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Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex rossii Forest | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex rossii Forest
Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description: This minor forest association has been described from the southern Rocky Mountains in northern Colorado and New Mexico and possibly Arizona. Stands are found on gentle to typically steep (5-65%), north- to northwest-facing slopes with shallow, coarse-textured, well-drained colluvium at elevations of 1670-2930 m. Stands are recognized by the moderately dense tree canopy dominated by <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i>, although <i>Pinus ponderosa</i> and <i>Juniperus scopulorum</i> may be present with nearly equal cover. The short-shrub layer is sparse and represented by widely scattered <i>Juniperus communis</i> and <i>Physocarpus monogynus</i>. <i>Carex </i><i>rossii</i> is the only significant graminoid (4-15% cover), although <i>Carex inops, Carex occidentalis, Koeleria macrantha, Leucopoa kingii (= Festuca kingii)</i>, and <i>Poa fendleriana</i> may be present. Common forbs include <i>Achillea millefolium</i><i> var. occidentalis (= Achillea lanulosa), Campanula rotundifolia, Cystopteris fragilis, Fragaria virginiana, Heuchera bracteata, Pulsatilla patens ssp. multifida (= Pulsatilla ludoviciana), Saxifraga rhomboidea</i>, and <i>Thalictrum fendleri</i>. Overstory shade is needed for successful regeneration of <i>Pseudotsuga</i>. These forests were originally subject to a high natural fire frequency. Recently, fire-suppression activities have resulted in unnaturally high sapling densities, as well as increased fuel loads. Sapling densities have resulted in a decreasing reproductive success of the shade-intolerant <i>Pinus ponderosa</i> relative to <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i>. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.31807.CEGL000431
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 17-Nov-2014 to: 01-May-2019
     
  • status: accepted
  • This Community's Level: association
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Translated: White Fir - Douglas-fir / Ross' Sedge Forest
  Code: CEGL000431
  Scientific: Abies concolor - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Carex rossii Forest
  UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684819 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo