Print Report
CEGL000788 Pinus edulis - Juniperus spp. / Pseudoroegneria spicata Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Two-needle Pinyon - Juniper species / Bluebunch Wheatgrass Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs in dry, rocky habitats on the slopes or summits of ridges, hills, canyons and ravines in western Colorado and northwestern New Mexico. Sites are gentle to steep (3-58% slopes), occur between 1700 and 2465 m elevation, and are oriented to all aspects. Rocks and bare ground occupy most of the unvegetated surface, up to 90% in some stands and averaging 60%. Soils are shallow to moderately deep, well-drained and variable in texture, depending on the underlying geology, which varies from shale, limestone and sandstone to metamorphic and granitic rocks. Total vegetation cover ranges from 25 to 55%. The tree canopy is generally dominated by Juniperus osteosperma, with between 10 and 30% cover. Pinus edulis contributes an additional 5-15% cover. Scattered shrubs may be present (with less than 5% total cover), including Ephedra viridis, Cercocarpus montanus, and Artemisia tridentata. The herbaceous layer ranges from moderately sparse to moderately dense (5-35% cover) and is dominated by Pseudoroegneria spicata (3-15% cover), sometimes with Achnatherum hymenoides as a codominant. Other grasses present may include Poa fendleriana and Hesperostipa comata; Bromus tectorum is common in disturbed stands. Common forbs include Phlox hoodii, Stenotus armerioides, and Arenaria kingii. Cryptobiotic soil crust development is minor.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is similar in habitat, range and species composition to ~Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Pseudoroegneria spicata - Cushion Plant Woodland (CEGL002819)$$ described for Dinosaur National Monument. These two associations should be carefully re-analyzed to determine if they are distinct enough to maintain them as separate associations.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Total vegetation cover ranges from 25 to 55% in this woodland association. The tree canopy is generally dominated by Juniperus osteosperma, with between 10 and 30% cover. Pinus edulis contributes an additional 5-15% cover. Scattered shrubs may be present (with less than 5% total cover), including Ephedra viridis, Cercocarpus montanus, and Artemisia tridentata. The herbaceous layer ranges from moderately sparse to moderately dense (5-35% cover) and is dominated by Pseudoroegneria spicata (3-15% cover), sometimes with Achnatherum hymenoides as a codominant. Other grasses present may include Poa fendleriana and Hesperostipa comata; Bromus tectorum is common in disturbed stands. Common forbs include Phlox hoodii, Stenotus armerioides, and Arenaria kingii. Cryptobiotic soil crust development is minor.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs in dry, rocky habitats on the slopes or summits of ridges, hills, canyons and ravines in western Colorado. Sites are gentle to steep (3-58% slopes), occur between 1700 and 2465 m elevation, and are oriented to all aspects. Rocks and bare ground occupy most of the unvegetated surface, up to 90% in some stands and averaging 60%, as litter is restricted to underneath the tree canopy. Soils are shallow to moderately deep, well-drained and variable in texture, depending on the underlying geology, which varies from shale, limestone and sandstone to metamorphic and granitic rocks.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in dry, rocky habitats in western Colorado and northwestern New Mexico.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688499
Confidence Level: Low
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.1 Singleleaf Pinyon - Utah Juniper - Western Juniper Intermountain Woodland Macrogroup | M896 | 1.B.2.Nc.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper Woodland Group | G900 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a |
| Alliance | A3572 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper Grassy Open Woodland Alliance | A3572 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL000788 Two-needle Pinyon - Juniper species / Bluebunch Wheatgrass Woodland | CEGL000788 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Juniperus osteosperma - Pinus edulis / Agropyron spicatum var. inerme (Baker 1982b)
> Juniperus osteosperma - Pinus edulis / Agropyron spicatum var. inerme (Baker 1983b)
> Juniperus osteosperma - Pinus edulis / Agropyron spicatum var. inerme (Baker 1984a)
= Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma - Agropyron spp. - Oryzopsis hymenoides (Vories 1974)
> Juniperus osteosperma - Pinus edulis / Agropyron spicatum var. inerme (Baker 1983b)
> Juniperus osteosperma - Pinus edulis / Agropyron spicatum var. inerme (Baker 1984a)
= Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma - Agropyron spp. - Oryzopsis hymenoides (Vories 1974)
- Baker, W. L. 1982b. Natural vegetation of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Appendix D, pages 1-113 in: J. S. Peterson and W. L. Baker, editors. Inventory of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Unpublished report for the Bureau Land Management, Craig, CO.
- Baker, W. L. 1983b. Some aspects of the presettlement vegetation of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Great Basin Naturalist 43(4):687-699.
- Baker, W. L. 1984a. A preliminary classification of the natural vegetation of Colorado. Great Basin Naturalist 44(4):647-676.
- 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/]
- Coles, J., A. Tendick, J. Von Loh, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/361. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- DeLeuw, Cather & Company. 1977. Vegetation sampling (Glenwood Canyon). Unpublished report prepared by DeLeuw, Cather & Company, Consulting Engineers and Planners, Chicago, Illinois for Colorado Division of Highways, Glenwood Springs, CO.
- Isaacson, H. E. 1967. Ecological provinces within the pinyon-juniper type of the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau. Unpublished thesis, Utah State University, Logan. 44 pp.
- Tiedemann, J. A. 1978. Phyto-edaphic classification of the Piceance Basin. Unpublished dissertation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 281 pp.
- Vories, K. C. 1974. A vegetation inventory and analysis of the Piceance Basin and adjacent drainages. Unpublished thesis. Western State College of Colorado, Gunnison. 243 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.