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Salix brachycarpa / Carex aquatilis Shrubland | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Salix brachycarpa / Carex aquatilis Shrubland Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This association is known from the upper montane zones of the Rocky Mountains. Specifically it is known from the upper South Platte River Basin, the Rio Grande National Forest, and the San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado. It is likely to occur in Utah. <i>Salix brachycarpa</i> is an abundant low-statured (0.3-1 m [1-3 feet]) willow of first- and second-order streams of subalpine elevations (2805-3110 m [9200-10,200 feet]) in Colorado. It is unusual for <i>Salix brachycarpa</i> to occur with <i>Carex aquatilis</i> since <i>Salix brachycarpa</i> typically grows on drier sites. This association occurs on low floodplains immediately adjacent to the stream channel. Stream reaches are broad, low gradient, and meandering or braided. The water table can be within the first 20 cm (8 inches) of soil early in the season. Since <i>Salix brachycarpa</i> is typically not associated with <i>Carex aquatilis</i>, this plant association may indicate that a site was once wetter and is now becoming drier allowing <i>Salix brachycarpa</i> to establish. <i>Salix brachycarpa</i> is the dominant shrub with 15-20% cover. Other shrubs present include <i>Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda), Salix wolfii</i>, and <i>Salix monticola</i>. The understory is a thick carpet of grasses and grass-like plants dominated by 15-30% cover of <i>Carex aquatilis</i>. Forb cover is sparse. In Colorado, occurrences of this plant association also have <i>Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda</i> and <i>Juncus balticus var. montanus</i> which increase in abundance under persistent heavy livestock grazing. These sites may be shifting from wetter plant associations to drier <i>Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda</i> or <i>Salix brachycarpa</i> associations.  Accession Code: VB.CC.32341.CEGL001244 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.2.685718 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Short-fruit Willow / Water Sedge Shrubland   Scientific: Salix brachycarpa / Carex aquatilis Shrubland   Code: CEGL001244