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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
Similar site to TES (Terrestrial Ecosystem site)map unit numbers 378 and 428, on the Prescott national Forest in Yavapai county in central Arizona.
Associated sites
R038XA102AZ Clayey Upland 12-16" p.z.
R038XA103AZ Clay Loam Upland 12-16" p.z.
Similar sites
R041XC301AZ Basalt Hills 12-16" p.z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Canotia
(2) ParkinsoniaShrub (1) Simmondsia chinensis
(2) Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmanniiHerbaceous (1) Pleuraphis mutica
(2) Bouteloua curtipendulaPhysiographic features
This site occurs in the lower elevations of the interior chaparral zone, south of the Mogollon Rim in central Arizona. This site occurs in an upland position. It occurs on rugged mountain slopes, ridge-tops and mesa sides. Elevations range from 3200 to 4600 feet. Slopes are from 15 to 70%.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountain
(2) Mountain slope
(3) Ridge
Flooding frequency None Elevation 3100 – 4600 ft Slope 15 – 70 % 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, and 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 clayey throughout (smectitic) and well drained. They have formed in residuum and slope alluvium from basalt, andesite and related volcanic tuffs and ash. The surface textures are clayloam to clay. Surfaces are well covered by dark colored; gravels, cobbles and stones. The effective rooting depth is limited by hard 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. The soils mapped on this site include: from SSA-627 Mohave County Southern Part MU's Gonzales-49 & 87, Courthouse family-40 & 41, Graham-55, Lampshire-75; SSA-637 Yavapai County Western Part MU's Faraway GrVL, CbVL, GrVSL, CbVSL-FlE, FlF, Venezia StVL-VrF, VtE, Luzena-FlE, LwD, LxD, FlF; SSA-675 San Carlos IR Area MU's Eskiminzin-535 & 565, Brewster-315, Cammerman-650, Woodcutter-315, SSA-697 Mohave County Central Part MU's Gonzales-42 & Graham-46.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Residuum – basalt
(2) Slope alluvium – andesite
Surface texture (1) Very cobbly clay loam
(2) Cobbly clay
Family particle size (1) Clayey
Drainage class Moderately well drained to well drained Permeability class Moderately slow to slow Soil depth 10 – 20 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 25 – 50 % Surface fragment cover >3" 5 – 12 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)0.8 – 2.4 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)6.6 – 8.4 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)15 – 45 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)1 – 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 & Transition, Volcanic Hills, clayey 12-16"
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-Grass StateCommunity 1.1
Historic Native Plant Community
Figure 5. Volcanic Hills, clayey 12-16" pz. photos
The 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.
Northern exposures have a higher percentage of mid-grasses and some cool season grasses that will not occur on south slopes. North slopes will also be more likely to experience tree increases especially juniper species, mesquite and canotia. Southern exposures will have a higher percentage of shrubs and succulents in the plant community. More xeric grasses will dominate southern exposures (tanglehead). At elevations near precipitation zone upper boundaries the northern slopes will look more like the plant community of the 16 to 20 inch precipitation zone in MLRA 38. At lower precipitation zone boundaries southern exposures will look more like the plant community of the site in the 10 to 13 inch zone of MLRA 40 (Upper Sonoran).Figure 6. 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)Grass/Grasslike 390 700 1050 Shrub/Vine 210 325 500 Forb 50 150 350 Tree 20 50 100 Total 670 1225 2000 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0-0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 0-10% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 0-10% Forb foliar cover 0-0% Non-vascular plants 0-0% Biological crusts 0-0% Litter 10-50% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 30-50% Surface fragments >3" 10-20% Bedrock 10-30% Water 0% Bare ground 10-20% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – – 0-5% 0-1% >0.5 <= 1 – 0-2% 2-10% 1-5% >1 <= 2 – 1-10% 20-30% 0-1% >2 <= 4.5 – 10-15% – – >4.5 <= 13 0-10% 1-5% – – >13 <= 40 0-5% – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Figure 7. 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 / or fire. Desert shrubs and cacti dominate the plant community. Shrub cover exceeds 30%. 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 Forb and Grass Invaded Plant CommunityNon-native annual grasses and forbs like; red brome, cheatgrass, and wild oats, can invade and dominate areas of the site with very low perennial grass cover. 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.
State 4
Shrub Dominated, Eroded StateCommunity 4.1
Shrub Dominated, Eroded Plant CommunityShrubs like; whitethorn acacia, mesquite, wait a bit mimosa and catclaw acacia; and succulents like; prickly pear, cholla and banana yucca 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 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.
Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 mid grasses 200–450 sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 100–250 – tobosagrass PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 50–200 – tanglehead HECO10 Heteropogon contortus 25–100 – 2 cool season grasses 15–100 desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 0–50 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 5–50 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 0–25 – muttongrass POFE Poa fendleriana 0–20 – 3 misc. perennial grasses 150–200 spidergrass ARTE3 Aristida ternipes 10–50 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 0–50 – black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 10–50 – vine mesquite PAOB Panicum obtusum 0–50 – big galleta PLRI3 Pleuraphis rigida 0–25 – plains bristlegrass SEVU2 Setaria vulpiseta 0–25 – bush muhly MUPO2 Muhlenbergia porteri 0–25 – spidergrass ARTEG Aristida ternipes var. gentilis 0–25 – purple threeawn ARPUP6 Aristida purpurea var. purpurea 0–25 – Arizona cottontop DICA8 Digitaria californica 0–20 – southwestern bristlegrass SESC2 Setaria scheelei 0–20 – green sprangletop LEDU Leptochloa dubia 0–20 – common wolfstail LYPH Lycurus phleoides 0–15 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–15 – plains lovegrass ERIN Eragrostis intermedia 0–15 – nineawn pappusgrass ENDE Enneapogon desvauxii 0–10 – blue threeawn ARPUN Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 0–10 – Parish's threeawn ARPUP5 Aristida purpurea var. parishii 0–10 – bullgrass MUEM Muhlenbergia emersleyi 0–10 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 0–5 – low woollygrass DAPU7 Dasyochloa pulchella 0–5 – 4 short grasses 25–150 curly-mesquite HIBE Hilaria belangeri 5–50 – Hall's panicgrass PAHA Panicum hallii 1–50 – slender grama BORE2 Bouteloua repens 5–50 – red grama BOTR2 Bouteloua trifida 0–25 – slim tridens TRMU Tridens muticus 0–25 – hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 0–25 – sprucetop grama BOCH Bouteloua chondrosioides 0–10 – 5 annual grasses 25–200 sixweeks threeawn ARAD Aristida adscensionis 0–100 – prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 0–100 – needle grama BOAR Bouteloua aristidoides 0–100 – Mexican sprangletop LEFUU Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia 20–100 – mucronate sprangeltop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata 20–100 – Mexican panicgrass PAHI5 Panicum hirticaule 0–100 – sticky sprangletop LEVI5 Leptochloa viscida 0–50 – witchgrass PACA6 Panicum capillare 0–50 – small fescue VUMI Vulpia microstachys 0–50 – Eastwood fescue VUMIC Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata 0–50 – sixweeks fescue VUOC Vulpia octoflora 0–50 – sixweeks grama BOBA2 Bouteloua barbata 0–50 – Arizona brome BRAR4 Bromus arizonicus 0–50 – feather fingergrass CHVI4 Chloris virgata 0–50 – little barley HOPU Hordeum pusillum 0–30 – delicate muhly MUFR Muhlenbergia fragilis 0–25 – littleseed muhly MUMI Muhlenbergia microsperma 0–25 – canyon cupgrass ERLE7 Eriochloa lemmonii 0–25 – tufted lovegrass ERPE Eragrostis pectinacea 0–25 – desert lovegrass ERPEM Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima 0–25 – Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0–25 – Arizona signalgrass URAR Urochloa arizonica 0–25 – Forb6 perennial forbs 25–50 largeflower onion ALMA4 Allium macropetalum 0–15 – weakleaf bur ragweed AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 1–15 – bluedicks DICA14 Dichelostemma capitatum 2–15 – Indian rushpea HOGL2 Hoffmannseggia glauca 1–15 – desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 1–15 – brownplume wirelettuce STPA4 Stephanomeria pauciflora 0–15 – longflower tube tongue JULO3 Justicia longii 0–10 – shrubby deervetch LORI3 Lotus rigidus 0–10 – Wright's deervetch LOWR Lotus wrightii 0–10 – lacy tansyaster MAPI Machaeranthera pinnatifida 1–10 – wishbone-bush MILAV Mirabilis laevis var. villosa 1–10 – scarlet spiderling BOCO Boerhavia coccinea 0–10 – Arizona wrightwort CAAR7 Carlowrightia arizonica 0–10 – white sagebrush ARLUM2 Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. mexicana 1–10 – Braun's rockcress ARPE3 Arabis perstellata 0–5 – tuber anemone ANTU Anemone tuberosa 0–5 – Forb, perennial 2FP Forb, perennial 0–5 – dwarf Indian mallow ABPA3 Abutilon parvulum 0–5 – brownfoot ACWR5 Acourtia wrightii 0–5 – San Felipe dogweed ADPO Adenophyllum porophylloides 1–5 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 1–5 – Cooley's bundleflower DECO2 Desmanthus cooleyi 0–5 – plains blackfoot MELE2 Melampodium leucanthum 0–5 – Parry's beardtongue PEPA24 Penstemon parryi 0–5 – canaigre dock RUHY Rumex hymenosepalus 0–5 – twinleaf senna SEBA3 Senna bauhinioides 0–5 – Coues' cassia SECO10 Senna covesii 0–5 – Lemmon's ragwort SELE8 Senecio lemmonii 0–5 – branched noseburn TRRA5 Tragia ramosa 0–5 – vetch VICIA Vicia 0–5 – orange fameflower PHAU13 Phemeranthus aurantiacus 0–5 – slender poreleaf POGR5 Porophyllum gracile 0–5 – southwestern mock vervain GLGO Glandularia gooddingii 0–5 – ragged nettlespurge JAMA Jatropha macrorhiza 0–2 – New Mexico groundsel PANE7 Packera neomexicana 0–2 – desert larkspur DEPA Delphinium parishii 0–2 – tall mountain larkspur DESC Delphinium scaposum 0–2 – Mojave spurge EUSC6 Euphorbia schizoloba 0–2 – sego lily CANU3 Calochortus nuttallii 0–2 – wavyleaf Indian paintbrush CAAPM Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii 0–2 – Oak Creek ragwort PAQU8 Packera quercetorum 0–1 – toadflax penstemon PELI2 Penstemon linarioides 0–1 – desert penstemon PEPS Penstemon pseudospectabilis 0–1 – scurfpea PSORA2 Psoralidium 0–1 – 7 annual forbs 25–300 bristly fiddleneck AMTE3 Amsinckia tessellata 0–75 – California poppy ESCAM Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana 0–75 – trefoil LOTUS Lotus 0–50 – Arizona lupine LUAR4 Lupinus arizonicus 0–50 – longleaf false goldeneye HELOA2 Heliomeris longifolia var. annua 0–50 – crestrib morning-glory IPCO2 Ipomoea costellata 0–50 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–50 – carelessweed AMPA Amaranthus palmeri 0–50 – Forb, annual 2FA Forb, annual 0–50 – slender goldenweed MAGR10 Machaeranthera gracilis 0–50 – tanseyleaf tansyaster MATA2 Machaeranthera tanacetifolia 0–50 – Coulter's lupine LUSP2 Lupinus sparsiflorus 0–50 – manybristle chinchweed PEPA2 Pectis papposa 0–50 – Arizona popcornflower PLAR Plagiobothrys arizonicus 5–50 – creamcups PLCA5 Platystemon californicus 0–50 – desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 1–50 – woolly plantain PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 1–50 – purslane PORTU Portulaca 0–25 – New Mexico plumeseed RANE Rafinesquia neomexicana 0–25 – phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0–25 – hollowleaf annual lupine LUSU3 Lupinus succulentus 0–25 – Coulter's spiderling BOCO2 Boerhavia coulteri 0–25 – fivewing spiderling BOIN Boerhavia intermedia 0–25 – hoary bowlesia BOIN3 Bowlesia incana 0–25 – New Mexico thistle CINE Cirsium neomexicanum 0–25 – western tansymustard DEPI Descurainia pinnata 0–25 – miniature woollystar ERDI2 Eriastrum diffusum 0–25 – spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 0–25 – California goldfields LACA7 Lasthenia californica 0–25 – Goodding's bladderpod LEGO2 Lesquerella gooddingii 0–25 – shaggyfruit pepperweed LELA Lepidium lasiocarpum 0–25 – Thurber's pepperweed LETH2 Lepidium thurberi 0–25 – foothill deervetch LOHU2 Lotus humistratus 0–25 – miniature lupine LUBI Lupinus bicolor 0–25 – coastal bird's-foot trefoil LOSA Lotus salsuginosus 0–25 – spurge EUPHO Euphorbia 0–25 – cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0–25 – American wild carrot DAPU3 Daucus pusillus 0–15 – scrambled eggs COAU2 Corydalis aurea 0–15 – sorrel buckwheat ERPO4 Eriogonum polycladon 0–15 – green carpetweed MOVE Mollugo verticillata 0–15 – evening primrose OENOT Oenothera 0–15 – Florida pellitory PAFL3 Parietaria floridana 0–15 – ragwort SENEC Senecio 0–15 – spreading fanpetals SIAB Sida abutifolia 0–15 – sleepy silene SIAN2 Silene antirrhina 0–15 – New Mexico fanpetals SINE Sida neomexicana 0–15 – sand fringepod THCU Thysanocarpus curvipes 0–15 – desert unicorn-plant PRAL4 Proboscidea althaeifolia 0–15 – doubleclaw PRPA2 Proboscidea parviflora 0–15 – annual agoseris AGHE2 Agoseris heterophylla 0–10 – miner's lettuce CLPEP Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata 0–5 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 0–5 – Shrub/Vine8 shrubs 100–200 jojoba SICH Simmondsia chinensis 5–150 – ocotillo FOSP2 Fouquieria splendens 5–50 – whitethorn acacia ACCO2 Acacia constricta 5–50 – catclaw acacia ACGR Acacia greggii 5–25 – Wright's beebrush ALWR Aloysia wrightii 1–25 – snapdragon penstemon KEANM Keckiella antirrhinoides ssp. microphylla 0–25 – Sonoran scrub oak QUTU2 Quercus turbinella 0–15 – fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 1–15 – desert sweet CHMI2 Chamaebatiaria millefolium 0–15 – Warnock's snakewood COWA Condalia warnockii 0–15 – Florida hopbush DOVI Dodonaea viscosa 0–15 – Nevada jointfir EPNE Ephedra nevadensis 0–15 – desert ceanothus CEGR Ceanothus greggii 0–10 – Arizona necklacepod SOAR3 Sophora arizonica 0–10 – Mexican bladdersage SAME Salazaria mexicana 0–10 – ambrosia leaf bur ragweed AMAM2 Ambrosia ambrosioides 0–10 – Thurber's desert honeysuckle ANTH2 Anisacanthus thurberi 0–10 – catclaw mimosa MIACB Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera 0–5 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 0–5 – lotebush ZIOBC Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens 0–5 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 0–5 – spiny hackberry CEEH Celtis ehrenbergiana 0–5 – pale desert-thorn LYPA Lycium pallidum 0–2 – algerita MATR3 Mahonia trifoliolata 0–2 – redberry buckthorn RHCR Rhamnus crocea 0–1 – littleleaf sumac RHMI3 Rhus microphylla 0–1 – red barberry MAHA4 Mahonia haematocarpa 0–1 – 9 half shrubs 0–50 bastardsage ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 0–50 – rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 2–50 – Eastern Mojave buckwheat ERFA2 Eriogonum fasciculatum 0–25 – slender janusia JAGR Janusia gracilis 2–15 – littleleaf ratany KRER Krameria erecta 0–15 – sweetbush BEJU Bebbia juncea 0–15 – Coulter's brickellbush BRCO Brickellia coulteri 0–15 – Parish's goldeneye VIPA14 Viguiera parishii 0–15 – longleaf phlox PHLO2 Phlox longifolia 0–10 – fairyduster CAER Calliandra eriophylla 0–10 – ragged rockflower CRBI2 Crossosoma bigelovii 0–10 – shortleaf baccharis BABR Baccharis brachyphylla 0–10 – Goodding's tansyaster MAPIG2 Machaeranthera pinnatifida ssp. gooddingii var. gooddingii 0–10 – starry bedstraw GAST Galium stellatum 0–10 – yerba de pasmo BAPT Baccharis pteronioides 0–5 – 10 succulents 50–100 Schott's century plant AGSC3 Agave schottii 0–50 – cactus apple OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 5–50 – buck-horn cholla CYAC8 Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa 0–25 – walkingstick cactus CYSP8 Cylindropuntia spinosior 0–25 – sacahuista NOMI Nolina microcarpa 0–25 – tulip pricklypear OPPH Opuntia phaeacantha 0–20 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 1–20 – goldenflower century plant AGCH2 Agave chrysantha 0–15 – Whipple cholla CYWH Cylindropuntia whipplei 0–10 – candy barrelcactus FEWI Ferocactus wislizeni 1–10 – dollarjoint pricklypear OPCH Opuntia chlorotica 0–10 – Graham's nipple cactus MAGR9 Mammillaria grahamii 1–5 – Christmas cactus CYLE8 Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 0–5 – common sotol DAWH2 Dasylirion wheeleri 0–5 – Arizona hedgehog cactus ECCOA Echinocereus coccineus var. arizonicus 0–5 – Engelmann's hedgehog cactus ECEN Echinocereus engelmannii 0–2 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECFE Echinocereus fendleri 0–2 – spinystar ESVI2 Escobaria vivipara 0–1 – 11 increaser half-shrubs 10–100 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 1–30 – brittlebush ENFA Encelia farinosa 0–25 – button brittlebush ENFR Encelia frutescens 0–15 – turpentine bush ERLA12 Ericameria laricifolia 0–15 – burroweed ISTE2 Isocoma tenuisecta 0–15 – rayless goldenhead ACSP Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus 0–15 – narrowleaf goldenbush ERLI6 Ericameria linearifolia 0–10 – threadleaf snakeweed GUMI Gutierrezia microcephala 0–5 – whitestem paperflower PSCO2 Psilostrophe cooperi 0–5 – turpentinebroom THMO Thamnosma montana 0–5 – Tree12 desert trees 20–100 crucifixion thorn CAHO3 Canotia holacantha 0–50 – redberry juniper JUCO11 Juniperus coahuilensis 0–50 – oneseed juniper JUMO Juniperus monosperma 0–50 – Utah juniper JUOS Juniperus osteosperma 0–25 – blue paloverde PAFL6 Parkinsonia florida 0–25 – yellow paloverde PAMI5 Parkinsonia microphylla 0–25 – saguaro CAGI10 Carnegiea gigantea 0–25 – netleaf hackberry CELAR Celtis laevigata var. reticulata 0–15 – 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 are little used. Slopes greater than 50% and areas with very cobbly surfaces limit grazing use by cattle. Areas of rock outcrop and rock slides 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 and grassland wildlife species.Hydrological functions
This site has very rough surfaces, due to a high cover of gravels, cobbles 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, 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; wild onions, grass nuts, thistle, prickly pear tunas and mescal.
Supporting information
Contributors
Byron Lambeth
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) Globe ESS, Dan Robinett, Wilma Renken Contact for lead author USDA NRCS Globe Soil Survey Office Date 07/01/2014 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 natural rills are present and seem to follow fault lines or bedding planes of the volcanic parent material. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns occupy about 10% of the area. They are very short (2-5 ft.) in length and discontinuous where gravel/rock cover is high (>35%). They are terminated by cobble cover and / or terracettes of perennial grasses, shrubs and cacti. They are longer (10-15 ft.) where gravel/rock covers are low (< 20%). -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Erosional pedestals are very uncommon. High cover values of gravel, cobble and stones result in surface stability. Terracettes are common, cover less than 10% of the area and usually are formed by a combination of cobbles, perennial grasses, cacti and shrubs. They are from 10 to 30 feet apart and have elevation differences of 2 to 4 inches. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
1 to 15% (from cover estimates in 10, 9.6 sq.ft. frames). Bare, non-vegetated, areas are large, not connected. -
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):
All litter is staying in place, except in water flow patterns where herbaceous litter moves a few feet. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface has high organic content both under plant canopies and in pockets of bare soil surrounded by cobbles (slake values 4-6). -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Surface structure is granular to sub-angular blocky. The A horizon is 1-3 inches thick and is very dark colored (10YR 3/2). -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Cover of perennial grasses range from 20-30%, cover of shrubs and cacti range from 10-25%. Basal cover of perennial plants ranges from 3-6%. Covers of gravels, cobbles and stones range from 40 to 85%. The cover of all plant species is well-distributed across the area. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None. -
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:
Perennial grasses >= shrubsSub-dominant:
annual forbs and grasses > succulents > perennial forbsOther:
Additional:
in “El Nino” years, annuals exceed all other groups -
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Less than 1% of shrubs and perennial mid-grasses show signs of mortality. Curly mesquite and slender grama on warm exposures can lose up to 75% of their basal cover during several years of drought. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
From ecological site description annual production is; 700 lbs/ac(drought), 1000 lbs/ac(average year), 2000 lbs/ac (wet year). -
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:
whitethorn acacia, mesquite, one-seed juniper, snakeweed, prickley pear, red brome, cheatgrass, wild oats, canotia -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Not impaired in any way for shrubs and mid-grasses. Short grasses growing on warm exposures will not produce seed during several years of severe drought.
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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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