (Hansen et al. 1988b). Presence of dying conifer trees may indicate an increase in the water table due to decreased transpiration rates, allowing for expansion of Calamagrostis canadensis and conversion from a conifer / Calamagrostis canadensis plant association to a Salix monticola / Calamagrostis canadensis association (Padgett et al. 1989).
Environmental Description: Plant associations occur in the mountains along stream reaches in moderately wide to narrow valleys (20-120 m) with broad, swift-moving streams and active, flat (3-8%) floodplains. Elevations range between 2310 and 3350 m. Large stands occur between meanders and at the edges of beaver ponds. The ground surface is usually undulating, from past flooding or beaver activity. Associations occur right at stream''s edge, and up to 15 m from the channel, usually >0.5 m above the channel elevation. Adjacent riparian vegetation can include deciduous shrublands and woodlands with mesic meadows. Adjacent upslope vegetation is typically coniferous forests dominated by Pinus contorta, Picea spp., and Populus tremuloides. Soils are predominantly heavy silty clays with occasional to abundant mottling evident. Some stands occur on coarse, well-drained alluvium.
Geographic Range: This alliance is intermittent in the montane areas of the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NM, UT?, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899055
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: equivalent to A.981 with edits
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
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