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CEGL002530 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Shrub Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Yellow Rabbitbrush Shrub Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This steppe or open shrubland is known from the southern San Luis Valley of Colorado, the lower slopes of Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, northern Utah, and Death Valley, California. The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderate shrub layer dominated by Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus with 3-20% cover. Other shrub species may be present with low cover, such as Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata, Atriplex canescens, Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Tetradymia canescens. The herbaceous layer is mainly a mixture of grasses, including Hesperostipa comata, Koeleria macrantha, Poa secunda, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and introduced annuals Bromus briziformis and Bromus tectorum. Leymus cinereus may be present in mesic gully bottoms in Utah. Scattered forbs are present, such as Antennaria spp., Astragalus bisulcatus, Castilleja spp., Cirsium undulatum, Cryptantha humilis, Linanthus pungens, and Linanthus watsonii. Colorado stand information will be added at a later date.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is described from Element Occurrences from the Colorado Natural Heritage Program and plot data from Grand Teton National Park and Golden Spike National Historic Site.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is characterized by an open to moderately dense shrub layer ranging from 3-20% shrub cover of Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus. Other shrubs may be present with low cover, such as Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata, Atriplex canescens, Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Tetradymia canescens. The herbaceous layer is mainly a mixture of grasses, including Hesperostipa comata, Koeleria macrantha, Poa secunda, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and introduced annuals Bromus briziformis and Bromus tectorum. Leymus cinereus is present in mesic gully bottoms in Utah. Forb species are present with low cover and include Antennaria lanata, Astragalus kentrophyta, Antennaria microphylla, Astragalus bisulcatus, Castilleja applegatei, Castilleja flava, Castilleja sulphurea, Cirsium undulatum, Cryptantha humilis, Linanthus pungens (= Leptodactylon pungens), and Linanthus watsonii (= Leptodactylon watsonii).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This steppe community has been sampled on lower slopes of the Grand Tetons between 2012 and 2326 m elevation and in northern Utah on the banks of a gully near 1400 m elevation and is reported in a large southern Colorado valley. Sites range from gentle to moderately steep (4 and 55%) with variable aspects. Some sites are highly disturbed by gully erosion. Soils include deep well-drained, fine-textured alluvium soils such as silty clay loams. Ground surface is variable and has low to high cover of gravel, bare soil, litter and duff.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in California, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah, and is likely more widespread in the western U.S.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, CO, NV, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.769588
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.d Yellow Rabbitbrush - Rubber Rabbitbrush - Winterfat Steppe & Shrubland Group | G310 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.d |
| Alliance | A3195 Yellow Rabbitbrush Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | A3195 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.d |
| Association | CEGL002530 Yellow Rabbitbrush Shrub Grassland | CEGL002530 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.d |
Concept Lineage: Upgraded to Standard during screening.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Shrub Herbaceous Association (Evens et al. 2014)
- Cogan, D., J. E. Taylor, and K. Schulz. 2012. Vegetation inventory project: Great Basin National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/MOJN/NRR--2012/568. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 373 pp.
- Cogan, D., K. Varga, and G. Kittel. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Final Project Report 2002-2005 Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-06-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 87 pp. plus Appendixes A-F.
- Coles, J., A. Wight, J. Von Loh, K. Schulz, and A. Evenden. 2011. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Golden Spike National Historic Site. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR---2011/508. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 252 pp. [http://www.nature.nps.gov/im/units/NCPN]
- DiPaolo, D. A., S. B. Smith, D. C. Odion, J. H. Ives, and D. A. Sarr. 2015. Vegetation classification and mapping: Lava Beds National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/LABE/NRR--2015/1098. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 262 pp.
- Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
- Schulz, K. A., and M. E. Hall. 2011. Vegetation inventory project: Great Basin National Park. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network. NatureServe, Western Regional Office, Boulder, CO. 30 pp. plus Appendices A-H.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.