The Abi las/Xer ten habitat type occurred on the Zc and Zd gravelly, 

 cobbly silty loam soils, 15-50 percent slope and greater than 50 

 percent slope. A less common association was with the X loam soil, 0- 

 25 percent slope. 



Subal pine Fir/Sitka Alder (Ahi las/Aln sin) Habitat Type . This type 



was present in the permit area as inclusions in the Abi las/Men fer and 

 Abi las/Lin bor habitat types, representing intermediate site 

 parameters and floristics. Since the stands of Pfister et a! . (1977) 

 were all 200 years old or less, "retention of Ainu? at the theoretical 

 climax is uncertain; in west-central Montana, Abi las/Aln sin sometimes 

 forms a transitional zone between Abi las/Men fer and Abi las/Xer ten - 

 Vac sco phase ... Abi las/Aln sin is often bordered below on warmer, 

 similarly moist sites by Abi las/Lin bor stands in which Alnus sinuate 

 is well represented; Abi las/Vac sco is often adjacent on drier sites". 

 This pattern was indicated for limited inclusions of Abi las/Aln sin in 

 the permit area on convex, generally steep, north slopes. 



The Abi las/Aln sin habitat type occurred on the Zc and Zd gravelly, 

 cobbly silty loam soils, 15-50 percent slope and greater than 50 

 percent slope. 



Subalpine Fi r/Twinf lower (Abi las/Lin bor) H abitat Type . This type 



occurs at elevations of 6600 to 7320 feet in the permit area. It is 

 found on moderate to very steep, cool slopes intermediate between Abi 



76 



