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A3762 Abies grandis Rocky Mountain Riparian Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of riparian areas dominated by Abies grandis, usually with other conifers. Abies lasiocarpa, Larix occidentalis, Pinus monticola, and Pseudotsuga menziesii may be present to codominant. Betula papyrifera or Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa sometimes form a scattered subcanopy. It occupies sites on benches, toeslopes or valley bottoms along mountain streams. The alliance occurs in the Rocky Mountains of western Montana, Idaho and eastern Washington and eastern Oregon, possibly extending into British Columbia Elevations range from 790-1410 m.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Grand Fir Rocky Mountain Riparian Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Rocky Mountain Grand Fir Riparian Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This is an alliance of riparian woodlands dominated by Abies grandis, usually with other conifers. Abies lasiocarpa, Larix occidentalis, Pinus monticola, and Pseudotsuga menziesii may be present to codominant. Betula papyrifera or Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa sometimes forms a scattered subcanopy. There is usually a rich and well-developed shrub layer. Common shrubs include Acer glabrum, Linnaea borealis, Rosa gymnocarpa, Rubus parviflorus, and Symphoricarpos albus. The herbaceous layer is characterized by a diverse assemblage of moist-site forbs and ferns, including Aralia nudicaulis, Athyrium filix-femina, Galium triflorum, Goodyera oblongifolia, Maianthemum stellatum, Orthilia secunda, Osmorhiza berteroi, Senecio triangularis, and Tiarella trifoliata. This alliance occurs in the Rocky Mountains of western Montana, Idaho and eastern Washington and eastern Oregon, possibly extending into British Columbia. It occupies sites on benches, toeslopes or valley bottoms along mountain streams. Elevations where the alliance occurs range from 790-1410 m. Soils are typically very cobbly silt loams or sandy loam. Water tables are generally within 1 m of the soil surface in the spring, but the soils are well-drained.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands on riparian seasonally wet soils dominated by Abies grandis or other conifer species.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance does not include Abies grandis riparian and wetland locations west of the Cascade Crest. These sites are outside the range of Thuja plicata, which dominates similar sites throughout the wetter parts of the Pacific Northwest.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Upper canopy of evergreen needle-leaved tall coniferous trees. A sparse subcanopy is occasionally present, composed of broad-leaved winter-deciduous trees. A shrub layer of broad-leaved cold-deciduous shrubs is usually present in moist sites. Herbaceous cover is a species-diverse layer of shade-tolerant forbs and ferns.
Floristics: Vegetation within this alliance is distributed on low- to mid-elevation mountain slopes and bottomlands of the northern Rocky Mountains. Picea engelmannii is often a codominant with Abies grandis in stands of this alliance. Pseudotsuga menziesii or Larix occidentalis may be present at the drier margins, and Abies lasiocarpa may occur in higher elevation or frost pocket locations. Betula papyrifera or Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa sometimes form a scattered subcanopy. There is usually a rich and well-developed shrub layer. Common shrubs include Acer glabrum, Linnaea borealis, Rosa gymnocarpa, Rubus parviflorus, and Symphoricarpos albus. The herbaceous layer is characterized by a diverse assemblage of moist-site forbs and ferns, including Aralia nudicaulis, Athyrium filix-femina, Galium triflorum, Goodyera oblongifolia, Maianthemum stellatum, Orthilia secunda, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Senecio triangularis, and Tiarella trifoliata.
Dynamics: The nominal species of this alliance is a long-lived, shade-tolerant conifer which can regenerate under a dense forest canopy. This type is often adjacent to drier Pseudotsuga menziesii or drier Abies grandis forests. Although Abies grandis is regarded as a climax species at such sites, repeated fire or disturbance can allow early-seral, but long-lived species, such as Picea engelmannii to codominate for many years. In mature, wet stands of this alliance, regeneration may be limited to rotting logs or stumps which allow germination above the wet forest floor.
Environmental Description: This alliance generally occupies sites on benches, toeslopes or valley bottoms along mountain streams. Elevations where the alliance occurs range from 790-1410 m. Soils are typically very cobbly silt loams or sandy loam (Hansen et al. 1995). Water tables are generally within 1 m of the soil surface in the spring, but the soils are well-drained. Vegetation occurs within the maritime-influenced region of the northern Rocky Mountains.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the Rocky Mountains of western Montana, Idaho and eastern Washington and eastern Oregon, possibly extending into British Columbia.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: BC?, ID, MT, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899814
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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Nc Rocky Mountain-Great Basin Montane Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D195 | 1.B.3.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Nc.1 Engelmann Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M034 | 1.B.3.Nc.1 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a Engelmann Spruce - Blue Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Group | G506 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Alliance | A3762 Grand Fir Rocky Mountain Riparian Forest Alliance | A3762 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL000270 Grand Fir / Common Ladyfern Riparian Forest | CEGL000270 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL000280 Grand Fir / Arrowleaf Ragwort Riparian Forest | CEGL000280 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL003441 Western White Pine / Tufted Hairgrass Riparian Forest | CEGL003441 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Abies grandis Series (Cooper et al. 1987)
- Burns, R. M., and B. H. Honkala, technical coordinators. 1990a. Silvics of North America: Volume 1. Conifers. Agriculture Handbook 654. USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC. 675 pp.
- Cooper, S. V., K. E. Neiman, R. Steele, and D. W. Roberts. 1987. Forest habitat types of northern Idaho: A second approximation. General Technical Report INT-236.USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 135 pp. [reprinted in 1991]
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Hansen, P. L., R. D. Pfister, K. Boggs, B. J. Cook, J. Joy, and D. K. Hinckley. 1995. Classification and management of Montana''s riparian and wetland sites. Miscellaneous Publication No. 54. Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana. 646 pp. plus posters.
- Hansen, P., K. Boggs, and R. Pfister. 1991. Classification and management of riparian and wetland sites in Montana. Unpublished draft version prepared for Montana Riparian Association, Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of Montana, Missoula. 478 pp.