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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
R038XA104AZ Granitic Hills 12-16" p.z.
R038XA105AZ Limestone Hills 12-16" p.z.
R038XA117AZ Volcanic Hills 12-16" p.z. Clayey
Similar sites
R040XA105AZ Shallow Hills 10"-13" p.z.
R040XA123AZ Volcanic Hills 10"-13" P.Z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Parkinsonia
Shrub (1) Simmondsia chinensis
(2) eriogonum fasciculatumHerbaceous (1) aristida
(2) achnatherum speciosumPhysiographic 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 – 75 % 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 andesite, dacite, diorite and related conglomerates and metamorphic parent materials. Soil surfaces are well covered by dark colored gravels, cobbles and/or 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 15%.
Soils mapped to date on this site include: from SSA-661 East Pinal&South Gila Counties MU Lampshire-885.Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Cobbly sandy loam
(2) Very gravelly sandy loam
(3) Gravelly 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" 25 – 50 % Surface fragment cover >3" 1 – 15 % 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 – 45 % 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 & Transition, Volcanic/Metamorphic Hills 12-
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 Community
Figure 5. Volcanic / Metamorphic Hills 12-16" pz. HCPC
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.
North slopes have a chaparral of evergreen shrubs like jojoba, turbinella oak and flatop 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.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)Shrub/Vine 200 350 630 Grass/Grasslike 75 200 550 Forb 25 100 250 Tree 5 20 100 Total 305 670 1530 Table 6. Soil surface cover
Tree basal cover 0-0% Shrub/vine/liana basal cover 0-10% Grass/grasslike basal cover 0-0% Forb basal cover 0-0% Non-vascular plants 0-0% Biological crusts 0-10% Litter 20-50% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 20-50% Surface fragments >3" 0-20% Bedrock 0-10% Water 0% Bare ground 10-60% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – 0-1% 0-10% 1-10% >0.5 <= 1 – 1-5% 1-10% 1-5% >1 <= 2 – 5-10% 2-10% 1-5% >2 <= 4.5 – 15-25% 1-3% 0-1% >4.5 <= 13 1-5% 1-10% – – >13 <= 40 1-10% – – – >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 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 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 canotia, 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, whitethorn acacia, mesquite, ocotillo and canotia, and succulents like prickly pear, cholla and banana yucca 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 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 – purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 5–50 – bush muhly MUPO2 Muhlenbergia porteri 10–50 – tanglehead HECO10 Heteropogon contortus 1–30 – Parish's threeawn ARPUP5 Aristida purpurea var. parishii 0–30 – spidergrass ARTE3 Aristida ternipes 1–30 – spidergrass ARTEG Aristida ternipes var. gentilis 1–30 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 1–30 – black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 0–30 – Arizona cottontop DICA8 Digitaria californica 0–20 – 2 Cool season grasses 10–100 desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 10–80 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 0–20 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 0–20 – Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 0–5 – 3 Misc. perennial grasses 10–100 slender grama BORE2 Bouteloua repens 5–50 – Hall's panicgrass PAHA Panicum hallii 0–25 – big galleta PLRI3 Pleuraphis rigida 0–25 – hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 0–20 – tobosagrass PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 0–10 – curly-mesquite HIBE Hilaria belangeri 0–10 – red grama BOTR2 Bouteloua trifida 0–5 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 0–5 – blue threeawn ARPUN Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 0–5 – southwestern bristlegrass SESC2 Setaria scheelei 0–5 – plains bristlegrass SEVU2 Setaria vulpiseta 0–5 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–5 – low woollygrass DAPU7 Dasyochloa pulchella 0–2 – nineawn pappusgrass ENDE Enneapogon desvauxii 0–2 – 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 1–30 – mucronate sprangeltop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata 1–25 – Arizona signalgrass URAR Urochloa arizonica 1–20 – 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 0–20 – prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 0–10 – needle grama BOAR Bouteloua aristidoides 0–5 – Mexican sprangletop LEFUU Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia 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 0–2 – 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 – sixweeks grama BOBA2 Bouteloua barbata 0–1 – Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0–1 – Forb5 Perennial forbs 20–100 slender janusia JAGR Janusia gracilis 1–20 – bluedicks DICA14 Dichelostemma capitatum 1–15 – shrubby deervetch LORI3 Lotus rigidus 1–15 – desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 1–15 – spikemoss SELAG Selaginella 0–15 – brownplume wirelettuce STPA4 Stephanomeria pauciflora 1–10 – longflower tube tongue JULO3 Justicia longii 0–10 – lacy tansyaster MAPI Machaeranthera pinnatifida 1–10 – wishbone-bush MILAV Mirabilis laevis var. villosa 1–10 – Coues' cassia SECO10 Senna covesii 1–10 – weakleaf bur ragweed AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 1–10 – perennial rockcress ARPE2 Arabis perennans 1–10 – white sagebrush ARLUM2 Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. mexicana 1–10 – climbing wartclub BOSC Boerhavia scandens 0–5 – brownfoot ACWR5 Acourtia wrightii 1–5 – San Felipe dogweed ADPO Adenophyllum porophylloides 0–5 – trailing windmills ALIN Allionia incarnata 0–5 – Parry's false prairie-clover MAPA7 Marina parryi 1–5 – slender poreleaf POGR5 Porophyllum gracile 0–5 – plains blackfoot MELE2 Melampodium leucanthum 0–5 – cliffbrake PELLA Pellaea 0–5 – Parry's beardtongue PEPA24 Penstemon parryi 0–5 – desert penstemon PEPS Penstemon pseudospectabilis 0–5 – lipfern CHEIL Cheilanthes 0–5 – Arizona wrightwort CAAR7 Carlowrightia arizonica 0–5 – 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 – New Mexico groundsel PANE7 Packera neomexicana 0–2 – Oak Creek ragwort PAQU8 Packera quercetorum 0–1 – toadflax penstemon PELI2 Penstemon linarioides 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 – orange fameflower PHAU13 Phemeranthus aurantiacus 0–1 – desert tobacco NIOB Nicotiana obtusifolia 0–1 – paleface HIDE Hibiscus denudatus 0–1 – Indian rushpea HOGL2 Hoffmannseggia glauca 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 – Wright's deervetch LOWR Lotus wrightii 0–1 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 0–1 – ragged nettlespurge JAMA Jatropha macrorhiza 0–1 – turpentinebroom THMO Thamnosma montana 0–1 – branched noseburn TRRA5 Tragia ramosa 0–1 – Louisiana vetch VILUL2 Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana 0–1 – Lemmon's ragwort SELE8 Senecio lemmonii 0–1 – silverleaf nightshade SOEL Solanum elaeagnifolium 0–1 – largeflower onion ALMA4 Allium macropetalum 0–1 – tuber anemone ANTU Anemone tuberosa 0–1 – narrowleaf silverbush ARLA12 Argythamnia lanceolata 0–1 – white sagebrush ARLU Artemisia ludoviciana 0–1 – dense ayenia AYMI Ayenia microphylla 0–1 – desert marigold BAMU Baileya multiradiata 0–1 – scarlet spiderling BOCO Boerhavia coccinea 0–1 – New Mexico silverbush ARNE2 Argythamnia neomexicana 0–1 – dwarf desertpeony ACNA2 Acourtia nana 0–1 – 6 Annual forbs 5–150 bristly fiddleneck AMTE3 Amsinckia tessellata 0–25 – Coulter's spiderling BOCO2 Boerhavia coulteri 0–25 – fivewing spiderling BOIN Boerhavia intermedia 0–25 – California poppy ESCAM Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana 0–25 – western tansymustard DEPI Descurainia pinnata 0–20 – Coulter's lupine LUSP2 Lupinus sparsiflorus 0–20 – phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0–15 – exserted Indian paintbrush CAEXE Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta 0–15 – pitseed goosefoot CHBE4 Chenopodium berlandieri 0–10 – longleaf false goldeneye HELOA2 Heliomeris longifolia var. annua 0–10 – slender goldenweed MAGR10 Machaeranthera gracilis 0–10 – tanseyleaf tansyaster MATA2 Machaeranthera tanacetifolia 0–10 – combseed PECTO Pectocarya 0–5 – desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 1–5 – woolly plantain PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 0–5 – coastal bird's-foot trefoil LOSA Lotus salsuginosus 0–5 – Arizona lupine LUAR4 Lupinus arizonicus 0–5 – Arizona popcornflower PLAR Plagiobothrys arizonicus 0–5 – sleepy silene SIAN2 Silene antirrhina 0–5 – lyreleaf jewelflower STCA5 Streptanthus carinatus 0–5 – New Mexico plumeseed RANE Rafinesquia neomexicana 0–5 – thelypody THELY Thelypodium 0–5 – woolly tidestromia TILA2 Tidestromia lanuginosa 0–5 – flatcrown buckwheat ERDE6 Eriogonum deflexum 0–5 – sorrel buckwheat ERPO4 Eriogonum polycladon 0–5 – American wild carrot DAPU3 Daucus pusillus 0–5 – miner's lettuce CLPEP Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata 0–5 – cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0–5 – carelessweed AMPA Amaranthus palmeri 0–5 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–5 – Arizona poppy KAGR Kallstroemia grandiflora 0–5 – shaggyfruit pepperweed LELA Lepidium lasiocarpum 0–5 – foothill deervetch LOHU2 Lotus humistratus 0–5 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 0–5 – Thurber's pepperweed LETH2 Lepidium thurberi 0–2 – spurge EUPHO Euphorbia 0–2 – Gordon's bladderpod LEGO Lesquerella gordonii 0–2 – annual agoseris AGHE2 Agoseris heterophylla 0–2 – New Mexico thistle CINE Cirsium neomexicanum 0–2 – wedgeleaf draba DRCU Draba cuneifolia 0–2 – miniature woollystar ERDI2 Eriastrum diffusum 0–2 – spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 0–2 – crestrib morning-glory IPCO2 Ipomoea costellata 0–2 – creamcups PLCA5 Platystemon californicus 0–2 – sand fringepod THCU Thysanocarpus curvipes 0–2 – miniature lupine LUBI Lupinus bicolor 0–2 – purslane PORTU Portulaca 0–2 – Florida pellitory PAFL3 Parietaria floridana 0–2 – hollowleaf annual lupine LUSU3 Lupinus succulentus 0–2 – Fendler's desertdandelion MAFE Malacothrix fendleri 0–1 – whitestem blazingstar MEAL6 Mentzelia albicaulis 0–1 – green carpetweed MOVE Mollugo verticillata 0–1 – desert evening primrose OEPR Oenothera primiveris 0–1 – manybristle chinchweed PEPA2 Pectis papposa 0–1 – desert unicorn-plant PRAL4 Proboscidea althaeifolia 0–1 – doubleclaw PRPA2 Proboscidea parviflora 0–1 – woollyhead neststraw STMI2 Stylocline micropoides 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 – redstar IPCO3 Ipomoea coccinea 0–1 – ivyleaf morning-glory IPHE Ipomoea hederacea 0–1 – Texas stork's bill ERTE13 Erodium texanum 0–1 – sacred thorn-apple DAWR2 Datura wrightii 0–1 – hairy prairie clover DAMO Dalea mollis 0–1 – scrambled eggs COAU2 Corydalis aurea 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 – star gilia GIST Gilia stellata 0–1 – California goldfields LACA7 Lasthenia californica 0–1 – Shrub/Vine7 Evergreen shrubs 150–300 jojoba SICH Simmondsia chinensis 100–250 – Sonoran scrub oak QUTU2 Quercus turbinella 0–150 – desert ceanothus CEGR Ceanothus greggii 0–80 – snapdragon penstemon KEANM Keckiella antirrhinoides ssp. microphylla 0–20 – algerita MATR3 Mahonia trifoliolata 0–10 – sugar sumac RHOV Rhus ovata 0–5 – redberry buckthorn RHCR Rhamnus crocea 0–1 – red barberry MAHA4 Mahonia haematocarpa 0–1 – 8 Large shrubs 15–60 Wright's beebrush ALWR Aloysia wrightii 1–20 – ocotillo FOSP2 Fouquieria splendens 1–20 – whitethorn acacia ACCO2 Acacia constricta 0–10 – catclaw acacia ACGR Acacia greggii 1–10 – desert sweet CHMI2 Chamaebatiaria millefolium 0–5 – water jacket LYAN Lycium andersonii 0–5 – Berlandier's wolfberry LYBE Lycium berlandieri 1–5 – Arizona desert-thorn LYEX Lycium exsertum 0–5 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 0–2 – creosote bush LATR2 Larrea tridentata 0–2 – spiny hackberry CEEH Celtis ehrenbergiana 0–2 – Florida hopbush DOVI Dodonaea viscosa 0–2 – catclaw mimosa MIACB Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera 0–2 – Mexican bladdersage SAME Salazaria mexicana 0–2 – Arizona necklacepod SOAR3 Sophora arizonica 0–2 – lotebush ZIOBC Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens 0–1 – mariola PAIN2 Parthenium incanum 0–1 – littleleaf sumac RHMI3 Rhus microphylla 0–1 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 0–1 – pale desert-thorn LYPA Lycium pallidum 0–1 – Warnock's snakewood COWA Condalia warnockii 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 – 9 Dominant half shrubs 35–150 Eastern Mojave buckwheat ERFA2 Eriogonum fasciculatum 20–100 – bastardsage ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 1–25 – American threefold TRCA8 Trixis californica 1–25 – rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 1–20 – Coulter's brickellbush BRCO Brickellia coulteri 1–15 – fairyduster CAER Calliandra eriophylla 1–15 – Parish's goldeneye VIPA14 Viguiera parishii 0–10 – littleleaf ratany KRER Krameria erecta 0–10 – longleaf phlox PHLO2 Phlox longifolia 0–5 – ragged rockflower CRBI2 Crossosoma bigelovii 0–5 – starry bedstraw GAST Galium stellatum 0–2 – desert zinnia ZIAC Zinnia acerosa 0–2 – 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 banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 1–20 – buck-horn cholla CYAC8 Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa 0–15 – walkingstick cactus CYSP8 Cylindropuntia spinosior 0–10 – Whipple cholla CYWH Cylindropuntia whipplei 0–10 – cactus apple OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 1–10 – tulip pricklypear OPPH Opuntia phaeacantha 0–10 – common sotol DAWH2 Dasylirion wheeleri 1–5 – saguaro CAGI10 Carnegiea gigantea 0–5 – Christmas cactus CYLE8 Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 0–5 – goldenflower century plant AGCH2 Agave chrysantha 0–5 – Schott's century plant AGSC3 Agave schottii 0–2 – dollarjoint pricklypear OPCH Opuntia chlorotica 0–2 – candy barrelcactus FEWI Ferocactus wislizeni 0–2 – teddybear cholla CYBI9 Cylindropuntia bigelovii 0–2 – jumping cholla CYFU10 Cylindropuntia fulgida 0–2 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECFA Echinocereus fasciculatus 0–2 – spinystar ESVI2 Escobaria vivipara 0–1 – Graham's nipple cactus MAGR9 Mammillaria grahamii 0–1 – sacahuista NOMI Nolina microcarpa 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 – soaptree yucca YUEL Yucca elata 0–1 – 11 Increaser half-shrubs 1–50 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 1–20 – brittlebush ENFA Encelia farinosa 0–15 – button brittlebush ENFR Encelia frutescens 0–5 – turpentine bush ERLA12 Ericameria laricifolia 0–5 – narrowleaf goldenbush ERLI6 Ericameria linearifolia 0–5 – threadleaf snakeweed GUMI Gutierrezia microcephala 0–1 – burroweed ISTE2 Isocoma tenuisecta 0–1 – Tree12 Trees 5–100 crucifixion thorn CAHO3 Canotia holacantha 1–50 – yellow paloverde PAMI5 Parkinsonia microphylla 1–15 – western honey mesquite PRGLT Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana 0–5 – velvet mesquite PRVE Prosopis velutina 0–5 – redberry juniper JUCO11 Juniperus coahuilensis 0–5 – oneseed juniper JUMO Juniperus monosperma 0–5 – blue paloverde PAFL6 Parkinsonia florida 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 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 grass nuts, thistle, prickly pear tunas, jojoba nuts and mescal.
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) 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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