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CEGL000722 Juniperus monosperma / Hesperostipa neomexicana Open Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: One-seed Juniper / New Mexico Feathergrass Open Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a major association of the Oscura and San Andres mountains and Chupadera Mesa in New Mexico. It is also reported from Colorado. The association occurs at moderate elevations (1770-2160 m [5800-7100 feet]) on both gently sloping dipslopes and steeper scarp slopes with moderate to warm aspects. The surface geology is also variable with limestone and calcitic sandstone, and with occasional gypsum outcrops. Soils information is limited; a shallow and rocky Mollisol (grassland soil) with a strong caliche layer has been described for the type, suggesting limited water-holding capacity. This woodland is characterized by a very open canopy of Juniperus monosperma with occasional Pinus edulis. The inter-tree spaces are distinctly grassy and strongly dominated by Hesperostipa neomexicana with a mixture of other grasses (Bouteloua spp. most prevalently). A wide variety of shrubs have been recorded for the type, but they are not generally conspicuous; Dalea formosa, Yucca baccata, and Gutierrezia sarothrae are the most prevalent. Forb diversity is moderate with low consistency; Melampodium leucanthum, Viguiera dentata, and Chamaesyce fendleri are somewhat constant species.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is noted for an abundance of juniper snags, likely the remnants of a drought die-off in the 1950s (Betancourt 1996) or of past fire. Fire evidence is readily apparent in the stands. Adjacent warmer slopes often grade to Hesperostipa neomexicana, other foothill grasslands, and ~Juniperus monosperma / Bouteloua gracilis Open Woodland (CEGL000710)$$ in lower slopes and valleys. Cooler slopes can grade to ~Juniperus monosperma / Hesperostipa neomexicana Open Woodland (CEGL000722)$$ or Oneseed Juniper/Mountain Mahogany PAs, or to pinyon and oak woodlands. This type is currently known only from White Sands Missile Range but may occur in surrounding mountain ranges.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This woodland is characterized by a very open canopy of Juniperus monosperma with occasional Pinus edulis. The inter-tree spaces are distinctly grassy and strongly dominated by Hesperostipa neomexicana (= Stipa neomexicana) with a mixture of other grasses (Bouteloua spp. most prevalently). A wide variety of shrubs have been recorded for the type, but they are not generally conspicuous; Dalea formosa, Yucca baccata, and Gutierrezia sarothrae are the most prevalent. Forb diversity is moderate with low consistency; Melampodium leucanthum, Viguiera dentata, and Chamaesyce fendleri are somewhat constant species.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: The association occurs at moderate elevations (1770-2160 m [5800-7100 feet]) on both gently sloping dipslopes and steeper scarp slopes with moderate to warm aspects. The surface geology is also variable with limestone and calcitic sandstone, and with occasional gypsum outcrops. Soils information is limited; a shallow and rocky Mollisol (grassland soil) with a strong caliche layer has been described for the type, suggesting limited water-holding capacity.
Geographic Range: This is a major association of the Oscura and San Andres mountains and Chupadera Mesa in New Mexico. It is also reported from Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687223
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Nc Western North American Pinyon - Juniper Woodland & Scrub Division | D010 | 1.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nc.2 Two-needle Pinyon - One-seed Juniper Southern Rocky Mountain Woodland Macrogroup | M897 | 1.B.2.Nc.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nc.2.b One-seed Juniper Open Woodland Group | G252 | 1.B.2.Nc.2.b |
| Alliance | A3575 One-seed Juniper Wooded Grassland Alliance | A3575 | 1.B.2.Nc.2.b |
| Association | CEGL000722 One-seed Juniper / New Mexico Feathergrass Open Woodland | CEGL000722 | 1.B.2.Nc.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Juniperus monosperma / Stipa neomexicana PA (Muldavin and Mehlhop 1992)
= Juniperus monosperma / Stipa neomexicana Plant Association (Muldavin et al. 1998d)
= Oneseed Juniper/New Mexico Needlegrass PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Juniperus monosperma/Stipa neomexicana; JUNMON/STINEO)]
= Juniperus monosperma / Stipa neomexicana Plant Association (Muldavin et al. 1998d)
= Oneseed Juniper/New Mexico Needlegrass PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Juniperus monosperma/Stipa neomexicana; JUNMON/STINEO)]
- Betancourt, J. L. 1996. Long and short-term climatic influences on southwestern shrublands. Pages 5-9 in: J. R. Barrow, E. D. MacArthur, R. E. Sosebee, and R. J. Tausch, compilers. Proceedings: symposium on shrubland ecosystem dynamics in a changing climate; 1995 May 23-25; Las Cruces, NM. General Technical Report INT-GTR-338. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT.
- 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.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- Muldavin, E., G. Shore, K. Taugher, and B. Milne. 1998d. A vegetation map classification and map for the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. Final report submitted to USDI, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, NM, by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 73 pp. + appendices.
- Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, and G. Harper. 2000b. The vegetation of White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico: Volume I. Handbook of vegetation communities. Final report to Environmental Directorate, White Sands Missile Range. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 195 pp. plus appendices
- Muldavin, E., and P. Mehlhop. 1992. A preliminary classification and test vegetation map for White Sands Missile Range and San Andreas National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. University of New Mexico, New Mexico Natural Heritage Program.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.