Lecture Midterm 2 - Community Types

blackbush scrub

shrub-dominated community on rocky alluvial fans or bajadas in the desert, dominated by Coleogyne ramosissima

alkaline sink

scrubby community on highly saline soils, adjacent to interior drainage. Often dominated by Allenrolfea occidentalis.

mixed mojave/sonoran desert scrub

desert community dominated by a mixure of different shrubs, often with cacti or succulents present.

great basin sagebrush scrub

dominated by Artemisia tridentata; Purshia tridentata and Ericameria nauseosa often present.

saltbush scrub

dominated by a mixture of Atriplex sp.; often on saline soils.

desert dry wash

scattered shrubs (often leguminous) in a drainage without persistent water flow

creosote scrub

dominated by Larrea tridentata; Ambrosia dumosa often present.

desert sand dunes

desert community on sand dunes; may have Neltuma odorata or Larrea tridentata present

pinyon-juniper woodland

dominated by some mixture of pinyon pines and Juniperus sp.

Joshua Tree woodland

community dominated by Yucca brevifolia

Coulter pine forest

dominated by Pinus coulteri, found in the South Coast, Transverse, and Peninsular Ranges

Ponderosa pine forest

dominated by Pinus ponderosa, more common in cismontane California

Jeffrey pine forest

dominated by Pinus jeffreyi, more common in transmontane California

white fir forest

dominated by Abies concolor

mixed coniferous forest

dominated by several tree species, may include Pinus jeffreyi, P ponderosa, P lambertiana, Abies concolor, Calocedrus decurrens, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Quercus kelloggii

giant sequoia grove

Sequoiadendron giganteum dominated forest with Abies concolor and Pinus lambertiana in the understory

giant sequoia grove

found in 81 known areas on the west side of the Sierra Nevada in unglaciated, mesic valleys between 4500 and 8500ft elevation

lodgepole pine forest

higher elevation community dominated by Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana

red fir forest

mountain forest with the most snowfall; dominated by Abies magnifica

subalpine woodland

high elevation community with scattered trees, may include Pinus contorta ssp murrayana, P. balfouriana, P. monticola, Tsuga mertensiana, and Abies magnifica

coastal closed cone pine forest

community found near the ocean dominated by either Pinus muricata or P. radiata

interior closed cone pine forest

community found inland (could be on serpentine soils) dominated by Pinus attenuata

coastal cypress forest

community found near the ocean, dominated by Hesperocyparis macrocarpa or other Hesperocyparis species.

interior cypress forest

community found inland (could be on serpentine soils), dominated by Hesperocyparis sargentii or other Hesperocyparis species.

pygmy forest

community found on coastal terraces in Mendocino County, dominated by stunted Pinus muricata, Pinus contorta ssp. bolanderi, and Hesperocyparis pygmaea with an Ericaceous understory.

north coast forest

community better represented in Washington or British Columbia, dominated by Picea sitchensis, Calitropsis nootkatensis, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Abies grandis, and/or

redwood forest

forest dominated by Sequoia sempervirens

northern mixed evergreen forest

community in the North Coast Ranges or Klamaths dominated by a mixture (or monoculture) of Pseudotsuga menziesii, Notholithocarpus densiflorus, Arbutus menziesii, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, and Umbellularia californica

southern mixed evergreen forest

community limited to north-facing slopes and drainages in the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges with Pinus coulteri and Pseudotsuga macrocarpa dominating

central coast mixed evergreen forest

community in the South Coast Ranges dominated by a mixture of Umbellularia californica, Pseudotsuga mensiezii, Arbutus menziesii, Notholithocarpus densiflorus, Quercus agrifolia

Sierran mixed hardwood forest

tree-dominated community with Quercus chrysolepis, Q. kelloggii, Acer macrophyllum, Umbellularia californica and several conifers like Pinus ponderosa and Calocedrus decurrens.