Print Report
CEGL001291 Atriplex canescens / Sporobolus airoides Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Fourwing Saltbush / Alkali Sacaton Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrubland occurs in the northern Chihuahua Desert extending into the Trans-Pecos of Texas, southwestern Great Plains, and Colorado Plateau. Stands are found in washes, floodplains and on alluvial flats, extending up lower slopes of alluvial fans or bajadas. Elevation ranges from 915-2170 m (3000-7100 feet). Sites are level to gently sloping. Substrates are typically moderately deep, alkaline, calcareous, fine-textured soils or calcareous sands. Some areas are subject to periodic inundation from direct precipitation onto the clayey, somewhat impermeable soils, and runoff from surrounding higher elevations and overtopping drainages. Sediment deposition may occur during these events. Cover of bare soil can be high (>50%). The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense (10-50% cover) short-shrub layer dominated by Atriplex canescens with a perennial graminoid layer dominated by Sporobolus airoides. The shrub layer has greater cover than the herbaceous layer, which may include other scattered shrubs and dwarf-shrubs, such as Artemisia filifolia, Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex obovata, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Isocoma pluriflora, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Lycium spp., Opuntia spp., Prosopis glandulosa, and Sarcobatus vermiculatus. Associated herbaceous species, such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Ambrosia psilostachya, Artemisia campestris, Elymus elymoides, Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii, Sphaeralcea coccinea, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Sporobolus nealleyi, and Suaeda spp., may be present. Bouteloua gracilis cover is typically minor and inconsistent. Forbs are limited and scattered and trees are accidental or absent. Diagnostic of this Atriplex canescens-dominated shrubland is a Sporobolus airoides-dominated herbaceous layer.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Stands with relatively low cover of Atriplex canescens (10-25%) are included in this association because the shrub density is often variable within stands, but species composition and ecological processes do not change significantly. There are several similar associations that vary according to the abundance of different codominants, especially graminoids. Rangewide review of these types is needed to clarify their extent.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The association is characterized by an open to moderately dense (10-50% cover) short-shrub layer dominated by Atriplex canescens with a perennial graminoid layer dominated by Sporobolus airoides but includes sparse Atriplex canescens - Sporobolus airoides-dominated stands (<10% total vegetation cover). The shrub layer generally has greater cover than the herbaceous layer and may include other scattered shrubs and dwarf-shrubs, such as Artemisia filifolia, Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex obovata, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Isocoma pluriflora, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Lycium berlandieri, Lycium pallidum, Cylindropuntia imbricata (= Opuntia imbricata), Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (= Opuntia leptocaulis), Opuntia phaeacantha, Prosopis glandulosa, and Sarcobatus vermiculatus. Associated herbaceous species, such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Ambrosia psilostachya, Artemisia campestris, Elymus elymoides, Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii, Sphaeralcea spp., Sporobolus cryptandrus, Sporobolus nealleyi, and Suaeda spp., may be present. Bouteloua gracilis cover is typically minor and inconsistent (Francis 1986, Shaw et al. 1989, Muldavin et al. 2000b). However, Bouteloua gracilis with Sporobolus cryptandrus is well-represented within Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument in New Mexico. Introduced species such as Salsola kali, Bromus tectorum, or Marrubium vulgare may be common. Forbs are limited and scattered and trees are accidental or absent.
Dynamics: Both Atriplex canescens and Sporobolus airoides are widespread species in semi-arid and arid western North America. Both species are able to tolerate moderately high alkalinity or salinity and finer-textured soils with poor drainage, but they are not restricted to these soils and can be found growing on sand (USFS 1937). Most stands occur on sites that, although located in floodplains or valley floors, will flood only rarely. Atriplex canescens has an extensive root system and is very drought-tolerant. It is very palatable and especially valuable winter forage but can be severely damaged by over-utilization (USFS 1937). Sporobolus airoides produces abundant, long-lived seeds that enable it to fully occupy and dominate favorable sites. It is deep-rooted and produces abundant coarse forage that is best utilized during the growing season (USFS 1937).
Environmental Description: This shrubland occurs on alkaline sites in the northern Chihuahua Desert extending into the Trans-Pecos of Texas, southwestern Great Plains, and Colorado Plateau. Sites are in washes, floodplains and on alluvial flats, extending up lower slopes of alluvial fans or bajadas. Elevation ranges from 915-2170 m (3000-7100 feet). Sites are level to gently sloping (1-5%), and soils are typically moderately deep, alkaline, calcareous, fine-textured soils such as silt loam, loamy clay or clay (Francis 1986, Shaw et al. 1989, Muldavin et al. 2000b), although some sites in active floodplains may be rapidly drained sandy soils. Some areas are subject to periodic inundation from direct precipitation onto the clayey, somewhat impermeable soils, and runoff from surrounding higher elevations and overtopping drainages. Sediment deposition may occur during these events. The ground surface is characterized by large patches of tussock grasses intermixed with exposed soil and litter. Cover of bare soil may be high (>50%) (Francis 1986). Evidence of overland flow and erosion, e.g., gullies, rills, plant pedestalling, is common (Soil Conservation Service n.d.).
Geographic Range: This shrubland occurs in the northern Chihuahua Desert extending into Trans-Pecos Texas, the southwestern Great Plains and Colorado Plateau in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. It is reported from California and likely also occurs in Nevada and Mexico.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, CO, NM, NV?, TX, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685647
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5?
Greasons: No Data Available
Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
---|---|---|---|
Class | 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class | C03 | 3 |
Subclass | 3.B Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S11 | 3.B |
Formation | 3.B.1 Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F033 | 3.B.1 |
Division | 3.B.1.Ne Western North American Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D040 | 3.B.1.Ne |
Macrogroup | 3.B.1.Ne.5 Shadscale Saltbush - Fourwing Saltbush - Mat Saltbush Great Basin Scrub Macrogroup | M093 | 3.B.1.Ne.5 |
Group | 3.B.1.Ne.5.b Shadscale Saltbush - Fourwing Saltbush - Spiny Hopsage Scrub Group | G300 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.b |
Alliance | A0869 Fourwing Saltbush Scrub Alliance | A0869 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.b |
Association | CEGL001291 Fourwing Saltbush / Alkali Sacaton Shrubland | CEGL001291 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Atriplex canescens - Atriplex confertifolia / Sporobolus airoides Vegetation Type (Dick-Peddie 1993)
>< Atriplex canescens - Sarcobatus vermiculatus / Sporobolus airoides Vegetation Type (Dick-Peddie 1993)
? Atriplex canescens / Sporobolus airoides - Sitanion hystrix Plant Community (Francis 1986)
? Atriplex canescens / Sporobolus airoides Community Type (Muldavin et al. 1994b)
= Atriplex canescens / Sporobolus airoides Plant Association (Baker 1984a)
? Atriplex canescens / Sporobolus airoides Plant Association (Muldavin et al. 1998d)
= Atriplex canescens / Sporobolus airoides Plant Community (Shaw et al. 1989)
= Fourwing Saltbush/Alkali Sacaton PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Atriplex canescens/Sporobolus airoides; ATRCAN/SPOAIR)]
? Saline Overflow Range Site #37 B (Soil Conservation Service n.d.)
? Salt Flat Range Site #34 B (Soil Conservation Service n.d.)
< Saltbush Series with Great Basin Desert Scrub (Dick-Peddie 1993)
>< Atriplex canescens - Sarcobatus vermiculatus / Sporobolus airoides Vegetation Type (Dick-Peddie 1993)
? Atriplex canescens / Sporobolus airoides - Sitanion hystrix Plant Community (Francis 1986)
? Atriplex canescens / Sporobolus airoides Community Type (Muldavin et al. 1994b)
= Atriplex canescens / Sporobolus airoides Plant Association (Baker 1984a)
? Atriplex canescens / Sporobolus airoides Plant Association (Muldavin et al. 1998d)
= Atriplex canescens / Sporobolus airoides Plant Community (Shaw et al. 1989)
= Fourwing Saltbush/Alkali Sacaton PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Atriplex canescens/Sporobolus airoides; ATRCAN/SPOAIR)]
? Saline Overflow Range Site #37 B (Soil Conservation Service n.d.)
? Salt Flat Range Site #34 B (Soil Conservation Service n.d.)
< Saltbush Series with Great Basin Desert Scrub (Dick-Peddie 1993)
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