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CEGL003755 Artemisia bigelovii - Ephedra (viridis, torreyana) Talus Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bigelow''s Sagebrush - (Mormon-tea, Torrey''s Joint-fir) Talus Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: The vegetation is characterized by a sparse mixed short-shrub canopy scattered among boulders, which often are larger than the vegetation. Total vegetation cover ranges from 2 to 25% but is usually less than 15%. Artemisia bigelovii is always present and the most abundant single shrub species, but often less then the combined cover of several other shrub species present. As many as 15 species of shrub may be associated with this community, none with more than a few percent cover, including Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Brickellia grandiflora, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Echinocereus triglochidiatus, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum corymbosum, and Gutierrezia sarothrae. Rhus trilobata and Fraxinus anomala are generally absent but may be present with very low relative cover. Only scattered herbaceous species are present, providing sparse cover. Common graminoids include Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, and Pleuraphis jamesii. Forbs occasionally present include Chamaesyce fendleri, Eriogonum inflatum, Lepidium montanum, and Stanleya pinnata. Biological soil crusts are absent or provide sparse cover. Juniperus osteosperma sapling or dwarf-trees are often present with too little cover to constitute a stratum. This mixed colluvial slope shrubland is known from eastern Utah and throughout the canyonlands of the Colorado Plateau. This sparse mixed shrubland occurs on the colluvial deposits that form on the lower slopes of canyons and valleys and on mesatops, steep canyon sides, benches, hills and escarpments. Most stands are on steep slopes (2-80%) between 1193 and 1673 m elevation and tend to occur on warmer exposures. Most of the unvegetated surface is covered by large rocks, gravel and bare soil. The substrate is complex and variable and often consists of an underlying shale covered by fragments of sandstone fallen from cliffs above. Soils are rapidly drained stony sandy loams, loamy sands, and clay loams.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This colluvial slope shrubland association is broadly defined by low cover of common shrub species. The colluvial slope appears to be a defining characteristic as Artemisia bigelovii, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, and Gutierrezia sarothrae are also common on mesatops and ridges. Additional classification work is needed to clarify these colluvial slope types from similar sparsely vegetated types. 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: Total vegetation cover ranges from 2 to 25% but is usually less than 15%. It is a mix of xeric shrubs, among which Artemisia bigelovii and Ephedra torreyana or Ephedra viridis are conspicuous, although not always dominant. Many other shrub species are usually present, including Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Brickellia grandiflora, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Echinocereus triglochidiatus, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum corymbosum, Gutierrezia microcephala, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and/or Xylorhiza tortifolia. Rhus trilobata and Fraxinus anomala are absent or have no more than trace cover. The herbaceous layer may include many species or few species but is always sparse and includes species such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida arizonica, Aristida purpurea, Chamaesyce fendleri, Cryptantha flava, Eriogonum inflatum, Lepidium montanum, Pleuraphis jamesii, and/or Stanleya pinnata. Biological soil crust formation is rare on active slopes, but may provide sparse cover on gentle slopes. Juniperus osteosperma sapling or dwarf-trees are often present with too little cover to constitute a stratum.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This sparse mixed shrubland occurs on the colluvial deposits that form the lower slopes of canyons and valleys and on mesatops, steep canyon sides, benches, hills and escarpments. Stands are on gentle to more typically steep slopes (2-80%) between 1193 and 1673 m elevation and tend to occur on warmer exposures. Most of the ground surface is covered by large rocks, gravel and bare soil with sparse cover of litter, downed wood and cryptogamic soil crust. The substrate is complex and variable and often consists of an underlying shale covered by fragments of sandstone fallen from cliffs above. Soils vary in texture and parent materials. Most are rapidly drained, stony or sandy loam, loamy sand and clay loam in texture and are derived from Cedar Mesa sandstone, Chinle shale, Moenkopi shale and Honaker Trail Formation.
Geographic Range: This association is widespread throughout the canyonlands of the Colorado Plateau in eastern Utah and northern Arizona.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.791954
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.6 Saltbush species - Joint-fir species - Buckwheat species Intermountain Basins Sparse Vegetation Macrogroup | M118 | 3.B.1.Ne.6 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a Saltbush species - Mountain-mahogany species - Joint-fir species Intermountain Basins Sparse Vegetation Group | G570 | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a |
| Alliance | A4050 Mormon-tea - Yellow Rabbitbrush - Skunkbush Sumac Talus Sparse Scrub Alliance | A4050 | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a |
| Association | CEGL003755 Bigelow''s Sagebrush - (Mormon-tea, Torrey''s Joint-fir) Talus Shrubland | CEGL003755 | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia bigelovii - Ephedra (viridis, torreyana) Talus Shrubland (Coles et al. 2009a)
- 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.
- 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.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.