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Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
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Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 038X–Mogollon Transition South
AZ 38.1 – Lower Mogollon Transition
Elevations range from 3000 to 4500 feet and precipitation averages 12 to 16 inches per year. Vegetation includes canotia, one-seed juniper, mesquite, catclaw acacia, jojoba, turbinella oak, ratany, shrubby buckwheat, algerita, skunkbush, tobosa, vine mesquite, bottlebrush squirreltail, grama species, curly mesquite, desert needlegrass and New Mexico feathergrass. The soil temperature regime is thermic and the soil moisture regime is ustic aridic. This unit occurs within the Transition Zone Physiographic Province and is characterized by canyons and structural troughs or valleys. Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock classes occur on rough mountainous terrain in association with less extensive sediment filled valleys exhibiting little integrated drainage.Associated sites
R038XA105AZ Limestone Hills 12-16" p.z.
R038XA108AZ Clayey Slopes 12-16" p.z.
R038XA126AZ Limy Slopes 12-16" p.z.
Similar sites
R040XA111AZ Limy Upland 10"-13" p.z.
R041XC309AZ Limy Upland 12-16" p.z.
R041XB208AZ Limy Upland 8-12" p.z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) larrea tridentata
Herbaceous (1) aristida purpurea var. nealleyi
(2) muhlenbergia porteriPhysiographic features
This site occurs at the lowest elevations of the interior chaparral zone in the Mogollon Transition area. It occurs in an upland position; on fan terraces, ridge-tops and mesa tops.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Fan piedmont
(2) Mesa
(3) Ridge
Flooding frequency None Elevation 3100 – 4600 ft Slope 5 – 15 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
Precipitation in this common resource area averages 12 to 16 inches annually. The winter-summer rainfall ratio ranges from about 60/40% in the northwest part of the area to 50/50% in the southeast part. Summer rains fall July through September; are from high-intensity, convective thunderstorms. This moisture originates primarily from the Gulf of Mexico, but can come from the remnants of Pacific hurricanes in September. Winter moisture is frontal, originates in the north Pacific, and falls as rain or snow in widespread storms of low intensity and long duration. Snowfall ranges from a trace to 10 inches per year and can occur from November through March. Snow seldom persists for more than a day except on north aspects. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is generally low all year. Average annual air temperatures range from 59 to 70 degrees F (thermic temperature regime). Daytime temperatures in the summer are commonly in the high 90’s. Freezing temperatures are common from October through April, usually during the night or early morning hours. The actual precipitation, available moisture and temperature vary, depending on, region, elevation, rain shadow effect and aspect.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 230 days Freeze-free period (average) 290 days Precipitation total (average) 20 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
There are no water features associated with this site.
Soil features
These soils are shallow (10 to 20 inches) and dark colored in the surface (3 to 6 inches). They are loamy textured, very calcareous and well drained. They have formed in alluvium and colluvium from limestone and related limy conglomerates. Soil surfaces are well covered by light colored gravels, cobbles and/or stones. The effective rooting depth is limited by hard, cemented lime-pans at 10 to 20 inches. The erosion hazard is slight due to gravel, cobble and rock covers. Soils mapped to date on this site include: SSA-627 Mohave County Southern Part MU's Bartmus-11, Tombstone-118, Caralampi-118; SSA-637 Yavapai County Western Part MU's Abra-AaB, AbB, AeB, AlC, AlD, AmC, AnC, LpB, LrD, Wn, Pasture-LsC; SSA-639 Black Hills-Sedona area MU's Bilgray-431, 432, Tuzigoot-433, 633, Monterosa family-427, 439, Stronghold-438, 538, Tombstone-438, 538, Blancoverde-439; SSA-675 San Carlos Indian Reservation MU's Bigtoe-505 and Pedrogosa-595.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium – limestone
(2) Colluvium – conglomerate
Surface texture (1) Gravelly sandy loam
(2) Very gravelly sandy loam
(3) Very gravelly loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderately rapid to moderate Soil depth 5 – 20 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 35 – 60 % Surface fragment cover >3" 1 – 10 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)0.4 – 1.4 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)10 – 35 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 2 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7.8 – 8.6 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)35 – 65 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 10 % Ecological dynamics
The historic native plant community is a mixture of desert shrubs, half shrubs, succulents, forbs and grasses. This includes a flora of native annual grasses and forbs of both the winter and summer seasons. Periodic wildfires which occurred at moderate intervals (15 to 30 years) in this region may not have burned areas of this site as frequently due to poor fine fuel continuity. The interactions of drought, fire and continuous livestock grazing can, over time, result in the loss of palatable grasses, half shrubs and suffrutescent forbs on this site. In some situations non-native annuals can dominate the site. These species can, over time, diminish the soil seed-bank of native annual species. Non-native annuals can act to increase the fire frequency of areas of the site near roads and urban areas, where the incidence of man-made fires is high.
State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 4. State and Transition, Limy Upland 12-16" p.z.
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textState 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Native Shrub-Grass StateCommunity 1.1
Historic Native Plant CommunityThe historic native plant community is a mixture of desert shrubs, half-shrubs, perennial grasses, suffrutescent forbs and succulents. A rich flora of native annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, exist in the plant community.
Natural fires, which burned at moderate intervals in this region, may not have occurred as often on areas of this site due to poor continuity of fine fuels and sparse covers of shrubs.Figure 5. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Shrub/Vine 200 300 410 Grass/Grasslike 40 175 290 Forb 5 25 150 Tree 0 1 10 Total 245 501 860 Table 6. Soil surface cover
Tree basal cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana basal cover 0-0% Grass/grasslike basal cover 0-0% Forb basal cover 0-0% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0-20% Litter 10-30% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 40-60% Surface fragments >3" 0-10% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 10-50% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – 0-3% 0-2% 1-10% >0.5 <= 1 – 1-5% 1-5% 1-5% >1 <= 2 – 1-5% 5-10% 0-5% >2 <= 4.5 – 10-25% 0-5% – >4.5 <= 13 0-1% 0-5% – – >13 <= 40 0-1% – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3811 , 38.1 12-16" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring, most growth occurs in the summer..
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 1 7 15 20 22 20 10 5 0 0 State 2
Exotic Annual Invaded StateCommunity 2.1
Exotic Annual Invaded Plant CommunityNon-native annual grasses like red brome and cheatgrass can invade and dominate areas of the site. These species can, over time, reduce the seed-bank of native annual grasses and forbs. Their presence can increase the fire frequency (of man made fires) especially where roads and urban areas are adjacent to areas of the site. Repeated fires tend to remove the native shrub, grass and forb canopy.
State 3
Eroded StateCommunity 3.1
Eroded Plant CommunityShrubs like creosotebush and whitethorn acacia and succulents like prickly pear and banana yucca can increase to dominate the site. Non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the under-story. In "El Nino" years herbaceous fuels are sufficient for burning and repeat fires are especially common in areas close to residential zones and roads. Extreme rainfall events coupled with the fire, drought and grazing interaction, can lead to rilling of steep slopes.
Compaction of soils can occur with heavy trailing from continuous livestock use. Loss of plant cover after repeated fire can lead to accelerated rill erosion under these circumstances.Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Dominant perennial grasses 35–150 black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 5–50 – bush muhly MUPO2 Muhlenbergia porteri 25–50 – blue threeawn ARPUN Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 1–40 – slim tridens TRMU Tridens muticus 1–20 – sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 0–10 – 2 Cool season grasses 0–30 New Mexico feathergrass HENE5 Hesperostipa neomexicana 0–15 – needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 0–5 – Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 0–5 – desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 0–5 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 0–1 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 0–1 – 3 Misc. perennial grasses 5–60 low woollygrass DAPU7 Dasyochloa pulchella 5–20 – red grama BOTR2 Bouteloua trifida 0–15 – nineawn pappusgrass ENDE Enneapogon desvauxii 1–10 – Parish's threeawn ARPUP5 Aristida purpurea var. parishii 0–5 – spidergrass ARTE3 Aristida ternipes 0–5 – purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 0–5 – Hall's panicgrass PAHA Panicum hallii 0–5 – big galleta PLRI3 Pleuraphis rigida 0–5 – plains bristlegrass SEVU2 Setaria vulpiseta 0–5 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–5 – slim tridens TRMUE Tridens muticus var. elongatus 0–1 – tobosagrass PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 0–1 – fall witchgrass DICO6 Digitaria cognata 0–1 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 0–1 – spidergrass ARTEG Aristida ternipes var. gentilis 0–1 – slender grama BORE2 Bouteloua repens 0–1 – shortleaf woollygrass ERAV Erioneuron avenaceum 0–1 – tanglehead HECO10 Heteropogon contortus 0–1 – curly-mesquite HIBE Hilaria belangeri 0–1 – 4 Annual grasses 1–50 small fescue VUMI Vulpia microstachys 0–10 – Eastwood fescue VUMIC Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata 0–10 – sixweeks fescue VUOC Vulpia octoflora 0–10 – Mexican panicgrass PAHI5 Panicum hirticaule 0–10 – sixweeks threeawn ARAD Aristida adscensionis 1–10 – prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 0–5 – witchgrass PACA6 Panicum capillare 0–5 – mucronate sprangeltop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata 0–5 – Arizona signalgrass URAR Urochloa arizonica 0–5 – delicate muhly MUFR Muhlenbergia fragilis 0–2 – littleseed muhly MUMI Muhlenbergia microsperma 0–2 – Rothrock's grama BORO2 Bouteloua rothrockii 0–2 – Arizona brome BRAR4 Bromus arizonicus 0–2 – feather fingergrass CHVI4 Chloris virgata 0–2 – canyon cupgrass ERLE7 Eriochloa lemmonii 0–1 – tufted lovegrass ERPE Eragrostis pectinacea 0–1 – desert lovegrass ERPEM Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima 0–1 – little barley HOPU Hordeum pusillum 0–1 – Mexican sprangletop LEFUU Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia 0–1 – needle grama BOAR Bouteloua aristidoides 0–1 – sixweeks grama BOBA2 Bouteloua barbata 0–1 – Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0–1 – Forb5 Perennial forbs 2–25 trailing windmills ALIN Allionia incarnata 1–5 – weakleaf bur ragweed AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 1–5 – hairyseed bahia BAAB Bahia absinthifolia 0–5 – leatherweed CRPO5 Croton pottsii 0–5 – glandleaf milkwort POMA7 Polygala macradenia 0–5 – desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 1–5 – brownplume wirelettuce STPA4 Stephanomeria pauciflora 1–5 – Coues' cassia SECO10 Senna covesii 0–2 – Fendler's bladderpod LEFE Lesquerella fendleri 0–2 – Parry's false prairie-clover MAPA7 Marina parryi 0–2 – lacy tansyaster MAPI Machaeranthera pinnatifida 0–2 – wishbone-bush MILAV Mirabilis laevis var. villosa 0–2 – rue of the mountains THTE2 Thamnosma texana 0–2 – desert trumpet ERIN4 Eriogonum inflatum 0–2 – paleface HIDE Hibiscus denudatus 0–2 – slender janusia JAGR Janusia gracilis 0–1 – ragged nettlespurge JAMA Jatropha macrorhiza 0–1 – longflower tube tongue JULO3 Justicia longii 0–1 – Mojave spurge EUSC6 Euphorbia schizoloba 0–1 – southwestern mock vervain GLGO Glandularia gooddingii 0–1 – desert rosemallow HICO Hibiscus coulteri 0–1 – purplenerve springparsley CYMU2 Cymopterus multinervatus 0–1 – Gregg's prairie clover DAGR2 Dalea greggii 0–1 – James' prairie clover DAJA Dalea jamesii 0–1 – Cooley's bundleflower DECO2 Desmanthus cooleyi 0–1 – desert larkspur DEPA Delphinium parishii 0–1 – tall mountain larkspur DESC Delphinium scaposum 0–1 – bluedicks DICA14 Dichelostemma capitatum 0–1 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 0–1 – desert marigold BAMU Baileya multiradiata 0–1 – scarlet spiderling BOCO Boerhavia coccinea 0–1 – climbing wartclub BOSC Boerhavia scandens 0–1 – wavyleaf Indian paintbrush CAAPM Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii 0–1 – Arizona wrightwort CAAR7 Carlowrightia arizonica 0–1 – desert mariposa lily CAKE Calochortus kennedyi 0–1 – sego lily CANU3 Calochortus nuttallii 0–1 – tuber anemone ANTU Anemone tuberosa 0–1 – narrowleaf silverbush ARLA12 Argythamnia lanceolata 0–1 – white sagebrush ARLUM2 Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. mexicana 0–1 – New Mexico silverbush ARNE2 Argythamnia neomexicana 0–1 – perennial rockcress ARPE2 Arabis perennans 0–1 – dense ayenia AYMI Ayenia microphylla 0–1 – largeflower onion ALMA4 Allium macropetalum 0–1 – dwarf desertpeony ACNA2 Acourtia nana 0–1 – brownfoot ACWR5 Acourtia wrightii 0–1 – San Felipe dogweed ADPO Adenophyllum porophylloides 0–1 – branched noseburn TRRA5 Tragia ramosa 0–1 – Louisiana vetch VILUL2 Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana 0–1 – desert tobacco NIOB Nicotiana obtusifolia 0–1 – toadflax penstemon PELI2 Penstemon linarioides 0–1 – Parry's beardtongue PEPA24 Penstemon parryi 0–1 – desert penstemon PEPS Penstemon pseudospectabilis 0–1 – orange fameflower PHAU13 Phemeranthus aurantiacus 0–1 – slender poreleaf POGR5 Porophyllum gracile 0–1 – plains blackfoot MELE2 Melampodium leucanthum 0–1 – Lemmon's ragwort SELE8 Senecio lemmonii 0–1 – New Mexico fanpetals SINE Sida neomexicana 0–1 – silverleaf nightshade SOEL Solanum elaeagnifolium 0–1 – turpentinebroom THMO Thamnosma montana 0–1 – canaigre dock RUHY Rumex hymenosepalus 0–1 – twinleaf senna SEBA3 Senna bauhinioides 0–1 – 6 Annual forbs 2–125 lyreleaf jewelflower STCA5 Streptanthus carinatus 0–15 – flatcrown buckwheat ERDE6 Eriogonum deflexum 0–15 – cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0–10 – thelypody THELY Thelypodium 0–10 – phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0–10 – bristly fiddleneck AMTE3 Amsinckia tessellata 0–10 – exserted Indian paintbrush CAEXE Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta 0–10 – pitseed goosefoot CHBE4 Chenopodium berlandieri 0–5 – Coulter's spiderling BOCO2 Boerhavia coulteri 0–5 – fivewing spiderling BOIN Boerhavia intermedia 0–5 – chia SACO6 Salvia columbariae 0–5 – desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 0–5 – woolly plantain PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 0–5 – woolly tidestromia TILA2 Tidestromia lanuginosa 0–5 – western tansymustard DEPI Descurainia pinnata 0–5 – California poppy ESCAM Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana 0–5 – Gordon's bladderpod LEGO Lesquerella gordonii 0–5 – shaggyfruit pepperweed LELA Lepidium lasiocarpum 0–5 – foothill deervetch LOHU2 Lotus humistratus 0–5 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 0–5 – coastal bird's-foot trefoil LOSA Lotus salsuginosus 0–5 – slender goldenweed MAGR10 Machaeranthera gracilis 0–5 – Coulter's lupine LUSP2 Lupinus sparsiflorus 0–5 – combseed PECTO Pectocarya 0–5 – tanseyleaf tansyaster MATA2 Machaeranthera tanacetifolia 0–2 – Thurber's pepperweed LETH2 Lepidium thurberi 0–2 – sorrel buckwheat ERPO4 Eriogonum polycladon 0–2 – spurge EUPHO Euphorbia 0–2 – crestrib morning-glory IPCO2 Ipomoea costellata 0–2 – wedgeleaf draba DRCU Draba cuneifolia 0–2 – hairy prairie clover DAMO Dalea mollis 0–2 – American wild carrot DAPU3 Daucus pusillus 0–2 – purslane PORTU Portulaca 0–2 – sleepy silene SIAN2 Silene antirrhina 0–2 – hyssopleaf sandmat CHHY3 Chamaesyce hyssopifolia 0–2 – New Mexico thistle CINE Cirsium neomexicanum 0–2 – miner's lettuce CLPEP Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata 0–1 – scrambled eggs COAU2 Corydalis aurea 0–1 – Esteve's pincushion CHST Chaenactis stevioides 0–1 – brittle spineflower CHBR Chorizanthe brevicornu 0–1 – yellow tackstem CAPA7 Calycoseris parryi 0–1 – white tackstem CAWR Calycoseris wrightii 0–1 – hoary bowlesia BOIN3 Bowlesia incana 0–1 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–1 – annual agoseris AGHE2 Agoseris heterophylla 0–1 – carelessweed AMPA Amaranthus palmeri 0–1 – desert unicorn-plant PRAL4 Proboscidea althaeifolia 0–1 – doubleclaw PRPA2 Proboscidea parviflora 0–1 – New Mexico plumeseed RANE Rafinesquia neomexicana 0–1 – sawtooth sage SASU7 Salvia subincisa 0–1 – spreading fanpetals SIAB Sida abutifolia 0–1 – Arizona popcornflower PLAR Plagiobothrys arizonicus 0–1 – creamcups PLCA5 Platystemon californicus 0–1 – woollyhead neststraw STMI2 Stylocline micropoides 0–1 – sand fringepod THCU Thysanocarpus curvipes 0–1 – sacred thorn-apple DAWR2 Datura wrightii 0–1 – miniature woollystar ERDI2 Eriastrum diffusum 0–1 – spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 0–1 – redstar IPCO3 Ipomoea coccinea 0–1 – ivyleaf morning-glory IPHE Ipomoea hederacea 0–1 – Arizona poppy KAGR Kallstroemia grandiflora 0–1 – California goldfields LACA7 Lasthenia californica 0–1 – star gilia GIST Gilia stellata 0–1 – longleaf false goldeneye HELOA2 Heliomeris longifolia var. annua 0–1 – Texas stork's bill ERTE13 Erodium texanum 0–1 – Arizona lupine LUAR4 Lupinus arizonicus 0–1 – miniature lupine LUBI Lupinus bicolor 0–1 – whitestem blazingstar MEAL6 Mentzelia albicaulis 0–1 – green carpetweed MOVE Mollugo verticillata 0–1 – desert evening primrose OEPR Oenothera primiveris 0–1 – Florida pellitory PAFL3 Parietaria floridana 0–1 – manybristle chinchweed PEPA2 Pectis papposa 0–1 – Fendler's desertdandelion MAFE Malacothrix fendleri 0–1 – Shrub/Vine7 Dominant large shrubs 200–300 creosote bush LATR2 Larrea tridentata 200–300 – whitethorn acacia ACCO2 Acacia constricta 0–50 – whitethorn acacia ACCOP9 Acacia constricta var. paucispina 0–10 – 8 Miscellaneous large shrubs 0–15 ocotillo FOSP2 Fouquieria splendens 0–2 – crown of thorns KOSP Koeberlinia spinosa 0–2 – Wright's beebrush ALWR Aloysia wrightii 0–2 – fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 0–1 – desert sweet CHMI2 Chamaebatiaria millefolium 0–1 – Warnock's snakewood COWA Condalia warnockii 0–1 – water jacket LYAN Lycium andersonii 0–1 – Berlandier's wolfberry LYBE Lycium berlandieri 0–1 – Arizona desert-thorn LYEX Lycium exsertum 0–1 – red barberry MAHA4 Mahonia haematocarpa 0–1 – catclaw mimosa MIACB Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera 0–1 – littleleaf sumac RHMI3 Rhus microphylla 0–1 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 0–1 – Wright's mock buckthorn SAWR Sageretia wrightii 0–1 – jojoba SICH Simmondsia chinensis 0–1 – Arizona necklacepod SOAR3 Sophora arizonica 0–1 – lotebush ZIOBC Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens 0–1 – longleaf jointfir EPTR Ephedra trifurca 0–1 – catclaw acacia ACGR Acacia greggii 0–1 – 9 Dominant half shrubs 5–60 mariola PAIN2 Parthenium incanum 0–15 – desert zinnia ZIAC Zinnia acerosa 1–15 – rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 1–10 – littleleaf ratany KRER Krameria erecta 0–5 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 0–5 – woody crinklemat TICA3 Tiquilia canescens 0–5 – fairyduster CAER Calliandra eriophylla 0–5 – featherplume DAFO Dalea formosa 0–2 – Eastern Mojave buckwheat ERFA2 Eriogonum fasciculatum 0–1 – bastardsage ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 0–1 – Coulter's brickellbush BRCO Brickellia coulteri 0–1 – longleaf phlox PHLO2 Phlox longifolia 0–1 – purple sage SADOM Salvia dorrii ssp. mearnsii 0–1 – 10 Succulents 5–25 buck-horn cholla CYAC8 Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa 1–10 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 1–10 – Christmas cactus CYLE8 Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 0–5 – cactus apple OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 0–5 – purple pricklypear OPMA8 Opuntia macrocentra 0–5 – saguaro CAGI10 Carnegiea gigantea 0–5 – tulip pricklypear OPPH Opuntia phaeacantha 0–2 – common sotol DAWH2 Dasylirion wheeleri 0–2 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECBO2 Echinocereus bonkerae 0–1 – Arizona hedgehog cactus ECCOA Echinocereus coccineus var. arizonicus 0–1 – Engelmann's hedgehog cactus ECEN Echinocereus engelmannii 0–1 – redspine fishhook cactus ECER2 Echinomastus erectocentrus 0–1 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECFA Echinocereus fasciculatus 0–1 – spinystar ESVI2 Escobaria vivipara 0–1 – candy barrelcactus FEWI Ferocactus wislizeni 0–1 – devil's cholla GRKU Grusonia kunzei 0–1 – Graham's nipple cactus MAGR9 Mammillaria grahamii 0–1 – sacahuista NOMI Nolina microcarpa 0–1 – walkingstick cactus CYSP8 Cylindropuntia spinosior 0–1 – soaptree yucca YUEL Yucca elata 0–1 – teddybear cholla CYBI9 Cylindropuntia bigelovii 0–1 – jumping cholla CYFU10 Cylindropuntia fulgida 0–1 – goldenflower century plant AGCH2 Agave chrysantha 0–1 – Parry's agave AGPA4 Agave parryi 0–1 – Schott's century plant AGSC3 Agave schottii 0–1 – 11 Increaser half-shrubs 0–15 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 0–10 – whitestem paperflower PSCO2 Psilostrophe cooperi 0–5 – burroweed ISTE2 Isocoma tenuisecta 0–1 – rayless goldenhead ACSP Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus 0–1 – threadleaf snakeweed GUMI Gutierrezia microcephala 0–1 – Tree12 Trees 0–10 crucifixion thorn CAHO3 Canotia holacantha 0–5 – redberry juniper JUCO11 Juniperus coahuilensis 0–1 – oneseed juniper JUMO Juniperus monosperma 0–1 – blue paloverde PAFL6 Parkinsonia florida 0–1 – western honey mesquite PRGLT Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana 0–1 – velvet mesquite PRVE Prosopis velutina 0–1 – Table 9. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
This site is suitable for grazing year round, but is not easily traversed by livestock. Livestock grazing use is concentrated on south slopes and ridge-tops. The site is susceptible to erosion in overgrazed areas like bed-grounds, livestock trails and lower slopes adjacent to water.
The site has poor habitat diversity for most desert wildlife species. It is home mainly to rodents and rabbits and their predators. Water developments are very important to both livestock and wildlife on this site.Hydrological functions
This site has rough surfaces, due to a high cover of gravels and stones, which act to hold water on the site. When the soils are dry, it produces little runoff. It produces significant runoff only when heavy rain falls on snow or moist soils.
Recreational uses
Hunting, camping, horseback riding, backpacking, rock hounding, fossil hunting, photography.
Wood products
None
Other products
There is some harvest of food plants like prickly pear tunas, jojoba nuts and mescal. There is limited harvest of medicinal plants like mormon tea and creosote bush.
Supporting information
Contributors
Dan Robinett
Larry D. EllicottRangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
Author(s)/participant(s) Karlynn Huling Contact for lead author NRCS Flagstaff Area Office Date 05/18/2007 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
A few rills may form due to loamy textures, slow permeability, and medium to rapid runoff. Rills may be more common on shallow soils and steeper slopes; less common on deeper soils, gentler slopes, and soils with a lot of rock fragment armor on the surface and within the surface horizon. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns may be common due to slow permeability and medium to rapid runoff. Water flow patterns will be more common on steeper slopes and shallow soils. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Some pedestals and terracettes may form, but they should be very short. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
One area had 30% bare ground. If a wet winter and spring produces a flush of annuals, there will be less bare ground. This site has an average available water capacity of 7 inches, so it has a low (shallow soils) to moderate (deep soils) potential to produce plant cover. Areas with a higher cover of rock fragments have less bare ground. Drought may cause an increase in bare ground. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Herbaceous and fine woody litter will be transported in water flow pathways. Coarse woody litter will remain under shrub and tree canopies. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil stability values average 4 both under plant canopy and in the interspaces. Soil surface textures are mostly sandy loam, loam, and fine sandy loam. The surface horizon may have no rock fragments or it may be very gravelly. When well vegetated, the soils have a moderate to high resistance to water erosion and a moderate resistance to wind erosion. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Surface structure can be granular (weak to moderate, very fine to fine), platy (weak to moderate, medium to moderately thick), or subangular blocky (weak to moderate, fine). Surface thickness ranges from 1-5 inches. Color is variable depending upon parent material. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
This site is characterized by a relatively even distribution of mostly grasses with some shrubs and a few forbs. There may be up to 25% tree cover in higher elevations with very shallow to shallow soils. Canopy cover on one shallow area was 60% (40$ grass, 2% forbs, 2% shrubs, and 20% trees). Basal cover was 13% (all grass). Both canopy and basal cover values decrease during a prolonged drought. This type of plant community is moderately effective at capturing and storing precipitation. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None. Due to sandy loam, loam, and fine sandy loam surface textures, the soils may be easily compacted if there are no coarse fragments within the surface horizon. Some surface horizons, however, are naturally platy. -
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
noneSub-dominant:
warm season colonizing grasses = warm season bunchgrasses > decieuous or persistent shrubs > cool season bunchgrasses >Other:
minor: forbs > evergreen shrubs > Trace: Agave family > cacti = trees > annual grassesAdditional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
All plant functional groups are adapted to survival in all years except during the most severe droughts. Severe winter droughts affect shrubs and trees the most. Severe summer droughts affect grasses the most. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Mostly herbaceous litter with some woody litter. Litter amounts increase during the first few years fo drought, then decrease in later years. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
450-575 pounds per acre (dry weight) during drought years; 575-800 pounds per acre during median years; 800-900 pounds per acre during wet years. -
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
Broom snakeweed is native to the site, but has the potential to increase and dominate the area after heavy grazing. Juniper is native to the site, but can also increase after heavy grazing and fire exclusion. This site includes shallow soils, however, which can support a moderate amount of trees (up to 25% cover). Rubber rabbitbrush is a native plant that may invade and dominate the site after soil disturbance, overgrazing, or fire. Portulaca (purslane) and Amaranthus (pigweed) are native or exotic forbs that may invade and dominate the site after soil disturbance, overgrazing or fire. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All plants native to the site are adapted to the climate and are capable of producint seeds, stolons, and rhizomes in most years except during the most severe droughts.
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PrintThe Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
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