Login | Datasets | Logout
 

View Community Concepts - Detail

Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa - Conifer / Cornus sericea Forest | Western Ecology Working Group of...
  click to update datacart
Name: Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa - Conifer / Cornus sericea Forest
Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description: This association is known from east of the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park, Montana. This association is known from the bottom of large glacial troughs, on low terraces and moderate to steep slopes at elevations ranging from 1293 to 1464 m (4240-4800 feet). The association is found on glacial-fluvial and lacustrine deposits with well-drained sandy loam to clay loam soils. This association is known from avalanche chutes and from a bottomland stand bordering a spring-fed stream. This association consists of a multi-aged canopy dominated by Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa and Picea engelmannii with lesser amounts of Pseudotsuga menziesii and Abies lasiocarpa. Conifer species are always present, with Picea engelmannii being most characteristic; however, Abies lasiocarpa and Pseudotsuga menziesii are present as seedlings and saplings. Betula papyrifera is present in half the stands with up to 10% cover. Cornus sericea is present in all stands with variable height and multiple ages. With up to 70% cover, it can dominate the shrub canopies, but more often the diversity of shrubs renders no species clearly dominant. Other common variable-height shrubs include Rubus parviflorus, Symphoricarpos albus, and Amelanchier alnifolia, with average coverages of 5 to 25%. Acer glabrum and Rhamnus alnifolia are less frequently present but can have high cover. Elymus glaucus has high constancy but low cover. Forb diversity is high, but the only species with more than trace cover is Heracleum maximum, which has low constancy. In at least one stand (surrounding a spring-fed stream), the forb level is likely kept low by snow and water levels most of the season. Mosses are present with 5 to 10% cover, and the ground cover is otherwise made up of litter and woody debris. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.28246.POPULUSBALSAMIF
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 10-Feb-2004 to: 17-Nov-2014
      Names:   Translated: Black Cottonwood - Conifer / Red-osier Dogwood Forest
  UID: HIGHER_CLASS_UNIT.2.125485 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Scientific: Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa - Conifer / Cornus sericea Forest
  Code: CEGL005905
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa - Populus tremuloides - Conifer / Cornus sericea Forest