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Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Juniperus communis Woodland | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Juniperus communis Woodland Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This spruce-fir woodland association occurs in localized areas within the subalpine to upper montane zones of the western United States. The primary elevation range for the association is between 2530 and 3200 m (8300-11,500 feet). It occurs on gentle to somewhat steep mid- to upper slopes of all aspects and on benches or at lower elevations on dry stream terraces with cold-air drainage. Soils are variable but generally rocky and well-drained with substantial areas of lichen-covered bedrock or bare soil. This association is among the driest types of <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> forests and woodlands. The canopy is relatively open and dominated by <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> with <i>Picea engelmannii</i> often codominant. Seral species in the tree canopy can include <i>Pinus contorta, Pinus flexilis, Picea pungens</i>, and <i>Populus tremuloides</i>, with <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> occurring on relatively warmer sites. The shrub layer is often sparse but characterized by large, widely spaced patches of <i>Juniperus communis</i>. Additional shrub species occur and can include <i>Shepherdia canadensis, Vaccinium scoparium, Ribes montigenum, Symphoricarpos oreophilus</i>, and occasionally <i>Mahonia repens, Vaccinium myrtillus</i>, or <i>Vaccinium caespitosum</i>. The herbaceous layer is likewise sparse. Species occurring most frequently include <i>Arnica cordifolia, Lupinus argenteus, Fragaria virginiana, Chamerion angustifolium (= Epilobium angustifolium)</i>, and <i>Antennaria</i> spp. Diagnostic characteristics of this association include <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> and <i>Picea engelmannii</i> in the tree canopy and <i>Juniperus communis</i> patches in the understory with greater cover than other shrub species.  Accession Code: VB.CC.31947.CEGL000919 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:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686096 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Common Juniper Woodland   Scientific: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Juniperus communis Woodland   Code: CEGL000919