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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.Classification relationships
This site is similar to TE Sites #250 and #275 found on the Prescott National Forest.
Associated sites
R038XA104AZ Granitic Hills 12-16" p.z.
R038XA105AZ Limestone Hills 12-16" p.z.
R038XA133AZ Volcanic/Metamorphic Hills 12-16" p.z.
R038XA135AZ Diabase Hills 12-16" p.z.
Similar sites
R040XA119AZ Schist Hills 10"-13" p.z.
R038XB212AZ Schist Hills 16-20" p.z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) parkinsonia
Shrub (1) Eriogonum fasciculatum
(2) Simmondsia chinensisHerbaceous (1) aristida
(2) selaginellaPhysiographic features
This site occurs at the lowest elevations of the interior chaparral zone in the Mogollon Transition area. This site occurs in an upland position. It occurs on hill-slopes, ridge-tops and mountains.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Hill
(2) Mountain slope
(3) Ridge
Flooding frequency None Elevation 3100 – 4600 ft Slope 15 – 65 % Aspect N, E, S 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. They are loamy textured, non-calcareous and well drained. These soils range from lacking any development to having weak argillic horizons. They have formed in residuum and colluvium from schist and related metamorphic parent materials. Soil surfaces are well covered by brownish to silvery gravels, channers and stones. The effective rooting depth is limited by slightly weathered bedrock at 10 to 20 inches. Runoff is moderate to high on moist soils. The erosion hazard is slight due to gravel, cobble and rock covers. Rock outcrop and can be as high as 10%.
Typical taxonomic units where this site is mapped include: SSA-697 Mohave County Central part MU Birdsbeak-12.Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Residuum – schist
Surface texture (1) Very gravelly loam
(2) Very gravelly sandy loam
(3) Very channery sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderately rapid to moderate Soil depth 10 – 20 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 35 – 50 % Surface fragment cover >3" 1 – 10 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)0.6 – 2.2 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)0 – 5 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 2 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)6.8 – 7.6 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)10 – 55 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 10 % Ecological dynamics
The historic native plant community is a diverse mixture of desert trees, shrubs, succulents, forbs and grasses. This includes a diverse flora of native annual grasses and forbs of both the winter and summer seasons. Periodic wildfires occurred at moderate intervals (15 to 30 years) and helped maintain a balance between herbs and shrubs. In the absence of fire for longer periods, shrubby species and cacti can become dominant. The interactions of drought, fire and continuous livestock grazing can, over time, result in the loss of palatable grasses, half shrubs and suffrutescent forbs. 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, Schist Hills 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 textEcosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Mixed Shrub/Herbaceous StateCommunity 1.1
Historic Native Plant CommunityThe historic native plant community is a diverse mixture of perennial grasses, suffrutescent forbs, shrubs, succulents and desert trees. A rich flora of native annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, exist in the plant community. Periodic, naturally occurring, wildfires were important in maintaining the potential plant community.
North slopes have a chaparral of evergreen shrubs like jojoba, turbinella oak and flattop buckwheat. Southern exposures will have a higher percentage of desert shrubs, trees and succulents in the plant community. More xeric grasses will dominate southern exposures (aristida, tanglehead). Grasses on cooler aspects include desert stipa and sideoats grama. Club moss (selaginella) is especially common on very shallow soil areas.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 270 400 650 Grass/Grasslike 75 200 520 Forb 25 75 250 Tree 5 30 100 Total 375 705 1520 Table 6. Soil surface cover
Tree basal cover 0-0% Shrub/vine/liana basal cover 0-0% Grass/grasslike basal cover 0-0% Forb basal cover 0-0% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0-0% Litter 20-50% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 40-60% Surface fragments >3" 0-10% Bedrock 0-10% Water 0% Bare ground 10-50% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – 0-5% 0-10% 1-10% >0.5 <= 1 – 1-5% 1-5% 1-5% >1 <= 2 – 5-10% 1-5% 1-5% >2 <= 4.5 – 5-15% 0-2% 0-1% >4.5 <= 13 1-10% 10-15% – – >13 <= 40 0-5% – – – >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
Shrub Dominated StateCommunity 2.1
Shrub Dominated Plant CommunityPerennial grass canopy cover is reduced due to the interactions of drought, grazing and fire. Desert shrubs and cacti dominate the plant community. Shrub cover exceeds 30%. Major species include jojoba, flattop buckwheat and paloverde. Annuals, both native and non-native, dominate the under-story. Fire frequency is reduced but the site can still burn, especially after "El Nino" years produce heavy fuel loads of annual grasses and forbs.
State 3
Exotic Invaded StateCommunity 3.1
Exotic Invaded Plant CommunityNon-native annual grasses and forbs like; red brome, cheatgrass, and wild oats, 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 fire sensitive species like paloverde, cacti and buckwheat, and leave fire tolerant species like turbinella oak, mesquite, whitethorn and jojoba.
State 4
Shrub Dominated and Eroded StateCommunity 4.1
Shrub Dominated, Eroded Plant CommunityShrubs like jojoba, mesquite, turbinella oak and flattop buckwheat, and succulents like prickly pear and cholla can increase to dominate the site in the absence of fire for very long periods of time. Native and non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the under-story. In "El Nino" years, herbaceous fuels can be sufficient to carry fire through the heavy canopy of shrubs. The major woody shrubs are, however, fire resistant once established. Such fires would remove less tolerant species like cacti, buckwheat and paloverde and leave intact the sprouting woody plants to become more and more dominant. 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 50–200 sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 10–100 – slender grama BORE2 Bouteloua repens 5–50 – purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 5–50 – slim tridens TRMU Tridens muticus 1–50 – tanglehead HECO10 Heteropogon contortus 1–50 – Parish's threeawn ARPUP5 Aristida purpurea var. parishii 0–30 – spidergrass ARTE3 Aristida ternipes 1–30 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 1–30 – black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 0–30 – Arizona cottontop DICA8 Digitaria californica 0–20 – bush muhly MUPO2 Muhlenbergia porteri 0–20 – 2 Cool season grasses 10–70 desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 10–50 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 0–10 – needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 0–10 – New Mexico feathergrass HENE5 Hesperostipa neomexicana 0–10 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 0–10 – 3 Misc. perennial grasses 10–100 big galleta PLRI3 Pleuraphis rigida 0–25 – hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 0–20 – curly-mesquite HIBE Hilaria belangeri 0–10 – tobosagrass PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 0–10 – southwestern bristlegrass SESC2 Setaria scheelei 0–5 – plains bristlegrass SEVU2 Setaria vulpiseta 0–5 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–5 – slim tridens TRMUE Tridens muticus var. elongatus 0–5 – fall witchgrass DICO6 Digitaria cognata 0–5 – red grama BOTR2 Bouteloua trifida 0–5 – Hall's panicgrass PAHA Panicum hallii 0–5 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 0–5 – blue threeawn ARPUN Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 0–5 – spidergrass ARTEG Aristida ternipes var. gentilis 0–5 – low woollygrass DAPU7 Dasyochloa pulchella 0–1 – nineawn pappusgrass ENDE Enneapogon desvauxii 0–1 – plains lovegrass ERIN Eragrostis intermedia 0–1 – green sprangletop LEDU Leptochloa dubia 0–1 – vine mesquite PAOB Panicum obtusum 0–1 – 4 Annual grasses 5–150 sixweeks threeawn ARAD Aristida adscensionis 1–50 – mucronate sprangeltop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata 1–25 – small fescue VUMI Vulpia microstachys 1–20 – Eastwood fescue VUMIC Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata 1–20 – sixweeks fescue VUOC Vulpia octoflora 1–20 – Mexican panicgrass PAHI5 Panicum hirticaule 0–10 – Arizona signalgrass URAR Urochloa arizonica 0–10 – prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 0–10 – needle grama BOAR Bouteloua aristidoides 0–5 – witchgrass PACA6 Panicum capillare 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 0–1 – 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 – sixweeks grama BOBA2 Bouteloua barbata 0–1 – Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0–1 – Forb5 Perennial forbs 20–100 spikemoss SELAG Selaginella 1–40 – desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 1–15 – brownplume wirelettuce STPA4 Stephanomeria pauciflora 1–10 – slender janusia JAGR Janusia gracilis 0–10 – lacy tansyaster MAPI Machaeranthera pinnatifida 1–10 – plains blackfoot MELE2 Melampodium leucanthum 0–5 – wishbone-bush MILAV Mirabilis laevis var. villosa 0–5 – Arizona wrightwort CAAR7 Carlowrightia arizonica 0–5 – bluedicks DICA14 Dichelostemma capitatum 1–5 – weakleaf bur ragweed AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 1–5 – perennial rockcress ARPE2 Arabis perennans 1–5 – white sagebrush ARLUM2 Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. mexicana 1–5 – climbing wartclub BOSC Boerhavia scandens 0–5 – lipfern CHEIL Cheilanthes 0–5 – trailing windmills ALIN Allionia incarnata 0–5 – shrubby deervetch LORI3 Lotus rigidus 0–5 – cliffbrake PELLA Pellaea 0–5 – Coues' cassia SECO10 Senna covesii 1–5 – slender poreleaf POGR5 Porophyllum gracile 0–5 – Parry's false prairie-clover MAPA7 Marina parryi 0–2 – Parry's beardtongue PEPA24 Penstemon parryi 0–2 – sego lily CANU3 Calochortus nuttallii 0–2 – desert trumpet ERIN4 Eriogonum inflatum 0–2 – Mojave spurge EUSC6 Euphorbia schizoloba 0–2 – southwestern mock vervain GLGO Glandularia gooddingii 0–2 – desert rosemallow HICO Hibiscus coulteri 0–2 – paleface HIDE Hibiscus denudatus 0–1 – Indian rushpea HOGL2 Hoffmannseggia glauca 0–1 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 0–1 – desert tobacco NIOB Nicotiana obtusifolia 0–1 – cloak fern NOTHO Notholaena 0–1 – New Mexico groundsel PANE7 Packera neomexicana 0–1 – Oak Creek ragwort PAQU8 Packera quercetorum 0–1 – toadflax penstemon PELI2 Penstemon linarioides 0–1 – bigseed alfalfa dodder CUIN Cuscuta indecora 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 – wavyleaf Indian paintbrush CAAPM Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii 0–1 – New Mexico silverbush ARNE2 Argythamnia neomexicana 0–1 – dense ayenia AYMI Ayenia microphylla 0–1 – desert marigold BAMU Baileya multiradiata 0–1 – scarlet spiderling BOCO Boerhavia coccinea 0–1 – tuber anemone ANTU Anemone tuberosa 0–1 – narrowleaf silverbush ARLA12 Argythamnia lanceolata 0–1 – white sagebrush ARLU Artemisia ludoviciana 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 – desert penstemon PEPS Penstemon pseudospectabilis 0–1 – orange fameflower PHAU13 Phemeranthus aurantiacus 0–1 – Wright's deervetch LOWR Lotus wrightii 0–1 – ragged nettlespurge JAMA Jatropha macrorhiza 0–1 – longflower tube tongue JULO3 Justicia longii 0–1 – Lemmon's ragwort SELE8 Senecio lemmonii 0–1 – silverleaf nightshade SOEL Solanum elaeagnifolium 0–1 – glandleaf milkwort POMA7 Polygala macradenia 0–1 – scurfpea PSORA2 Psoralidium 0–1 – canaigre dock RUHY Rumex hymenosepalus 0–1 – twinleaf senna SEBA3 Senna bauhinioides 0–1 – turpentinebroom THMO Thamnosma montana 0–1 – branched noseburn TRRA5 Tragia ramosa 0–1 – Louisiana vetch VILUL2 Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana 0–1 – 6 Annual forbs 5–150 Coulter's lupine LUSP2 Lupinus sparsiflorus 0–30 – California poppy ESCAM Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana 0–25 – bristly fiddleneck AMTE3 Amsinckia tessellata 0–25 – phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0–25 – western tansymustard DEPI Descurainia pinnata 0–20 – Coulter's spiderling BOCO2 Boerhavia coulteri 0–15 – exserted Indian paintbrush CAEXE Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta 0–15 – pitseed goosefoot CHBE4 Chenopodium berlandieri 0–10 – slender goldenweed MAGR10 Machaeranthera gracilis 0–10 – tanseyleaf tansyaster MATA2 Machaeranthera tanacetifolia 0–10 – combseed PECTO Pectocarya 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 – Arizona lupine LUAR4 Lupinus arizonicus 0–5 – American wild carrot DAPU3 Daucus pusillus 0–5 – flatcrown buckwheat ERDE6 Eriogonum deflexum 0–5 – sorrel buckwheat ERPO4 Eriogonum polycladon 0–5 – Arizona poppy KAGR Kallstroemia grandiflora 0–5 – cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0–5 – fivewing spiderling BOIN Boerhavia intermedia 0–5 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–5 – Arizona popcornflower PLAR Plagiobothrys arizonicus 0–5 – sleepy silene SIAN2 Silene antirrhina 0–5 – lyreleaf jewelflower STCA5 Streptanthus carinatus 0–5 – moth combseed PESE Pectocarya setosa 0–5 – thelypody THELY Thelypodium 0–5 – woolly tidestromia TILA2 Tidestromia lanuginosa 0–5 – desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 1–5 – woolly plantain PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 0–5 – New Mexico plumeseed RANE Rafinesquia neomexicana 0–5 – purslane PORTU Portulaca 0–2 – sand fringepod THCU Thysanocarpus curvipes 0–2 – creamcups PLCA5 Platystemon californicus 0–2 – annual agoseris AGHE2 Agoseris heterophylla 0–2 – carelessweed AMPA Amaranthus palmeri 0–2 – New Mexico thistle CINE Cirsium neomexicanum 0–2 – miner's lettuce CLPEP Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata 0–2 – crestrib morning-glory IPCO2 Ipomoea costellata 0–2 – spurge EUPHO Euphorbia 0–2 – miniature woollystar ERDI2 Eriastrum diffusum 0–2 – spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 0–2 – wedgeleaf draba DRCU Draba cuneifolia 0–2 – miniature lupine LUBI Lupinus bicolor 0–2 – Thurber's pepperweed LETH2 Lepidium thurberi 0–2 – hollowleaf annual lupine LUSU3 Lupinus succulentus 0–2 – Gordon's bladderpod LEGO Lesquerella gordonii 0–2 – Florida pellitory PAFL3 Parietaria floridana 0–2 – manybristle chinchweed PEPA2 Pectis papposa 0–1 – whitestem blazingstar MEAL6 Mentzelia albicaulis 0–1 – green carpetweed MOVE Mollugo verticillata 0–1 – desert evening primrose OEPR Oenothera primiveris 0–1 – Fendler's desertdandelion MAFE Malacothrix fendleri 0–1 – sacred thorn-apple DAWR2 Datura wrightii 0–1 – Texas stork's bill ERTE13 Erodium texanum 0–1 – star gilia GIST Gilia stellata 0–1 – longleaf false goldeneye HELOA2 Heliomeris longifolia var. annua 0–1 – redstar IPCO3 Ipomoea coccinea 0–1 – ivyleaf morning-glory IPHE Ipomoea hederacea 0–1 – California goldfields LACA7 Lasthenia californica 0–1 – scrambled eggs COAU2 Corydalis aurea 0–1 – hairy prairie clover DAMO Dalea mollis 0–1 – brittle spineflower CHBR Chorizanthe brevicornu 0–1 – Esteve's pincushion CHST Chaenactis stevioides 0–1 – yellow tackstem CAPA7 Calycoseris parryi 0–1 – white tackstem CAWR Calycoseris wrightii 0–1 – hoary bowlesia BOIN3 Bowlesia incana 0–1 – woollyhead neststraw STMI2 Stylocline micropoides 0–1 – desert unicorn-plant PRAL4 Proboscidea althaeifolia 0–1 – doubleclaw PRPA2 Proboscidea parviflora 0–1 – chia SACO6 Salvia columbariae 0–1 – sawtooth sage SASU7 Salvia subincisa 0–1 – ragwort SENEC Senecio 0–1 – spreading fanpetals SIAB Sida abutifolia 0–1 – Shrub/Vine7 Evergreen shrubs 150–300 jojoba SICH Simmondsia chinensis 100–250 – Sonoran scrub oak QUTU2 Quercus turbinella 0–100 – desert ceanothus CEGR Ceanothus greggii 0–10 – snapdragon penstemon KEANM Keckiella antirrhinoides ssp. microphylla 0–10 – algerita MATR3 Mahonia trifoliolata 0–10 – red barberry MAHA4 Mahonia haematocarpa 0–5 – redberry buckthorn RHCR Rhamnus crocea 0–5 – sugar sumac RHOV Rhus ovata 0–5 – 8 Large shrubs 15–60 ocotillo FOSP2 Fouquieria splendens 1–20 – catclaw acacia ACGR Acacia greggii 1–10 – Wright's beebrush ALWR Aloysia wrightii 0–10 – Berlandier's wolfberry LYBE Lycium berlandieri 1–5 – Arizona desert-thorn LYEX Lycium exsertum 0–5 – whitethorn acacia ACCO2 Acacia constricta 0–5 – spiny hackberry CEEH Celtis ehrenbergiana 0–2 – desert sweet CHMI2 Chamaebatiaria millefolium 0–1 – Warnock's snakewood COWA Condalia warnockii 0–1 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 0–1 – creosote bush LATR2 Larrea tridentata 0–1 – ambrosia leaf bur ragweed AMAM2 Ambrosia ambrosioides 0–1 – Thurber's desert honeysuckle ANTH2 Anisacanthus thurberi 0–1 – fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 0–1 – desertbroom BASA2 Baccharis sarothroides 0–1 – pale desert-thorn LYPA Lycium pallidum 0–1 – catclaw mimosa MIACB Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera 0–1 – mariola PAIN2 Parthenium incanum 0–1 – littleleaf sumac RHMI3 Rhus microphylla 0–1 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 0–1 – Mexican bladdersage SAME Salazaria mexicana 0–1 – lotebush ZIOBC Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens 0–1 – 9 Dominant half shrubs 100–250 Eastern Mojave buckwheat ERFA2 Eriogonum fasciculatum 50–200 – bastardsage ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 5–50 – fairyduster CAER Calliandra eriophylla 5–25 – littleleaf ratany KRER Krameria erecta 1–15 – rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 0–10 – Coulter's brickellbush BRCO Brickellia coulteri 0–5 – American threefold TRCA8 Trixis californica 1–5 – Parish's goldeneye VIPA14 Viguiera parishii 0–5 – longleaf phlox PHLO2 Phlox longifolia 0–2 – starry bedstraw GAST Galium stellatum 0–1 – ragged rockflower CRBI2 Crossosoma bigelovii 0–1 – desert zinnia ZIAC Zinnia acerosa 0–1 – shortleaf baccharis BABR Baccharis brachyphylla 0–1 – yerba de pasmo BAPT Baccharis pteronioides 0–1 – sweetbush BEJU Bebbia juncea 0–1 – 10 Succulents 5–70 buck-horn cholla CYAC8 Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa 1–15 – cactus apple OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 1–15 – tulip pricklypear OPPH Opuntia phaeacantha 0–10 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 0–10 – walkingstick cactus CYSP8 Cylindropuntia spinosior 0–5 – saguaro CAGI10 Carnegiea gigantea 0–5 – dollarjoint pricklypear OPCH Opuntia chlorotica 0–2 – candy barrelcactus FEWI Ferocactus wislizeni 0–2 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECFA Echinocereus fasciculatus 0–2 – common sotol DAWH2 Dasylirion wheeleri 0–2 – teddybear cholla CYBI9 Cylindropuntia bigelovii 0–2 – jumping cholla CYFU10 Cylindropuntia fulgida 0–2 – goldenflower century plant AGCH2 Agave chrysantha 0–2 – Palmer's century plant AGPA3 Agave palmeri 0–1 – Schott's century plant AGSC3 Agave schottii 0–1 – Christmas cactus CYLE8 Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 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 – spinystar ESVI2 Escobaria vivipara 0–1 – Whipple cholla CYWH Cylindropuntia whipplei 0–1 – soaptree yucca YUEL Yucca elata 0–1 – Graham's nipple cactus MAGR9 Mammillaria grahamii 0–1 – sacahuista NOMI Nolina microcarpa 0–1 – 11 Increaser half-shrubs 1–20 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 1–10 – brittlebush ENFA Encelia farinosa 0–5 – button brittlebush ENFR Encelia frutescens 0–5 – turpentine bush ERLA12 Ericameria laricifolia 0–1 – narrowleaf goldenbush ERLI6 Ericameria linearifolia 0–1 – threadleaf snakeweed GUMI Gutierrezia microcephala 0–1 – burroweed ISTE2 Isocoma tenuisecta 0–1 – Tree12 Trees 5–100 yellow paloverde PAMI5 Parkinsonia microphylla 5–35 – crucifixion thorn CAHO3 Canotia holacantha 0–20 – redberry juniper JUCO11 Juniperus coahuilensis 0–10 – oneseed juniper JUMO Juniperus monosperma 0–10 – blue paloverde PAFL6 Parkinsonia florida 0–5 – western honey mesquite PRGLT Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana 0–5 – velvet mesquite PRVE Prosopis velutina 0–5 – 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 (%) Table 11. Community 4.1 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, canyon bottoms and ridge-tops. North slopes may be little used. Slopes greater than 50% and areas with very cobbly surfaces limit grazing use by cattle. Areas of rock outcrop can form barriers to livestock movement. The site is susceptible to erosion in overgrazed areas like bed-grounds, livestock trails and lower slopes adjacent to water.
The site has good habitat diversity for a great variety of desert wildlife species. Water developments are very important to both livestock and wildlife on this site.Hydrological functions
This site has smooth surfaces with high covers of gravels and channers. When 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, photography.
Wood products
Limited harvest of fuel-wood, fence posts and stays from mesquite, juniper and saguaro.
Other products
There is some native harvest of food plants like grass nuts, thistle, prickly pear tunas and jojoba nuts.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Pinal County, AZ General legal description Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Location 2: Pinal County, AZ Township/Range/Section T7S R17E S13 General legal description Miller Dry Camp Ranch, below Table mountain 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) Contact for lead author Date Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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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:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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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:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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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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