Print Report

CEGL002477 Quercus gambelii Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gambel Oak Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This tall shrubland is known from the Four Corners area north into the Wasatch Range of Utah. The vegetation is characterized by an open to dense (25-75% cover), tall-shrub (>10 m) canopy dominated by Quercus gambelii. Scattered Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma trees may be present. Other shrubs (all with <1% cover) that may be present are Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Mahonia repens, Opuntia phaeacantha, and Purshia tridentata. The herbaceous stratum is variable. Artemisia ludoviciana and Elymus elymoides are important species as is the exotic annual grass and forb species Bromus tectorum and Erodium cicutarium, respectively. The herbaceous stratum has a diversity of other species with low cover (<1%). Stands occur on southeastern to western aspects at 1076 to 2379 m (3530-7805 feet) in elevation on gentle to moderately steep slopes (0-30%). Landforms include canyons, mesas, stream terraces, seeps and springs on slopes, dunes, drainage channels and a toeslope at the base of a cliff. Soils are frequently sandy with low cover of rock and moderate to high cover of littler on the ground surface. There is frequently evidence of past fires.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is intended for shrublands of oak with no other shrubs associated with mixed mountain shrublands (e.g., Amelanchier spp., Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Prunus virginiana, Cercocarpus montanus, etc.) or a distinctive herbaceous layer. Many stands are in unusual settings, such as recent burns (e.g., Mesa Verde National Park). It is likely to be a transitional phase that will eventually return to a more mixed shrub canopy understory or in some cases become dominated by exotic herbaceous species.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This tall shrubland is characterized by an open to dense (25-75% cover) tall-shrub (>10 m) dominated by Quercus gambelii. Scattered Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma trees may be present. Other shrubs (all with <1% cover) that may be present are Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia bigelovii, Artemisia filifolia, Atriplex canescens, Brickellia longifolia, Baccharis salicina, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria nauseosa, Frangula betulifolia (= Rhamnus betulifolia), Gutierrezia sarothrae, Isocoma rusbyi, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Mahonia repens, Opuntia phaeacantha, Rhus trilobata, and Purshia tridentata. Scattered Populus fremontii, Pinus edulis, and Juniperus osteosperma trees may be present with low cover. The herbaceous stratum is variable and often has a high diversity of species with low cover (<1%), such as forbs Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis, Artemisia ludoviciana, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Eriogonum racemosum, Elymus elymoides, Elymus trachycaulus ssp. trachycaulus, Galium aparine, Maianthemum stellatum, Solidago velutina, and Vicia americana, and graminoids Achnatherum hymenoides, Distichlis spicata, Equisetum sp., Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Phragmites australis, Poa fendleriana, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Sporobolus contractus, and Typha sp. Exotic species Bromus tectorum and Erodium cicutarium are frequently present to abundant.

Dynamics:  Recent fire appears to have a role in this Gambel oak shrubland where other shrubs, such as Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia tridentata, Cercocarpus montanus, or Symphoricarpos oreophilus, or a distinctive herbaceous species are slow to reestablish. More survey and research are needed to clarify this type.
Environmental Description:  This tall shrubland is known from northeastern Arizona, southwestern Colorado and southern Utah in the Colorado Plateau and extends north into the Wasatch Range, and south into the high plateaus of southern Utah. Stands occur on southeastern to western aspects at 1076 to 2379 m (3530-7805 feet) in elevation on gentle to moderately steep slopes (0-30%). Sites include canyons, ravines, mesas, stream terraces, seeps and springs on slopes, dunes, drainage channels and toeslopes at the base of cliffs. The soils are often sandy loams but may include silty clay loams with low cover of rock and moderate to high cover of litter on the ground surface. There is frequently evidence of past fires.
Geographic Range: This association has been reported from southwestern Colorado, on the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona and southern Utah, the Wasatch Range of northern Utah, and the high plateaus of central and southern Utah.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CO, UT


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D022 2.B.2.Nf
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nf.1 Gambel Oak - Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Bitterbrush species Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Shrubland Macrogroup M049 2.B.2.Nf.1
Group 2.B.2.Nf.1.a Gambel Oak - Serviceberry species - Chokecherry Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Shrubland Group G277 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Alliance A3735 Gambel Oak - Mountain Snowberry Shrubland Alliance A3735 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Association CEGL002477 Gambel Oak Shrubland CEGL002477 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus gambelii Shrubland (Thomas et al. 2009b)
Concept Author(s): Thomas et al. (2009b)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz and G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-14-16
  • Coles, J., J. Von Loh, A. Wight, K. Schulz, and A. Evenden. 2009b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Timpanogos Cave National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2009/210. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 208 pp.
  • Kearsley, M. J. C., K. Green, M. Tukman, M. Reid, M. Hall, T. J. Ayers, and K. Christie. 2015. Grand Canyon National Park-Grand Canyon / Parashant National Monument vegetation classification and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR--2015/913. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 75 pp. plus appendices.
  • Reid, M. S., and M. E. Hall. 2010. Vegetation classification of Grand Canyon National Park. Draft report submitted to National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
  • 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. 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.
  • Thomas, K. A., M. L. McTeague, L. Ogden, K. Schulz, T. Fancher, R. Waltermire, and A. Cully. 2010. Vegetation classification and distribution mapping report: Canyon de Chelly National Monument. National Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR-2010/306. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 338 pp.
  • Thomas, K. A., M. L. McTeague, L. Ogden, M. L. Floyd, K. Schulz, B. Friesen, T. Fancher, R. Waltermire, and A. Cully. 2009b. Vegetation classification and distribution mapping report: Mesa Verde National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/SCPN/NRR--2009/112. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 352 pp.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.