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CEGL000770 Pinus discolor / Quercus gambelii Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Border Pinyon / Gambel Oak Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Madrean conifer woodland has been documented only from the Animas Mountains in extreme southwestern New Mexico, but likely occurs elsewhere in the "Borderlands" in adjacent southeastern Arizona and northern Mexico. It occurs in the foothills zone at the upper limits of the pinyon pine zone (roughly 2440 m elevation), on moderately steep to steep slopes (25%). The stand on the Gray Ranch is on a northerly mid-slope that receives warm upslope airflow. Pinus discolor has been described as occurring primarily on northerly slopes elsewhere in the southwestern U.S. Soils are gravelly and derived from rhyolite and tuff. This woodland association has an open tree canopy that is dominated by the small needle-leaved evergreen tree Pinus discolor. Scattered individuals of the broad-leaved evergreen oak Quercus rugosa may occur in the tree canopy. The tall, broad-leaved deciduous shrub layer is codominated by Quercus gambelii and Cercocarpus montanus with scattered individuals of Ptelea trifoliata and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. Cover of the tree canopy averages 30%, with the shrub layer having up to 45% cover. The moderately dense herbaceous layer (averages 25% cover) is a mixture of perennial grasses and forbs and has relatively few species. The perennial grass Muhlenbergia tenuifolia (10%), Artemisia ludoviciana (3%), and Heliomeris multiflora var. multiflora (3%) were the dominant herbaceous species described from the Gray Ranch. The Quercus gambelii-dominated shrub layer is diagnostic of this late-successional Pinus discolor woodland.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is similar to ~Pinus edulis - Juniperus (monosperma, deppeana) / Quercus gambelii Woodland (CEGL005651)$$ found in the southern Rocky Mountains, but has a stronger Sierra Madrean influence. The southern New Mexico - Arizona borderlands region is at the northern extension of Pinus discolor into the U.S., and the southern portion of the range of Quercus gambelii so it is unlikely that it occurs beyond this region.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This woodland association has an open-tree canopy, dominated by the small, needle-leaved evergreen tree Pinus discolor. Scattered individuals of the broad-leaved evergreen oak Quercus rugosa may occur in the canopy. The understory is codominated by a layer of the tall broad-leaved deciduous shrubs Quercus gambelii and Cercocarpus montanus. Cover of the tree canopy averages 30%, with the shrub layer having up to 45% cover. The herbaceous layer has moderate cover (average 30%) and relatively few species. The perennial grass Muhlenbergia tenuifolia (= Muhlenbergia monticola) had 10% cover in the stand sampled on the Gray Ranch. This association has a Sierra Madrean floristic component.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs in the foothills zone of isolated desert mountain ranges. Most of the annual precipitation 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. This association is found at the upper limits of the pinyon pine zone (roughly 2440 m [8000 feet] elevation), on somewhat steep to steep slopes. Pinus discolor has been described as occurring primarily on northerly slopes elsewhere in the southwestern U.S. (Bassett et al. 1987). The stand on the Gray Ranch is on a northerly slope receiving up-slope warm air flow. Soils are gravelly and derived from rhyolite and tuff.
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.2.687065
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.c Mexican Pinyon - Border Pinyon - Redberry Juniper Woodland Group | G200 | 1.B.1.Nd.1.c |
| Alliance | A3131 Mexican Pinyon - Border Pinyon - Two-needle Pinyon / Shrub Understory Woodland Alliance | A3131 | 1.B.1.Nd.1.c |
| Association | CEGL000770 Border Pinyon / Gambel Oak Woodland | CEGL000770 | 1.B.1.Nd.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus discolor / Quercus gambelii Woodland (Bourgeron et al. 1995a)
- 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. H., R. L. DeVelice, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1996. A classification of forest habitat types of southern Arizona and portions of the Colorado Plateau. General Technical Report RM-GTR-287. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 130 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.
- Stuever, M. C., and J. S. Hayden. 1997b. Plant associations of Arizona and New Mexico. Volume 2: Woodlands. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Habitat Typing Guides. 196 pp.
- 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.