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CEGL002373 Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Muhlenbergia pungens Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / Sandhill Muhly Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This rare, open woodland association is currently known only from Canyonlands, Glen Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks in southeastern Utah. The woodland has Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma trees that range in cover from 10-35% and an understory dominated by the ring-forming grass Muhlenbergia pungens with up to 25% cover. Shrubs do not form a layer (<5% total cover). Stands occur on the lower and middle slopes of ridges, on benches, terraces and dunes. Sites are gentle (<5% slopes), occur between 1640 and 2134 m (5379-7000 feet) in elevation, and tend to be oriented with easterly aspects. Parent materials include eolian deposits. Soils are rapidly drained sand.
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 has only been described from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and Capitol Reef and Canyonlands national parks and appears inherently rare. Further inventory is needed to develop a more comprehensive description.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This woodland association is characterized by an open canopy of Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma trees that range in cover 5 to 75% and an understory of the ring-forming grass Muhlenbergia pungens that ranges in cover from biomass estimates from 5 to 100%. The shrub layer is low to moderate in terms of species composition and is composed of short and dwarf-shrubs and succulents that provide sparse to low cover. Common dwarf-shrubs include Atriplex canescens, Artemisia frigida, Chrysothamnus greenei, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra cutleri, Ephedra viridis, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia macrorhiza, and Opuntia polyacantha. The remaining herbaceous layer is diverse in terms of species composition and provides sparse to low cover. It is dominated by Muhlenbergia pungens. Other grasses present include Achnatherum hymenoides and Bouteloua gracilis. Forbs are moderately diverse in terms of species composition and include Abronia elliptica, Arenaria eastwoodiae, Streptanthella longirostris, and Townsendia incana. Some stands have moderate cover of cryptogamic soil crust.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This woodland association was observed on ridges, low level areas, low slopes, midslopes, and steps-in-slope on terrace and dune deposits of sand. Sites are gentle (<5%), occur between 1640 and 2134 m elevation, and are oriented to northeastern, eastern and southeastern aspects. Parent materials are variable and include sandstones and shale that have eroded and become wind-transported into eolian deposits. Soils are rapidly drained and texturally are sand.
Geographic Range: This Colorado Plateau association has been documented from scattered sites throughout Capitol Reef and Canyonlands national parks and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in southeastern Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.769215
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 | A3572 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper Grassy Open Woodland Alliance | A3572 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002373 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / Sandhill Muhly Woodland | CEGL002373 | 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: = Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Muhlenbergia pungens Woodland (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.
- 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., 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.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.