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A3197 Ericameria parryi Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: Vegetation included in this shrubland alliance is characterized by having a sparse to dense shrub layer dominated by Ericameria parryi. It occurs in the Great Basin, Arizona-New Mexico Mountains, Colorado Plateau and in isolated locations in the northern Coast Ranges of California.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Parry''s Rabbitbrush Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Parry''s Rabbitbrush Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: Vegetation included in this shrubland alliance is characterized by having a sparse to dense shrub layer dominated by Ericameria parryi. Shrub associates include Artemisia tridentata, Ephedra spp., Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Purshia tridentata. The sparse to moderate herbaceous layer is dominated by graminoids such as Achnatherum occidentale ssp. pubescens, Bouteloua gracilis, Elymus elymoides, Pleuraphis jamesii, and Sporobolus airoides. Perennial forbs are generally sparse. Some stands may have scattered Juniperus spp. and Pinus spp. trees. This alliance occurs in the Great Basin, Arizona-New Mexico Mountains, Colorado Plateau and in isolated locations in the northern Coast Ranges of California. These shrublands occur on bajadas, pediments and valleys, including pumice flats. Substrates and parent materials are variable. Soils are shallow, well-drained, calcareous, alkaline and often gravelly.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Sparse to dense shrublands dominated by Ericameria parryi found in the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau. The sparse to moderate herbaceous layer is dominated by graminoids.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance includes all shrublands dominated by any of the 12 subspecies of Ericameria parryi that occur in the western U.S. Vegetation included in this alliance may be too sparse to be classified as a shrubland. Further study is needed throughout its range, especially to assess the effects of livestock grazing on vegetation structure and to describe stands of different subspecies.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation in this alliance is dominated by sparse to moderately dense microphyllous evergreen shrubs and graminoids in the understory.
Floristics: These shrublands have a sparse to dense shrub layer with a sparse to moderate herbaceous layer dominated by grasses. Some stands have a sparse tree layer of scattered Juniperus spp. and Pinus spp. Ericameria parryi dominates the shrub layer. Associated species vary greatly with geography. Other shrubs present may include Artemisia tridentata, Ephedra spp., Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Purshia tridentata. Common perennial grasses include Achnatherum occidentale ssp. pubescens (= Stipa occidentalis var. pubescens), Bouteloua gracilis, Elymus elymoides, Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii), and Sporobolus airoides. Perennial forbs are generally sparse (Taylor 1980, Francis 1986, Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1990).
Dynamics: Grazing has significantly impacted much of the vegetation in this region with its long history of settlement and heavy livestock use (Griffiths 1902, Francis 1986). With proper livestock management and time, palatable species such as Krascheninnikovia lanata and Sporobolus airoides may increase in abundance (Francis 1986). This alliance may respond positively to disturbance because many species of Chrysothamnus in the Great Basin increase in abundance with excessive livestock grazing and accelerated fire frequencies (West 1988).
Environmental Description: The alliance is found on alluvial flats, on bajadas, pediments and valleys, including pumice flats from 1800-2400 m elevation. Substrates and parent materials are variable (Taylor 1980, Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995). Soils are shallow, poorly developed, well-drained, calcareous, alkaline and often gravelly. They are typically derived from sedimentary rocks. Textures range from fine sandy loams to silty clay loams (Taylor 1980, Francis 1986, Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995).
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the Great Basin, Arizona-New Mexico Mountains, Colorado Plateau and in isolated locations in the northern Coast Ranges of California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, CO, NM, NV?, OR?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899321
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.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.d Yellow Rabbitbrush - Rubber Rabbitbrush - Winterfat Steppe & Shrubland Group | G310 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.d |
| Alliance | A3197 Parry''s Rabbitbrush Shrubland Alliance | A3197 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.d |
| Association | CEGL001331 Parry''s Rabbitbrush / James'' Galleta - Blue Grama Shrubland | CEGL001331 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.d |
| Association | CEGL003040 Parry''s Rabbitbrush Shrubland | CEGL003040 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.d |
| Association | CEGL003751 Parry''s Rabbitbrush / Indian Ricegrass Shrubland | CEGL003751 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.d |
Concept Lineage: equivalent to A.818
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Ericameria parryi (Parry’s rabbitbrush scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [35.340.00]
? Parry Rabbitbrush Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995) [includes shrubland dominated by any of the 6 subspecies that occur in California.]
? Rabbitbrush Scrub (#35400) (Holland 1986b) [includes all Chrysothamnus-dominated scrub in California.]
? Parry Rabbitbrush Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995) [includes shrubland dominated by any of the 6 subspecies that occur in California.]
? Rabbitbrush Scrub (#35400) (Holland 1986b) [includes all Chrysothamnus-dominated scrub in California.]
- 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.
- Francis, R. E. 1986. Phyto-edaphic communities of the Upper Rio Puerco Watershed, New Mexico. Research Paper RM-272. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 73 pp.
- Griffiths, D. 1902. Forage conditions in the northern border of the Great Basin. USDA Bureau of Plant Industry Bulletin 15.
- Holland, R. F. 1986b. Preliminary descriptions of the terrestrial natural communities of California. Unpublished report prepared for the California Department of Fish and Game, Nongame-Heritage Program and Natural Diversity Database, Sacramento. 156 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
- Taylor, D. W. 1990. Indian Summit RNA. Pages 72-73 in: T. Keeler-Wolf. Ecological surveys of Forest Service Research Natural Areas in California. General Technical Report PSW-125. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Berkeley, CA.
- West, N. E. 1988. Intermountain deserts, shrub steppes, and woodlands. Pages 207-230 in: M. G. Barbour and W. D. Billings, editors. North American terrestrial vegetation. Cambridge University Press, New York.