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CEGL002786 Artemisia filifolia - Ephedra (torreyana, viridis) Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sand Sagebrush - (Torrey''s Joint-fir, Mormon-tea) Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This sandy site shrubland association occurs on the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah and northern Arizona. Total vegetation cover ranges from 15-67%. The shrub layer is not dominated by a single species but rather by a group of species that codominate. Artemisia filifolia is the only consistent shrub to occur within the association and functions as an indicator species. Other shrubs can occur and can dominate or codominate within this association, but they do not have to be present. These main shrubs consist of Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Atriplex canescens. The herbaceous layer is diverse and provides low to moderate cover. Common graminoids include Achnatherum hymenoides, Distichlis spicata, Pleuraphis jamesii, Sporobolus contractus, and Sporobolus flexuosus. Forbs tend to be weedy and may have moderate cover as well; they include Ambrosia acanthicarpa, Amsonia tomentosa, Oenothera pallida, Machaeranthera canescens, and Sphaeralcea spp. The presence of the non-native annual grasses Bromus rubens or Bromus tectorum and the exotic forb Salsola tragus indicate disturbances such as grazing. Biological soil crusts may be absent, though may have up to 42% cover, but are generally poorly developed (early stages of development). This shrub association occurs on deep, well-drained sandy soils along or near drainage channels/washes, on canyon and valley bottoms, benches, and stabilized dunes. Sites tend to be flat or slope gently and occur between 1141 and 1490 m elevation. Bare soil, sand, with a layer of sandstone cobbles or black cinder cover most of the unvegetated surface, with low to moderate cover of gravel and biological soil crusts, and sparse to low cover of litter and bedrock. Soils are generally sandy and derived from eolian or alluvial deposits, from Navajo or Kayenta sandstones, or from the Moenkopi Formation.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is largely known and described from National Park Service inventory efforts in the Colorado Plateau. The cinder provides a similar habitat as sand for this community.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Total vegetation cover ranges from 15-67%. The shrub layer is not dominated by a single species but rather by a group of species that codominate. Artemisia filifolia is the only consistent shrub to occur within the association and functions as an indicator species. Other shrubs can occur and can dominate or codominate within this association, but they do not have to be present. These main shrubs consist of Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Atriplex canescens. Other shrubs may be present with sparse to low cover and include Atriplex confertifolia, Coleogyne ramosissima, Encelia frutescens, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia spp., Psorothamnus spp., and Purshia stansburiana. The herbaceous layer is diverse and provides low to moderate cover. Common graminoids include Achnatherum hymenoides, Distichlis spicata, Pleuraphis jamesii, Sporobolus contractus, and Sporobolus flexuosus. Forbs tend to be weedy and may have moderate cover as well; Salsola tragus (with up to 26% cover), Ambrosia acanthicarpa, Amsonia tomentosa, Erodium cicutarium, Oenothera pallida, Machaeranthera canescens, and Sphaeralcea spp. have been recorded in park plots. The presence of the non-native annual grasses Bromus rubens or Bromus tectorum and the exotic forb Salsola tragus indicate disturbances such as grazing. Biological soil crusts may be absent, though may have up to 42% cover, but are generally poorly developed (early stages of development).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This shrub association occurs on deep, well-drained sandy soils along or near drainage channels/washes, on canyon and valley bottoms, benches, and stabilized dunes. Sites tend to be flat or slope gently and occur between 1141 and 1490 m elevation. Bare soil, sand, with a layer of sandstone cobbles or black cinder cover most of the unvegetated surface, with low to moderate cover of gravel and biological soil crusts, and sparse to low cover of litter and bedrock. Soils are generally sandy and derived from eolian or alluvial deposits, from Navajo or Kayenta sandstones, or from the Moenkopi Formation.
Geographic Range: This shrubland association occurs on the Colorado Plateau at Wupatki National Monument and on the Navaho Indian Reservation in northern Arizona and in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and San Rafael Swell in southeastern Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686053
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.1 Yellow Rabbitbrush - Blackbrush / Indian Ricegrass Dry Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup | M171 | 3.B.1.Ne.1 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b Blackbrush - Cutler''s Joint-fir - Torrey''s Joint-fir Colorado Plateau Shrubland Group | G312 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Alliance | A3181 Sand Sagebrush Colorado Plateau Shrubland Alliance | A3181 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002786 Sand Sagebrush - (Torrey''s Joint-fir, Mormon-tea) Shrubland | CEGL002786 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia filifolia - Ephedra (torreyana, viridis) Shrubland (Hansen et al. 2004b)
- Coles, J., M. Hansen, and K. Thomas. 2003. Wupatki National Monument, Arizona, vegetation classification and distribution: A USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program study. Southwest Biological Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey Open-file Report. [in preparation]
- Hansen, M., J. Coles, K. A. Thomas, D. Cogan, M. Reid, J. Von Loh, and K. Schulz. 2004b. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Wupatki National Monument, Arizona, vegetation classification and distribution. U.S. Geological Survey Technical Report. Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ. 229 pp.
- Tendick, A., J. Spence, M. Reid, K. Shulz, G. Kittel, K. Green, A. Wight, and G. Wakefield. 2017. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRR—2017/1500. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 1464 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.