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CEGL002928 Atriplex obovata Badland Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mound Saltbush Badland Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This sparsely vegetated badland association occurs in the southern Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona between the elevations of 1300 and 1741 m (4265-5712 feet). Sites are flat to gently sloping and range between 0 and 9% (average 3%). Substrates are clays derived from shale. Many of the stands have some cover of surface rocks, including sandstone, basalt, desert pavement, and petrified wood. The vegetation cover is characterized by sparse total vegetation cover (<10%) of scattered low shrubs dominated by Atriplex obovata. Locally, shrub cover may range up to about 15% cover, but in general, shrub cover is <5% with scattered grasses and forbs (<5% cover). Additionally, total cover may temporarily exceed 10% following rain events due to blooms of annuals. In some stands, cover of Sporobolus airoides or Pleuraphis jamesii ranges between 0 and 4% and may actually have slightly higher cover than Atriplex obovata, although total cover is low. The exotic annual forb Salsola tragus is often present in sampled stands.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Total vegetation cover for sparse vegetation associations is often very sparse and patchy. Therefore, it is important to assess a large area when classifying this community type and expect a large degree of variation in species coverage. In some instances, Atriplex obovata may act as an indicator species for this sparse badland association.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation is characterized by sparse total cover (<10%) of scattered low shrubs dominated by Atriplex obovata. Locally, shrub cover may range up to about 15% cover, but in general, shrub cover is <5% with scattered grasses and forbs (<5% cover). Additionally, total cover may temporarily exceed 10% following rain events due to blooms of annuals. In some stands, cover of Sporobolus airoides or Pleuraphis jamesii ranges in cover between 0 and 4% and may actually have slightly higher cover than Atriplex obovata, although total cover is low. Other species present may include Atriplex canescens, Opuntia macrorhiza, and annuals such as Cryptantha crassisepala, Eriogonum divaricatum, Plantago patagonica, and Townsendia annua. The exotic annual forb Salsola tragus is often present in sampled stands (Hansen et al. 2004b).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This sparsely vegetated badland association occurs in the southern Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona between the elevations of 1300 and 1741 m (4265-5712 feet). Sites are flat to gently sloping and range between 0 and 9% (average 3%). Substrates are clays derived from shale. Many of the stands have some cover of surface rocks, including sandstone, basalt, desert pavement, and petrified wood (Hansen et al. 2004b).
Geographic Range: This association is currently known from Arizona.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687739
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.5 Shadscale Saltbush - Fourwing Saltbush - Mat Saltbush Great Basin Scrub Macrogroup | M093 | 3.B.1.Ne.5 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.5.b Shadscale Saltbush - Fourwing Saltbush - Spiny Hopsage Scrub Group | G300 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.b |
| Alliance | A3180 Mound Saltbush - Valley Saltbush Scrub Alliance | A3180 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.b |
| Association | CEGL002928 Mound Saltbush Badland Sparse Vegetation | CEGL002928 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Atriplex obovata Badland Sparse Vegetation (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.
- Thomas, K. A., M. L. McTeague, A. Cully, K. Schulz, and J. M. S. Hutchinson. 2009a. Vegetation classification and distribution mapping report: Petrified Forest National Park. National Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2009/273. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 294 pp.
- Welsh, S. L., N. D. Atwood, S. Goodrich, and L. C. Higgins, editors. 1987. A Utah flora. Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs 9. Provo, UT. 894 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.