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A.102 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.102 Reference: EcoArt 2002 Description: This giant conifer forest alliance occurs in montane habitats of the Pacific mountain ranges. These forests occupy a broad elevational band in the Cascades, extending from approximately 800-1500 m. In the Olympic Mountains and northward through British Columbia, elevations range from sea level to 1200 m. The climate is cool and wet with annual precipitation totals generally exceeding 200 cm, and deep (1-3 m) snow accumulations. A consistent winter snowpack of moderate duration along with frequent winter rains (rain on snow events) is one of the driving factors in occurrence of these forests. Podzolization is the dominant soil development process, and organic soil layers are generally well-developed. Stands typically occupy moderate to steep middle and upper mountain slopes and are often contiguous with the low-elevation ~Tsuga heterophylla$ and/or ~Pseudotsuga menziesii$ forests and higher subalpine forests of ~Tsuga mertensiana$ and ~Chamaecyparis nootkatensis$. In this typically mixed conifer forest, ~Tsuga heterophylla$ is usually codominant with ~Abies amabilis$ in the overstory; however, ~Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies procera$, or ~Tsuga mertensiana$ may all be present in the canopy, depending upon elevation, moisture, geographic location, and site history. ~Abies amabilis$ is the most shade-tolerant conifer and is dominant in all age classes. ~Chamaecyparis nootkatensis$ may be frequent in the upper elevations of the alliance and is occasionally codominant. Associated shrubs are primarily ericaceous. ~Oplopanax horridus, Vaccinium$ spp. are particularly widespread with ~Rhododendron albiflorum$ and ~Menziesia ferruginea$ common in higher elevation stands and ~Mahonia nervosa, Acer circinatum$, or ~Gaultheria shallon$ in low-elevation stands. The herbaceous layer is generally dominated by shade-tolerant species with northern affinities, including ~Linnaea borealis, Cornus canadensis, Clintonia uniflora$, and many others. Diagnostic of this forest alliance is the presence of a giant upper tree canopy (>50 m tall) that is dominated or codominated by ~Abies amabilis$.  Accession Code: VB.CC.791.A102 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:   Code: A.102   Scientific: ABIES AMABILIS GIANT FOREST ALLIANCE   Common: Pacific Silver Fir Giant Forest Alliance (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Abies amabilis Giant Forest Alliance