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Abies lasiocarpa - Populus tremuloides Forest Alliance | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Abies lasiocarpa - Populus tremuloides Forest Alliance
Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description: Stands included in this mixed evergreen-deciduous forest alliance have been described from mountain slopes and plateaus in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. Stands occur on gentle to steep slopes on all aspects, but are most common on cooler and more mesic, north and east aspects. Soils are derived from alluvium and colluvium from sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous parent materials. The mixed coniferous and deciduous tree canopy is open to moderately closed, and is dominated by Populus tremuloides and Abies lasiocarpa or Picea engelmannii. Several other species of conifers may be scattered within the stands including Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies concolor, Picea pungens, Pinus contorta, and Pinus flexilis. Younger stands typically have dense Populus tremuloides with Abies lasiocarpa or Picea engelmannii mixed in. As the stands age, Populus tremuloides is slowly reduced until conifers become dominant. The understory is typically composed of a short-shrub layer, often dominated by Juniperus communis, Shepherdia canadensis or Symphoricarpos oreophilus. Other shrubs may include Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Physocarpus malvaceus, and Rosa woodsii. If present, the tall-shrub layer often consists of scattered Amelanchier alnifolia, Acer grandidentatum, and Prunus virginiana. The relatively sparse herbaceous layer is a mixture of graminoids and forbs and is often dominated by Bromus carinatus, Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Carex rossii, Pedicularis racemosa, or Thalictrum fendleri. Diagnostic of these seral forests is the open to moderately closed, mixed coniferous and deciduous tree canopy codominated by Populus tremuloides and Abies lasiocarpa or Picea engelmannii. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.18497.ABIESLASIOCARPA
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 01-May-2019
     
  • status: accepted
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: Abies lasiocarpa - Populus tremuloides Forest Alliance
  Translated: Subalpine Fir - Quaking Aspen Forest Alliance
  UID: HIGHER_CLASS_UNIT.2.126566 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: A.422