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CEGL002334 Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / (Shepherdia rotundifolia, Amelanchier utahensis) Wooded Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / (Roundleaf Buffaloberry, Utah Serviceberry) Wooded Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This wooded shrubland association occurs on the slopes of mesas, buttes and plateaus in southern and eastern Utah. The vegetation is characterized by a sparse to moderately closed canopy (5-30%) of Pinus edulis, often accompanied by Juniperus osteosperma with a thick shrub layer of mixed Amelanchier utahensis and Shepherdia rotundifolia. The shrub layer is often has greater canopy coverage than the emergent tree layer. The herbaceous layer is moderate to high in terms of species diversity and typically provides sparse to moderate cover. The typical occurrence is located on the lower and middle sections of a shale slope that is overlain by rockfall from the sandstone or conglomerate that caps the landform. Most sites are moderately steep to steep (up to 85% slope), occur between 1422 and 2348 m (4665-7700 feet) elevation, and are oriented to cooler north to northeastern aspects. Parent materials are typically shales or sandstones modified by colluvial fragments of overlying conglomerate or sandstones. Soils are rapidly drained silt loams, sandy loams and clay loams.
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. Although this association is now well-documented from several sites, there are two closely related associations: ~Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Amelanchier utahensis Woodland (CEGL002329)$$ and ~Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Shepherdia rotundifolia Woodland (CEGL002335)$$. With better information for all three associations, it may be necessary to lump or split them differently than they are now. This association is one of a series of related Colorado Plateau types that occur on shale slopes covered by sandstone colluvium. It is distinct from others in that it has a developed (albeit sparse) canopy of pinyon and sometimes juniper trees and usually contains Shepherdia rotundifolia. Because of the patchy nature of these colluvial slope communities, not every vegetation plot taken in this association will contain all the named species.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This mesic wooded shrubland is consistent and predictable in its unique habitat in the eastern Colorado Plateau. Total cover varies from 15% to nearly 90%. The vegetation is characterized by a sparse to moderately closed canopy (5-30%) of Pinus edulis, often accompanied by Juniperus osteosperma. In some stands the trees may be very widespread and the community will appear to be a shrubland with very scattered pinyon and juniper. The shrub layer is variable but often has higher total cover than the trees. The shrub layer is mixed, but Amelanchier utahensis or Shepherdia rotundifolia are usually both present. Other shrubs often present include Artemisia tridentata, Cercocarpus montanus, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum corymbosum, Eriogonum microthecum, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Mahonia fremontii, Purshia stansburiana, Rhus trilobata, and Symphoricarpos longiflorus. The herbaceous layer is moderate to high in terms of species diversity and typically provides sparse to moderate cover. Common graminoids include Achnatherum coronatum (= Stipa coronata), Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Bromus tectorum, Hesperostipa comata, Leymus salinus, and Pleuraphis jamesii. Forbs that are occasionally present include Cryptantha flava, Machaeranthera grindelioides, Penstemon utahensis, Phlox austromontana, Lepidium montanum, Stanleya pinnata, Streptanthella longirostris, Stenotus armerioides (= Haplopappus armerioides), and Tetraneuris acaulis. Constant downslope soil movement tends to keep the nonvascular cover low.
Dynamics: Downslope soil movement, the saline shale substrate and the mesic microclimates provided by the sandstone boulders are the necessary elements of this association. Depending on exposures, elevation and substrate, stands may be relatively sparse with only scattered trees to a well-developed woodland with a richly diverse shrub understory. Rockier, lower and warmer sites tend to have sparser and less-diverse vegetation.
Environmental Description: This common northern Colorado Plateau wooded shrubland occurs on canyon rims, sides, and bottoms, ridges, benches and the colluvial slopes of mesas, buttes and plateaus in southeastern Utah. The typical occurrence is located on the lower and middle sections of a shale slope that is overlain by rockfall from the sandstone or conglomerate that caps the landform. Sites range from gentle to very steep on all aspects (5-85% slope), but most are moderately steep, occur between 1422 and 2348 m (4665-7700 feet) elevation, and are oriented to cooler northern to northeastern aspects. The unvegetated surface has sparse to low cover of litter and low to high exposure of bare soil, gravel and large rocks. Large rocks cover up to 40% of the ground surface. Biological soil crusts provide sparse to low cover. Parent materials are typically shales of the Organ Rock shale, Navajo sandstone, Chinle, Straight Cliffs, Moenkopi, Kayenta, Cutler or Carmel formations, modified by colluvial fragments of overlying conglomerate or sandstones. Soils are rapidly drained silt loams, sandy loams and clay loams.
Geographic Range: This association is known from the Colorado Plateau of southern and eastern Utah. It may also occur in similar habitats in Arizona and western Colorado; however, Shepherdia rotundifolia is somewhat rare east of the LaSal Mountains.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ?, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.758356
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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 | A3573 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper Colorado Plateau Shrubby Open Woodland Alliance | A3573 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002334 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / (Roundleaf Buffaloberry, Utah Serviceberry) Wooded Shrubland | CEGL002334 | 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: No Data Available
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- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.