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CEGL002802 Pinus edulis - Juniperus scopulorum / Holodiscus dumosus Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Two-needle Pinyon - Rocky Mountain Juniper / Rockspirea Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This woodland association is currently known from Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Curecanti National Recreation Area and Great Sand Dunes in Colorado and El Malpais National Monument in New Mexico. More survey and classification work are needed to fully characterize this type. The sampled Colorado stand occurs on a steep (100%), southwest-facing midslope on a ridge at 2303 m elevation. The unvegetated surface has moderate cover of litter and bedrock, large rocks, and small rocks. Downed wood is common. Substrate is a rapidly drained loamy sand soil derived from Black Canyon schist (mica schist). At El Malpais, this association occurs between about 2240 and 2390 m (7340-7850 feet) elevation on very gently rolling lava plateaus and collapse features, to steep slopes of cinder cones. Substrates are derived from basalt lava rock and cinders from cinder cone flows. Ground surface is made up of lava rock with abundant litter and occasional soil and coarse woody debris present. The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately closed (30-60% cover) tree canopy 2-5 m tall codominated by Pinus edulis and Juniperus scopulorum with a short-shrub layer dominated by Holodiscus dumosus. The shrub layer is diverse in terms of species composition and provides low to moderate cover. Associated shrub species include Cercocarpus montanus, Quercus gambelii, Artemisia tridentata, Philadelphus microphyllus, Pinus edulis saplings, and Artemisia frigida. In New Mexico, Ribes cereum is common, and the cacti Echinocereus coccineus and Opuntia polyacantha are frequent associates, though cover is low. The herbaceous layer is low in species diversity and provides sparse to low cover. Species include Achnatherum hymenoides, Arabis crandallii, Artemisia carruthii, Bouteloua gracilis, Descurainia incana, Poa fendleriana, and Senecio integerrimus. Lichens and mosses can each provide low cover, up to 5%.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association has only been sampled from one location in Curecanti National Recreation Area in western Colorado. More surveys and classification work are needed to change the provisional status of this association.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation of this association is characterized by a open to moderately closed (30-60%) canopy codominated by Pinus edulis and Juniperus scopulorum with a short-shrub layer of Holodiscus dumosus. Other coniferous species such as Pinus ponderosa or Pseudotsuga menziesii may be present but incidental. Shrub cover varies from low to abundant (up to 30%). Associated shrubs include Cercocarpus montanus, Quercus gambelii, Artemisia tridentata, Philadelphus microphyllus, Artemisia frigida, Ribes cereum, and cacti including Echinocereus coccineus and Opuntia polyacantha. Herbaceous diversity is low. At Black Canyon, the only documented graminoid is Achnatherum hymenoides, whereas at El Malpais, Poa fendleriana and Bouteloua gracilis are the most abundant, but do not exceed 5% cover. Forbs are sparse and sporadic and may include, but are not limited to, Arabis crandallii, Artemisia carruthii, Descurainia incana ssp. incisa, and Senecio integerrimus.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This woodland association occurs midslope on an extremely steep site with 100% slope at Black Canyon and on gently rolling lava plateaus, collapse features and steep slopes of cinder cones at El Malpais from 2240-2390 m elevation. Parent materials include mica schist, basalt and cinders. Unvegetated surfaces include bedrock, large rocks, small rocks with moderate to abundant litter and downed wood.
Geographic Range: This woodland association is currently known from Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Curecanti National Recreation Area and Great Sand Dunes in Colorado and El Malpais National Monument in New Mexico. More survey work is needed to fully document its global range.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.785187
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.2 Two-needle Pinyon - One-seed Juniper Southern Rocky Mountain Woodland Macrogroup | M897 | 1.B.2.Nc.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nc.2.c Two-needle Pinyon - One-seed Juniper - Rocky Mountain Juniper Woodland Group | G253 | 1.B.2.Nc.2.c |
| Alliance | A3576 Two-needle Pinyon - One-seed Juniper Shrubby Woodland Alliance | A3576 | 1.B.2.Nc.2.c |
| Association | CEGL002802 Two-needle Pinyon - Rocky Mountain Juniper / Rockspirea Woodland | CEGL002802 | 1.B.2.Nc.2.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus edulis - (Juniperus spp.) / Holodiscus dumosus Woodland (Tendick et al. 2010)
- Coles, J., A. Tendick, J. Von Loh, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/361. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, T. Neville, P. Neville, A. Kennedy, H. Hulse, P. Arbetan, K. Schultz, M. Hall, and M. Reid. 2013c. Vegetation classification and map: El Malpais National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2013/803. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. [http://nhnm.unm.edu/vlibrary/pubs_archive/nhnm/nonsensitive/R13MUL01NMUS.pdf]
- Salas, D. E., J. Stevens, K. Schulz, M. Artmann, B. Friesen, S. Blauer, E. W. Schweiger, and A. Valdez. 2010b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMN/NRR--2010/179. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, P. Williams, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Curecanti National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/408. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 797 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.