Print Report
CEGL002266 Juniperus osteosperma / Mixed Shrubs Talus Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Utah Juniper / Mixed Shrubs Talus Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is known from the Colorado Plateau and the western slope of Colorado. This woodland is characterized by an open tree canopy of stunted Juniperus osteosperma with from 5 to 40% cover. Pinus edulis and Fraxinus anomala may occasionally be present. The shrub layer is highly variable in cover and composition among stands. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse to low in terms of cover but high in species diversity. Pleuraphis jamesii consistently provides the highest cover of the graminoid species. Common forbs include scattered Eriogonum inflatum and Chamaesyce fendleri. Stands occur on midslopes, ledges, benches, bottoms and especially talus or rockfall slopes of canyons and midslopes of ridges. Elevations range between 1231 and 1799 m. Sites are moderately steep to very steep (16-84% slopes) and include all aspects. Soils are shallow, poorly developed, rapidly drained sandy clays, clay loams and sandy loams. The unvegetated surface is mostly bedrock and rocks with some bare soil and litter. Parent materials are sandstones, shale, and Precambrian gneiss.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is largely known and described from National Park Service inventory efforts in the Colorado Plateau. This association is closely related to a number of other colluvial slope types with sparse, variable vegetation described for the northern Colorado Plateau network of national parks. These include ~Fendlera rupicola Talus Shrubland (CEGL002765)$$ (ARCH, COLM), ~Atriplex canescens - Ephedra viridis Talus Shrubland (CEGL001287)$$ (CANY, CARE, COLM), and ~Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Talus Shrubland (CEGL002347)$$ (CANY, CARE, DINO). At some point the plots assigned to the various types should be re-analyzed to see if patterns are apparent and particular names can be assigned to groups of plots, or if a generic name such as this should be retained.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This woodland is characterized by an open tree canopy of stunted Juniperus osteosperma that ranges in cover from 5 to 40%, but may be less if juniper cover is still significant relative to total vegetation and the stand appears wooded. Pinus edulis and Fraxinus anomala may occasionally be present. The shrub layer is highly variable in cover and composition among stands and can include Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia bigelovii, Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Brickellia microphylla, Cercocarpus montanus, Chrysothamnus greenei, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum corymbosum, Eriogonum microthecum, Fendlera rupicola, Glossopetalon spinescens, Grayia spinosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Mahonia fremontii, Rhus trilobata, Shepherdia rotundifolia, Xylorhiza tortifolia, and Yucca angustissima, as well as a number of succulents. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse to low in terms of cover but high in species diversity. Common graminoids provide sparse to low cover and include Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum speciosum (= Stipa speciosa), Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua curtipendula, Bromus tectorum, Elymus elymoides, Vulpia octoflora, Hesperostipa comata, Leymus salinus, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa fendleriana, and Pseudoroegneria spicata. Pleuraphis jamesii consistently provides the highest cover of the graminoid species. Common forbs include scattered Eriogonum inflatum, Chamaesyce fendleri, Cordylanthus wrightii, Heterotheca villosa, Tetraneuris acaulis (= Hymenoxys acaulis), and Lepidium montanum.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occur on midslopes, ledges, benches, bottoms, buttes, hills, valley sides, mesa sides, gullies, slumps, and especially talus or rockfall slopes of canyons and midslopes of ridges. Elevations range between 1231 and 1799 m on the Colorado Plateau and extend up to 2121 m on the Western Slope of Colorado. Sites are moderately steep to very steep (16-84% slopes) and include all aspects. Soils are shallow, poorly developed, rapidly drained sandy clays, clay loams and sandy loams. The unvegetated surface has low to moderate cover of litter and bare soil and high cover of bedrock, large and small rocks. Parent materials are sandstones, shale, and Precambrian gneiss. Typical sites at Arches National Park are Morrison or Chinle shales overlain by Wingate or Salt Wash sandstone colluvium. Other parent materials include Moenkopi Formation, Navajo sandstone, and Elephant Canyon Formation at Canyonlands National Park, and Tidwell Member of the Morrison Formation and Kayenta Formation at Black Canyon National Park.
Geographic Range: This association occurs on the Colorado Plateau of southern Utah and the western slope of Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.758133
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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 | A4371 Utah Juniper Colorado Plateau Shrubby Woodland Alliance | A4371 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002266 Utah Juniper / Mixed Shrubs Talus Woodland | CEGL002266 | 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 / Mixed Shrubs Talus Woodland (Von Loh et al. 2007)
- Coles, J., A. Tendick, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, J. Von Loh, and A. Evenden. 2009a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Arches National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2009/253. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 544 pp.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, K. Decker, M. Hall, J. Von Loh, T. Belote, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2012. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Canyonlands National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2012/577. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, P. Williams, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Curecanti National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/408. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 797 pp.
- Tendick, A., J. Spence, M. Reid, K. Shulz, G. Kittel, K. Green, A. Wight, and G. Wakefield. 2017. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRR—2017/1500. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 1464 pp.
- Von Loh, J., K. Landgraf, A. Evenden, T. Owens, S. Blauer, and M. Reid. 2007. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Colorado National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2007/061. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 564 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.