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CEGL002815 Juniperus osteosperma / Hesperostipa comata Open Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Utah Juniper / Needle-and-Thread Open Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This woodland association occurs on slopes, mesatops, hills, benches and alluvial terraces in the Colorado Plateau of western Colorado and eastern Utah, and the Snake River Plain in southern Idaho. The vegetation is characterized by a savanna-like distribution of 2- to 5-m tall Juniperus osteosperma trees that range in cover from 5 to 15% and the bunchgrass Hesperostipa comata that ranges in cover from 5 to 30%. Shrubs are generally present but too sparse to form a layer. The herbaceous layer is diverse and has up to 30% cover. Sites are on level to moderately sloping terrain that may be oriented to any aspect. Elevation of most stands ranges from 1423 to 2200 m (4670-7215 feet). Soils are generally sandy loams, with a few stands on clay loams. Gravel, bare ground or cryptobiotic crusts cover much of the unvegetated surface.
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: This woodland association has total vegetation cover that ranges from 24 to 60%. It is characterized by a savanna-like distribution of 2- to 5-m tall Juniperus osteosperma trees that range in cover from 5 to 15% and the tall bunchgrass Hesperostipa comata that ranges in cover from 5 to 25%. Shrubs are generally present but too sparse to form a layer. Common species include Artemisia filifolia, Atriplex canescens, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra cutleri, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Eriogonum microthecum, Ericameria nauseosa, Fraxinus anomala, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea (= Opuntia erinacea), Opuntia macrorhiza, Opuntia polyacantha var. polyacantha, Shepherdia rotundifolia, and Yucca angustissima. The herbaceous layer is diverse and has up to 30% cover, including Hesperostipa spp. Other characteristic graminoids include Poa fendleriana, Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua gracilis, Pleuraphis jamesii, Sporobolus contractus, Sporobolus flexuosus, Muhlenbergia pungens, and Achnatherum hymenoides. Forbs may be diverse but contribute little cover with such species as Cirsium calcareum, Chaetopappa ericoides, Heterotheca villosa (= Chrysopsis villosa), Comandra umbellata, Cordylanthus wrightii, Hymenoxys richardsonii, Machaeranthera canescens, Machaeranthera grindelioides, Mirabilis multiflora, Penstemon ambiguus, Solidago sp., Streptanthella longirostris, Tetraneuris acaulis (= Hymenoxys acaulis), and Townsendia incana. Bromus tectorum may be abundant in plots that have experienced chronic or severe disturbance.
Dynamics: Some stands likely result from the invasion by Juniperus osteosperma into ~Hesperostipa comata Great Basin Grassland (CEGL001705)$$ or related grasslands. Many stands are too open and sparsely vegetated to carry fire well.
Environmental Description: This woodland association occurs on slopes, hills, mesatops, dunes, canyons, benches and alluvial terraces in the Colorado Plateau of western Colorado and eastern Utah. Sites are on level to moderately sloping terrain that may be oriented to any aspect. Elevation of most stands ranges from 1423 to 1880 m (4670-6165 feet) but may occur as high as 2200 m (7215 feet) on warm southerly exposures that discourage establishment of Pinus edulis. Most sites have sandy soils derived from eolian sands, sandstone or alluvium, but some stands occur on barren shale slopes of the Carmel (Capitol Reef National Park) and Chinle formations (Canyonlands National Park). Soils are generally sandy loams, with a few stands on clay loams. Gravel, bare ground or cryptobiotic crusts cover much of the unvegetated surface.
Geographic Range: This association has been described from the Colorado Plateau, specifically from western Colorado and eastern Utah and the Snake River Plain in southern Idaho. It is likely to occur on sandy soils at low to moderate elevations throughout the plateau.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.785372
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.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 | A3497 Utah Juniper Grassy Open Woodland Alliance | A3497 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002815 Utah Juniper / Needle-and-Thread Open Woodland | CEGL002815 | 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: = Juniperus osteosperma / Hesperostipa comata Woodland (Coles et al. 2008a)
- Clark, D., M. Dela Cruz, T. Clark, J. Coles, S. Topp, A. Evenden, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Capitol Reef National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2009/187. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 882 pp.
- 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.
- Coles, J., D. Cogan, D. Salas, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, J. Von Loh, and A. Evenden. 2008a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Dinosaur National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR-2008/112. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 814 pp.
- Romme, W. H., K. D. Heil, J. M. Porter, and R. Fleming. 1993. Plant communities of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. USDI National Park Service, Technical Report NPS/NAUCARE/NRTER-93/02. Cooperative Park Studies Unit, Northern Arizona University. 37 pp.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, K. Decker, M. Hall, J. Von Loh, T. Belote, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2012. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Canyonlands National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2012/577. 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.
- 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.