Douglas Fir/Gambel Oak

Description

In addition to Douglas fir, ponderosa pine is often a dominant in the overstory. Undergrowth vary from nongrassy gambel oak dominated to relatively grassy gambel oak-arizona fescue associations. Soils are predominately eutroboralfs, glossoboralfs, and agriborolls.

Adjacent sites to the Douglas fir/gambel oak include the white fir/gambel oak on the upper end and the ponderosa pine/gambel oak on the lower end. As in the other sites where gambel oak is diagnostic, oak is the most conspicuous feature of the vegetation.

Grasses are commonly important in the undergrowth, especially in the Arizona fescue phase. This site has broad possibilities for management ranging from forage utilization to timber production, which is low to moderate. Multilayered canopies in the undergrowth in this shrubby site support varied bird species.

Submodel