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CEGL002363 Muhlenbergia pungens Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sandhill Muhly Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This sandsheet association occurs in the Colorado Plateau in Utah and western Colorado and at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in south-central Colorado. Muhlenbergia pungens is the dominant or codominant grass, although other grasses may be important in terms of cover, including Bouteloua gracilis, Achnatherum hymenoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and Aristida purpurea. At Zion National Park, the community is codominated by montane grasses such as Muhlenbergia montana and Poa fendleriana. Forbs are diverse but contribute little total cover and vary widely among sites. Machaeranthera canescens, Mentzelia multiflora, Senecio spartioides, and Heterotheca villosa are common species. Scattered shrubs, such as Atriplex confertifolia, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Opuntia spp., are often present but do not total more than 10% cover. Total vegetation cover is somewhat sparse, rarely exceeding 50% and usually closer to 25%. Stands occur locally on sand deposits, sand flats and dunes. It is dependent on a certain degree of disturbance to maintain the mid-seral species Muhlenbergia pungens. Elevations range from 1560 to 2256 m (5120-7400 feet), and slopes are flat to gentle. Soils are sands derived from local sandstone, eolian sands or alluvium. In areas protected from grazing, the unvegetated ground surface supports cryptobiotic crusts; in disturbed areas, bare ground cover is high.
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. The sites used in this description are varied in composition and structure. Now that we have more data on this broadly defined type, analysis is needed to determine if some of the stands, such as the higher elevation stands codominated by montane grasses in Zion, should be split out into a separate association.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is somewhat rare and local in the Colorado Plateau of Colorado and Utah. Total vegetation cover is somewhat sparse, rarely exceeding 50% and usually closer to 25%. Muhlenbergia pungens is the dominant or codominant grass, although other grasses may be important in terms of cover, including Bouteloua gracilis, Achnatherum hymenoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and Aristida purpurea. At Zion National Park, the community includes montane grasses such as Muhlenbergia montana and Poa fendleriana. Forbs are diverse but contribute little total cover and vary widely among sites. Ambrosia acanthicarpa, Heterotheca villosa, Machaeranthera canescens, Mentzelia multiflora, and Senecio spartioides are among the more common species. Scattered shrubs, such as Atriplex confertifolia, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra cutleri, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Opuntia spp., are often present in Colorado Plateau stands, but do not total more than 10% cover.
Dynamics: Stands of this association often occur in dune and sandsheet systems that are subject to blowouts. Muhlenbergia pungens acts to stabilize the sands, but when reduced in vigor by grazing, blowouts become more common and shrubs and forbs increase in cover. Conversely, in highly stabilized sites, Bouteloua gracilis or other grasses may eventually replace the Muhlenbergia.
Environmental Description: This association occurs locally on sandy flats and dunes in southern Utah and northwestern Colorado. Elevations range from 1560 to 2256 m (5120-7400 feet), and slopes are flat to gentle. Soils are sands derived from local sandstone, eolian sands or alluvium. In areas protected from grazing, the unvegetated ground surface supports cryptobiotic crusts; in disturbed areas, bare ground cover is high.
Geographic Range: This sandsheet and dune association occurs in the Colorado Plateau in Utah and western Colorado and at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in south-central Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.769173
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.1 Yellow Rabbitbrush - Blackbrush / Indian Ricegrass Dry Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup | M171 | 3.B.1.Ne.1 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c James'' Galleta - Indian Ricegrass - Needle-and-Thread Semi-Desert Grassland Group | G311 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c |
| Alliance | A1262 Indian Ricegrass - Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Sandhill Muhly Grassland Alliance | A1262 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c |
| Association | CEGL002363 Sandhill Muhly Grassland | CEGL002363 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c |
Concept Lineage: This type (CEGL002938) merged into CEGL002363.
This type (CEGL002938) merged into CEGL002363.
This type (CEGL002938) merged into CEGL002363.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Muhlenbergia pungens Herbaceous Vegetation (Clark et al. 2009)
- 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.
- Cogan, D., M. Reid, K. Schulz, and M. Pucherelli. 2004. Zion National Park, Utah 1999-2003. Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-03-01. Remote Sensing and GIS Group Technical Service Center, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. Appendix F: Vegetation Association Descriptions for Zion.
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- 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.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.