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A3181 Artemisia filifolia Colorado Plateau Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: Shrublands of the Colorado Plateau dominated by Artemisia filifolia on flat, hummocky, or rolling terrain, as well as on partially stabilized dunes and sandsheets.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sand Sagebrush Colorado Plateau Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Colorado Plateau Sand Sagebrush Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: The vegetation is characterized by an open shrub canopy dominated by Artemisia filifolia that is usually mixed with other shrubs. Total vegetation cover ranges broadly from sparsely vegetated disturbed sites with less than 5% total cover to stable, well-developed communities with more than 50% cover. Other shrub associates may include Atriplex canescens, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum leptocladon, Opuntia spp., Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and Vanclevea stylosa. The herbaceous layer is moderate in terms of species composition and provides sparse to moderate cover. Graminoids that may be present include Achnatherum hymenoides, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and Vulpia octoflora. The non-native Bromus tectorum may be prominent on disturbed sites. Forbs vary among sites but are typical of sandy habitats, including Abronia fragrans, Lepidium montanum, Oenothera pallida, Salsola tragus, and Sphaeralcea parvifolia. Cryptogams may be absent or may provide up to 40% cover. These shrublands are known from the Colorado Plateau and occur on sandy, often somewhat disturbed sites on valley floors, stream terraces, stabilized dunes and sandsheets, benches, floodplains and alluvial fans. Most sites are level to gently sloping, with a few on moderate slopes (up to 21%), and may be oriented to any aspect, although there is a slight tendency toward warmer southerly aspects. Elevations range from 1122 to 1769 m.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is characterized by Artemisia filifolia-dominated shrublands of the Colorado Plateau. Total vegetation cover is low, typically not exceeding 30%. It occurs on sandy, often somewhat disturbed sites on valley floors, stream terraces, stabilized dunes and sandsheets, benches, floodplains and alluvial fans.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: There will be a need to clarify why this alliance does not belong in the other sagebrush groups. Little is known about ~Artemisia filifolia - Ephedra (torreyana, viridis) Shrubland (CEGL002786)$$ and this alliance description is largely based on ~Artemisia filifolia Colorado Plateau Shrubland (CEGL002697)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a sparse to moderately dense cover of microphyllous evergreen shrubs less than 1.5 m tall. The sparse to moderately dense graminoid layer is dominated by tall, medium-tall or short bunch grasses. Forb cover is generally sparse. Scattered broad-leaved deciduous tall shrubs may be present.
Floristics: The vegetation of this alliance is characterized by a sparse to moderately dense woody layer approximately 1 m tall that is dominated by the microphyllous evergreen shrub Artemisia filifolia. These shrubs usually do not grow as clumps but as individuals with the interstices most often dominated by a sparse to moderately dense layer of tall, mid or short grasses (Ramaley 1939a, 1939b, Steinauer 1989, Dick-Peddie 1993). Other shrub associates may include Atriplex canescens, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum leptocladon, Opuntia spp., Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and Vanclevea stylosa. The sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer is typically dominated by graminoids. Graminoids that may be present include Achnatherum hymenoides, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and Vulpia octoflora. The non-native Bromus tectorum may be prominent on disturbed sites. Forbs vary among sites but are typical of sandy habitats, including Abronia fragrans, Lepidium montanum, Oenothera pallida, Salsola tragus, and Sphaeralcea parvifolia. Cryptogams may be absent or may provide up to 40% cover.
Dynamics: These shrublands occur as any one of several stages in a successional sequence. Drought or overgrazing will reduce vegetation cover and can allow the wind to cause blowouts or active dunes (Ramaley 1939b). Ramaley (1939b) describes the succession in Colorado from loose sand to a sandhills - mixed community dominated by Muhlenbergia pungens. It then may proceed to an Artemisia filifolia community or skip this stage and succeed to the sand prairie, late-seral community dominated by Andropogon hallii, Calamovilfa longifolia, and Hesperostipa comata.
Environmental Description: This common alliance occurs on sandy sites on valley floors, valley sides, stream terraces, stabilized dunes and sandsheets, benches, floodplains, terraces and alluvial fans. Most sites are level to gently sloping, with a few on moderate slopes (up to 20%), and may be oriented to any aspect, although there is a slight tendency to occur on warmer southerly aspects. Elevations range from 1122 to 1769 m (3680-5803 feet). Sand or bare soil covers most of the unvegetated ground surface, although cryptobiological soil crusts may have up to 40% cover. Soils are sandy to sometimes gravelly and derived from local sandstones, alluvium, or eolian deposits.
Geographic Range: This sand sagebrush shrubland alliance is widespread on sandy sites in the Colorado Plateau of Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899306
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.B Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S11 | 3.B |
| Formation | 3.B.1 Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F033 | 3.B.1 |
| Division | 3.B.1.Ne Western North American Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D040 | 3.B.1.Ne |
| Macrogroup | 3.B.1.Ne.1 Yellow Rabbitbrush - Blackbrush / Indian Ricegrass Dry Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup | M171 | 3.B.1.Ne.1 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b Blackbrush - Cutler''s Joint-fir - Torrey''s Joint-fir Colorado Plateau Shrubland Group | G312 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Alliance | A3181 Sand Sagebrush Colorado Plateau Shrubland Alliance | A3181 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002697 Sand Sagebrush Colorado Plateau Shrubland | CEGL002697 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002786 Sand Sagebrush - (Torrey''s Joint-fir, Mormon-tea) Shrubland | CEGL002786 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.b |
Concept Lineage: A.816, in part
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Artemisia filifolia Series #303 (Johnston 1987)
? Sand Sagebrush (Dick-Peddie 1993) [New Mexico]
? Sand Sagebrush (Dick-Peddie 1993) [New Mexico]
- Dick-Peddie, W. A. 1993. New Mexico vegetation: Past, present, and future. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 244 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
- Ramaley, F. 1939a. Life forms of plants in Colorado sandhills. Journal of the Colorado-Wyoming Academy of Science 2(5):33 (Abstract).
- Ramaley, F. 1939b. Sand-hill vegetation of northeastern Colorado. Ecological Monographs 9:1-51.
- Steinauer, G. 1989. Characterization of the natural communities of Nebraska. Appendix D, pages 103-114 in: M. Clausen, M. Fritz, and G. Steinauer. The Nebraska Natural Heritage Program, two year progress report. Unpublished document. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Natural Heritage Program, Lincoln, NE.