Print Report
A3981 Great Plains Acidic Cliff Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of sparsely vegetated bluffs and cliffs of sandstone or siltstone in the central and northern Great Plains.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Great Plains Acidic Cliff Alliance
Colloquial Name: Great Plains Acidic Cliff
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of sparsely vegetated bluffs and cliffs of sandstone or siltstone in the central and northern Great Plains. Vascular floristic diversity is low. Forbs such as Mentzelia decapetala and Penstemon glaber tend to be more abundant than other lifeforms. Scattered shrubs, such as Rhus trilobata and Cercocarpus montanus, and grasses, such as Pseudoroegneria spicata and Bouteloua gracilis, which are more common in the surrounding grasslands and shrub communities can also occur. In general, slopes in this alliance are steep to vertical but small areas with gentle slopes or flat ledges can occur. Soils are absent or poorly developed and limited to cracks or ledges.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance consists of sparsely vegetated (generally <10% vascular plant cover) bluffs and cliffs of sandstone or siltstone in the central and northern Great Plains.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance is defined more by substrate and environmental condition (steep, acidic, rocky slopes) than by floristics. The vegetation of these sites is not well-described. Information on nonvascular species would probably be important in characterizing this alliance.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vascular plant cover is <10% in examples of this alliance, though plants often have >10% cover in small, localized ledges and cliffs where soil has accumulated. Short shrubs and grasses can be present but forbs are typically the most abundant vascular lifeform.
Floristics: Vascular floristic diversity is low. Forbs such as Mentzelia decapetala and Penstemon glaber tend to be more abundant than other lifeforms. Scattered shrubs, such as Rhus trilobata and Cercocarpus montanus, and grasses, such as Pseudoroegneria spicata and Bouteloua gracilis, which are more common in the surrounding grasslands and shrub communities can also occur.
Dynamics: The general lack of soil and steep slopes create very harsh conditions for plant growth and maintain stands of this alliance. Fire does not carry through this alliance, so shrubs and trees can persist, if they can find pockets of soil and survive the generally xeric conditions.
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs where acidic bedrock is exposed in cliffs and bluffs. The substrate is usually sandstone but can be siltstone. Slopes are steep to vertical and there is little to no soil development. Soil that does develop or accumulate is on gently sloping or flat ledges and in cracks. These are small and localized.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs largely in the western Great Plains from western Kansas to western North Dakota and possibly southeastern Montana. Scattered occurrences may be found into eastern Kansas and Nebraska.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO?, KS, MT?, ND, NE, SD, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.900032
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class | C06 | 6 |
| Subclass | 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass | S04 | 6.B |
| Formation | 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation | F034 | 6.B.1 |
| Division | 6.B.1.Na Eastern North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division | D051 | 6.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 6.B.1.Na.2 Great Plains Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Macrogroup | M116 | 6.B.1.Na.2 |
| Group | 6.B.1.Na.2.b Skunkbush Sumac / Blue Grama - Prickly-pear species Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Group | G567 | 6.B.1.Na.2.b |
| Alliance | A3981 Great Plains Acidic Cliff Alliance | A3981 | 6.B.1.Na.2.b |
| Association | CEGL002290 Sandstone Great Plains Xeric Butte - Bluff Sparse Vegetation | CEGL002290 | 6.B.1.Na.2.b |
| Association | CEGL002297 Sandstone Butte Sparse Vegetation | CEGL002297 | 6.B.1.Na.2.b |
| Association | CEGL005257 Sandstone Great Plains Dry Cliff Sparse Vegetation | CEGL005257 | 6.B.1.Na.2.b |
Concept Lineage: All three associations come from old A.1836 (3 of many).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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.
- Rolfsmeier, S. B., and G. Steinauer. 2010. Terrestrial ecological systems and natural communities of Nebraska (Version IV - March 9, 2010). Nebraska Natural Heritage Program, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Lincoln, NE. 228 pp.