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A3153 Prosopis glandulosa Lowland Basin Chihuahuan Desert Scrub Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes extensive open-canopied shrublands of lowland, often somewhat saline / alkaline basins in the Chihuahuan Desert, and is dominated by Prosopis glandulosa with low cover of common associated species Atriplex canescens, Flourensia cernua, Larrea tridentata, Lycium berlandieri, and Cylindropuntia leptocaulis. The understory ranges from barren or sparse to abundant graminoid cover dominated by Sporobolus airoides, Pleuraphis mutica, and intermittent patches of Scleropogon brevifolius.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Honey Mesquite Lowland Basin Chihuahuan Desert Scrub Alliance
Colloquial Name: Chihuahuan Desert Honey Mesquite Lowland Basin Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance includes extensive open-canopied shrublands of lowland, often somewhat saline/alkaline basins in the Chihuahuan Desert. Stands are dominated by Prosopis glandulosa with low cover of common associated species Atriplex canescens, Flourensia cernua, Larrea tridentata, Lycium berlandieri, and Cylindropuntia leptocaulis. The understory ranges from barren or sparse to abundant graminoid cover dominated by Sporobolus airoides, Pleuraphis mutica, and intermittent patches of Scleropogon brevifolius. Stands often occur on alluvial flats and around playas, as well as in floodplains and tobosa swales. Substrates are generally fine-textured, often saline soils.
Diagnostic Characteristics: These open-canopied shrublands are dominated by Prosopis glandulosa, usually with presence of saline or alkaline indicator species in the herbaceous layer such as Sporobolus airoides, Pleuraphis mutica, or Distichlis spicata.
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 or not upland mesquite shrublands occurred naturally or not, they have unnaturally greatly expanded their range and now dominate vast areas of former semi-desert grassland in lowlands and basins in the Chihuahuan Desert, extending west into the Sky Island region of southern Arizona and adjacent Mexico. Although these lowland basins and swales may be intermittently flooded, the natural occurrence of Prosopis glandulosa in this sites historically is not known. However, mesquite has been expanding its range in all habitats that it is found in, so at least there has been an unnatural range expansion. This alliance needs further classification review and may be better placed in a ruderal group or macrogroup within the USNVC.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a moderate to dense layer of extremely xeromorphic deciduous shrubs that are less than 5 m tall. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse and dominated by graminoids, with annual forbs present seasonally.
Floristics: This alliance includes extensive open-canopied shrublands of lowland, often somewhat saline/alkaline basins in the Chihuahuan Desert. Stands are dominated by Prosopis glandulosa with low cover of common associated species Atriplex canescens, Flourensia cernua, Larrea tridentata, Lycium berlandieri, and Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (= Opuntia leptocaulis). The understory ranges from barren or sparse to abundant graminoid cover dominated by Sporobolus airoides, Pleuraphis mutica, and intermittent patches of Scleropogon brevifolius. In more saline areas, shrubs are more sparse and grasses and forbs are more common, including Sporobolus airoides, Distichlis spicata, and Sesuvium verrucosum. Chihuahua Desert indicator species are likely present, such as Acourtia nana, Euphorbia dentata, or Hoffmannseggia glauca.
Dynamics: Shrublands dominated by Prosopis glandulosa have replaced large areas of 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).
Prosopis spp. and other shrubs have extensive root systems that allow them to exploit deep soil water that is unavailable to shallower rooted grasses and cacti (Burgess 1995). This strategy works well, except on sites that have well-developed argillic or calcic soil horizons that limit infiltration and storage of winter moisture in the deeper soil layers (McAuliffe 1995). McAuliffe found Prosopis spp. invasion on these sites to be limited to a few, small individuals. This has implications in plant geography and grassland revegetation work in the southwestern United States.
Prosopis spp. and other shrubs have extensive root systems that allow them to exploit deep soil water that is unavailable to shallower rooted grasses and cacti (Burgess 1995). This strategy works well, except on sites that have well-developed argillic or calcic soil horizons that limit infiltration and storage of winter moisture in the deeper soil layers (McAuliffe 1995). McAuliffe found Prosopis spp. invasion on these sites to be limited to a few, small individuals. This has implications in plant geography and grassland revegetation work in the southwestern United States.
Environmental Description: This alliance includes extensive open-canopied shrublands of lowland, often somewhat saline/alkaline basins in the Chihuahuan Desert. Stands often occur on alluvial flats and around playas, as well as in floodplains and tobosa swales. Substrates are generally fine-textured, often saline soils.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in saline basins in the Chihuahuan Desert of Trans-Pecos Texas, southern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona. Stands often occur around playas and on alluvial flats, as well as in floodplains along the Rio Grande and Pecos River.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: AZ, NM, NV, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899278
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.2 Creosotebush - American Tarwort - Mesquite species Chihuahuan Desert Scrub Macrogroup | M086 | 3.A.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.2.b Fourwing Saltbush - American Tarwort Lowland Basin Scrub Group | G299 | 3.A.2.Na.2.b |
| Alliance | A3153 Honey Mesquite Lowland Basin Chihuahuan Desert Scrub Alliance | A3153 | 3.A.2.Na.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001385 Honey Mesquite / Alkali Sacaton Shrubland | CEGL001385 | 3.A.2.Na.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001641 Honey Mesquite / Tobosa Grass Shrub Grassland | CEGL001641 | 3.A.2.Na.2.b |
Concept Lineage: Old Alliance III.B.3.N.a. Prosopis glandulosa Shrubland Alliance (A.1031), In part - 2 bottomland associations
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Hilaria mutica-Prosopis juliflora Association (143.122) (Brown 1982a) [within Tobosa Grass-Scrub Series]
> Mesquite Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [in both the Arroyo Riparian and Closed Basin-Playa-Alkali Sink Riparian Vegetation Types.]
> Mesquite Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [in both the Arroyo Riparian and Closed Basin-Playa-Alkali Sink Riparian Vegetation Types.]
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