Print Report
CEGL002497 Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Quercus havardii var. tuckeri Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / Tucker Sand Shinnery Oak Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This woodland appears to be restricted to southeastern Utah. The open tree canopy of Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma is typically 2-5 m tall and ranges in cover from 10 to 50%. The understory is dominated by clumps of Quercus havardii var. tuckeri that range in cover from 5 to 65%. Associated shrubs vary depending on the aspect and the amount of soil moisture available. The herbaceous layer is more consistent in species composition yet provides only sparse cover. Common graminoids include Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Muhlenbergia pungens, and Pleuraphis jamesii. Forbs often present include species typical of sandy sites such as Cryptantha flava, Tetraneuris acaulis, Lepidium montanum, and Streptanthella longirostris. Total vegetation cover ranges from 21% to more than 100%. Sites occur between 1445 and 1905 m (4740-6250 feet) in elevation. It appears to be limited to sites with deep accumulations of eolian and alluvial sands on canyon and valley floors, in intermittent washes, and on dunes and sandsheets on plateaus and benches, on any aspect. Bare soil and sand cover most of the unvegetated surface, and biological soil crusts can provide up to 30% cover. Geologic substrates include various sandstones, which for the most part have eroded and been redeposited as eolian sands. Soils are rapidly drained, deep loamy sands, sandy loams, and sands.
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.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Total vegetation cover ranges from 21% to more than 100%. The open tree canopy of Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma is typically 2-5 m tall and ranges in cover from 10 to 50%. Fraxinus anomala may occasionally occur as a canopy tree with sparse cover. The understory is dominated by large clumps of Quercus havardii var. tuckeri that range in cover from 2 to 65% in sand mounds between tree canopies. Associated shrubs vary depending on the aspect and the amount of soil moisture available; cooler, more mesic stands include Amelanchier utahensis, Cercocarpus intricatus, Cercocarpus montanus, Mahonia fremontii, and Shepherdia rotundifolia. In more exposed, drier stands these shrubs are mostly replaced by Atriplex canescens, Coleogyne ramosissima, Artemisia bigelovii, Ephedra cutleri, Ephedra viridis, Eriogonum microthecum, Gutierrezia microcephala, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia polyacantha, and Yucca harrimaniae. The herbaceous layer is more consistent in species composition yet provides only sparse cover. Common graminoids include Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum speciosum (= Stipa speciosa), Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comata, Muhlenbergia pungens, and Pleuraphis jamesii. Forbs often present include species typical of sandy sites such as Cordylanthus wrightii, Cryptantha crassisepala, Cryptantha flava, Hymenopappus filifolius, Lappula occidentalis, Lepidium montanum, Streptanthella longirostris, Stenotus armerioides (= Haplopappus armerioides), and Tetraneuris acaulis (= Hymenoxys acaulis).
Dynamics: Deep eolian sand deposits are necessary to support this community. Fire could eliminate the pinyon and juniper trees in favor of Quercus havardii var. tuckeri.
Environmental Description: This woodland association is limited to sites with deep, loose sands. It occurs on canyon and valley floors, in intermittent washes, on dunes, sandsheets, badlands, mesatops, plateaus and benches. It is located on level to gently sloping (0-11%) sites between 1445 and 1905 m (4740-6250 feet) elevation. Aspect apparently does not influence the distribution of this association. Bare soil and sand cover most of the unvegetated surface, although there is sometimes low cover of bedrock or gravel, and biological soil crusts can provide up to 30% cover. Soils are deep and loose, rapidly drained, loamy sands, sandy loams, and sands. Geologic substrates include Carmel Formation, Cedar Mesa, Navajo, Moab Tongue, Cedar Mesa or Entrada sandstones, which for the most part have eroded and been redeposited as eolian sands as well as shale of the Tidwell Member.
Geographic Range: This association is apparently restricted to southeastern Utah. It may also occur in some parts of southern Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO?, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.769227
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?
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 | CEGL002497 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / Tucker Sand Shinnery Oak Woodland | CEGL002497 | 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 / Quercus havardii var. tuckeri Woodland (Clark et al. 2009)
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- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.