Print Report
CEGL002340 Pinus edulis - Juniperus spp. / Leymus salinus Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Two-needle Pinyon - Juniper species / Saline Wildrye Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This woodland association is widespread throughout the Colorado Plateau, but limited to small stands on specific substrates. The canopy may be very open with both Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma. Shrubs are generally present but do not provide enough cover to constitute a stratum. The herbaceous layer is more conspicuous than the shrub layer in this community, consisting of a variety of grasses, among which Leymus salinus is clearly dominant. Total herbaceous cover can range from 5% in sparse stands to more than 30% in more sheltered sites. Common associated herbaceous species include Achnatherum hymenoides and Pleuraphis jamesii. Total vegetation cover ranges from sparse (7%) to moderate (50%) in this variable community, with drier, more exposed sites supporting less overall plant cover. Stands tend to occupy the tops, shoulders, upper and middle slopes of ridges, as well as canyon sides and cliffs. These sites range from gentle to steeply sloping (10-100%). Elevations range between 1483 and 2301 m (4865-7550 feet). Soils are rapidly drained and include sandy clay loams, clay loams and sandy 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. Baker (1982b) cites Shute and West (1978) as reporting a Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Leymus salinus community in the vicinity of Price, Utah. There is no other information given for this community, other than that it occurs on Mancos shale. All other data used to support this association are derived from vegetation plots gathered by the National Park Vegetation Mapping Program.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Total vegetation cover ranges from sparse (7%) to moderate (50%) in this variable community, with drier, more exposed sites supporting less overall plant cover. The canopy may be very open to moderate (5 to 30%) and consists of both Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma. Either tree species may dominate the canopy, but both should have at least 2% cover, and their seedlings may be present. Shrubs are generally present but do not provide enough cover to constitute a stratum. Common species include scattered Artemisia bigelovii, Atriplex confertifolia, Cercocarpus intricatus, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ephedra viridis, Eriogonum corymbosum, Fraxinus anomala, Gutierrezia spp., Mahonia fremontii, Opuntia spp., and Shepherdia rotundifolia. The herbaceous layer is more conspicuous than the shrub layer in this community, consisting of a variety of grasses, among which Leymus salinus is clearly dominant. Total herbaceous cover can range from 5% in sparse stands to more than 30% in more sheltered sites. Common associated herbaceous species include Achnatherum hymenoides and Pleuraphis jamesii. Other common graminoids may include Poa fendleriana, Koeleria macrantha, and Vulpia octoflora; additional forbs include Arenaria fendleri, Calochortus gunnisonii, Cymopterus bulbosus, Erigeron utahensis, Machaeranthera grindelioides, Phlox hoodii, Sphaeralcea parvifolia, Stanleya pinnata, Stenotus armerioides (= Haplopappus armerioides), Streptanthella longirostris, and Tetraneuris acaulis (= Hymenoxys acaulis). Bromus tectorum is common in stands that have experienced disturbance from roads or grazing.
Dynamics: This association requires an unusual combination of circumstances: the substrate must be saline enough to favor Leymus salinus over other grass species, but well-drained and deep enough to support the growth of Pinus edulis without also favoring shrubs. Sites meeting these requirements include shale slopes with an element of colluvial sandstone, slopes and flats derived from shaly sandstones or sandy shales (such as the Kayenta Formation), or alluvial terraces derived from a mix of sandstone and shale. Most stands tend to be mature to old-growth in their structure; it seems unlikely that most of these stands result from trees invading Leymus salinus grasslands. Fire is not a factor in the dynamics of this association, as most stands are too sparsely vegetated to carry fire.
Environmental Description: This woodland association is widespread throughout the Colorado Plateau, but limited to small stands on specific substrates. Stands tend to occupy well-drained, exposed sites on the tops, shoulders, upper and middle slopes of ridges, as well as canyon sides, rims, cliffs, gullies, ledges, and talus/colluvial slopes. These sites range from gentle to steeply sloping (10-100% slopes), although a minority of stands occur on gentle slopes. Elevations range between 1483 and 2301 m (4865-7550 feet), with most stands occurring above 1700 m. Stands at higher elevations and latitudes (e.g., Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Dinosaur National Monument) tend to be oriented to the south or west, but stands at lower elevations occur primarily on north or east aspects. Parent materials are variable but generally include a significant element of Paleozoic or Mesozoic marine shale, sometimes redeposited with other rocks as alluvium or colluvium. Soils are rapidly drained and include sandy clay loams, clay loams and sandy loams.
Geographic Range: This association has been documented from southeastern Utah and western Colorado. It is likely to be found in small stands in similar environments throughout the Colorado Plateau.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.758472
Confidence Level: High
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 | A3572 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper Grassy Open Woodland Alliance | A3572 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002340 Two-needle Pinyon - Juniper species / Saline Wildrye Woodland | CEGL002340 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a |
Concept Lineage: CEGL002372 merged into CEGL002340.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus edulis - Juniperus spp. / Leymus salinus Woodland (Coles et al. 2010)
- Baker, W. L. 1982b. Natural vegetation of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Appendix D, pages 1-113 in: J. S. Peterson and W. L. Baker, editors. Inventory of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Unpublished report for the Bureau Land Management, Craig, CO.
- Clark, D., M. Dela Cruz, T. Clark, J. Coles, S. Topp, A. Evenden, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Capitol Reef National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2009/187. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 882 pp.
- Coles, J., A. Tendick, J. Von Loh, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/361. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Coles, J., D. Cogan, D. Salas, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, J. Von Loh, and A. Evenden. 2008a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Dinosaur National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR-2008/112. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 814 pp.
- Romme, W. H., K. D. Heil, J. M. Porter, and R. Fleming. 1993. Plant communities of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. USDI National Park Service, Technical Report NPS/NAUCARE/NRTER-93/02. Cooperative Park Studies Unit, Northern Arizona University. 37 pp.
- Shute, D., and N. E. West. 1978. The application of ECOSYM vegetation classifications to rangelands near Price, Utah. Appendix reports 14 and 16 in: J. A. Henderson, L. S. Davis, and E. M. Ryberg, editors. ECOSYM: A classification and information system for wildland resource management. Utah State University, Logan. 53 pp.
- Tendick, A., G. Kittel, J. Von Loh, P. Williams, D. Cogan, J. Coles, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2011b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Bryce Canyon National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2011/442. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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. 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.