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CEGL000843 Pinus ponderosa / Arctostaphylos pungens Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ponderosa Pine / Pointleaf Manzanita Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This diverse "Madrean" woodland association is scattered throughout the central highlands of Arizona and down into the isolated "sky island" mountain ranges of southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northern Mexico. The center of the distribution is along the Mogollon Rim, in the Mazatzal Mountains and on the Nantanes Plateau. Stands typically occur on very warm and very dry sites at elevations between 1525-2165 m (5000-7100 feet). The most common landscape positions are moderately steep upper slopes and plateau tops. The overstory of this association is characterized by open stands of Pinus ponderosa with an understory of Juniperus deppeana, Pinus edulis, and vigorous Pinus ponderosa regeneration. The presence of Arctostaphylos pungens and/or Arctostaphylos pringlei in the shrub strata with greater than 5% cover is diagnostic. These species form a montane chaparral undergrowth along with other species, such as Ceanothus fendleri, Rhamnus crocea, Cercocarpus montanus, and Garrya wrightii. Quercus arizonica and Quercus emoryi are usually present and often well-represented. The herbaceous layer, in contrast, is poorly represented, with scattered forbs and grasses. The most constant species are Solidago velutina, Packera neomexicana, Lotus wrightii, Artemisia carruthii, Bahia dissecta, Ipomopsis aggregata, Hieracium fendleri, Koeleria macrantha, and Poa fendleriana.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Arctostaphylos pungens, a large shrub, is abundant (>25% canopy coverage). This community type is interpreted as a fire-derived expression of various ponderosa pine / evergreen oak habitat types. Pseudotsuga menziesii and Quercus hypoleucoides are absent or accidental.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Fire maintains this seral association.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The overstory of this association is characterized by open stands of Pinus ponderosa with an understory of Juniperus deppeana, Pinus edulis, and vigorous Pinus ponderosa regeneration. The presence of Arctostaphylos pungens and/or Arctostaphylos pringlei in the shrub strata with greater than 5% cover is diagnostic. These species form a montane chaparral undergrowth along with other species, such as Ceanothus fendleri, Rhamnus crocea, Cercocarpus montanus, and Garrya wrightii. Quercus arizonica and Quercus emoryi are usually present and often well-represented. The herbaceous layer, in contrast, is poorly represented, with scattered forbs and grasses. The most constant species are Solidago velutina (= Solidago sparsiflora), Packera neomexicana (= Senecio neomexicanus), Lotus wrightii, Artemisia carruthii, Bahia dissecta, Ipomopsis aggregata (= Gilia aggregata), Hieracium fendleri, Koeleria macrantha (= Koeleria pyramidata), and Poa fendleriana.
Dynamics: Manzanita seeds germinate after fire and can persist into mid or late succession. The oaks are vigorous sprouters after fire. As chaparral species age to the point of decadence and fuel loadings increase, stands are extremely susceptible to catastrophic fires. If fires continue to recur, this plant community may remain. With fire exclusion, ponderosa pine and oak canopies can close, suppressing manzanita and becoming a ponderosa pine / evergreen oak plant association.
Environmental Description: Stands typically occur on very warm and very dry sites at elevations between 1525-2165 m (5000-7100 feet). The most common landscape positions are moderately steep upper slopes and plateau tops.
Geographic Range: Restricted to the Apache Highlands (Ecoregion 22), this woodland association is scattered throughout the central highlands of Arizona and down into the mountain ranges of southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northern Mexico. The center of the distribution is along the Mogollon Rim, in the Mazatzal Mountains and on the Nantanes Plateau.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: AZ, MXCHH, MXSON, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689280
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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 | CEGL000843 Ponderosa Pine / Pointleaf Manzanita Woodland | CEGL000843 | 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 / Arctostaphylos pungens (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
< Pinus ponderosa / Arctostaphylos pungens Habitat Type (Muldavin et al. 1996)
< Pinus ponderosa / Arctostaphylos pungens Habitat Type (Muldavin et al. 1996)
- Bassett, D., M. Larson, and W. Moir. 1987. Forest and woodland habitat types of Arizona south of the Mogollon Rim and southwestern New Mexico. Edition 2. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM.
- 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.
- Fitzhugh, E. L., W. H. Moir, J. A. Ludwig, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1987. Forest habitat types in the Apache, Gila, and part of the Cibola national forests. General Technical Report RM-145. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 116 pp.
- Muldavin, E. H., R. L. DeVelice, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1996. A classification of forest habitat types of southern Arizona and portions of the Colorado Plateau. General Technical Report RM-GTR-287. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 130 pp.
- Muldavin, E., R. DeVelice, and W. Dick-Peddie. 1987. Forest habitat types of the Prescott, Tonto and western Coronado national forests, Arizona. Unpublished final report prepared for Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, CO. 71 pp.
- 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]. 1987b. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of Arizona south of the Mogollon Rim and southwestern New Mexico. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM. Second edition, 168 pp. plus insert.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.