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CEGL001490 Pinus ponderosa / (Ericameria nauseosa) / Achnatherum hymenoides Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ponderosa Pine / (Rubber Rabbitbrush) / Indian Ricegrass Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a sparse ponderosa pine woodland found in the lower foothills zone of a portion of the southern Rocky Mountains. Stands occur on stabilized sand dunes in northern New Mexico (near Espanola) and in the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in southern Colorado on stabilized dunes. Elevations range from 1800-1920 m (5900-6300 feet) in New Mexico and 2453-2600 m (8040-8525 feet) in Colorado. Sites are gently sloping with southern and western aspects. Substrates are deep sands. Vegetation is characterized by an open to very open stand of large Pinus ponderosa (5-20% canopy cover). Sometimes Juniperus monosperma or Juniperus scopulorum are present. If present, the sparse to moderate shrub layer is composed of broad-leaved, deciduous species, especially Ericameria nauseosa, Poliomintha incana, and Cercocarpus montanus, with 1-10% cover. The herbaceous layer typically ranges from 5-20% cover but may be sparse (<5% cover). Perennial grasses contributing the most cover include several species characteristic of sandy, dry substrates such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Sporobolus contractus, Andropogon hallii, and Muhlenbergia pungens.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Must have Poliomintha incana, which is a shrub. An open forest that occurs on sandy soils.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: After additional data collection and further review, the sparsely vegetated concept was changed to an open woodland type with tree cover that ranges from 5-15% canopy cover and over 10% total vegetation cover.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is characterized by an open to very open stand of mature Pinus ponderosa (5-20% canopy cover). Sometimes Juniperus monosperma or Juniperus scopulorum are present. If present, the sparse to moderate shrub layer is composed of broad-leaved, deciduous species, especially Ericameria nauseosa, Poliomintha incana, and Cercocarpus montanus, with 1-10% cover. Other shrub species noted from sampled plots include Artemisia dracunculus, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ribes aureum, Ribes cereum, and Tetradymia canescens. The herbaceous layer typically ranges from 5-20% cover but may be sparse (<5% cover). Perennial grasses contributing the most cover include several species characteristic of sandy, dry substrates such as Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Sporobolus contractus, Andropogon hallii, and Muhlenbergia pungens. Other herbaceous species include Hesperostipa comata, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Pascopyrum smithii, and Bouteloua gracilis. Forbs present in this type may include Elymus elymoides, Heterotheca villosa, Psoralidium lanceolatum, Opuntia polyacantha, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Yucca glauca (DeVelice et al 1986, Stuever and Hayden 1997b).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This is a sparse ponderosa pine woodland found in the lower foothills zone of a portion of the southern Rocky Mountains. Stands occur on stabilized sand dunes in northern New Mexico (near Espanola) and in the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in southern Colorado on stabilized dunes. Elevations range from 1800-1920 m (5900-6300 feet) in New Mexico and 2453-2600 m (8040-8525 feet) in Colorado. Sites are gently sloping with southern and western aspects. Substrates are deep sands deposited against lower western slopes by prevailing strong, westerly winds. Ground cover consisted of 30 to 75% litter and duff with the remainder in bare ground. These are upland sites with rapidly drained soils. At Great Sand Dunes, stands are restricted to the eastern portion of the dune field/sand ramp that extends up on the alluvial fan of the Sangre de Cristo Range (DeVelice et al 1986, Stuever and Hayden 1997b).
Geographic Range: This association is known from two locations along the southern portion of the Rocky Mountains: near Espanola, New Mexico (north-central New Mexico), and the eastern edge of Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Mosca, Colorado (south-central Colorado) (DeVelice et al. 1986).
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687528
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Nb Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Division | D194 | 1.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nb.1 White Fir - Douglas-fir - Blue Spruce Forest Macrogroup | M022 | 1.B.2.Nb.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.1.b Ponderosa Pine Southern Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group | G228 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.b |
| Alliance | A3398 Ponderosa Pine Southern Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3398 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.b |
| Association | CEGL001490 Ponderosa Pine / (Rubber Rabbitbrush) / Indian Ricegrass Woodland | CEGL001490 | 1.B.2.Nb.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus ponderosa / Oryzopsis hymenoides (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Pinus ponderosa / Oryzopsis hymenoides Habitat Type (DeVelice et al. 1986)
= Pinus ponderosa / Oryzopsis hymenoides Habitat Type (DeVelice et al. 1986)
- 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/]
- DeVelice, R. L. 1983. Forest vegetation of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Unpublished dissertation, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces. 191 pp.
- DeVelice, R. L., J. A. Ludwig, W. H. Moir, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1986. A classification of forest habitat types of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. General Technical Report RM-131. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 59 pp.
- Hickerson, J. 1986. Oryzopsis hymenoides. In: Fire Effects Information System [Online]. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). [http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/]
- Larson, M., and W. H. Moir. 1987. Forest and woodland habitat types of northern New Mexico and northern Arizona. Edition 2. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM.
- Salas, D. E., J. Stevens, K. Schulz, M. Artmann, B. Friesen, S. Blauer, E. W. Schweiger, and A. Valdez. 2010b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMN/NRR--2010/179. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Stuever, M. C., and J. S. Hayden. 1997a. Plant associations of Arizona and New Mexico, edition 3. Volume 1: Forests. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region. Habitat Typing Guides. 291 pp.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1987a. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of northern New Mexico and northern Arizona. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM. Second edition, 170 pp. plus insert.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.