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Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium myrtillus Forest | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium myrtillus Forest
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This <i>Populus tremuloides</i> forest association is known to occur in Colorado from the northern mountains of the Park Range to the southern mountains of the Sangre de Cristo Range. Stands occur from 2320 to 3170 m (7600-10,400 feet) in elevation on cool, moist sidehills with undulating or straight-slope configurations and primarily on north- or northeast-facing exposures with 20-30% slope, but it can be found on all aspects and gentle to steep slopes. This montane to subalpine forest is dominated by <i>Populus tremuloides</i>. At the lower elevations <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> or <i>Abies concolor</i> are often present and, at times, codominant, while at upper elevations <i>Picea engelmannii, Abies lasiocarpa</i>, or <i>Pinus contorta</i> may be present. There is a dense dwarf-shrub layer that is typically dominated by <i>Vaccinium myrtillus</i>; however, <i>Vaccinium cespitosum</i> (at lower elevation) or <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i> (at higher elevation) may codominate (or dominate). The short-shrub (1-2 m tall) component is sparse, with <i>Jamesia americana, Shepherdia canadensis, Physocarpus monogynus, Salix scouleriana</i>, or <i>Juniperus communis</i> occurring scattered or in small patches. A diverse forb layer with high cover may be part of this association; species include <i>Oryzopsis asperifolia, Arnica cordifolia, Chamerion angustifolium, Erigeron eximius, Linnaea borealis, Lupinus argenteus, Orthilia secunda</i>, and <i>Thermopsis divaricarpa</i>. This association is rapidly seral to conifer-dominated forests; fire suppression reduces aspens and favors conifer replacement. The dominance of <i>Populus tremuloides</i> distinguishes this association from similar, late-successional conifer/<i>Vaccinium</i> associations. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:29529-{AF3E946B-D3FE-4017-B28A-3D198AD0B8A3}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 05-May-2005 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683751 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL000620
  Translated: Quaking Aspen / Whortleberry Forest
  Scientific: Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium myrtillus Forest
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium myrtillus Forest
(similar) CEGL000620
(similar) Populus tremuloides / Vaccinium myrtillus Forest