Print Report
A4245 Ephedra nevadensis - Lycium andersonii - Grayia spinosa Scrub Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: Shrublands of the Mojave Desert, Great Basin, Colorado Plateau, and Sonoran Desert where the short-shrub layer is dominated by Ephedra nevadensis, Lycium andersonii, and/or Lycium cooperi with Ericameria cooperi, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Grayia spinosa, and/or Yucca baccata present to codominant.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Nevada Joint-fir - Water Jacket - Spiny Hopsage Scrub Alliance
Colloquial Name: Nevada Joint-fir - Desert-thorn - Spiny Hopsage Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This semi-arid shrubland alliance occurs in valleys, bajadas, and mountains of the Mojave Desert, Great Basin, Colorado Plateau, Sonoran Desert and possibly Chihuahuan Desert. Vegetation in this shrubland alliance is characterized by a sparse to moderate cover of mixed xeromorphic short shrubs and sparse herbaceous cover. The shrub layer is dominated by Ephedra nevadensis, Lycium andersonii, and/or Lycium cooperi with Ericameria cooperi, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Grayia spinosa, and/or Yucca baccata present to codominant. Other characteristic shrubs which may be present to codominant are Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ephedra torreyana, and Ephedra viridis. These shrublands may include 35 species of shrubs. If present, the understory may include a sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer composed mostly of dry perennial grasses and scattered forbs. Stands are found in valleys, bajadas, and mountains. Elevation ranges from 500-1800 m. Sites are commonly found on all aspects in broad valleys, alluvial fans, moderate to steep rocky slopes, and in rocky intermittently flooded drainages. Soil textures range from loamy sands to loams with rock fragments and are derived from alluvial deposits from granitic and sedimentary rocks. In the Mojave Desert this alliance occurs above Larrea / Ambrosia shrublands and is often surrounded by Artemisia tridentata-dominated shrublands.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Diagnostic of this semi-arid shrubland alliance is total vegetation cover over 10% that is dominated by Ephedra nevadensis, Lycium andersonii, and/or Lycium cooperi with >2% absolute cover and more than two times the cover of other shrub species (Sawyer et al. 2009). Herb layer, if present, is characterized by an open to moderately dense layer of graminoids.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance concept was split from former Ephedra (fasciculata, nevadensis) Shrubland Alliance (A.857), to create Ephedra nevadensis Scrub Alliance (A3140), which was subsequently combined with Lycium andersonii - Lycium cooperi Scrub Alliance (A3142) to better represent the broad mixed shrub desert scrub that is common, but widely scattered, throughout the mid-elevations of the Mojave Desert and southeastern Great Basin, and occurring throughout much of the interior western U.S.
Ephedra nevadensis is one of the most ubiquitous shrubs in the upper Mojave and mixes with a huge diversity of other shrubs, especially Lycium spp. and widespread Grayia spinosa, only rarely forming dominant stands. The characteristic shrub species in this alliance tend to occupy areas of similar elevation and precipitation, and tend to recover quickly from disturbance such as fire or clearing. The species occupies a similar climatic zone as Grayia spinosa, but the Ephedra nevadensis alliance tends to prefer shallower alluvial soils than does ~Grayia spinosa Scrub Alliance (A3171)$$. Stands appear related, in part, to disturbance from fire, grazing, or clearing (Webb et al. 1988b). These stands often have a high floristic diversity and may include up to 35 shrub species (Reid et al. 1999). In addition, many of these mid-elevation vegetation types have been burned repeatedly (largely due to relatively high cover of non-native grasses, which persists as flashy fuels in these areas of relatively high precipitation) or they occur in high-reflectance areas (such as along playas) where overstory shrub type is difficult for the photointerpreters to discern, causing errors in vegetation mapping (T. Keeler-Wolf pers. comm. 2016).
Ephedra nevadensis is one of the most ubiquitous shrubs in the upper Mojave and mixes with a huge diversity of other shrubs, especially Lycium spp. and widespread Grayia spinosa, only rarely forming dominant stands. The characteristic shrub species in this alliance tend to occupy areas of similar elevation and precipitation, and tend to recover quickly from disturbance such as fire or clearing. The species occupies a similar climatic zone as Grayia spinosa, but the Ephedra nevadensis alliance tends to prefer shallower alluvial soils than does ~Grayia spinosa Scrub Alliance (A3171)$$. Stands appear related, in part, to disturbance from fire, grazing, or clearing (Webb et al. 1988b). These stands often have a high floristic diversity and may include up to 35 shrub species (Reid et al. 1999). In addition, many of these mid-elevation vegetation types have been burned repeatedly (largely due to relatively high cover of non-native grasses, which persists as flashy fuels in these areas of relatively high precipitation) or they occur in high-reflectance areas (such as along playas) where overstory shrub type is difficult for the photointerpreters to discern, causing errors in vegetation mapping (T. Keeler-Wolf pers. comm. 2016).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands in this shrubland alliance are dominated by sparse to moderate cover of xeromorphic evergreen, microphyllous and broad-leaved shrubs.
Floristics: Vegetation in this shrubland alliance has sparse to moderate cover of mixed xeromorphic short shrubs and sparse herbaceous cover. The shrub layer is usually dominated or codominated by Ephedra nevadensis, Lycium andersonii, and/or Lycium cooperi with Ericameria cooperi, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Grayia spinosa, and/or Yucca baccata present to codominant. Other characteristic shrubs which may be present to codominant are Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ephedra torreyana, and Ephedra viridis. These shrublands may include 35 species of shrubs. Other associated shrubs and cacti include Adenophyllum porophylloides, Ambrosia dumosa, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Echinocereus triglochidiatus, Encelia californica, Ephedra californica, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Hymenoclea salsola, Opuntia polyacantha, Psorothamnus arborescens, Salazaria mexicana, Viguiera parishii, and Yucca harrimaniae. Coleogyne ramosissima is absent or has low cover. Blackburn (1967) described stands where mean canopy cover of Ephedra nevadensis, Grayia spinosa, and Sarcobatus baileyi was 6.7%, 1.8%, and 1.5%, respectively. If present, the understory may include a sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer composed mostly of dry perennial grasses and scattered forbs. Perennial grasses include Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua gracilis, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii, Pleuraphis rigida, Poa secunda (= Poa scabrella), Sporobolus airoides, and Sporobolus flexuosus. Common forbs may include perennials such as Mentzelia multiflora, Camissonia multijuga, Astragalus layneae, and Lomatium mohavense, and annuals such as Eriogonum polycladon, Camissonia contorta, Navarretia spp., Eriastrum eremicum, Oxytheca perfoliata, and Phacelia spp. Exotic annual grasses such as Bromus rubens and Bromus tectorum may be common on disturbed sites.
Dynamics: Peterson (1984a), citing research by Yoder (1983), suggested that introduced livestock may control the community structure of shrublands included in ~Ephedra nevadensis - Ericameria cooperi Shrubland (CEGL001253)$$. Yoder (1983) suggests that these shrublands represent a species shift from Coleogyne ramosissima- or Grayia spinosa-dominated shrubland to one dominated by Ephedra nevadensis and Ericameria cooperi.
Environmental Description: This alliance includes semi-desert shrublands from the Great Basin, Mojave Desert, Colorado Plateau, Sonoran Desert and possibly Chihuahuan Desert. Stands occur in valleys, bajadas, and mountains. Elevation ranges from 500-1800 m in the Mojave Desert (Sawyer et al. 2009) and 750-1250 m in the Colorado Plateau. Climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cold winters. The rain occurs mostly in winter. Stands in the Colorado Plateau and Sonoran Desert may have bimodal precipitation. Annual precipitation varies widely from year to year with mean annual precipitation ranging from 16-20 cm depending on elevation and location. Sites are commonly found on all aspects in broad valleys, alluvial fans, moderate to steep rocky slopes, and in rocky intermittently flooded drainages/washes (Sawyer et al. 2009). Topography is typically flat or undulating to moderately sloping, but can be more diverse at higher elevations. Soil textures range from loamy sands to loams with rock fragments. Soils are derived from alluvial deposits from granitic and sedimentary rocks. In the Mojave Desert this alliance occurs above Larrea / Ambrosia shrublands and is often surrounded by Artemisia tridentata-dominated shrublands (Sawyer et al. 2009). Stands occur at higher elevations than shrublands dominated by Menodora spinescens (Sawyer et al. 2009).
Geographic Range: This alliance includes semi-arid shrublands from the Mojave Desert, Great Basin, Colorado Plateau, Sonoran Desert and possibly Chihuahuan Desert in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, NM, NV, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.971941
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: This new alliance was created by merging Ephedra nevadensis Scrub Alliance (A3140) and Lycium andersonii - Lycium cooperi Scrub Alliance (A3142) based on suggestions from Todd Keeler-Wolf and Julie Evens and ecological review. Ephedra nevadensis is the most ubiquitous shrub in the upper Mojave and mixes with a huge diversity of other shrubs especially Lycium spp. and widespread Grayia spinosa only rarely forming dominant stands. Ephedra nevadensis is present in many of the Lycium spp.-dominated stands.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Ephedra nevadensis (Nevada joint fir scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.280.00]
> Ephedra nevadensis Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [33.280.00]
> Ephedra nevadensis Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2012)
> Ephedra nevadensis Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
? Ericameria cooperi-Ephedra nevadensis association (Peterson 1984a) [included within the Mixed Shrub Zone.]
> Lycium (andersonii, cooperi) Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
> Lycium andersonii (Anderson''s boxthorn scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.360.00]
> Lycium andersonii Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [33.360.00]
> Lycium andersonii Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2012)
>< Blackbush Scrub (#34300) (Holland 1986b)
>< Mojave Mixed Woody Scrub (#34210) (Holland 1986b)
>< Sagebrush Scrub (#35200) (Holland 1986b)
> Ephedra nevadensis Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [33.280.00]
> Ephedra nevadensis Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2012)
> Ephedra nevadensis Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
? Ericameria cooperi-Ephedra nevadensis association (Peterson 1984a) [included within the Mixed Shrub Zone.]
> Lycium (andersonii, cooperi) Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
> Lycium andersonii (Anderson''s boxthorn scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.360.00]
> Lycium andersonii Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [33.360.00]
> Lycium andersonii Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2012)
>< Blackbush Scrub (#34300) (Holland 1986b)
>< Mojave Mixed Woody Scrub (#34210) (Holland 1986b)
>< Sagebrush Scrub (#35200) (Holland 1986b)
- Anderson, M. D. 2004c. Ephedra nevadensis. In: Fire Effects Information System [Online]. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). [http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/]
- Blackburn, W. H. 1967. Plant succession on selected habitat types in Nevada. Unpublished thesis, University of Nevada, Reno. 162 pp.
- Blackburn, W. H., P. T. Tueller, and R. E. Eckert, Jr. 1969c. Vegetation and soils of the Churchill Canyon watershed. Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin R-45. Reno. 157 pp.
- Blackburn, W. H., P. T. Tueller, and R. E. Eckert, Jr. 1969d. Vegetation and soils of the Pine and Mathews Canyon watersheds. Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin R-46. Reno. 111 pp.
- CNPS [California Native Plant Society]. 2015-2017. A manual of California vegetation [online]. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://vegetation.cnps.org/].
- Evens, J. M., D. Roach-McIntosh, and D. Stout. 2012. Vegetation descriptions for Joshua Tree National Park. Unpublished report submitted to USDI, National Park Service, Mojave Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
- Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
- 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.
- Holland, J. 1982. A floristic and vegetation analysis of the Newberry Mountains, Clark County, Nevada. Unpublished thesis, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Reproduced in the Lake Mead Report Series by University of Nevada Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, Las Vegas.
- Holland, R. F. 1986b. Preliminary descriptions of the terrestrial natural communities of California. Unpublished report prepared for the California Department of Fish and Game, Nongame-Heritage Program and Natural Diversity Database, Sacramento. 156 pp.
- Keeler-Wolf, T. Personal communication. Senior Vegetation Ecologist, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., and K. Thomas. 2000. Draft descriptions of vegetation alliances for the Mojave Ecosystem Mapping project. California Natural Diversity Database, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
- Peterson, P. M. 1984a. Flora and physiognomy of the Cottonwood Mountains, Death Valley National Monument, California. University of Nevada Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit Report CPSU/UNLV 022/06. Las Vegas, NV.
- Reid, M. S., K. A. Schulz, P. J. Comer, M. H. Schindel, D. R. Culver, D. A. Sarr, and M. C. Damm. 1999. An alliance level classification of vegetation of the coterminous western United States. Unpublished final report to the University of Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and National Gap Analysis Program, in fulfillment of Cooperative Agreement 1434-HQ-97-AG-01779. The Nature Conservancy, Western Conservation Science Department, Boulder, CO.
- Reid, M. S., and M. E. Hall. 2010. Vegetation classification of Grand Canyon National Park. Draft report submitted to National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
- Thomas, K. A., T. Keeler-Wolf, J. Franklin, and P. Stine. 2004. Mojave Desert Ecosystem Program: Central Mojave vegetation mapping database. U.S. Geological Survey, Western Regional Science Center. 251 pp.
- VegCAMP and AIS [Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program and Aerial Information Systems, Inc.]. 2013. 2012 California desert vegetation map and accuracy assessment in support of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan. Unpublished report to California Department of Fish and Wildlife Renewable Energy Program and the California Energy Commission. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program and Aerial Information Systems, Inc.
- Webb, R. H., J. W. Steiger, and E. B. Newman. 1988b. The response of vegetation to disturbance in Death Valley National Monument, California. U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1793, USDI U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, DC.
- Yoder, V. 1983. Vegetation of the Alabama Hills region, Inyo County, California. Madrono 30:118-126.