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A3133 Juniperus coahuilensis - Juniperus deppeana - Juniperus monosperma / Shrub Understory Open Woodland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This Madrean juniper woodland alliance occurs in lower foothills and plains of southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico, extending into western Texas and Mexico. The lack of pinyon trees and presence of Madrean juniper species Juniperus coahuilensis or Juniperus deppeana with shrubs in the understory is diagnostic of this alliance.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Redberry Juniper - Alligator Juniper - One-seed Juniper / Shrub Understory Open Woodland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Madrean Juniper / Shrub Open Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This Madrean juniper woodland alliance occurs in lower foothills and plains of southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico, extending into western Texas and Mexico. These open to moderately dense woodlands have 10-60% cover dominated by juniper trees with shrubs in the understory, forming an open to dense, short-shrub layer. Perennial graminoid cover is typically low and patchy because of high shrub cover or rocky sites. If grass cover is abundant, then shrubs form a distinct layer. The lack of pinyon trees and presence of Madrean juniper species Juniperus coahuilensis or Juniperus deppeana with shrubs in the understory is diagnostic of alliance. Juniperus monosperma trees may be present to sole canopy dominate when diagnostic Madrean understory species are present. Characteristic shrubs include Agave lechuguilla, Arctostaphylos pungens, Canotia holacantha, Ceanothus greggii, Cercocarpus montanus, Larrea tridentata, Nolina microcarpa, Prosopis glandulosa, Quercus grisea, Quercus turbinella, and Rhus trilobata. Stands are typically found on cool aspects of steep scarp slopes at elevations of 1100 to 2200 m. Substrates are generally shallow, rocky soils.

Diagnostic Characteristics: These open to moderately dense (10-60% cover) woodlands dominated by juniper trees have an understory characterized by shrubs that typically form an open to moderately dense layer. The presence of Madrean junipers Juniperus coahuilensis or Juniperus deppeana, or the dominance of Juniperus monosperma trees when diagnostic Madrean understory species are present. Diagnostic species include 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, and Yucca torreyi.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Juniperus deppeana trees have a broader range than this Madrean alliance, extending north into the southern Rocky Mountains. In Flora of North America (FNA Editorial Committee 1993), Juniperus erythrocarpa var. coahuilensis of the southwestern United States is segregated as Juniperus coahuilensis (Kral 1993). Kartesz (1999) now recognizes Juniperus coahuilensis as a distinct species found in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a moderately sparse to moderately dense tree canopy that is typically 3-8 m tall. Stands are either solely dominated by evergreen needle-leaved trees, or may be codominated by broad-leaved or scale-leaved evergreen trees. A sparse to moderately dense shrub layer (1-5 m tall) is usually present or absent. If present, the herbaceous layer is typically sparse and patchy and dominated by perennial graminoids. Perennial forbs may be scattered. Annual forbs and grasses may be seasonally present.

Floristics: These open to moderately dense woodlands have 10-60% cover dominated by juniper trees with shrubs in the understory, forming an open to dense, short-shrub layer. Perennial graminoid cover is typically low and patchy because of high shrub cover or rocky sites. If grass cover is abundant, then shrubs form a distinct layer. The lack of pinyon trees and presence of Madrean juniper species Juniperus coahuilensis or Juniperus deppeana with shrubs in the understory is diagnostic of this alliance. Juniperus monosperma trees may be present to sole canopy dominant when diagnostic Madrean understory species are present. Characteristic shrubs include Acacia greggii, Agave lechuguilla, Arctostaphylos pungens, Berberis spp., Calliandra eriophylla, Canotia holacantha, Ceanothus greggii, Cercocarpus montanus, Larrea tridentata, Mimosa dysocarpa, Nolina microcarpa, Prosopis glandulosa, Prosopis velutina, Quercus emoryi, Quercus grisea, Quercus turbinella, Rhus trilobata, and Yucca baccata. If present, the herbaceous layer is dominated by perennial graminoids such as Aristida spp., Bothriochloa barbinodis, Bouteloua chondrosioides, Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua gracilis, Eragrostis intermedia, Lycurus sp., Muhlenbergia emersleyi, Muhlenbergia porteri, Muhlenbergia setifolia, Muhlenbergia torreyi, Poa fendleriana, Schizachyrium cirratum, Schizachyrium sanguineum var. hirtiflorum, Schizachyrium scoparium, and on clay soils, Hilaria belangeri. Scattered perennial forbs include species of Eriogonum, Machaeranthera, and Sphaeralcea. Annual grasses and forbs such as Bromus and Erodium are seasonally present. Of note is the lack of or only occasional presence of Pinus edulis or Pinus monophylla (= Pinus fallax) trees.

Dynamics:  Juniperus deppeana is a slow-growing, drought-tolerant, long-lived tree that will resprout if cut or top-killed by fire (Wright et al. 1973, Lamb 1975, Muldavin et al. 1998c). Although fire rarely kills Juniperus deppeana, it will reduce the size of the tree and allow grass to grow under it (Wright 1972). Juniperus coahuilensis will also resprout after being cut or burned which allows quick recovery after fires (Kral 1993). However, Juniperus monosperma is non-sprouting and may be killed by fire (Wright et al. 1979). Large juniper trees do not generally burn 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, fence post cutting, 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. Fire, livestock grazing, and trampling by recreationalists and vehicles disturb cryptogamic soil crusts that help maintain soil structure, reduce soil erosion, provide habitat for plants and preserve biological diversity (Ladyman and Muldavin 1996). More study is needed to understand and manage these woodlands ecologically.
Environmental Description:  This Madrean juniper woodland alliance occurs in lower foothills and plains of southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico, extending into western Texas and Mexico. Stands are typically found on cool aspects of steep scarp slopes at elevations of 1100 to 2200 m. Climate is semi-arid with drought not uncommon. Summers are hot and winters are mild with cold periods and occasional snows. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 40-50 cm with approximately two-thirds occurring during the Arizona monsoon season from July-Sept, often as high-intensity convective storms. May and June are typically dry. Stands typically occur on nearly level, elevated and valley plains, to steep, rocky alluvial and colluvial slopes of canyons, ridges, bajadas, hillsides, mesas, and mountains. Sites include dry hillslopes, dissected pediments, alluvial fans and valleys. Aspect is variable and does not seem important except in elevational extremes for a given latitude where low-elevation stands are restricted to the less xeric north slopes and high-elevation stands occur on southern aspects. Soils are typically dry, calcareous, shallow, cobbly, gravelly or sandy loams, but some stands occur on heavy clay soils. Parent materials include andesite, rhyolite, limestone, basalt, colluvium and alluvium.
Geographic Range: This Madrean juniper woodland alliance occurs in lower foothills on rocky slopes of southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico, extending into western Texas and south into the northern Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Sonora.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  AZ, MXCHH, MXCOA, MXSON, NM, OK, TX


Confidence Level: Low

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
Association CEGL000692 Alligator Juniper / Pointleaf Manzanita Woodland CEGL000692 1.B.1.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL000695 Alligator Juniper - One-seed Juniper / Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Desert Ceanothus Woodland CEGL000695 1.B.1.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL000696 Alligator Juniper - One-seed Juniper - Gray Oak / Skunkbush Sumac Woodland CEGL000696 1.B.1.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL000701 Redberry Juniper / Crucifixion-thorn Woodland CEGL000701 1.B.1.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL000702 Redberry Juniper / Sonoran Scrub Oak Woodland CEGL000702 1.B.1.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL000703 One-seed Juniper / Lechuguilla Woodland CEGL000703 1.B.1.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL000717 One-seed Juniper / Creosotebush Woodland CEGL000717 1.B.1.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL000718 One-seed Juniper / Sacahuista - Lechuguilla Woodland CEGL000718 1.B.1.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL000719 One-seed Juniper / Honey Mesquite Woodland CEGL000719 1.B.1.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL002120 One-seed Juniper - Mohr Oak Woodland CEGL002120 1.B.1.Nd.1.b
Association CEGL005370 Alligator Juniper / Wavyleaf Oak Woodland CEGL005370 1.B.1.Nd.1.b
Concept Lineage: This alliance was created from associations with shrub dominated understory selected from the following Old Alliances II.A.4.N.a. Juniperus coahuilensis Woodland Alliance (A.503), II.A.4.N.a. Juniperus deppeana Woodland Alliance (A.534), II.A.4.N.a. Juniperus monosperma Woodland Alliance (A.504)

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Juniperus deppeana Series (Muldavin 1994) [within the Madrean Open Conifer Woodland Alliance Group.]
> Juniperus erythrocarpa/Canotia holacantha Habitat Type (Bassett et al. 1987)
> Juniperus erythrocarpa/Quercus turbinella Habitat Type (Bassett et al. 1987)
>< Oneseed Juniper Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [classified all the Juniperus monosperma stands.]
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
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