in numbers of Sugar Pines, which have been replaced in the eco- 

 logical succession by Incense Cedar and White Fir. It is probable 

 that several of the other tree species in the Montane Forest are 

 also "fire type" trees, and their numbers may also be changing 

 as a result of the efficiency of the fire control activities of federal, 

 state, and private agencies. 



Montane Chaparral (Plate 12A, B) 



At moderate to high elevations in the mountains, particularly 

 the Sierra Nevada, the coniferous forest may be interrupted by 

 areas of Montane Chaparral. This plant community resembles in 

 general aspect the Chaparral of lower elevations, but is given sep- 

 arate recognition because the number and identity of the species 

 of shrubs that occur in the two plant communities are different. 

 Although manzanitas (Arctostaphylos spp.) and California lilac 

 {Ceanothus spp.) occur in both plant communities, different spe- 

 cies are represented in each of them. The regions in which Mon- 

 tane Chaparral occurs receive considerably higher precipitation 

 than those occupied by Chaparral, but with few exceptions the 

 shrubs maintain a strong xerophytic appearance. In many areas 

 of the mountains, Montane Chaparral is successional in nature, 

 and develops on previously forested sites after forest fires have 

 eliminated the trees (Plate 12B). Because of its sporadic distribu- 

 tion, this plant community was not included on the maps. 



Subalpine Forest (Plate 12C, D;Map 4) 



Immediately above the Montane Forest, and not sharply dif- 

 ferentiated from it, is the Subalpine Forest plant community. 

 Some of the coniferous tree species characteristic of the upper 

 reaches of the Montane Forest also occur in the lower reaches of 

 (or throughout) the Subalpine Forest, with the result that there 

 is a gradual transition between the two forest communities. The 

 Subalpine Forest occurs above the Montane Forest in the Sierra 

 Nevada and is present to a lesser extent in the Cascades in the 

 Lassen-Shasta vicinity. The elevation at which it occurs is variable; 

 at its lowest it occurs between 5,000 and 6,000 feet (1 ,524 to 

 1,829 m). In southern California or the desert ranges (such as the 



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