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A.101 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.101
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: This forest alliance occurs along the western slope of California's Sierra Nevada. Giant sequoias are limited by temperature in the upper elevations, and by deficient soil moisture at lower elevations. Elevations typically range from 1370-2130 m. Groves in the northern portion of the range tend to occur on southern aspects; those in the southern portion tend to occur on northern aspects. Most groves occur on granitic-based residual soils, alluvium or glacial outwash. Sequoias grow best in deep, well-drained, sandy loams with perennial soil moisture. Vigorous individuals can thrive in shallow, rocky soils if underground water is available. Soil moisture seems to be the limiting factor in the extent of a grove or stand of sequoias. Vegetation included in this forest alliance is characterized by the presence of ~Sequoiadendron giganteum$. This alliance intergrades with the typical mixed conifer forest of the region, and the subcanopy beneath the sequoias is composed of those species. Groves are often dominated by ~Abies concolor$, with emergent individuals of ~Sequoiadendron giganteum$, though at lower elevations ~Calocedrus decurrens (= Libocedrus decurrens)$ may dominate, and at higher elevations ~Abies magnifica$ may dominate. Other tree species from the mixed conifer forest include ~Quercus kelloggii, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus jeffreyi, Pinus contorta var. murrayana, Pinus ponderosa$, and ~Pinus lambertiana$. Shrubs may be infrequent to common and include ~Chrysolepis sempervirens (= Castanopsis sempervirens), Chamaebatia foliolosa, Ceanothus$ spp., ~Arctostaphylos patula, Rhododendron occidentale, Ribes$ spp., ~Rosa$ spp., and ~Rubus$ spp. Stand structure and composition vary considerably with elevation, latitude, exposure, soil moisture, and time since most recent fire or disturbance. Diagnostic of this forest alliance is the presence of large ~Sequoiadendron giganteum$ in the upper tree canopy 
Accession Code: VB.CC.781.A101
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
     
  • status: accepted
  • Community's Parent: I.A.8.N.a
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: SEQUOIADENDRON GIGANTEUM FOREST ALLIANCE
  Code: A.101
  Common: Giant Sequoia Forest Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Sequoiadendron giganteum Forest Alliance