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Betula papyrifera / Acer glabrum Woodland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Betula papyrifera / Acer glabrum Woodland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
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</i>, and <i>Penstemon albertinus</i>. Nonvascular cover ranges from 0-10%. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34499-{0F942D13-61B6-418D-B2E2-D592F176AE0E}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 23-Feb-2004 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.731039 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL005844
  Translated: Paper Birch / Rocky Mountain Maple Woodland
  Scientific: Betula papyrifera / Acer glabrum Woodland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) Betula papyrifera / Acer glabrum Woodland
(similar) Betula papyrifera / Acer glabrum Woodland