Print Report
A4078 Populus tremuloides Southern Rocky Mountain Woodland & Scrub Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is known only from Grand Canyon National Park and El Malpais National Monument and characterized by open woodland or regenerating stands of Populus tremuloides.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Quaking Aspen Southern Rocky Mountain Woodland & Scrub Alliance
Colloquial Name: Southern Rocky Mountain Quaking Aspen Woodland & Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: Communities of this alliance are characterized by open woodlands or regenerating stands of Populus tremuloides. Conifers such as Pinus ponderosa and Pseudotsuga menziesii from the surrounding mixed conifer stands can be interspersed in the canopy. In the open canopy, shrub cover is often dense and may include Ceanothus fendleri, Holodiscus dumosus, Rhus trilobata, Ribes leptanthum, Robinia neomexicana, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. The herbaceous layer ranges from sparse to dense and is typically graminoid-dominated. Species include Carex rossii, Carex siccata, Piptatheropsis micrantha, and Poa fendleriana. This alliance is known only from Grand Canyon National Park and El Malpais National Monument on plateaus and gentle to steep slopes. Elevations range from to 2350-2690 m. Communities occur on all aspects and slopes may be gentle to steep.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Open woodland stands dominated by Populus tremuloides or post-burn shrubland vegetation where Populus tremuloides was the dominant. Shrub vegetation tends to be dense as a result of the open canopy. The herbaceous component is typically graminoid-dominated and may be open to dense. Forbs do not contribute substantial cover.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance is provisional and represents stands of Populus tremuloides that occupy sites with conditions that prohibit the development of forest vegetation or burned areas.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Communities in this alliance are variable in structure and may be short-statured woodlands with 40-60% cover not exceeding 5 m in height. Other stands are found in post-burn areas where Populus tremuloides was the dominant tree. Shrub cover is dense in these open stands and in post-burn areas shrubs form thickets and are the dominant vegetation.
Floristics: Communities of this alliance are characterized by open woodlands or regenerating stands of Populus tremuloides. Conifers such as Pinus ponderosa and Pseudotsuga menziesii from the surrounding mixed conifer stands can be interspersed in the canopy. Trees typically do not exceed 5 m in the height or 60% in cover. In the open canopy, shrub cover is often dense and may include Ceanothus fendleri, Holodiscus dumosus, Rhus trilobata, Ribes leptanthum, Robinia neomexicana, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. The herbaceous layer ranges from sparse to dense and is typically graminoid-dominated. Species include Carex rossii, Carex siccata, Piptatheropsis micrantha (= Piptatherum micranthum), and Poa fendleriana. Forbs are typically present but are not dominant. Associates may include Achillea millefolium, Arabis fendleri (= Boechera fendleri), Arenaria lanuginosa, Artemisia campestris, Chamerion angustifolium, Chenopodium sp., Conyza canadensis, Erigeron divergens, Erigeron formosissimus, Fragaria vesca, Gayophytum diffusum, Lotus utahensis, Machaeranthera canescens, Packera neomexicana var. mutabilis, Pseudognaphalium macounii, Pseudostellaria jamesiana, and Solidago velutina.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Positions include plateaus and side slopes. Elevations range from to 2350-2690 m. Communities occur on all aspects, and slopes may be gentle to steep. Some sites include areas that have experienced high-intensity fires. Substrates include silty loams, sandy loams or cinder.
Geographic Range: This alliance is known only from Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona and El Malpais National Monument in New Mexico.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.902500
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.Nb Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Division | D194 | 1.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nb.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup | M020 | 1.B.2.Nb.5 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d Quaking Aspen Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group | G222 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
| Alliance | A4078 Quaking Aspen Southern Rocky Mountain Woodland & Scrub Alliance | A4078 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
| Association | CEGL005034 Quaking Aspen / Mixed Shrubs / Cinder Woodland | CEGL005034 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
| Association | CEGL005503 Quaking Aspen / New Mexico Locust Woodland | CEGL005503 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
| Association | CEGL005504 Quaking Aspen - Fendler''s Ceanothus / Sedge species Scrub | CEGL005504 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.d |
Concept Lineage: A610, A.787.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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.
- Kearsley, M. J. C., K. Green, M. Tukman, M. Reid, M. Hall, T. J. Ayers, and K. Christie. 2015. Grand Canyon National Park-Grand Canyon / Parashant National Monument vegetation classification and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR--2015/913. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 75 pp. plus appendices.
- Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, T. Neville, P. Neville, A. Kennedy, H. Hulse, P. Arbetan, K. Schultz, M. Hall, and M. Reid. 2013c. Vegetation classification and map: El Malpais National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2013/803. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. [http://nhnm.unm.edu/vlibrary/pubs_archive/nhnm/nonsensitive/R13MUL01NMUS.pdf]