Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Forest
The Rocky Mountain ponderosa pine forest is a plant community at an elevation of in the Rocky Mountains. It is an important temperate coniferous forest ecoregion, including some endemism, endemic wildlife and Poaceae, grass species that are only found in this Pinus ponderosa, ponderosa pine (''Pinus ponderosa'') habitat. Ecology Ponderosa pine occurs as a mid-seral species and Douglas-fir is the climax forest in the Rocky Mountains. Quaking aspen and lodgepole pine are early-seral associates of ponderosa pine on these sites. Ground-level vegetation includes ninebark (''Physocarpus'' spp.), elk sedge (''Carex geyeri''), and pine grass (''Calamagrostis rubescens''). These species, in particular, exemplify aggressive survivors after disturbance (e.g., fire, mechanical site preparation) and are strong competitors for light and nutrients which compete with ponderosa pine seedlings. Climate The pure stands of Rocky Mountain ponderosa pine forest receive about of annual precipitation. ...
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