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CEGL003834 Coleogyne ramosissima Sparse Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blackbrush Sparse Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This sparse blackbrush shrubland occurs in canyonlands of the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah. Total vegetation cover is less than 5%, and is limited by poor growing conditions or a lack of rooting substrate in bedrock-dominated sites. The canopy consists of scattered Coleogyne ramosissima, usually accompanied by Ephedra torreyana, Artemisia bigelovii, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Yucca angustissima, and Opuntia polyacantha. The herbaceous layer contributes little to the community in terms of either diversity or cover. Pleuraphis jamesii, Aristida purpurea, Bromus tectorum, Chamaesyce fendleri, Tetraneuris acaulis, Amsonia tomentosa, Mirabilis linearis, Salsola tragus, Heterotheca villosa, and Comandra umbellata are the most commonly reported species. This association occurs on canyon rims, hills, ridges, mesas, plateaus, canyon sides, badlands and valley bottoms. Sites are flat to moderately sloping, oriented to all aspects, and lie between 1134 and 1470 m elevation. The unvegetated surface is often more than 95% of the community and consists primarily of bedrock or gravel, with lesser cover by bare soil and litter. Soils are often rapidly drained sandy loams, loamy sands, or sands derived from sandstone, but include loams, silt loams, sandy clay loams, or clay loams derived from shales.
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. Samples from Glen Canyon expanded the concept of this association to include more diverse landforms and soils derived from shales such as loams, silt loams, sandy clay loams, or clay loams. Sparse examples of ~Coleogyne ramosissima / Pleuraphis jamesii Shrubland (CEGL001334)$$ may be hard to distinguish from this association.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This rare blackbrush association has total vegetation cover of less than 5%, limited by poor growing conditions or a lack of rooting substrate in bedrock-dominated sites. The canopy consists of scattered Coleogyne ramosissima, usually accompanied by Ephedra torreyana, Artemisia bigelovii, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Yucca angustissima, and Opuntia polyacantha. The herbaceous layer contributes little to the community in terms of either diversity or cover. Pleuraphis jamesii, Aristida purpurea, Bromus tectorum, Chamaesyce fendleri, Tetraneuris acaulis (= Hymenoxys acaulis), Amsonia tomentosa, Mirabilis linearis, Salsola tragus, Heterotheca villosa, and Comandra umbellata are the most commonly reported species.
Dynamics: Coleogyne ramosissima is considered a climax community-forming species. Given the low competitive environment where this community is found and conditions which are not susceptible to destructive fire, this is likely to be a long-lived community.
Environmental Description: This sparse shrubland occurs in canyonlands of the Colorado Plateau on canyon rims, hills, ridges, mesas, plateaus, canyon sides, badlands and valley bottoms. Sites are flat to moderately sloping, oriented to all aspects, and lie between 1134 and 1470 m elevation. The unvegetated surface is often more than 95% of the community and consists primarily of bedrock or gravel, with lesser cover by bare soil and litter. Soils are moderately well-drained to rapidly drained sandy loams, loamy sands, or sands derived from eolian or alluvial deposits, or sandstones of the White Rim, Navajo, or Cedar Mesa formations, or are loams, silt loams, sandy clay loams, or clay loams derived from shales of the Moenkopi, Morrison, or Organ Rock formations.
Geographic Range: This sparse shrubland occurs in canyonlands of the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah on canyon rims and valley bottoms.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.793500
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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 | A4051 Ponderosa Pine - Littleleaf Mountain-mahogany Bedrock Cliff & Canyon Wooded Scrub Alliance | A4051 | 3.B.1.Ne.6.a |
| Association | CEGL003834 Blackbrush Sparse Shrubland | CEGL003834 | 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: = Coleogyne ramosissima Sparse Shrubland (Tendick et al. 2012)
- 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.