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Abies concolor - (Pseudotsuga menziesii) / Thalictrum fendleri Forest | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Abies concolor - (Pseudotsuga menziesii) / Thalictrum fendleri Forest Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This mesic mixed montane conifer association is known from Valles Caldera National Preserve and Bandelier National Monument in north-central New Mexico and likely occurs on mesic sites elsewhere in the southern Rocky Mountains. Sites are typically cool and moist and occur on northerly to northeasterly aspects at lower elevations shifting to southeasterly through southwesterly aspects at higher elevations. Elevations range from 1890-2990 m (6200-9800 feet). Slopes vary from very gentle rolling mesatops to steep mountain backslopes and canyon sideslopes (0-55%). Substrates are derived from volcanic andesite, rhyolite, and rhyolitic tuffs. Ground cover is typically characterized by deep leaf litter layers and herbaceous cover with little exposed soil, although some sites can be rocky or have significant accumulation of large woody debris. The vegetation is characterized by an open to closed tree canopy (25-90%) dominated by <i>Abies concolor</i> with seedlings and saplings in the understory. <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> is typically a codominant in the canopy or subcanopy. Other conifers can be common to well-represented, but are subdominants, and include <i>Pinus ponderosa, Pinus strobiformis, Pinus flexilis</i>, and occasionally <i>Picea pungens</i>. <i>Populus tremuloides</i> is often well-represented as seedlings and saplings, or as a codominant in the canopy. Shrub and subshrub composition and cover are variable; shrubs are often absent but cover can range as high as 15%. The most frequent species are <i>Juniperus communis, Rosa woodsii, Rubus idaeus</i>, and <i>Rubus parviflorus</i>. However, the understory is characterized by a moderate to dense (25% or over 50% cover) herbaceous layer with high species richness dominated by a combination of mesic graminoids and forbs. The most abundant graminoids are <i>Bromus ciliatus, Koeleria macrantha, Poa fendleriana, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Carex occidentalis</i>, and <i>Carex siccata</i>. Forbs can reach 30% cover and are characterized by <i>Thalictrum fendleri</i> and a mixture of other mesic forbs such as <i>Achillea millefolium, Fragaria vesca, Galium aparine, Lathyrus lanszwertii var. leucanthus, Maianthemum stellatum</i>, and <i>Viola canadensis</i>. <i>Erigeron eximius</i> is generally absent in this type. When present, <i>Carex siccata</i> does not form a dense sod that dominates the understory.  Accession Code: VB.CC.31808.CEGL005353 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) / Fendler's Meadowrue Forest   Code: CEGL005353   Scientific: Abies concolor - (Pseudotsuga menziesii) / Thalictrum fendleri Forest   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.814869 NatureServe Explorer