Pacific Southwest

Title: Forested Communities of the Upper Montane in the Central and Southern Sierra Nevada

Author: Potter, Donald A.

Date: 1998

Source: Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-169. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 319 p.

Station ID: GTR-PSW-169

Description: Upper montane forests in the central and southern Sierra Nevada of California were classified into 26 plant associations by using information collected from 0.1-acre circular plots. Within this region, the forested environment including the physiographic setting, geology, soils, and vegetation is described in detail. A simulation model is presented for this portion of the Sierra Nevada that refines discussions of climate, and disturbance regimes are described to illustrate the interaction between these features of the environment and vegetation in the study area. In the classification, plant associations are differentiated by floristic composition, environmental setting, and measurements of productivity. Differences in elevation, aspect, topographic setting, and soil properties generally distinguish each plant association described. A detailed description is presented for each plant association, including a discussion of the distribution, environment, vegetation, soils, productivity, coarse woody debris, range, wildlife, and management recommendations. A complete species list and tables for cross referencing specific characteristics of each association are provided

Keywords: Vegetation classification, ecological classification, potential natural vegetation, plant association, red fir (Abies magnifica), white fir (Abies concolor), sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana), Jeffrey pine (Pinus Jeffreyii), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana), western white pine (Pinus monticola), western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis), quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

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Citation

Potter, Donald A.  1998.  Forested Communities of the Upper Montane in the Central and Southern Sierra Nevada.   Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-169. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 319 p..