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A3135 Prosopis glandulosa Ruderal Desert Sand Scrub Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This open-canopied ruderal shrubland alliance occurs in the Tularosa Basin and the southern Jornada del Muerto in south-central New Mexico and western Texas. It is characterized by patchy, large-diameter Prosopis glandulosa shrubs forming coppice dunes on a sandsheet. The surface topography is characterized by rolling sandy hummocks or steep dunes, but there is no overall aspect dominance.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Honey Mesquite Ruderal Desert Sand Scrub Alliance
Colloquial Name: Ruderal Honey Mesquite Desert Sand Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This is a major ruderal alliance of the Tularosa Basin and occasional within the southern Jornada del Muerto of New Mexico. These open-canopied shrublands are characterized by patches of Prosopis glandulosa shrubs that form coppice dunes on a sandsheet. The interdune areas may be sparse to moderately abundant with shrubs, grasses, and forbs such as Atriplex canescens, Baileya multiradiata, Dimorphocarpa wislizeni, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Psorothamnus scoparius, Sporobolus flexuosus, Suaeda moquinii (on alluvial sites), and Yucca elata. Stands occur in low-elevation alluvial flats or basins and form extensive coppice dunefields. Surface soils (sand to loamy sand) typically overlie more developed, clayey subsoils (Haplargids). However, alluvial sites include sandy loams, cobbles on the surface, and may have alkaline soils. The surface topography is characterized by rolling sandy hummocks or steep dunes.
Diagnostic Characteristics: These ruderal desert shrublands occur on upland sand substrates and are characterized by dominance of Prosopis glandulosa. Other psammophilous shrubs, such as Artemisia filifolia, Atriplex canescens, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra trifurca, or Psorothamnus scoparius, may be present. The understory is variable, ranging from sparse to moderately abundant psammophilous grasses or forbs such as Sporobolus flexuosus and Dimorphocarpa wislizeni.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance is considered by some to be a native ruderal invasive alliance that historically did not occur naturally. Whether it occurred naturally or not, it has greatly expanded its range and now dominates huge areas in the Tulerosa Basin and other areas. Muldavin et al. (2000b) describe a Prosopis glandulosa / Gutierrezia sarothrae plant association that may similar and have Artemisia filifolia well-represented. Shrubs with broad ecological amplitudes such as Atriplex canescens are included in this alliance when diagnostic psammophilous Chihuahuan Desert species are present in stand. Prosopis spp.-dominated stands are considered natural along drainages and in lowland areas.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a patchy to open to moderately dense layer of extremely xeromorphic deciduous shrubs less than 2 m tall above the surface but may be buried by several meters by sand forming and occupying coppice dunes. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse and dominated by graminoids, with annual forbs present seasonally.
Floristics: This ruderal alliance is characterized by open-canopied shrublands composed of large-diameter Prosopis glandulosa shrubs that form and occupy coppice dunes. The interdune areas may be sparse to moderately abundant with shrubs, grasses, and forbs such as Atriplex canescens, Baileya multiradiata, Dimorphocarpa wislizeni, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Psorothamnus scoparius, Sporobolus flexuosus, Suaeda moquinii (on alluvial sites), and Yucca elata.
Dynamics: Shrublands dominated by Prosopis glandulosa have replaced large areas of sandy semi-desert grasslands, especially those formerly dominated by Bouteloua eriopoda, in Trans-Pecos Texas, southern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona (York and Dick-Peddie 1969, Hennessy et al. 1983). Studies on the Jornada Experimental Range suggest that combinations of drought, overgrazing by livestock, wind and water erosion, seed dispersal by livestock, fire suppression, shifting dunes, and changes in the seasonal distribution of precipitation have caused this recent, dramatic shift in vegetation physiognomy (Buffington and Herbel 1965, Herbel et al. 1972, Humphrey 1974, McLaughlin and Bowers 1982, Gibbens et al. 1983, Hennessy et al. 1983, Schlesinger et al. 1990, McPherson 1995).
Environmental Description: This low-elevation ruderal alliances occurs on alluvial flats or basins and forms extensive coppice dunefields. Surface soils (sand to loamy sand) typically overlie more developed, clayey soils (Haplargids) forming a moderately deep to deep layer of sand. However, alluvial sites include sandy loams, cobbles on the surface, and may have alkaline soils. The surface topography is characterized by rolling sandy hummocks or steep dunes, but there is no overall aspect dominance.
Geographic Range: This is a major ruderal alliance on sandy plains and sand deposits of the Tularosa Basin and occasionally within the southern Jornada del Muerto of south-central New Mexico and western Texas. It also occurs in adjacent northern Mexico.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: NM, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899260
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class | C03 | 3 |
| Subclass | 3.A Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Woodland, Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S06 | 3.A |
| Formation | 3.A.2 Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F015 | 3.A.2 |
| Division | 3.A.2.Na North American Warm Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D039 | 3.A.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 3.A.2.Na.90 Honey Mesquite / Red Brome - Lehmann''s Lovegrass Desert Ruderal Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M512 | 3.A.2.Na.90 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.90.b Honey Mesquite - Velvet Mesquite Warm Desert Ruderal Scrub Group | G819 | 3.A.2.Na.90.b |
| Alliance | A3135 Honey Mesquite Ruderal Desert Sand Scrub Alliance | A3135 | 3.A.2.Na.90.b |
| Association | CEGL001382 Honey Mesquite / Fourwing Saltbush Ruderal Shrubland | CEGL001382 | 3.A.2.Na.90.b |
| Association | CEGL001386 Honey Mesquite / Mesa Dropseed Ruderal Shrubland | CEGL001386 | 3.A.2.Na.90.b |
| Association | CEGL002192 Honey Mesquite - Sand Sagebrush / Giant Dropseed Ruderal Shrubland | CEGL002192 | 3.A.2.Na.90.b |
Concept Lineage: Old Alliance III.B.3.N.a. Prosopis glandulosa Shrubland Alliance (A.1031), in part, sand deposit associations only.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Mesquite Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [in both the Arroyo Riparian and Closed Basin-Playa-Alkali Sink Riparian Vegetation Types.]
= Mixed Shrub Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [includes Prosopis glandulosa/Gutierrezia sarothrae/SMF-F (dunes) association within the Plains-Mesa Sand Scrub Vegetation Type.]
= Mixed Shrub Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [includes Prosopis glandulosa/Gutierrezia sarothrae/SMF-F (dunes) association within the Plains-Mesa Sand Scrub Vegetation Type.]
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