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G487 Juniperus coahuilensis - Juniperus deppeana - Juniperus monosperma Open Woodland Group
Type Concept Sentence: This Madrean juniper savanna and woodland group occurs in lower foothills and plains of southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico, extending into western Texas and Mexico and is characterized by an open to moderately dense tree canopy that is dominated by diagnostic Madrean junipers Juniperus coahuilensis or Juniperus deppeana or Juniperus monosperma when diagnostic Madrean species are present in the canopy or understory.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Redberry Juniper - Alligator Juniper - One-seed Juniper Open Woodland Group
Colloquial Name: Madrean Juniper Open Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This Madrean juniper savanna and woodland group occurs in northern Mexico, southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico, extending into western Texas. These savannas and woodlands have juniper tree canopies (5-60% cover). The lack of pinyon trees and the presence of Madrean junipers Juniperus coahuilensis or Juniperus deppeana are diagnostic of this group. Juniperus monosperma may be present to sole dominant when diagnostic Madrean species are present. The understory may be dominated by shrubs or grasses. If present, the shrub layer may be open to dense with desert scrub, chaparral or mountain shrub species. Characteristic species include Agave lechuguilla, Arctostaphylos pungens, Canotia holacantha, Ceanothus greggii, Cercocarpus montanus, Larrea tridentata, Nolina microcarpa, Prosopis glandulosa, Quercus grisea, Quercus turbinella, or Rhus trilobata. The herbaceous layer is diverse and resembles ~Chihuahuan Desert Foothill-Piedmont & Lower Montane Grassland Group (G490)$$. Characteristic graminoid species include Bouteloua eriopoda, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, Muhlenbergia pauciflora, Muhlenbergia setifolia, Piptochaetium fimbriatum, or Schizachyrium cirratum. Some of the widespread graminoid species are similar to those found in ~Great Plains Shortgrass Prairie Group (G144)$$ and may be present to dominant, with Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua gracilis, and Eragrostis intermedia being most common. This group is found in lower foothills and plains. Savanna stands occur primarily on flat ridge summits and upper slopes of foothills, canyons and alluvial fans usually at about 1800 m elevation. Woodland sites are typically found on cool aspects of steep scarp slopes at elevations of 1700 to 2200 m. Substrates are generally shallow rocky soils, but include deeper loamy soils, especially on sites where junipers have recently colonized.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This group is characterized by an open to moderately dense canopy of Madrean junipers Juniperus coahuilensis or Juniperus deppeana. Juniperus monosperma may be present to dominant when diagnostic Madrean species are present. If present, pinyon trees are accidental. Diagnostic Madrean understory species include evergreen oaks, desert scrub, chaparral and graminoids such as Agave lechuguilla, Bouteloua eriopoda, Canotia holacantha, Cercocarpus montanus var. paucidentatus, Dasylirion leiophyllum, Larrea tridentata, Mahonia trifoliolata, Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, Muhlenbergia pauciflora, Muhlenbergia setifolia, Nolina microcarpa, Piptochaetium fimbriatum, Prosopis glandulosa, Quercus arizonica, Quercus emoryi, Quercus grisea, Quercus mohriana, Quercus pungens, Quercus turbinella, Schizachyrium cirratum, or Yucca torreyi.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This group is similar to the more northerly ~Southern Rocky Mountain Juniper Open Woodland Group (G252)$$; however, Madrean species are not present in it. Stands dominated by the shrubby tree Juniperus pinchotii form a shrubland and are included in ~Eastern Madrean Chaparral Group (G280)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This savanna and woodland group is variable and ranges from widely spaced, mature, evergreen, scale-leaved trees (5-25% cover) to moderately dense woodlands (10-60% cover). A sparse to dense shrub layer may be present and dominated by a variety of typically Madrean species such as evergreen broad-leaved oaks. The more open-canopied stands often have moderate to high cover of perennial graminoids (>25% cover); however, open woodlands lacking an understory tree because of substrate such as rock outcrops are also included in this group.
Floristics: This juniper savanna and woodland group has an open to moderately dense canopy of trees (5-60% cover) with an understory dominated by shrubs or grasses. The presence of Madrean junipers Juniperus coahuilensis or Juniperus deppeana is diagnostic. Juniperus deppeana trees have a broader range than this Madrean group, extending north into southern stands of ~Southern Rocky Mountain Juniper Open Woodland Group (G252)$$, but do not dominate there. Juniperus monosperma may be present to sole dominant when diagnostic Madrean species are present. The understory may be dominated by shrubs or grasses. If present, the shrub layer may be open to dense with desert scrub, chaparral or mountain shrub species. Characteristic species include Agave lechuguilla, Arctostaphylos pungens, Canotia holacantha, Ceanothus greggii, Cercocarpus montanus, Dasylirion leiophyllum, Larrea tridentata, Mahonia trifoliolata, Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera, Nolina microcarpa, Prosopis glandulosa, Quercus arizonica, Quercus emoryi, Quercus grisea, Quercus mohriana, Quercus pungens, Quercus turbinella, or Yucca torreyi. The herbaceous layer is typically diverse and resembles ~Chihuahuan Desert Foothill-Piedmont & Lower Montane Grassland Group (G490)$$. Characteristic graminoid species include Bouteloua eriopoda, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, Muhlenbergia pauciflora, Muhlenbergia setifolia, Piptochaetium fimbriatum, or Schizachyrium cirratum. Some of the widespread graminoid species are similar to those found in ~Great Plains Shortgrass Prairie Group (G144)$$ with Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua gracilis, and Eragrostis intermedia being most common.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This Madrean juniper savanna and woodland group occurs in lower foothills and plains of southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico, extending into western Texas and Mexico. Savanna stands occur primarily on flat ridge summits and upper slopes of foothills and alluvial fans usually at about 1800 m elevation. Woodland sites are typically found on cool aspects of steep scarp slopes at elevations of 1700 to 2200 m. Substrates are generally shallow rocky soils, but include deeper loamy soils, especially on sites where junipers have recently colonized.
Geographic Range: This Madrean juniper savanna group occurs in lower foothills and plains of southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico, extending into western Texas and Mexico.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: AZ, MXCHH, MXCOA, MXSON, NM, OK, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.837771
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.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F018 | 1.B.1 |
| Division | 1.B.1.Nd Madrean-Balconian Forest & Woodland Division | D060 | 1.B.1.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.1.Nd.1 Alligator Juniper - Mexican Pinyon - Arizona White Oak Madrean Lowland Evergreen Woodland Macrogroup | M010 | 1.B.1.Nd.1 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Nd.1.b Redberry Juniper - Alligator Juniper - One-seed Juniper Open Woodland Group | G487 | 1.B.1.Nd.1.b |
| Alliance | A3133 Redberry Juniper - Alligator Juniper - One-seed Juniper / Shrub Understory Open Woodland Alliance | A3133 | 1.B.1.Nd.1.b |
| Alliance | A3134 Redberry Juniper - Alligator Juniper - One-seed Juniper / Grass Understory Open Woodland Alliance | A3134 | 1.B.1.Nd.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = High Sun Mild (HSM) Pinyon - Juniper Climatic Region (Moir and Carleton 1987)
= Madrean Juniper Savanna Woodland (Muldavin et al. 2003a)
= Madrean Juniper Savanna Woodland (Muldavin et al. 2003a)
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- Muldavin, E., P. Neville, P. Arbetan, Y. Chauvin, A. Browder, and T. Neville. 2003a. A vegetation map of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico. Final report submitted in partial fulfillment of Cooperative Agreement No. Ca-7170-99-004. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 102 pp.
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- USDA [U.S. Department of Agriculture]. 2001. Existing vegetation map (base - 1:24,000). Lincoln National Forest, Alamogordo, New Mexico. Terrestrial Ecosystem Survey (TES). [http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/lincoln/contact/gis/index.htm].