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A0793 Quercus turbinella Chaparral Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes evergreen shrublands dominated or codominated by Quercus turbinella that typically forms thickets with other shrubs. Quercus turbinella shrublands are typically found on steep, rocky slopes, often sheltered slopes in limestone canyons, in the mountains of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sonoran Scrub Oak Chaparral Alliance

Colloquial Name: Sonoran Scrub Oak Chaparral

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes evergreen shrublands dominated or codominated by Quercus turbinella that typically forms thickets with other shrubs. Important shrub associates can include Arctostaphylos spp., Baccharis sergiloides, Ceanothus greggii, Cercocarpus montanus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra viridis, Fraxinus greggii, Garrya wrightii, Juniperus californica, Juniperus osteosperma, Rhus virens, Rhus trilobata, Rhus microphylla, and a shrub form of Quercus grisea. Ground cover is typically sparse with scattered grasses, forbs and ferns. Some typical herbaceous components include Aristida spp., Astrolepis sinuata, Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, and Notholaena standleyi. Shrublands in this alliance are small in extent and occur in a matrix of succulent desert scrub and semi-desert grassland. Quercus turbinella shrublands are typically found on steep, rocky slopes, often sheltered slopes in limestone canyons, in the mountains of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is characterized by dominance of Quercus turbinella or codominance with a variety of other species such as Amelanchier utahensis, Arctostaphylos pungens, Artemisia tridentata, Baccharis sergiloides, Cercocarpus montanus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra viridis, Fraxinus anomala, Garrya flavescens, Juniperus osteosperma, Ptelea trifoliata, or Rhus trilobata. The herbaceous layer is usually sparse because of shading from shrubs, but open stands may have an herbaceous layer dominated by grasses such as Bouteloua curtipendula and Bouteloua eriopoda.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Quercus turbinella is a widespread interior chaparral species whose distribution is centered in Arizona. Therefore, this alliance is included in ~Western Madrean Chaparral Group (G281)$$, but stands extend west into the Mojave and Great Basin and east into western Texas. Alliances are based in part by the fire adaptations of dominant species; for example, Quercus turbinella strongly sprouts after being burned so it becomes the predominant species with repeated fires or fire suppression over species such as Arctostaphylos pungens, Arctostaphylos pringlei, and Ceanothus greggii that primarily reproduce from seeds that require heat scarification to germinate (Carmichael et al. 1978).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation in this shrubland alliance is dominated by a moderately dense cover of broad-leaved evergreen shrubs typically about 2 m tall, but can reach 5 m. The graminoid layer is sparse to moderately dense and dominated by medium-tall, warm-season bunchgrasses. The forb layer is generally sparse but may have high species diversity. Cacti or rosette shrub succulents are commonly present.

Floristics: This alliance includes evergreen shrublands dominated or codominated by Quercus turbinella that typically forms thickets with other shrubs. Important shrub associates can include Arctostaphylos spp., Baccharis sergiloides, Ceanothus greggii, Cercocarpus montanus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria linearifolia, Eriogonum wrightii, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Eriogonum wrightii, Fallugia paradoxa, Forestiera pubescens, Fraxinus greggii, Garrya wrightii, Juniperus californica, Juniperus osteosperma, Prunus fasciculata, Rhus virens, Rhus trilobata, Rhus microphylla, and a shrub form of Quercus grisea. Cacti or rosette shrub succulents such as Agave palmeri, Dasylirion wheeleri, Nolina microcarpa, Opuntia spp., and Yucca baccata are commonly present. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense, ranging from 5-40% cover. Perennial grasses are the most abundant species, particularly Aristida spp., Astrolepis sinuata (= Notholaena sinuata), Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, Eragrostis spp., Leptochloa dubia, and Muhlenbergia spp. Many forb and fern species can occur, but have little cover. Common forbs include Artemisia ludoviciana, Croton fruticulosus, Datura spp., and Eriogonum wrightii. Ferns include species of Cheilanthes, Pellaea, and Astrolepis. Annual grasses and forbs are seasonally present and often include the exotic species Bromus rubens and Bromus tectorum.

Dynamics:  Most of the species in these chaparral stands have some adaptation to fire. The root systems are well-developed and draw moisture from a large volume of soil allowing for rapid sprouting after fire. Non-sprouting species, such as species of Ceanothus and Arctostaphylos, require fire to scarify the numerous seeds in the seed bank before they will germinate (Carmichael et al. 1978). Recovery after fire can occur in as little as 5-11 years, and some stands are fire-induced climax and need fire to maintain them (Carmichael et al. 1978). Altered fire regimes, fuelwood harvest, and grazing by livestock have significant impacts on the quality of sites. More study is needed to understand and manage these shrublands.
Environmental Description:  Shrublands included in this alliance occur in the foothills and lower slopes of isolated desert mountain ranges and canyons from Nevada to western Texas, but distribution is centered in Arizona below the Mogollon Rim. Elevations range from 850-1850 m. Climate is semi-arid. From one-half to two-thirds of the 40-65 cm mean annual precipitation occurs during July-September as the result of convectional thunderstorms. The balance occurs during winter as occasional rains. Late spring and early summer are typically dry. Summers are hot and winters can have periods of cold weather and occasional snows. Stands occur on nearly level to steep (to 80%), rocky slopes on all aspects. Soils are typically deep, coarse-textured, and poorly developed. Textures vary from cobbly and gravelly loamy sand to gravelly loam. Parent materials are varied and include weathered granite, schist, diabase, sandstone, shale, limestone, slate, gneiss, quartzite, monzonite and basalt. Occasionally stands occur on fine-textured soil that may be too warm for Juniperus (Carmichael et al. 1987). Leaf litter occasionally accumulates 2-8 cm deep (Warren and Treadwell 1980). Litter layers affect soil development, rates of erosion, and fire regimes and behavior (Kemp 1965). Vegetation at higher elevations is often woodlands dominated by species of Quercus, Pinus, or Juniperus. At lower elevations there is desert scrub dominated by species of Acacia, Mimosa, Prosopis, or Encelia.
Geographic Range: The distribution of shrublands included in this alliance is centered in Arizona below the Mogollon Rim, extending north and west into Utah, Nevada, and east into southern New Mexico, western Texas. It also likely occurs in northern Mexico.

Nations: MX?,US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, NM, NV, TX, UT


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

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.Ng Western North American Interior Chaparral Division D061 2.B.2.Ng
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Ng.2 Sonoran Scrub Oak - Pointleaf Manzanita - Desert Ceanothus Warm Interior Chaparral Macrogroup M091 2.B.2.Ng.2
Group 2.B.2.Ng.2.b Sonoran Scrub Oak - Desert Ceanothus - Mexican Manzanita Chaparral Group G281 2.B.2.Ng.2.b
Alliance A0793 Sonoran Scrub Oak Chaparral Alliance A0793 2.B.2.Ng.2.b
Association CEGL000977 Sonoran Scrub Oak - Ashy Silktassel - Pointleaf Manzanita Shrubland CEGL000977 2.B.2.Ng.2.b
Association CEGL000978 Sonoran Scrub Oak / Black Grama Shrubland CEGL000978 2.B.2.Ng.2.b
Association CEGL000979 Sonoran Scrub Oak - Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany Shrubland CEGL000979 2.B.2.Ng.2.b
Association CEGL000980 Sonoran Scrub Oak - Mormon-tea Shrubland CEGL000980 2.B.2.Ng.2.b
Association CEGL000981 Sonoran Scrub Oak - Utah Juniper Shrubland CEGL000981 2.B.2.Ng.2.b
Association CEGL000982 Sonoran Scrub Oak - Blackbrush Shrubland CEGL000982 2.B.2.Ng.2.b
Association CEGL002950 Sonoran Scrub Oak - (Utah Serviceberry) Colluvial Shrubland CEGL002950 2.B.2.Ng.2.b
Association CEGL005160 Sonoran Scrub Oak - Common Hoptree - Singleleaf Ash Mesic Shrubland CEGL005160 2.B.2.Ng.2.b
Association CEGL005168 Sonoran Scrub Oak - (Skunkbush Sumac, Big Sagebrush) Shrubland CEGL005168 2.B.2.Ng.2.b
Concept Lineage: This alliance is equivalent to Old Alliance III.A.2.N.c. Quercus turbinella Shrubland Alliance (A.793).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus turbinella (Sonoran live oak scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [71.095.00]
= Quercus turbinella Series (Muldavin et al. 1994a) [includes the Quercus turbinella/Bouteloua curtipendula Plant Association within the Broadleaf Evergreen Interior Chaparral Group]
= Quercus turbinella Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
= Quercus turbinella Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [71.095.00]
< Mojavean Piñon Woodland (#72210) (Holland 1986b)
< Scrub Oak Mahogany Series - 133.31 (Brown et al. 1979)
< Singleleaf pinyon series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
Concept Author(s): E. Muldavin, P. Mehlhop, and E. DeBruin (1994a)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 04-23-18
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