Print Report

CEGL001117 Quercus gambelii / Symphoricarpos oreophilus Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gambel Oak / Mountain Snowberry Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This shrubland association is found in foothills, plateaus and mountains from western Texas to southern and western Colorado and throughout southern Utah north into the Wasatch Range, and likely occurs in northern Arizona. It is a mesic upland and non-obligate riparian community. Some stands appear to be transitional between riparian areas and drier upland communities such as Artemisia spp. It occurs on cool, moist sites, such as along drainages in canyons and steep draws in more xeric areas, and as a mesic upland shrubland forming extensive stands on cooler northern slopes. Substrates are typically deep, well-drained sandy loam to clay loam derived from alluvium or colluvium. The vegetation is characterized by an open to closed, typically tall-shrub layer (2-5 m tall) that is dominated by Quercus gambelii. The understory is composed of a short-shrub layer that is dominated by Symphoricarpos oreophilus or a closely related local Symphoricarpos species such as Symphoricarpos rotundifolius or Symphoricarpos palmeri. Other mesic shrubs may be present, including Amelanchier spp., Prunus virginiana, Robinia neomexicana, and Brickellia sp. In some stands, the Quercus gambelii develop into small trees that form a tree canopy. These "woodlands" are included in this association because their floristic composition is identical to the tall shrublands. In other stands the oak is mostly under 2 m tall, forming a short-shrub layer. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense, depending on density of woody canopy, and is often dominated by graminoids, such as species of Achnatherum, Bromus, Elymus, Poa, and Koeleria. Common forbs include Vicia americana, Thalictrum fendleri, and Achillea millefolium. Occasionally, tree species are present in the overstory.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This plant association is similar to other montane Gambel oak shrublands except for the codominance of Symphoricarpos oreophilus with only minor amounts (<10% cover) of Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia tridentata, or Cercocarpus montanus.

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

Floristics: The vegetation is characterized by an open to closed, tall-shrub layer (2-5 m tall) that is dominated by Quercus gambelii. The understory is composed of a short-shrub layer that is dominated by Symphoricarpos oreophilus or a closely related local Symphoricarpos species such as Symphoricarpos rotundifolius or Symphoricarpos palmeri. Other shrubs may be present, including Amelanchier spp., Artemisia nova, Artemisia tridentata, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Mahonia repens, Peraphyllum ramosissimum, Prunus virginiana, Purshia tridentata, Robinia neomexicana, Rosa woodsii, and Tetradymia canescens. Occasionally, emergent trees such as Pseudotsuga menziesii or under canopy trees such as Juniperus scopulorum may be present. In some stands, Quercus gambelii develop into small trees that form a tree canopy. These "woodlands" are included in this association because their floristic composition is identical to the tall shrublands. In other stands, the oak is mostly under 2 m tall, forming a short-shrub layer. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense, depending on density of woody canopy, and is often dominated by graminoids, such as species of Achnatherum, Bromus, Elymus, Poa, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and Koeleria macrantha. Common forbs include Achillea millefolium, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Chenopodium leptophyllum, Clematis ligusticifolia, Ligusticum porteri, Lupinus argenteus, Thalictrum fendleri, and Vicia americana. Occasionally, tree species are present in the overstory, including Pinus ponderosa, Juniperus scopulorum, and Pseudotsuga menziesii. Introduced graminoids such as Bromus inermis and Poa pratensis are often common in stands that have been disturbed by heavy livestock grazing.

Dynamics:  Fire is important in maintaining montane shrublands, as burning eliminates Juniperus osteosperma, Juniperus scopulorum, and Pinus edulis trees, but not the more fire-adapted shrub species. Quercus gambelii is a fire-adapted species with a well-developed root system that draws moisture from a large volume of soil allowing for rapid resprouting after fire (Clary 1992). Muldavin et al. (1998b) reported that, in the Organ Mountains in southwestern New Mexico after a severe fire, Quercus gambelii resprouted into a dense thicket that excluded both herbaceous understory and conifer species. Symphoricarpos oreophilus is tolerant of fire, is usually undamaged by low-severity fire, and will resprout if the above-ground parts are burned. It is considered a weak sprouter and may take longer to recover from a burn than Quercus gambelii (up to 15 years after a severe fire) (Wright et al. 1979, Crane 1982). At Mesa Verde National Park, most of which has burned in the past 30 years, stands of ~Pinus edulis - Juniperus spp. / Quercus gambelii Woodland (CEGL000791)$$ persist only in the unburned parts of the park and have the appearance of oak shrublands that have been invaded by pinyon and juniper.
Environmental Description:  This shrubland is found in foothills, plateaus and mountains from western Texas to southern and western Colorado, throughout southern Utah north into the Wasatch Range, and likely occurs in northern Arizona. Elevation ranges from 1750-2745 m (6000-8600 feet). It is a mesic upland and non-obligate riparian community. Some stands appear to be transitional between riparian areas and drier upland communities such as Artemisia shrublands. It occurs on hills, high slopes, ridges, mesas, canyon rims, knolls and valley floors typically on cooler, moist sites at lower elevations, such as along drainages in canyons and steep draws in more xeric areas, and as a mesic upland shrubland forming extensive stands on cooler northern slopes. Higher-elevation stands occur on all aspects. Substrates are typically deep, well-drained sandy loam to silty clay loam derived from alluvium or colluvium. Parent materials include sandstone, shale, and granite conglomerate.
Geographic Range: This shrubland is reported from foothills, plateaus and mountains of western Texas to southern and western Colorado, southern Utah north into the Wasatch Range, and likely occurs in Arizona.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CO, NM, TX, UT


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D022 2.B.2.Nf
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nf.1 Gambel Oak - Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Bitterbrush species Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Shrubland Macrogroup M049 2.B.2.Nf.1
Group 2.B.2.Nf.1.a Gambel Oak - Serviceberry species - Chokecherry Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Shrubland Group G277 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Alliance A3735 Gambel Oak - Mountain Snowberry Shrubland Alliance A3735 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Association CEGL001117 Gambel Oak / Mountain Snowberry Shrubland CEGL001117 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus gambelii - Amelanchier alnifolia / Symphoricarpos oreophilus (Erdman 1962)
>< Quercus gambelii - Amelanchier utahensis - (Artemisia tridentata - Cercocarpus montanus - Symphoricarpos oreophilus) / Carex geyeri (Baker 1982b)
= Quercus gambelii - Amelanchier utahensis - (Prunus virginiana - Rosa woodsii - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Carex geyeri (Baker 1982b)
= Quercus gambelii / Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Carex geyeri Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982)
= Quercus gambelii / Symphoricarpos oreophilus Habitat Type (Hoffman and Alexander 1983)
= Quercus gambelii / Symphoricarpos oreophilus Habitat Type (Hoffman and Alexander 1980)
= Quercus gambelii / Symphoricarpos oreophilus Habitat Type (Komarkova et al. 1988a)
< Quercus gambelii / Symphoricarpos oreophilus Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Quercus gambelii / Symphoricarpos oreophilus Plant Association (Muldavin et al. 1994a)
= Quercus gambelii / Symphoricarpos rotundifolius Shrubland (Kittel et al. 1994)
= Quercus gambelii/Symphoricarpos spp. (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Gambel oak/snowberry (Quercus gambelii/ Symphoricarpos oreophilus) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
? Gambel''s Oak/Palmer''s Snowberry PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Quercus gambelii/Symphoricarpos palmeri; QUEGAM/SYMPAL)]
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz and J. Coles

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-24-09
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