Print Report

A3738 Quercus gambelii - Robinia neomexicana Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance of north-central New Mexico and the Mogollon Rim in north-central Arizona is characterized by shrublands dominated or codominated by Quercus gambelii and/or Robinia neomexicana.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gambel Oak - New Mexico Locust Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Gambel Oak - New Mexico Locust Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance occurs in desert mountains in southern New Mexico north into the southern Rocky Mountains in northern New Mexico and west to the Mogollon Rim in north-central Arizona. Stands are characterized by shrublands dominated or codominated by Robinia neomexicana and Quercus gambelii. Stands have a moderately dense to dense woody layer up to 2-5 m tall. The understory may be dominated by mesic forbs such as Thalictrum fendleri, but little other information is available. Stands in the montane conifer zone are considered seral and may have seedlings of Pinus ponderosa, Abies concolor, or conifer species that are colonizing the stand. Robinia neomexicana is considered a semi-riparian species by some researchers. Thickets occur along drainages in canyons at lower elevations (1500-2000 m). On upland sites it is restricted to cooler north aspects at lower montane elevations, but may occur on any aspects at higher montane elevations. Sites are nearly level to moderately steep slopes. Substrate ranges from alluvial deposits on stream terraces to colluvial slopes.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Temperate cold-deciduous shrublands dominated or codominated by Quercus gambelii and/or Robinia neomexicana ranging up to 5 m tall. Understories may be either forb-, grass- or sedge-dominated.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Several Rocky Mountain Quercus gambelii associations were combined with the former Robinia neomexicana alliance recognizing their more southern and eastern distribution as well as floristic elements of those regions.

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 is less than 5 m tall. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse and dominated by perennial forbs and graminoids with annual grasses and forbs seasonally present.

Floristics: This alliance is characterized by a moderately dense to dense shrub layer (>80% cover) up to 2-5 m tall that is dominated or codominated by deciduous broadleaf shrub Robinia neomexicana with Quercus gambelii absent to codominant. Robinia neomexicana and Quercus gambelii can occur as either a tall or short shrub depending upon duration since the last fire. Mahonia repens is common at low cover. While infrequent, stands can sometimes have significant cover of Ceanothus fendleri and Rosa woodsii. The herbaceous layer richness is moderate, but variable in cover (5-80%) depending on density of the shrub layer and substrate. Characteristic graminoids include Carex inops ssp. heliophila and other deer sedges (Carex geophila, Carex occidentalis, and Carex rossii), Koeleria macrantha, Muhlenbergia montana, and Poa fendleriana. On sites that have been seeded following fire, common to abundant species may include Agropyron cristatum, Bromus inermis, Elymus trachycaulus, and Pascopyrum smithii, among others. While forbs are diverse, composition is variable from stand to stand, and cover is usually less than 10%. Fire-adapted Gayophytum diffusum, Erigeron divergens, Solidago velutina, and Chenopodium sp. are common components of the understory. Mesic stands may include Thalictrum fendleri. Stands in the montane conifer zone are considered seral and may have seedlings of Pinus ponderosa, Abies concolor, Pseudotsuga menziesii, or conifer species that are colonizing the stand.

Dynamics:  Robinia neomexicana-dominated stands occur along riparian corridors and as patches of montane upland scrub. Dick-Peddie (1993) wrote that Robinia neomexicana and a common associate, Quercus gambelii, form persistent seral thickets in disturbed areas within conifer forests. The species is a common understory species in Abies concolor- or Quercus gambelii-dominated woodlands (Dick-Peddie 1993). This alliance is associated with very high-intensity stand-replacing fires, and typically occurs within a larger matrix of unburned Pinus ponderosa woodlands.
Environmental Description:  Shrublands included in this alliance have been described in south-central New Mexico, the southern Rocky Mountains of northern New Mexico and west to the Mogollon Rim across central Arizona north to the Grand Canyon. Climate is arid to semi-arid. Precipitation varies with elevation. Robinia neomexicana is considered a semi-riparian species by Dick-Peddie (1993). Thickets occur along drainages in canyons at lower elevations (1500-2150 m). Sites are nearly level to moderately steep slopes. Substrate ranges from alluvial deposits on stream terraces to colluvial slopes. On upland sites it is restricted to cooler north aspects at lower montane elevations, but may occur on any aspects at higher montane elevations. Elevation ranges between 2000 and 2700 m. This montane shrubland typically occurs in burned areas that once supported pine and mixed conifer forests. At mid-elevations, stands occur on sites with moderate to high solar exposure that increases with elevation. Stands occur on gentle to moderate slopes (5-20%), including rolling mesatops and mountain shoulder slopes, and occasionally on steep canyon or mountain slopes (>40%). Soils are primarily well-developed Mollisols derived from pumice, or occasionally fine-textured Alfisols derived from eolian deposits over rhyolitic tuff residuum. The ground surface is typically characterized by scattered bunchgrasses amid litter, pumice gravel, or exposed soil. Adjacent stands may include xeric grasslands, other shrublands, riparian forests, montane conifer forests and encinal woodlands.
Geographic Range: This alliance is known from the southern Rocky Mountains, Colorado Plateau, Arizona-New Mexico Mountains and desert mountains in the northern Chihuahuan Desert.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, NM


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D022 2.B.2.Nf
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nf.1 Gambel Oak - Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Bitterbrush species Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Shrubland Macrogroup M049 2.B.2.Nf.1
Group 2.B.2.Nf.1.a Gambel Oak - Serviceberry species - Chokecherry Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Shrubland Group G277 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Alliance A3738 Gambel Oak - New Mexico Locust Shrubland Alliance A3738 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Association CEGL001115 Gambel Oak / New Mexico Locust Shrubland CEGL001115 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Association CEGL001116 Gambel Oak / New Mexico Locust / Roundleaf Snowberry Shrubland CEGL001116 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Association CEGL001125 New Mexico Locust / Fendler''s Meadowrue Shrubland CEGL001125 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Association CEGL005375 New Mexico Locust / Sun Sedge Shrubland CEGL005375 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Association CEGL005379 Gambel Oak - New Mexico Locust / Sun Sedge Shrubland CEGL005379 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Association CEGL005380 Gambel Oak - New Mexico Locust / Mountain Muhly Shrubland CEGL005380 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Association CEGL005505 New Mexico Locust Shrubland CEGL005505 2.B.2.Nf.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Quercus gambelii - Robinia neomexicana Plant Association (Muldavin et al. 1994a)
< Quercus gambelii Association (132.111) (Brown 1982a) [included within Great Basin Montane Scrub, Oak-scrub Series.]
< Quercus gambelii Series (Johnston 1987)
> Gambel oak - New Mexico locust deciduous scrub (Anderson et al. 1985)
= Oak-Locust Successional Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [only mixed stands of Quercus gambelii and Robinia neomexicana.]
Concept Author(s): W.A. Dick-Peddie (1993)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
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