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CEGL002765 Fendlera rupicola Talus Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Cliff Fendlerbush Talus Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This tall-shrub association occurs in patches on cool colluvial slopes in Colorado Plateau canyons. Slopes are moderate to very steep and are often oriented to the north or east. Elevations range from 1268 to 1638 m (4160-5375 feet). The high cover of rock on the ground surface acts both to concentrate runoff and as mulch to slow evaporation from the soil. Thus, relatively mesic species are able to persist on otherwise dry sites. Soils are sandy, skeletal, and derived from sandstones over shale. Stands commonly occur where Wingate sandstone colluvium has fallen onto Chinle shale slopes in canyons. Total vegetation cover ranges from 7 to 35% and is characterized by an open tall-shrub canopy of Fendlera rupicola that provides 1 to 12% cover. Juniperus osteosperma is usually present as scattered seedlings and saplings. Associated shrubs vary from site to site, depending on the underlying substrate, and may include Atriplex spp., Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ephedra spp., Ericameria nauseosa, Cercocarpus montanus, Fraxinus anomala, Rhus trilobata, and several species of Opuntia. The herbaceous layer is sparse in cover and may include Leymus salinus, Pleuraphis jamesii, Achnatherum hymenoides, and Hesperostipa comata. Forbs provide sparse cover with no one species providing more than 1% cover. Cryptogam cover is also restricted, rarely covering more than 5% of the ground surface.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Fendlera rupicola is an element, and sometimes codominant, of several shrub communities described from colluvial slopes, including ~Amelanchier utahensis Shrubland (CEGL001067)$$. There is a great deal of uncertainty in the classification of these rocky slope shrublands in general, and assignments and concepts should be continually reviewed as new data become available.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This shrubland association is rare, occurring in small stands on colluvial canyon slopes. The total vegetation cover ranges from 7 to 35% and is characterized by an open tall-shrub canopy up to 3 m tall of Fendlera rupicola that provides 1 to 12% cover. Juniperus osteosperma is usually present as scattered seedlings and saplings. Associated shrubs vary from site to site, depending on the underlying substrate, and may include Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex canescens, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria nauseosa, Cercocarpus montanus, Fraxinus anomala, Rhus trilobata, and several species of Opuntia. The herbaceous layer is moderate in terms of species composition but provides sparse cover. Common graminoids include Leymus salinus, Pleuraphis jamesii, Achnatherum hymenoides, and Hesperostipa comata. Forbs provide sparse cover with no one species providing more than 1% cover. Cryptogam cover is also restricted, rarely covering more than 5% of the ground surface.
Dynamics: This association may be affected by additional rockfall that would result in burial, by expansion of gullies through erosion, or by landslide that would physically remove the stand from the colluvial slope.
Environmental Description: This tall-shrub association occurs in patches on cool colluvial slopes in Colorado Plateau canyons. Slopes are moderate to very steep and are often oriented to the north or east. Elevations range from 1268 to 1638 m (4160-5375 feet). Rocks and litter cover most of the unvegetated ground surface. The high cover of rock on the ground surface acts both to concentrate runoff and as mulch to slow evaporation from the soil. Thus, relatively mesic species are able to persist on otherwise dry sites. Soils are sandy, skeletal, and derived from sandstones over shale. Stands commonly occur where Wingate sandstone colluvium has fallen onto Chinle shale slopes in canyons. The combination of sandy rock and soils overlying a substrate that is usually a marine shale allows for both mesic and saline desert species to co-exist.
Geographic Range: This association occurs on rocky canyon slopes in at least two areas of the northern Colorado Plateau of Colorado and Utah. It may also occur in northeastern Arizona.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.770576
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 | A3736 Singleleaf Ash - Skunkbush Sumac - Cliff Fendlerbush Talus & Rock Outcrop Shrubland Alliance | A3736 | 2.B.2.Nf.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002765 Cliff Fendlerbush Talus Shrubland | CEGL002765 | 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: = Fendlera rupicola Talus Shrubland (Von Loh et al. 2007)
- Coles, J., A. Tendick, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, J. Von Loh, and A. Evenden. 2009a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Arches National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2009/253. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 544 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.
- 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.
- Von Loh, J., K. Landgraf, A. Evenden, T. Owens, S. Blauer, and M. Reid. 2007. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Colorado National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2007/061. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 564 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.