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CEGL003963 Fraxinus anomala - Rhus trilobata Dry Talus & Slickrock Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Singleleaf Ash - Skunkbush Sumac Dry Talus & Slickrock Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This open shrubland occurs on rocky sites in the Colorado Plateau and is characterized by sparse to low cover (<15% total cover) of a mix of xeric shrubs, among which Fraxinus anomala and Rhus trilobata are conspicuous and usually at least codominant. Many other shrub species are usually present, including Artemisia bigelovii, Atriplex confertifolia, Ephedra torreyana, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus var. stenophyllus, and Gutierrezia sarothrae. The herbaceous layer may include many species but never provides more than a few percent cover; Pleuraphis jamesii, Achnatherum hymenoides, Stanleya pinnata, Chamaesyce fendleri, and Xylorhiza spp. are the most consistent species. This association occurs on a range of physical sites, from steep, rocky colluvial slopes to flat areas with thin soils near the edges of canyon and mesa rims. Slopes range from gentle to steep (1-34°) and elevation ranges from 1113 to 1536 m, with a strong orientation toward northerly aspects. Soils are most often sandy but include very rocky soils to fine silt loams or clay loams derived from sandstone and shale.
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 open shrubland is characterized by sparse to low cover (<15% total cover) from a mix of xeric shrubs, among which Fraxinus anomala and Rhus trilobata are conspicuous and usually at least codominant. Other shrub species are usually present, including Artemisia bigelovii, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Brickellia microphylla, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus var. stenophyllus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Eriogonum corymbosum, Glossopetalon spinescens, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Picrothamnus desertorum (= Artemisia spinescens), or Symphoricarpos longiflorus. The herbaceous layer may include many species but never provides more than a few percent cover. Grasses such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa fendleriana, Sporobolus flexuosus, and forbs Amsonia tomentosa, Chamaesyce fendleri, Heterotheca villosa (= Chrysopsis villosa), Stanleya pinnata, and Xylorhiza tortifolia are the most consistent species. Biological soil crust formation is rare on these active slopes Exotic annual grass Bromus tectorum can be present.
Dynamics: Although the species composition and cover are highly variable on these sparsely vegetated rocky, colluvial slopes, Fraxinus anomala and Rhus trilobata are typically found on more mesic sites and within this extremely xeric environment, it appears they survive by occurring more often on north-facing slopes.
Environmental Description: This shrubland association occurs on a variety of sites, from steep, rocky colluvial slopes to thin soils near the edges of canyon and mesa rims. Landforms also include ledges, plateaus, terraces, and benches. Slopes range from gentle to steep (1-34°) and elevation ranges from 1113 to 1536 m, with a strong orientation toward cooler northerly aspects. The unvegetated surface is mostly covered by rocks, gravel, boulders, bedrock and bare soil, with little litter or dead wood evident. Soils are most often sandy, but a few stands have fine silt loams, silty clay loams or sandy clay loams derived from sandstone, shale, or from talus/colluvial deposits.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in Arizona and Utah and is described from Canyonlands National Park, Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and likely occurs elsewhere in canyons of the Colorado Plateau.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.794078
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 | CEGL003963 Singleleaf Ash - Skunkbush Sumac Dry Talus & Slickrock Shrubland | CEGL003963 | 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: = Fraxinus anomala - Rhus trilobata Talus Shrubland (Tendick et al. 2012)
- 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.