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CEGL001688 Sporobolus airoides Monotype Wet Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Alkali Sacaton Monotype Wet Meadow

Colloquial Name: Alkali Sacaton Wet Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This herbaceous association is currently known from the Mojave Desert of California, El Malpais National Monument in New Mexico and Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado. The following description is based on occurrences in New Mexico and Colorado. Additional information will be added as it becomes available. At El Malpais, this association occurs between 1950 and 1960 m (6410-6430 feet) in elevation in swales and broad, shallow drainages in gently rolling, old lava plateaus. A prairie dog colony is present at one location, with the attendant soil disturbance and vegetation cropping. At Great Sand Dunes, it generally occurs on valley floors but can be found on sandsheets and bolsons. Elevations range from 2300 to 2335 m. Terrain is flat and stands can be intermittently flooded. Soils are somewhat to moderately drained silt, sandy loam, or loamy sand and derived from alluvial deposits. Bare soil is the dominant ground surface cover ranging from 0-88%. Many of the surveyed stands have experienced heavy grazing by bison, cattle and elk. Total herbaceous vegetation ranges from 35-85% and is dominated by graminoid species. Sporobolus airoides is abundant to luxuriant (up to 40% relative cover) and typically the dominant species in these monotypic grasslands. Species richness is moderately high, but few species have significant cover or are found consistently across all surveyed stands. Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis and Cleome serrulata are the only two other species that occur in the majority of the stands at Great Sand Dunes, but have low cover. At El Malpais, other species are present, but not abundant; they include Tamarix ramosissima and Cylindropuntia imbricata, among others.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Total herbaceous cover ranges up to 85% cover of Sporobolus airoides in this monotypic grassland. Species diversity can be quite high, but at low cover, and is inconsistent across stands. Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Tamarix ramosissima, Cylindropuntia imbricata, and Cleome serrulata are four associated species that occur in the majority of the stands, but have low cover.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  At El Malpais National Monument, this association occurs between 1950 and 1960 m (6410-6430 feet) in elevation in swales and broad, shallow drainages in gently rolling, old lava plateaus. A prairie dog colony is present at one location, with the attendant soil disturbance and vegetation cropping. At Great Sand Dunes, this association can be found in palustrine or upland settings on valley floors, but it can be found on sandsheets and bolsons as well. Elevations range from 2300 to 2335 m. Terrain is flat and stands can be intermittently flooded. Soils are somewhat to moderately drained silt, sandy loam, or loamy sand and derived from alluvial deposits. Bare soil is the dominant ground surface cover ranging from 0-88%. Many of the surveyed stands have experienced heavy grazing by bison, cattle and elk.
Geographic Range: This herbaceous association is currently known from the Mojave Desert of California, El Malpais National Monument in New Mexico and Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado. Additional range information will be added as it becomes available.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, CO, NM


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GUQ

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.5 Salt Marsh Formation F035 2.C.5
Division 2.C.5.Nd North American Western Interior Brackish Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Division D036 2.C.5.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.5.Nd.1 Warm & Cool Desert Alkali-Saline Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Macrogroup M082 2.C.5.Nd.1
Group 2.C.5.Nd.1.a Saltgrass - Lemmon''s Alkali Grass - Saltwort species Alkaline-Saline Marsh & Playa Group G538 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Alliance A1334 Alkali Sacaton - Scratchgrass - Alkali Cordgrass Alkaline Wet Meadow Alliance A1334 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL001688 Alkali Sacaton Monotype Wet Meadow CEGL001688 2.C.5.Nd.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sporobolus airoides (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.010.01]
= Sporobolus airoides Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Sporobolus airoides Monotype Herbaceous Vegetation (Muldavin et al. 2013c)
= Sporobolus airoides Monotype Herbaceous Vegetation (Salas et al. 2010b)
Concept Author(s): Salas et al. (2010b)

Author of Description: A. Kennedy, E. Muldavin, A. Cully and K.E. Sabo

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-06-17
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