Print Report
A3952 Prosopis glandulosa Ruderal Scrub Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: Vegetation is characterized by an open to dense shrub canopy dominated by Prosopis glandulosa with shortgrass species in the understory. This alliance is found primarily in the southern portion of the Western Great Plains Division, primarily in Texas, Oklahoma and eastern New Mexico.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Honey Mesquite Ruderal Scrub Alliance
Colloquial Name: Ruderal Honey Mesquite Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This ruderal alliance is found primarily in the southern portion of the Western Great Plains Division, primarily in Texas, Oklahoma and eastern New Mexico. Vegetation is characterized by an open to dense shrub canopy dominated by Prosopis glandulosa with occasional shortgrass species in the understory. Ziziphus obtusifolia and Atriplex canescens can codominate in some examples, as can Opuntia species in heavily grazed areas. Shortgrass species Bouteloua gracilis or Bouteloua dactyloides are typically abundant. Other high constancy grasses may include Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua hirsuta, Muhlenbergia torreyi, Pleuraphis jamesii, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. Historically, this alliance (mesquite shrublands) probably occurred as a natural component on more fertile soils and along drainages, but it has expanded its range into prairie uplands in recent decades. Sites include loaming to sandy plains and terraces along intermittent drainages. Substrate is usually sandy or gravelly alluvium. Soils are generally coarse-textured but may include gravelly clay loams.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This prairie scrub is characterized by upland Prosopis glandulosa dominating the open to closed shrub layer. If the shrub canopy is open enough to allow for an herbaceous layer, it is typically dominated by perennial grasses Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua curtipendula, or Bouteloua dactyloides with other herbaceous species typical of the shortgrass prairie.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This ruderal scrub has expanded its range into uplands of southern shortgrass prairie. There is not enough information to develop multiple alliance-level units at this time. In future, soil texture (sandy vs. loam/clayey) may justify additional alliances.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has an open to dense layer of extremely xeromorphic, deciduous shrubs or small trees that are less than 5 m tall. The herbaceous layer is typically dominated by perennial graminoids, with forbs and succulents often present
Floristics: This ruderal alliance is found in the southern Great Plains. Vegetation is characterized by an open to dense shrub canopy dominated by Prosopis glandulosa with shortgrass species in the understory. Prosopis is typically between 25 and 50% even with a native understory. Prosopis canopy cover rarely > 50% on the arid side of its range, but gets to 75% in more humid.Ziziphus obtusifolia and Atriplex canescens can codominate in some examples, as can Opuntia species in heavily grazed areas. Shortgrass species Bouteloua gracilis or Bouteloua dactyloides (= Buchloe dactyloides) are typically abundant. Other high constancy grasses may include Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua hirsuta, Muhlenbergia torreyi, Pleuraphis jamesii, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. In Texas, Nasella leuchotricha is very grazing tolerant. Historically, this group (mesquite shrublands) probably occurred as a natural component on more fertile soils and along drainages, but it has expanded its range into prairie uplands in recent decades.
Dynamics: Historically, shrublands dominated by Prosopis glandulosa probably occurred as a natural component on more fertile, deep soils and along drainages in short- and midgrass prairies in the southern Great Plains, but these mesquite shrublands have expanded their range into prairie uplands in recent decades (Sims and Risser 2000). Previously, periodic fire limited the development of woody cover to widely scattered large mesquite trees or possibly denser trees resembling a tree savanna (Archer 1989). Livestock grazing reduces fine fuels that carry fire and disperse seeds away from seed predators in animal dung which provides favorable conditions for germination and establishment (Archer 1989, Brown and Archer 1989).
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). In Arizona, McAuliffe (1995) found Prosopis spp. invasion on these sites to be limited to a few small individuals. This may have implications in plant geography and grassland revegetation work in the southwestern Great Plains. Mesquite is frost-sensitive, which limits its northward expansion into the Great Plains.
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). In Arizona, McAuliffe (1995) found Prosopis spp. invasion on these sites to be limited to a few small individuals. This may have implications in plant geography and grassland revegetation work in the southwestern Great Plains. Mesquite is frost-sensitive, which limits its northward expansion into the Great Plains.
Environmental Description: This ruderal alliance is found primarily in the southern portion of the western Great Plains, primarily in Texas, Oklahoma and eastern New Mexico. Stands occur in uplands on flat to rolling uplands with loamy, ustic soils ranging from sandy to clayey that were formerly shortgrass prairie and on terraces along intermittent drainages. Climate is in the southwestern Great Plains continental with mean annual precipitation generally about 300 mm ranging to 500 mm to the south in Texas. Most of the annual precipitation occurs during the growing season as thunderstorms (Sims et al. 1978). Precipitation events are mostly <10 cm with occasional larger events (Sala and Lauenroth 1982).
Geographic Range: This ruderal alliance is found primarily in the southern portion of the western Great Plains, primarily in Texas, Oklahoma and eastern New Mexico.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NM, OK, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.900003
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
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.Nb Central North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D023 | 2.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nb.90 Kentucky Bluegrass - Buffalograss - Knapweed species Great Plains Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup | M498 | 2.B.2.Nb.90 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.90.a Southern Great Plains-Comanchian Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland | G680 | 2.B.2.Nb.90.a |
| Alliance | A3952 Honey Mesquite Ruderal Scrub Alliance | A3952 | 2.B.2.Nb.90.a |
| Association | CEGL002194 Honey Mesquite / Sideoats Grama Ruderal Shrubland | CEGL002194 | 2.B.2.Nb.90.a |
| Association | CEGL003877 Honey Mesquite / Blue Grama - Buffalograss Ruderal Shrubland | CEGL003877 | 2.B.2.Nb.90.a |
Concept Lineage: This new alliance includes a few associations from Old Alliance III.B.3.N.a. Prosopis glandulosa Shrubland Alliance (A.1031).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Prosopis glandulosa / Bouteloua curtipendula Shrubland (Bell 2005)
> Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa / Bouteloua gracilis - Buchloe dactyloides Shrubland (Bell 2005)
= Prosopis glandulosa shrubland alliance (Hoagland 1998a) [Mostly equivalent as occurs in Oklahoma uplands, but may also include stands in drainages. The alliance was based on broader alliance concept of original NVC.]
>< Mesquite (southern type): 68 (Eyre 1980)
= Western Great Plains Mesquite Woodland and Shrubland (Comer et al. 2003) [Ecological system developed during SW ReGAP project to account for mesquite-dominated shrublands in the prairie uplands.]
= Western Great Plains Mesquite Woodland and Shrubland (Lowry et al. 2007) [Ecological system classified and mapped in plains of eastern New Mexico.]
> Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa / Bouteloua gracilis - Buchloe dactyloides Shrubland (Bell 2005)
= Prosopis glandulosa shrubland alliance (Hoagland 1998a) [Mostly equivalent as occurs in Oklahoma uplands, but may also include stands in drainages. The alliance was based on broader alliance concept of original NVC.]
>< Mesquite (southern type): 68 (Eyre 1980)
= Western Great Plains Mesquite Woodland and Shrubland (Comer et al. 2003) [Ecological system developed during SW ReGAP project to account for mesquite-dominated shrublands in the prairie uplands.]
= Western Great Plains Mesquite Woodland and Shrubland (Lowry et al. 2007) [Ecological system classified and mapped in plains of eastern New Mexico.]
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- Bell, J. R. 2005. Vegetation classification at Lake Meredith NRA and Alibates Flint Quarries NM. A report for the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program prepared by NatureServe, Arlington, VA. 172 pp. [http://www.usgs.gov/core_science_systems/csas/vip/parks/lamr_alfl.html]
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- Brown, J. R., and S. Archer. 1989. Woody plant invasion of grasslands: Establishment of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa) on sites differing in herbaceous biomass and grazing history. Oecologia 80:19-26.
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- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
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- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
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- McAuliffe, J. R. 1995. Landscape evolution, soil formation, and Arizona''s desert grasslands. Pages 100-129 in: M. P. McClaran and T. R. Van Devender, editors. The Desert Grassland. University of Arizona Press, Tucson.
- Sala, O. E., and W. K. Lauenroth. 1982. Small rainfall events: An ecological role in semi-arid regions. Oecologia 53:301-304.
- Sims, P. L., J. S. Singh, and W. K. Lauenroth. 1978. The structure and function of ten western North American grasslands. Journal of Ecology 66:251-285.
- Sims, P. L., and P. G. Risser. 2000. Grasslands. Pages 325-356 in: M. G. Barbour and W. D. Billings, editors. North American terrestrial vegetation. Second edition. Cambridge University Press, New York. 434 pp.