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CEGL005368 Juniperus monosperma / Sparse Understory Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: One-seed Juniper / Sparse Understory Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This lower-elevation, short-statured woodland has been described from Bandelier National Monument in north-central New Mexico and Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument in central New Mexico. It is also a minor. The majority of sites occur on summits and undulating plateaus with gentle to moderate slopes (4-20%). Occasionally, stands can be found on sideslopes of plateaus with rockier soils and gentle sideslopes of low hills in the plains. Aspects are variable, although solar exposure tends to go from low to high with increasing elevation. Soils are variable, being composed of eolian material, alluvium or colluvium derived from rhyolitic tuff or pumice. There is usually high cover of bare ground. Vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense woodland dominated by Juniperus monosperma with tree canopies that range from 10 to 40% cover. Juniperus regeneration is common along with scattered Pinus edulis seedlings and saplings. This understory is typically sparse (<10% total cover) and has only scattered graminoids, such as Aristida purpurea or Bouteloua gracilis, and few forbs. Shrubs and dwarf-shrubs are also scattered and most commonly represented by Yucca glauca, Opuntia polyacantha, and Gutierrezia sarothrae.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Within Bandelier National Monument, this short-statured woodland is dominated by Juniperus monosperma with open canopies that range from 10 to 40% cover. Juniperus regeneration is common along with scattered Pinus edulis seedlings and saplings. Shrubs are generally poorly represented with the dwarf-shrub Gutierrezia sarothrae the most abundant. Herbaceous cover is also limited to scattered grasses and forbs. Bouteloua gracilis is the most frequent among 16 graminoids and 32 forbs reported. Forbs can be common but are mostly represented by annuals and biennials such as Ipomopsis aggregata, Ipomopsis longiflora, Erysimum capitatum, Chenopodium sp., and Mentzelia sp. plus perennial herbaceous Artemisia spp. (Artemisia campestris, Artemisia carruthii, Artemisia dracunculus, and Artemisia ludoviciana). Within Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, vegetation is characterized by an open canopy of mature Juniperus monosperma with scattered saplings or seedlings. Occasionally seedling or sapling Pinus edulis can be present, commonly under the canopy of Juniperus monosperma. These stands are characterized by a sparse herbaceous layer with only scattered graminoids such as Aristida purpurea or Bouteloua gracilis present and typically poorly represented as are forbs. Shrubs are also scattered and most commonly represented by Yucca glauca, Opuntia polyacantha, and Gutierrezia sarothrae. Within White Sands Missile Range, this moderately open woodland is characterized by Juniperus monosperma. Pinus edulis can be a subdominant associate or may be absent. Understory shrub, grass and forb cover is very low and usually does not exceed 1 to 2% cover. Diversity is also exceptionally low, particularly among the grasses and forbs. Yucca baccata and Opuntia phaeacantha are the most constant shrub species (Muldavin et al. 2000b).
Dynamics: Juniperus monosperma is extremely drought-tolerant. It is also non-sprouting and may be killed by fire (Wright et al. 1979). The effect of fire on a stand is largely dependent on the tree height and density, fine fuel load on the ground, weather conditions, and season (Dwyer and Pieper 1967, Wright et al. 1979). Trees are more vulnerable in open stands where fires frequently occur in the spring, the relative humidity is low, wind speeds are over 10-20 mph, and there is adequate fine fuels to carry fire (Wright et al. 1979, Fischer and Bradley 1987). Under other conditions, burns tend to be spotty with low tree mortality. Large trees are generally not killed unless fine fuels, such as tumbleweeds, have accumulated beneath the tree to provide ladder fuels for the fire to reach the crown. Closed-canopy stands rarely burn because they typically do not have enough understory or wind to carry a fire. Altered fire regimes, cutting trees for fencing, and improper grazing by livestock have significant impacts on the quality of sites. Grazing by livestock can modify the fire regime by removing the fine fuels that carry fire. Juniperus monosperma invasion into grasslands has occurred in places. Control efforts by chaining and prescribed burning have mixed results. More study is needed to understand and manage these woodlands ecologically.
Environmental Description: This lower-elevation Rocky Mountain woodland association has been described from Bandelier National Monument in north-central New Mexico and Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument in central New Mexico. It is also a minor association found within White Sands Missile Range in south-central New Mexico. Within Bandelier National Monument, this association occurs between 1700 and 2025 m (5590-6650 feet) elevation on northeasterly through southeasterly to southwesterly aspects, although solar exposure tends to go from low to high with increasing elevation. The majority of sites occur on summits and undulating plateaus with gentle to moderate slopes (4-20%). Soils are composed of eolian material, alluvium or colluvium derived from rhyolitic tuff or pumice. Occasionally, stands can be found on sideslopes of plateaus with rockier soils derived from rhyolitic colluvium. Lastly, some stands are found on deep colluvial and alluvial soils along the toeslopes and bottoms of valleys. The ground surface is characterized by exposed soils or gravels and scattered litter. Within Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, this association occurs on sites between 1830 and 1990 m (6000-6530 feet) in elevation on moderately warm southeasterly aspects of gentle sideslopes of low hills. Soils are developed in piedmont alluvial and colluvial deposits derived from sandstones and limestones of the Permian Abo, Yeso, and San Andres formations. The ground surface is characterized by exposed soil and gravel with widely scattered grass patches and litter. Within the northern San Andres Mountains and Chupadera Mesa area of White Sands Missile Range, this association occurs at higher elevations (1850-2450 m [6000-8000 feet]) on cool aspects of gentle to moderate slopes (Muldavin et al. 2000b).
Geographic Range: This lower-elevation Rocky Mountain woodland has been described from Bandelier National Monument in north-central New Mexico, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument in central New Mexico, and White Sands Missile Range in south-central New Mexico.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.820818
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.2 Two-needle Pinyon - One-seed Juniper Southern Rocky Mountain Woodland Macrogroup | M897 | 1.B.2.Nc.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nc.2.b One-seed Juniper Open Woodland Group | G252 | 1.B.2.Nc.2.b |
| Alliance | A3574 One-seed Juniper Shrubby Woodland Alliance | A3574 | 1.B.2.Nc.2.b |
| Association | CEGL005368 One-seed Juniper / Sparse Understory Woodland | CEGL005368 | 1.B.2.Nc.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Juniperus monosperma / Sparse Plant Association (Stuever and Hayden 1997b)
= Juniperus monosperma / Sparse Understory Woodland (Muldavin et al. 2011b)
= Oneseed Juniper/Sparse Undergrowth PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Juniperus monosperma/Sparse: JUNMON/SPARSE)]
= Juniperus monosperma / Sparse Understory Woodland (Muldavin et al. 2011b)
= Oneseed Juniper/Sparse Undergrowth PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Juniperus monosperma/Sparse: JUNMON/SPARSE)]
- Dwyer, D. D., and R. D. Pieper. 1967. Fire effects on blue gramma-pinyon-juniper rangeland in New Mexico. Journal of Range Management 20:359-362.
- Fischer, W. C., and A. F. Bradley. 1987. Fire ecology of western Montana forest habitat types. General Technical Report INT-223. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 95 pp.
- Muldavin, E., A. Kennedy, C. Jackson, P. Neville, T. Neville, K. Schulz, and M. Reid. 2011b. Vegetation classification and map: Bandelier National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2011/438. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, A. Kennedy, T. Neville, P. Neville, K. Schulz, and M. Reid. 2012a. Vegetation classification and map: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2012/553. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, and G. Harper. 2000b. The vegetation of White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico: Volume I. Handbook of vegetation communities. Final report to Environmental Directorate, White Sands Missile Range. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 195 pp. plus appendices
- Stuever, M. C., and J. S. Hayden. 1997b. Plant associations of Arizona and New Mexico. Volume 2: Woodlands. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Habitat Typing Guides. 196 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Wright, H. A., L. F. Neuenschwander, and C. M. Britton. 1979. The role and use of fire in sagebrush-grass and pinyon-juniper plant communities: A state of the art review. General Technical Report INT-58. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT.