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CEGL002366 Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Atriplex spp. Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / Saltbush species Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This woodland association is described from Capitol Reef and Canyonlands national parks in southern Utah and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in western Colorado; it likely occurs elsewhere in the Colorado Plateau. These higher elevation pinyon-juniper stands occur on shale- and sandstone-derived soils at 1583-2083 m. Sites are gentle to steep (3-88° slopes) and occur on plateau slopes, washes, valley sides, midslopes of hills, and on ridgetops and hogbacks. Substrates are variable and include silty or sandy soils derived from sandstones and shale, rapidly drained gravelly/rocky soils, and soils derived from eroded, highly dissected gypsum parent material with poor infiltration/rapid runoff. The unvegetated ground surface has high cover of biotic crust, bare ground, or sometimes a layer of surface rock and gravel. The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderate (15-25% cover) tree canopy 2-5 m tall that is dominated by Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma trees, with an open to moderately dense short-shrub layer dominated by Atriplex confertifolia or Atriplex canescens. Other short and dwarf-shrubs present may include Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Atriplex cuneata, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Mahonia fremontii, and the cactus Opuntia polyacantha. The open to sparse (<15% cover) herbaceous layer is primarily composed of graminoids such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Leymus salinus, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa secunda, and Sporobolus flexuosus. Forbs such as Eriogonum inflatum typically provide less than 1% total cover. The introduced annual species Bromus tectorum and Erodium cicutarium are often abundant. Atriplex canescens and Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis are restricted to the stand with non-gypsum parent material. Cryptogams provide up to 27% cover.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This woodland has a sparse to moderate (5-25% cover) tree canopy 2-5 m tall that is dominated by Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma trees, with an open to moderately dense short-shrub layer dominated by Atriplex confertifolia or Atriplex canescens. Other short and dwarf-shrubs present may include Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Atriplex cuneata, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Mahonia fremontii, Cercocarpus intricatus, Yucca angustissima, Artemisia bigelovii, Purshia mexicana, Rhus aromatica, and the cactus Opuntia polyacantha. The open to sparse (<15% cover) herbaceous layer is primarily composed of graminoids such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Leymus salinus (= Elymus salinus), Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa secunda, and Sporobolus flexuosus. Forbs such as Eriogonum inflatum typically provide less than 1% total cover. The introduced annual species Bromus tectorum and Erodium cicutarium are often abundant. Atriplex canescens and Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis are restricted to the stand with non-gypsum parent material. Cryptogams provide up to 27% cover.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This woodland association has been described from the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah and western Colorado. These higher elevation pinyon-juniper stands occur on shale-derived soils at 1583-2083 m. Sites are gentle to steep (4-88° slopes) and occur on plateau slopes, valley sides, midslopes of hills, and on ridgetops and hogbacks. Substrates are variable and include silty or sandy soils derived from Dakota Formation sandstones and Morrison Formation (Brushy Basin Member) shale, rapidly drained gravelly/rocky soils, and soils derived from eroded, highly dissected gypsum parent material with poor infiltration/rapid runoff. The unvegetated ground surface has high cover of biotic crust, bare ground, or sometimes a layer of surface rock and gravel.
Geographic Range: This association is described from southern Utah and western Colorado. It has been reported from the Wasatch Formation at the foot of Grand Mesa in western Colorado and is likely to occur in relatively small stands throughout the Colorado Plateau.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.769194
Confidence Level: Low
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 | A3573 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper Colorado Plateau Shrubby Open Woodland Alliance | A3573 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002366 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / Saltbush species Woodland | CEGL002366 | 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.