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A3223 Artemisia bigelovii Steppe & Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: Shrub and shrub-herbaceous vegetation dominated by Artemisia bigelovii occurring in the Tularosa Basin of southern New Mexico and the Colorado Plateau in southwestern Utah and northern Arizona and near canyon rims and along escarpments in southeastern Colorado.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bigelow''s Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Bigelow''s Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: The structure of this vegetation may be shrub-herbaceous or shrub-dominated. The shrub layer is characterized by a sparse to moderately dense dwarf-shrub layer that is dominated or codominated by Artemisia bigelovii. Dwarf-shrub associates from the shortgrass steppe include Frankenia jamesii, Glossopetalon spinescens var. meionandrum, Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Yucca glauca, which may be present to codominant. On the Colorado Plateau, stands may be codominated by Ephedra spp., Eriogonum corymbosum, Parryella filifolia, or Purshia stansburiana. Gutierrezia sarothrae and species of Atriplex are common in most stands. Scattered Juniperus spp. and Pinus edulis trees are occasionally present. A sparse to dense graminoid layer is usually present. Dominant grasses include Aristida purpurea, Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa neomexicana, Pleuraphis jamesii, Sporobolus cryptandrus, or less commonly Pascopyrum smithii. On the Colorado Plateau, forbs are generally sparse. However, cushion plants are common on shortgrass steppe slopes. Other forbs, such as Astragalus missouriensis, Heterotheca villosa, Melampodium cinereum, Picradeniopsis oppositifolia, Stanleya pinnata, and Zinnia grandiflora, may be present. Exotic annuals, such as Bromus arvensis, Bromus tectorum, Descurainia sophia, and Salsola kali, may be present to common depending on disturbance and the amount of seasonal precipitation. This alliance is reported from the Tularosa Basin of southern New Mexico and the Colorado Plateau in southwestern Utah and northern Arizona and near canyon rims and along escarpments in southeastern Colorado. Sites include gentle to moderately steep shale hillslopes and mesas in Arizona and Utah and escarpment and canyon breaks and shaly plains in the shortgrass steppe west to the foothills near the Colorado Front Range. Soils are typically shallow, well-drained, calcareous loams, clay loams, and clays derived from limestone, sandstone, shale and alluvium. The soil surface has high cover of bare soil and rock.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The vegetation in some stands included in this alliance may be too sparse to be classified as dwarf-shrubland.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has sparse to moderately dense cover of microphyllous evergreen dwarf-shrubs less than 0.5 m tall. A sparse to dense graminoid layer dominated by perennial medium-tall bunch grasses and short grasses is also present and may be more prominent than the shrubs. Forb cover is generally sparse. Scattered scale-leaved and needle-leaved evergreen trees may be present.
Floristics: The vegetation is characterized by a sparse to moderately dense dwarf-shrub layer that is dominated or codominated by Artemisia bigelovii. Dwarf-shrub associates for the shortgrass steppe include Frankenia jamesii, Glossopetalon spinescens var. meionandrum, Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Yucca glauca, which may be present to codominant. Scattered shrubs such as Atriplex canescens, Cercocarpus montanus, Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Lycium pallidum, and Rhus trilobata are occasionally present. On the Colorado Plateau, stands may be codominated by Atriplex confertifolia, Ephedra spp., Eriogonum corymbosum, Opuntia polyacantha var. polyacantha, Cylindropuntia whipplei (= Opuntia whipplei), Parryella filifolia, or Purshia stansburiana. Gutierrezia sarothrae and species of Atriplex and Yucca are common in most stands. Scattered Juniperus spp. and Pinus edulis trees are occasionally present. A sparse to dense graminoid layer is usually present and may take prominence over shrubs. Dominant grasses include Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa neomexicana (= Stipa neomexicana), Muhlenbergia torreyi, Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii), Poa fendleriana, Sporobolus airoides, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. On the Colorado Plateau, forbs are generally sparse. However, on shortgrass steppe slopes, cushion plants such as Arenaria hookeri, Eriogonum lachnogynum, Tetraneuris acaulis (= Hymenoxys acaulis), and Paronychia sessiliflora are common. Other forbs, such as Astragalus missouriensis, Heterotheca villosa, Melampodium cinereum, Picradeniopsis oppositifolia, Stanleya pinnata, and Zinnia grandiflora, are usually present. Exotic annuals, such as Bromus arvensis (= Bromus japonicus), Bromus tectorum, Salsola kali, and Descurainia sophia, may be present to common depending on disturbance, and amount and season of precipitation.
Dynamics: Livestock grazing must be managed carefully to prevent the loss of highly palatable grasses such as Schizachyrium scoparium, Bouteloua curtipendula, Hesperostipa neomexicana, and Achnatherum hymenoides. The effects of fire on this vegetation are unknown. However, the vegetation is usually too sparse to carry a fire under most circumstances.
Environmental Description: Elevation ranges from 1350-1890 m. Climate is semi-arid with 22-35 cm of mean annual precipitation occurring during the growing season. Sites are nearly flat to moderate and include shale hillslopes and mesas in Arizona and breaks and shale plains in the shortgrass steppe west to the foothills near the Colorado Front Range. Soils are typically shallow, well-drained, calcareous loams, clay loams, and clays derived from limestone, sandstone, shale and alluvium. The soil surface has high cover of bare soil and rock.
Geographic Range: Stands included in this shrubland alliance are found in Arizona, western Colorado and Utah on the Colorado Plateau and in southeastern Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899347
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.2 Little Sagebrush - Black Sagebrush - Scabland Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Macrogroup | M170 | 3.B.1.Ne.2 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b Little Sagebrush - Bigelow''s Sagebrush - Black Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group | G308 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b |
| Alliance | A3223 Bigelow''s Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | A3223 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b |
| Association | CEGL000276 Bigelow''s Sagebrush Shrubland | CEGL000276 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b |
| Association | CEGL000990 Bigelow''s Sagebrush / Indian Ricegrass Shrubland | CEGL000990 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b |
| Association | CEGL001742 Bigelow''s Sagebrush / Blue Grama Dwarf-shrub Grassland | CEGL001742 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b |
Concept Lineage: This alliance is the combination of Artemisia bigelovii Shrubland Alliance (A.1103) and Bouteloua gracilis Dwarf-shrub Herbaceous Alliance (A.1571).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Artemisia bigelovii/Bouteloua gracilis Plant Community (Shaw et al. 1989)
>< Limestone Breaks SCS Range Site #58 (Soil Conservation Service n.d.)
< SRM Cover Type #408 - Other Sagebrush Types (Shiflet 1994)
>< Sandstone Breaks SCS Range Site #53 (Soil Conservation Service n.d.)
>< Shaley Plains SCS Range Site (Soil Conservation Service n.d.)
>< Limestone Breaks SCS Range Site #58 (Soil Conservation Service n.d.)
< SRM Cover Type #408 - Other Sagebrush Types (Shiflet 1994)
>< Sandstone Breaks SCS Range Site #53 (Soil Conservation Service n.d.)
>< Shaley Plains SCS Range Site (Soil Conservation Service n.d.)
- 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.
- Shaw, R. B., S. L. Anderson, K. A. Schultz, and V. E. Diersing. 1989. Plant communities, ecological checklist, and species list for the U.S. Army Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, Colorado. Colorado State University, Department of Range Science, Science Series No. 37, Fort Collins. 71 pp.
- Shiflet, T. N., editor. 1994. Rangeland cover types of the United States. Society for Range Management. Denver, CO. 152 pp.
- Soil Conservation Service. 1978. Range site descriptions for Colorado. Technical Guide, Section II-E. USDA Soil Conservation Service, Colorado State Office, Denver.
- Soil Conservation Service. No date. Range site descriptions of vegetation in Colorado. Unpublished report series MLRA dating from 1975 to 1989. Soil Conservation Service, Colorado Field Office, Denver.