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CEGL005966 Populus deltoides (ssp. wislizeni, ssp. monilifera) / Artemisia tridentata Flooded Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: (Rio Grande Cottonwood, Plains Cottonwood) / Big Sagebrush Flooded Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This mature riparian forest association is found in the San Juan River drainage in northwestern New Mexico and adjacent southeastern Utah. It is probably present in northeastern Arizona. It occurs along low-gradient rivers of wide lowland valleys at elevations from 1640 to 1840 m (5375-6025 feet). Stands are located on high terraces well above the active channel (discharge ratio >5), and flooding is infrequent (50- to 100-year recurrence intervals). Soils have coarse loamy profiles throughout and are mostly young and undeveloped Entisols, although Inceptisols can occur on higher terraces where soil development has not been disrupted by flooding. Mature Populus deltoides canopies are generally open, with Juniperus scopulorum, Elaeagnus angustifolia, and Salix amygdaloides in the subcanopy. The shrub layer is dominated by Artemisia tridentata with other upland species associates such as Ericameria nauseosa and Rhus trilobata. The presence of Artemisia, a common dominant from surrounding desert uplands, in these floodplain gallery forests is an indicator of infrequent flooding, perhaps because of regulated streamflows, or because the channel is actively cutting down or away from the forest. Grasses can be well-represented to abundant and are typically dominated by upland species, such as Sporobolus cryptandrus and Achnatherum hymenoides. Although a relatively dry type, some wetland indicator species still occasionally occur, such as Schoenoplectus pungens, Distichlis spicata, and Muhlenbergia asperifolia. Forbs are very scattered and low in diversity. As a keystone species, the reproduction of Populus deltoides after flooding (and sufficient subsequent base flows) is critical to the sustainability of this community.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type, although it lacks significant wetland indicators other than cottonwood, is often found in a mosaic with wetter forested and shrub wetland types than occur on lower floodplain terraces. It is ecologically similar to ~Populus deltoides / Ericameria nauseosa Flooded Forest (CEGL005969)$$, but Artemisia tridentata has significantly higher cover than Ericameria nauseosa. Dick-Peddie (1993) refers to a Populus fremontii / Chrysothamnus nauseosus / Mesic Grass - Forb type as part of his Floodplain-Plains Riparian group, which may also be related.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Mature Populus deltoides canopies are generally open (ranging between 30 and 60% cover) and from 10-20 m high, sometimes with a sparse subcanopy of Juniperus scopulorum, Juniperus osteosperma, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Celtis laevigata var. reticulata, and Salix amygdaloides. The shrub layer is dominated by Artemisia tridentata with other upland species such as Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus) and Rhus trilobata. Grasses can be well-represented to abundant and are typically dominated by upland species, such as Sporobolus cryptandrus and Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides). Although a relatively dry type, some wetland indicator species still occasionally occur, such as Schoenoplectus pungens (= Scirpus pungens), Distichlis spicata, and Muhlenbergia asperifolia. Forbs are very scattered and low in diversity (16 species), of which 75% (12 species) are native.
Dynamics: The presence of Artemisia, a common dominant from surrounding uplands, in these floodplain gallery forests is an indicator of infrequent flooding, perhaps because of regulated streamflows, or because the channel is actively cutting down or away from the terraces supporting this association. As a keystone species, the reproduction of Populus deltoides after flooding (and sufficient subsequent base flows) is critical to the sustainability of this community.
Environmental Description: This mature riparian forest association is characteristic of high terraces along low-gradient rivers in northwestern New Mexico, adjacent southeastern Utah and probably northeastern Arizona. It occurs in wide lowland valleys at elevations from 1640 to 1840 m (5375-6025 feet). Stands are located on terraces well above the active channel (discharge ratio >5). The water table is usually at least 3 m below ground surface, and flooding is infrequent to absent (minimum 50- to 100-year recurrence intervals). Soils have coarse loamy profiles throughout and are mostly young and undeveloped Entisols (Aquic and Typic Ustifluvents). Inceptisols can occur on higher terraces where soil development has not been disrupted by flooding (Fluventic Ustochrept).
Geographic Range: This association is found in the San Juan River drainage in northwestern New Mexico, in adjacent southeastern Utah and is probably present in northeastern Arizona.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ?, NM, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.737568
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Nd Western North American Interior Flooded Forest Division | D013 | 1.B.3.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Nd.2 Interior Warm & Cool Desert Riparian Forest Macrogroup | M036 | 1.B.3.Nd.2 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b Western Interior Riparian Forest & Woodland Group | G797 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b |
| Alliance | A3802 Rio Grande Cottonwood - Plains Cottonwood Riparian Forest Alliance | A3802 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b |
| Association | CEGL005966 (Rio Grande Cottonwood, Plains Cottonwood) / Big Sagebrush Flooded Woodland | CEGL005966 | 1.B.3.Nd.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Populus deltoides / Chrysothamnus nauseosus / Mesic Grass - Forb Vegetation Type (Dick-Peddie 1993)
= Plains Cottonwood/Big Sagebrush CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)
= Plains Cottonwood/Big Sagebrush CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)
- Coles, J., J. Von Loh, A. Evenden, G. Manis, G. Wakefield. and A. Wight. 2008c. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Natural Bridges National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2008/077. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 390 pp.
- Dick-Peddie, W. A. 1993. New Mexico vegetation: Past, present, and future. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 244 pp.
- Muldavin, E., P. Durkin, M. Bradley, M. Stuever, and P. Mehlhop. 2000a. Handbook of wetland vegetation communities of New Mexico. Volume I: Classification and community descriptions. Final report to the New Mexico Environment Department and the Environmental Protection Agency prepared by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
- Von Loh, J., G. Wakefield, A. Wight, A. Evenden, and J. Coles. 2008. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Hovenweep National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2008/092. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 328 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.