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CEGL001308 Atriplex confertifolia - Lycium andersonii Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shadscale Saltbush - Water Jacket Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This xeromorphic shrubland association has been described locally from areas of rolling "badlands" terrain in the eastern part of Grand Canyon National Park in northwestern Arizona. Elevation ranges from 950-1460 m. This vegetation is an unusual mixture of Mojavean and Colorado Plateau species, and may be unique to the Grand Canyon. It has also been reported from California and may also occur in southern Nevada. It is not known if this association represents the same vegetation type as the stands reported from California. Sites occur on all aspects and although slopes are moderate to gentle (<40%), the substrates are unstable and prone to surface movement. Substrates are shallow, gravelly, poorly developed soil derived from silt- and mud-stone shale. Stands have an open, short woody canopy (0.5-2 m tall) that is dominated by the facultatively deciduous shrub Atriplex confertifolia, or codominating with Lycium andersonii. Other common shrubs and dwarf-shrubs may include Ephedra nevadensis, Ephedra torreyana, Acacia greggii, Encelia frutescens, Tiquilia latior, and Gutierrezia sarothrae. Cacti are common and may include Opuntia basilaris, Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea, Echinocereus engelmannii and Echinocactus polycephalus. The sparse herbaceous layer is dominated by the introduced annual Bromus rubens.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association was not identified during recent classification work at Grand Canyon National Park. It may need to be archived and replaced with 1 or 2 newly defined associations. Further review is needed. Alternatively, it may well occur in the park but was not found during the plot data collection.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This vegetation is an unusual mixture of Mojavean and Colorado Plateau species, and may be unique to the Grand Canyon. Stands have an open, short woody canopy (0.5-2 m tall) that is dominated by the facultatively deciduous shrub Atriplex confertifolia, or codominating with Lycium andersonii. Other common shrubs and dwarf-shrubs may include Ephedra nevadensis, Ephedra torreyana, Acacia greggii, Encelia frutescens, Tiquilia latior, and Gutierrezia sarothrae. Cacti are common and may include Opuntia basilaris, Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea (= Opuntia erinacea), Echinocereus engelmannii and Echinocactus polycephalus. The sparse herbaceous layer is dominated by the introduced annual Bromus rubens.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This xeromorphic shrubland association has been described locally from areas of rolling "badlands" terrain in the eastern part of Grand Canyon National Park in northwestern Arizona. Elevation ranges from 950-1460 m. Sites occur on all aspects and although slopes are moderate to gentle (<40%), the substrates are unstable and prone to surface movement. Substrates are shallow, gravelly, poorly developed soil derived from silt- and mud-stone shale.
Geographic Range: These open shrublands have been described from the eastern portion of Grand Canyon National Park in northwestern Arizona. Stands have been reported from California in the Mojave Desert, and may also occur in southern Nevada.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, NV?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689409
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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 | A0870 Shadscale Saltbush Scrub Alliance | A0870 | 3.B.1.Ne.5.b |
| Association | CEGL001308 Shadscale Saltbush - Water Jacket Shrubland | CEGL001308 | 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 confertifolia - Lycium andersonii (Sawyer et al. 2009) [36.320.07]
= Atriplex confertifolia-Lycium andersonii Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Atriplex confertifolia-Lycium andersonii Association (Evens et al. 2014)
- 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.
- Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
- Kearsley, M. J. C., K. Green, M. Tukman, M. Reid, M. Hall, T. J. Ayers, and K. Christie. 2015. Grand Canyon National Park-Grand Canyon / Parashant National Monument vegetation classification and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR--2015/913. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 75 pp. plus appendices.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., and K. Thomas. 2000. Draft descriptions of vegetation alliances for the Mojave Ecosystem Mapping project. California Natural Diversity Database, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
- Reid, M. S., and M. E. Hall. 2010. Vegetation classification of Grand Canyon National Park. Draft report submitted to National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
- Warren, P. L., K. L. Reichhardt, D. A. Mouat, B. T. Brown, and R. R. Johnson. 1982. Vegetation of Grand Canyon National Park. Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit Technical Report 9. Tucson, AZ. 140 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.