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Betula papyrifera / Acer glabrum Woodland | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Betula papyrifera / Acer glabrum Woodland
Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description: This association is locally common on the west side of Glacier National Park, Montana. It occurs on steep to very steep, mostly south-facing slopes at elevations between 1000 and 1200 m (3300-3900 feet). Soils are well-drained sandy loams or loams on colluvial landforms of argillite, including talus slopes. Generally these soils contain angular green argillite cobbles. Litter dominates the ground surface with 40-95% cover. All sampled areas have burned in natural wildfires in the last 100 years. This association is a montane, mesic, mixed evergreen-deciduous woodland that occurs as a result of hot, stand-replacing fires followed by precipitation events that erode much of the soil mantle from the slope. Consequently, few conifers establish, allowing <i>Betula papyrifera</i> to dominate. The upper tree canopy ranges from 30-60% cover with heights of 10-15 m. The tree subcanopy ranges from 5-60% cover. <i>Betula papyrifera</i> dominates with 20-50% cover. Other tree species that may be present include <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii, Populus tremuloides, Larix occidentalis</i>, and <i>Pinus monticola</i>. The tall-shrub layer ranges from 10-60% cover with heights 1-5 m. <i>Acer glabrum</i> and <i>Amelanchier alnifolia</i> are dominant; <i>Rubus parviflorus</i> is also common. <i>Betula papyrifera</i> and <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> saplings, <i>Philadelphus lewisii, Prunus virginiana, Salix scouleriana</i>, and <i>Holodiscus discolor</i> may be present with moderate to high cover. <i>Symphoricarpos albus</i> and <i>Paxistima myrsinites</i> are the most common short shrubs. <i>Mahonia repens</i> can dominate the dwarf-shrub layer. The herbaceous cover is low, ranging from 5-20%. <i>Aralia nudicaulis</i> is the most dominant forb. Other high-constancy species include <i>Elymus glaucus, Chamerion angustifolium, Symphyotrichum laeve (= Aster laevis)</i>, and <i>Penstemon albertinus</i>. Nonvascular cover ranges from 0-10%. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.32194.CEGL005844
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.2.731039 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Translated: Paper Birch / Rocky Mountain Maple Woodland
  Scientific: Betula papyrifera / Acer glabrum Woodland
  Code: CEGL005844