Print Report
A3761 Picea pungens Riparian Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is characterized by the dominance of Picea pungens in the tree canopy. Common associates include Abies concolor, Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Pinus contorta, Pinus ponderosa, and Pseudotsuga menziesii (which may replace Picea pungens). Populus angustifolia is the most common deciduous tree species, although Populus tremuloides may persist as a seral species on well-drained sites. This riparian woodland alliance is found at middle elevations (from 1900-2900 m) of the central and southern Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Plateau. Stands typically occur in narrow or V-shaped valleys and canyons subject to cold-air drainage and limited sunlight. They occupy streambanks, terraces, narrow floodplains or benches, and subirrigated toeslopes; stream gradients are often steep. These sites can be subject to spring flooding, and usually water tables are within 1 m of the soil surface even late in the growing season.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Spruce Riparian Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Blue Spruce Riparian Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance is characterized by the dominance of Picea pungens in the tree canopy. Other conifers are usually present in these stands, depending upon geographic location, site moisture, and stand history. Common associates include Abies concolor, Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Pinus contorta, Pinus ponderosa, and Pseudotsuga menziesii (which may replace Picea pungens). Populus angustifolia is the most commonly present deciduous tree species, although Populus tremuloides may persist as a seral species on well-drained sites of this alliance. A shrub layer is often present but many stands lack a shrub layer. Common shrub species include Alnus incana, Betula occidentalis, Cornus sericea, Rosa woodsii, and several species of Salix. Other shrubs that may be present include Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Lonicera involucrata, and Acer glabrum. Because of favorable soil moisture, the herbaceous layer is usually a luxuriant mixture of forbs and graminoids, including Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex siccata, Conioselinum scopulorum, Equisetum arvense, Fragaria virginiana, Heracleum sphondylium, Maianthemum stellatum, Mertensia ciliata, and Rudbeckia laciniata. The herbaceous layer can have very high cover in some stands, but also may be very sparse. This riparian woodland alliance is found at middle elevations (from 1900-2900 m) of the central and southern Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Plateau region. Stands typically occur in narrow, or V-shaped, valleys and canyons subject to cold-air drainage and limited sunlight. They occupy streambanks, terraces, narrow floodplains or benches, and subirrigated toeslopes; stream gradients are often steep. These sites can be subject to spring flooding, and usually water tables are within 1 m of the soil surface even late in the growing season. The soils are somewhat variable, often with signs of mottling.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Diagnostic of this woodland alliance is the dominance of Picea pungens or Pseudotsuga menziesii with 50% relative cover occurring on sites that have surface water for brief periods during the growing season.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance is for conifer-dominated stands that occur in riparian zones on seasonally, intermittently or temporarily flooded/saturated soils.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These woodlands are of low to medium stature (10-25 m) and dominated by needle-leaved evergreen trees. Cold-deciduous trees are sometimes mixed in these stands. These communities often have cold-deciduous shrub layers of moderate to dense cover (20-60%). The herbaceous layer is usually well-developed and dominated by mesophytic forbs and graminoids less than 1 m in height.
Floristics: These riparian woodlands are characterized by the dominance of Picea pungens and/or Pseudotsuga menziesii with occasional Pinus ponderosa or Pinus contorta trees in the canopy. Other conifers are usually present in these stands, depending upon geographic location, site moisture, and stand history. Common associates include Abies concolor, Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Pinus contorta, Pinus ponderosa, and Pseudotsuga menziesii. The presence of these conifers is usually associated with raised microsites created by root-crown hummocks and windthrow mounds. Populus angustifolia is the most commonly present deciduous tree species, although Populus tremuloides may persist as a seral species on well-drained sites of this alliance. There is often an abundant tall-shrub layer, with cover ranging from 20-60%, dominated by one or several cold-deciduous species. The most common species include Alnus incana, Betula occidentalis, Cornus sericea, Rosa woodsii, and willow species, including Salix exigua, Salix drummondiana, Salix monticola, and Salix bebbiana. Other shrubs that may be present include Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda), Lonicera involucrata, and Acer glabrum. Due to favorable soil moisture, the herbaceous layer is usually a luxuriant mixture of forbs and graminoids, including Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex siccata (= Carex foenea), Conioselinum scopulorum, Equisetum arvense, Fragaria virginiana, Heracleum sphondylium, Maianthemum stellatum, Mertensia ciliata, and Rudbeckia laciniata. The herbaceous layer can have very high cover in some stands.
Dynamics: Picea pungens is a slow-growing, long-lived tree which regenerates from seed (Burns and Honkala 1990a). Seedlings are shallow-rooted and require perennially moist soils for establishment and optimal growth. Picea pungens is intermediate in shade tolerance, being somewhat more tolerant than Pinus ponderosa or Pseudotsuga menziesii, and less tolerant than Abies lasiocarpa or Picea engelmannii. It forms climax stands in the subhumid stands of the southern Rocky Mountains, but may occupy a seral position in more mesic northern stands (Burns and Honkala 1990a). In deep, narrow canyons with swift-moving streams and narrow floodplains and benches, Picea pungens appears to be a climax riparian species, and will remain on these sites until removed or damaged by a catastrophic flood (Kittel et al. 1999a). It is common for these forests to be heavily disturbed by grazing or fire, as well as recreational uses, such as campgrounds, fishing access, home building, and other activities.
Environmental Description: This alliance is found at middle elevations (from 1900-2900 m) of the central and southern Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Plateau region. Precipitation averages 46-60 cm annually, with the majority falling as growing-season rainfall. The temperature regime is continental and winters are moderately severe. Stands of this alliance typically occur in narrow, or V-shaped, valleys and canyons subject to cold-air drainage and limited sunlight. They occupy streambanks, terraces, narrow floodplains or benches, and subirrigated toeslopes; stream gradients are often steep. These sites can be subject to spring flooding, and usually water tables are within 1 m of the soil surface even late in the growing season. The soils are somewhat variable, but are primarily derived from glacial or alluvially deposited materials. They range from shallow silty loams over cobbles and gravel, to deep dark-colored clay loams with signs of mottling. The percentage of coarse fragments increases with soil depth, and most sites are well-drained. The pH is neutral to slightly alkaline.
Stands of these riparian woodlands are found within Pinus ponderosa or Pseudotsuga menziesii montane upland forests. Adjacent vegetation is usually Pinus ponderosa - Pseudotsuga menziesii forests at the upslope margin and herbaceous or other woody riparian communities where this vegetation grades into wetter streamside sites.
Stands of these riparian woodlands are found within Pinus ponderosa or Pseudotsuga menziesii montane upland forests. Adjacent vegetation is usually Pinus ponderosa - Pseudotsuga menziesii forests at the upslope margin and herbaceous or other woody riparian communities where this vegetation grades into wetter streamside sites.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and New Mexico and the highlands of Arizona.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV?, OR, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899813
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Picea pungens Series (Moir and Ludwig 1979)
>< Picea pungens Series (Youngblood and Mauk 1985)
>< Picea pungens Series (DeVelice et al. 1986)
>< Picea pungens Series (Alexander et al. 1987)
>< Picea pungens Series (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
>< Picea pungens Series (Larson and Moir 1987)
>< Pseudotsuga menziesii/Cornus sericea Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
>< Blue Spruce: 216 (Eyre 1980)
>< Picea pungens Series (Youngblood and Mauk 1985)
>< Picea pungens Series (DeVelice et al. 1986)
>< Picea pungens Series (Alexander et al. 1987)
>< Picea pungens Series (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
>< Picea pungens Series (Larson and Moir 1987)
>< Pseudotsuga menziesii/Cornus sericea Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995)
>< Blue Spruce: 216 (Eyre 1980)
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