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CEGL000976 Quercus toumeyi / Muhlenbergia emersleyi Scrub
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Toumey Oak / Bullgrass Scrub
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrubland occurs in the "Borderlands" of southwestern New Mexico and likely extends into southeastern Arizona and the very northern Sierra Madre Occidentale in Mexico. Stands occur in the foothills zone of isolated desert mountain ranges. Elevation ranges from 1500-1600 m. Stands are small and are described from a rocky knoll in a narrow valley bottom and on a moderately steep (35%), rocky slope in the Animas Mountains. Aspects are variable (north-northeast and south). Soils are gravelly loams derived from rhyolite, with high amounts of surface gravel and rocks (40-90% cover). This association has a moderately sparse (20% cover) tall-shrub layer (2-5 m) with a sparse herbaceous layer (<15% cover). The shrub layer is dominated by the broad-leaved evergreen oaks Quercus toumeyi and Quercus arizonica, which occasionally reach small tree size. Several other shrubs may be present, particularly succulents such as Nolina microcarpa, Dasylirion wheeleri, Cylindropuntia imbricata, Yucca elata, and Agave palmeri. The sparse herbaceous layer is dominated by perennial grasses. The most abundant species are Muhlenbergia emersleyi, Bouteloua curtipendula, and Schizachyrium cirratum. The diversity of graminoid and forb species is high (>20 species), but most have cover less than 1%. The diagnostic characteristics of this evergreen shrubland is the dominance of Quercus toumeyi with Muhlenbergia emersleyi present in the herbaceous layer. Both Quercus toumeyi and Muhlenbergia emersleyi commonly occur on rocky slopes.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is closely related to ~Quercus toumeyi / Bouteloua curtipendula Scrub (CEGL000975)$$ but tends to have less grass cover and higher surface rock. Further analysis may lump these two. However, with only five known occurrences of these two associations, the global rank will remain high.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This is an open, shrubby association. The diverse shrub layer is dominated by the evergreen broad-leaved oak Quercus toumeyi, with 15-20% cover. Several other shrub species are well-represented, particularly the agaves Dasylirion wheeleri, Nolina microcarpa and Yucca spp. The understory is very sparse but diverse. Perennial grasses contribute the most cover, averaging 5-10% cover. Up to 20 forb species may occur in this association, with trace amounts.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs in the foothills zone of isolated desert mountain ranges. Little detailed information is available. This association occurs on moderate to steep, rocky slopes in the Animas Mountains foothills. Soils are gravelly loams derived from Rhyolite, with high amounts of surface gravel and rocks. Elevation ranges from 1500 to 1650 m (4900-5400 feet). Both Quercus toumeyi and Muhlenbergia emersleyi occur on rocky slopes. Most of the annual precipitation of about 40 cm (16 inches) occurs during the summer months as the result of convectional thunderstorms and during winter as occasional rains. Late spring and early summer are typically dry. Summers are hot, and winters can have periods of cold weather and occasional snows.
Geographic Range: Only documented from the southwestern corner of New Mexico, but it probably occurs elsewhere in the "borderlands" region of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and northern Mexico.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: AZ?, MXCHH?, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685157
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F018 | 1.B.1 |
| Division | 1.B.1.Nd Madrean-Balconian Forest & Woodland Division | D060 | 1.B.1.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.1.Nd.1 Alligator Juniper - Mexican Pinyon - Arizona White Oak Madrean Lowland Evergreen Woodland Macrogroup | M010 | 1.B.1.Nd.1 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Nd.1.a Arizona White Oak - Emory Oak - Mexican Blue Oak Woodland Group | G201 | 1.B.1.Nd.1.a |
| Alliance | A3101 Arizona White Oak - Emory Oak - Gray Oak Scrub Woodland Alliance | A3101 | 1.B.1.Nd.1.a |
| Association | CEGL000976 Toumey Oak / Bullgrass Scrub | CEGL000976 | 1.B.1.Nd.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Pinus discolor / Quercus toumeyi (Bassett et al. 1987)
= Quercus toumeyi / Muhlenbergia emersleyi PA (Bourgeron et al. 1995a)
= Quercus toumeyi / Muhlenbergia emersleyi PA (Muldavin et al. 1998a)
= Quercus toumeyi / Muhlenbergia emersleyi PA (Bourgeron et al. 1993b)
= Quercus toumeyi / Muhlenbergia emersleyi PA (Bourgeron et al. 1995a)
= Quercus toumeyi / Muhlenbergia emersleyi PA (Muldavin et al. 1998a)
= Quercus toumeyi / Muhlenbergia emersleyi PA (Bourgeron et al. 1993b)
- Bassett, D., M. Larson, and W. Moir. 1987. Forest and woodland habitat types of Arizona south of the Mogollon Rim and southwestern New Mexico. Edition 2. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM.
- Bourgeron, P. S., L. D. Engelking, H. C. Humphries, E. Muldavin, and W. H. Moir. 1993b. Assessing the conservation value of the Gray Ranch: Rarity, diversity and representativeness. Unpublished report prepared for The Nature Conservancy by the Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. (Volume I and II).
- Bourgeron, P. S., L. D. Engelking, H. C. Humphries, E. Muldavin, and W. H. Moir. 1995a. Assessing the conservation value of the Gray Ranch: Rarity, diversity and representativeness. Desert Plants 11(2-3):3-68.
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- Muldavin, E., V. Archer, and P. Neville. 1998a. A vegetation map of the Borderlands Ecosystem Management Area. Final report submitted to USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Experiment Station, Flagstaff, AZ, by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM. 58 pp.
- NHNM [Natural Heritage New Mexico]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Natural Heritage New Mexico, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
- Reid, M. S., L. S. Engelking, and P. S. Bourgeron. 1994. Rare plant communities of the conterminous United States, Western Region. Pages 305-620 in: D. H. Grossman, K. L. Goodin, and C. L. Reuss, editors. Rare plant communities of the conterminous United States, an initial survey. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Willing, R. C. 1987. Status, distribution and habitat use of Gould''s turkey in the Peloncillo Mountains, New Mexico. Unpublished M.S. thesis, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces. 95 pp.