Print Report

CEGL005659 Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Quercus gambelii Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / Gambel Oak Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This widespread woodland association is known from the Colorado Plateau and western slope of the southern Rocky Mountains, occurring in northern New Mexico, the Mogollon Rim of Arizona, in the Grand Canyon, and north into Utah and western Colorado. The vegetation is characterized by an open tree canopy (10-60% cover) codominated by Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma. The species of Juniperus can vary with geography and elevation. Juniperus monosperma or Juniperus deppeana are sometimes present in northern Arizona and Juniperus scopulorum is more common in higher elevation stands. Quercus gambelii dominates the often patchy, moderately dense tall-shrub layer with at least 5% cover, but often over 25% cover. Amelanchier utahensis, Cercocarpus montanus, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, or species of Yucca and Opuntia are common shrub associates. Herbaceous cover is variable, ranging from sparse to moderately dense, but generally dominated by graminoids (>5% cover) with scattered forbs. Associated graminoids include Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Carex geyeri, Carex rossii, Elymus elymoides, Festuca arizonica, Koeleria macrantha, Muhlenbergia montana, Poa fendleriana, and Schizachyrium scoparium. Elevations range from 1509-2665 m. Sites are variable but generally are relatively mesic. Stands occur on flat to moderate slopes along drainages and on mesatops, and on moderate to steep, rocky slopes of foothills, mountains and canyons, especially in draws where soil moisture is concentrated, or on northern aspects or where shaded by upper canyon walls. The soils are variable and range from deep to shallow, silty clay to sandy loam, and often gravelly. Litter from Quercus gambelii and other shrubs is often extensive (over 50% cover).

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is largely known and described from National Park Service inventory efforts in the Colorado Plateau.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This widespread association is characterized by an open to moderately dense tree canopy (10-70% cover) codominated by Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma. The species of Juniperus can vary with geography and elevation. Juniperus osteosperma is common in northwestern New Mexico, northern Arizona, western Colorado and Utah. Juniperus scopulorum is more common in higher elevation stands. An occasional Pinus ponderosa tree may be present is some stands. Quercus gambelii dominates the often patchy, moderately dense tall-shrub layer with at least 5% cover, but often with more than 25% cover. Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia tridentata, Cercocarpus montanus, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, or species of Yucca and Opuntia are common shrub associates. Other shrubs may be present, depending on geography, and may include Artemisia tridentata, Artemisia nova, Arctostaphylos patula, Cercocarpus ledifolius, Ephedra viridis, Fendlera rupicola, Fraxinus anomala, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Garrya spp., Mahonia fremontii, Ptelea trifoliata, Prunus spp., Quercus turbinella, Robinia neomexicana, Rhus aromatica, Rosa spp., Shepherdia rotundifolia, and Symphoricarpos longiflorus. Herbaceous cover is variable, ranging from sparse to moderately dense, but generally dominated by graminoids (>5% cover) with scattered forbs. Associated graminoids include Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Bouteloua gracilis, Carex geyeri, Carex rossii, Elymus elymoides, Festuca arizonica, Koeleria macrantha, Muhlenbergia montana, Poa fendleriana, Pseudoroegneria spicata (= Elymus spicatus), and Schizachyrium scoparium. Common forbs may include Artemisia ludoviciana, Artemisia frigida, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Geranium caespitosum, Lepidium montanum, Machaeranthera grindelioides, Packera neomexicana, Thalictrum fendleri, Tetraneuris acaulis, and/or Vicia americana.

Dynamics:  Quercus gambelii is adapted to fire and will resprout profusely after a burn, forming a dense thicket (Wright 1972). Pinus edulis, Juniperus monosperma, Juniperus osteosperma, and Juniperus scopulorum are killed or severely damaged by fire and do not resprout after burning (Wright et al. 1979). When burned, these woodlands will convert to oak shrublands. However, because Juniperus deppeana resprouts after burning, it will not be eliminated from the site (Wright 1972, Bassett 1987). Frequent burning will reduce cover of both Quercus gambelii and Juniperus deppeana (Kallender 1959, Erdman 1970).
Environmental Description:  This widespread woodland association is known from the Colorado Plateau and western slope of the southern Rocky Mountains, occurring from western Colorado to southwestern New Mexico, west along the Mogollon Rim of Arizona, and north into Utah. Elevations normally range from 1509-2665 m but may be higher in stands in southern New Mexico. Sites are variable but generally are relatively mesic. Stands occur on flat to moderate slopes along drainages and on mesatops, and on moderate to steep, sometimes rocky slopes of foothills, mountains and canyons, especially in draws where soil moisture is concentrated, or on northern aspects or where shaded by upper canyon walls. Stands are less common on hot south-facing slopes, unless they are located in a moisture-concentrating gully. Soils are variable and range from deep to shallow, silty clay to sandy loam, and are often gravelly or rocky. Litter from Quercus gambelii and other shrubs is often extensive (over 50% cover). Parent materials include alluvial, colluvial or eolian deposits derived from sandstone, shale, limestone and rhyolite.
Geographic Range: This woodland association occurs throughout the Colorado Plateau, in foothills and mesas from southern Colorado, south-central New Mexico, the Mogollon Rim of Arizona, and northern Utah and western Colorado.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CO, NM, UT


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 1 Forest & Woodland Class C01 1
Subclass 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass S15 1.B
Formation 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation F008 1.B.2
Division 1.B.2.Nc Western North American Pinyon - Juniper Woodland & Scrub Division D010 1.B.2.Nc
Macrogroup 1.B.2.Nc.1 Singleleaf Pinyon - Utah Juniper - Western Juniper Intermountain Woodland Macrogroup M896 1.B.2.Nc.1
Group 1.B.2.Nc.1.a Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper Woodland Group G900 1.B.2.Nc.1.a
Alliance A3571 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / Shrub Understory Foothill & Lower Montane Dry-Mesic Woodland Alliance A3571 1.B.2.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL005659 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / Gambel Oak Woodland CEGL005659 1.B.2.Nc.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = 122.4148 Pinus edulis - Amelanchier utahensis - Quercus gambelii - Juniperus osteosperma Plant Association (Warren et al. 1982)
= Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Quercus gambelii Plant Association (Vories 1974)
= Pinus edulis / Quercus gambelii / Carex geyeri Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982)
< Pinus edulis / Quercus gambelii (Stuever and Hayden 1997b)
= Pinus edulis / Quercus gambelii Plant Association (Larson and Moir 1987)
= Pinus edulis / Quercus gambelii Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
< Coronado Province Pinyon - Juniper Woodlands (Isaacson 1967)
< La Sal Province Pinyon - Juniper Woodlands (Isaacson 1967)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz and M.S. Reid

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz, J. Coles and G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 04-06-16
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