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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.
R040XA119AZ Schist Hills 10"-13" p.z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Parkinsonia
Shrub (1) acacia greggii
(2) eriogonum wrightiiHerbaceous (1) bouteloua eriopoda
(2) muhlenbergia porteriPhysiographic 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 sand to coarse sandy loam in texture, calcareous in places and well drained. They have formed in residuum and colluvium from diabase and granodiorite parent materials. Bedrock has carbonates in the fractures. Soil surfaces are not well covered by gravels, cobbles and/or stones. Gravel size is inadequate to prevent soil erosion. The effective rooting depth is limited by slightly weathered bedrock at 10 to 20 inches. Runoff is moderate to high on moist soils. Rock outcrop and can be as high as 10%.
Soils mapped to date on this site include Schifflin.Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Residuum – diabase
(2) Colluvium – granodiorite
Surface texture (1) Gravelly loamy sand
(2) Very gravelly loamy sand
(3) Very gravelly sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Sandy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Rapid to moderately rapid Soil depth 10 – 20 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 5 – 30 % Surface fragment cover >3" 5 – 35 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)0.6 – 1.5 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)0 – 10 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 2 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7.4 – 8.4 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)5 – 30 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 15 % 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
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 4. Diabase 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 more evergreen shrubs like juniper and turbinella oak. 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, black grama, bush muhly). Grasses on cooler aspects include desert stipa and sideoats grama.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)Grass/Grasslike 100 250 560 Shrub/Vine 100 250 460 Forb 25 75 250 Tree 15 25 100 Total 240 600 1370 Table 6. Soil surface cover
Tree basal cover 0-0% Shrub/vine/liana basal cover 0-0% Grass/grasslike basal cover 0-10% Forb basal cover 0-0% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0-0% Litter 20-50% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 10-30% Surface fragments >3" 10-40% Bedrock 0-10% Water 0% Bare ground 20-70% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – 1-5% 0-10% 0-10% >0.5 <= 1 – 5-10% 1-10% 1-5% >1 <= 2 – 1-5% 1-5% 0-5% >2 <= 4.5 – 5-15% 0-2% 0-1% >4.5 <= 13 0-5% 1-5% – – >13 <= 40 0-2% – – – >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 Community
Figure 7. Diabase Hills 12-16" pz. shrubby
Perennial 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 40%. 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
Shrub Dominated and Eroded StateCommunity 3.1
Shrub Dominated and Eroded Plant Community
Figure 8. Diabase Hills 12-16" pz. eroded
Shrubs like catclaw and whitethorn acacia; trees like mesquite, juniper, ocotillo, blue paloverde, 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. Small gravel sizes (1/4 inch) are inadequate to prevent soil movement on steep slopes when the plant cover has been depleted.State 4
Exotic Invaded StateCommunity 4.1
Exotic Forb and Grass 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 juniper, and leave fire tolerant species like turbinella oak, mesquite, whitethorn, catclaw and mimosa.
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 95–300 black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 50–200 – sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 20–70 – purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 5–50 – Parish's threeawn ARPUP5 Aristida purpurea var. parishii 5–50 – bush muhly MUPO2 Muhlenbergia porteri 10–50 – Arizona cottontop DICA8 Digitaria californica 0–20 – tanglehead HECO10 Heteropogon contortus 0–20 – spidergrass ARTE3 Aristida ternipes 1–20 – spidergrass ARTEG Aristida ternipes var. gentilis 0–20 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 0–10 – 2 Cool season grasses 1–50 desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 1–50 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 0–10 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 0–10 – Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 0–5 – 3 Misc. perennial grasses 1–60 slender grama BORE2 Bouteloua repens 0–30 – big galleta PLRI3 Pleuraphis rigida 0–25 – hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 0–20 – curly-mesquite HIBE Hilaria belangeri 0–10 – Hall's panicgrass PAHA Panicum hallii 0–10 – red grama BOTR2 Bouteloua trifida 0–5 – low woollygrass DAPU7 Dasyochloa pulchella 0–5 – southwestern bristlegrass SESC2 Setaria scheelei 0–5 – plains bristlegrass SEVU2 Setaria vulpiseta 0–5 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–5 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 0–5 – blue threeawn ARPUN Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 0–5 – nineawn pappusgrass ENDE Enneapogon desvauxii 0–2 – plains lovegrass ERIN Eragrostis intermedia 0–1 – vine mesquite PAOB Panicum obtusum 0–1 – tobosagrass PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 0–1 – green sprangletop LEDU Leptochloa dubia 0–1 – 4 Annual grasses 5–150 sixweeks threeawn ARAD Aristida adscensionis 1–30 – 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 0–20 – prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 1–20 – Arizona signalgrass URAR Urochloa arizonica 0–15 – witchgrass PACA6 Panicum capillare 0–5 – Arizona brome BRAR4 Bromus arizonicus 0–2 – needle grama BOAR Bouteloua aristidoides 0–2 – sixweeks grama BOBA2 Bouteloua barbata 0–1 – Rothrock's grama BORO2 Bouteloua rothrockii 0–1 – 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 – delicate muhly MUFR Muhlenbergia fragilis 0–1 – littleseed muhly MUMI Muhlenbergia microsperma 0–1 – Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0–1 – Forb5 Perennial forbs 20–100 shrubby deervetch LORI3 Lotus rigidus 1–20 – longflower tube tongue JULO3 Justicia longii 0–10 – slender janusia JAGR Janusia gracilis 1–10 – lacy tansyaster MAPI Machaeranthera pinnatifida 0–10 – desert marigold BAMU Baileya multiradiata 1–10 – desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 1–10 – brownplume wirelettuce STPA4 Stephanomeria pauciflora 1–10 – Parry's false prairie-clover MAPA7 Marina parryi 0–5 – perennial rockcress ARPE2 Arabis perennans 0–5 – trailing windmills ALIN Allionia incarnata 1–5 – white sagebrush ARLUM2 Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. mexicana 1–5 – weakleaf bur ragweed AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 1–5 – plains blackfoot MELE2 Melampodium leucanthum 0–5 – wishbone-bush MILAV Mirabilis laevis var. villosa 1–5 – cliffbrake PELLA Pellaea 0–5 – Parry's beardtongue PEPA24 Penstemon parryi 0–5 – desert penstemon PEPS Penstemon pseudospectabilis 0–5 – slender poreleaf POGR5 Porophyllum gracile 0–5 – Coues' cassia SECO10 Senna covesii 1–5 – climbing wartclub BOSC Boerhavia scandens 0–5 – lipfern CHEIL Cheilanthes 0–5 – desert trumpet ERIN4 Eriogonum inflatum 1–5 – Mojave spurge EUSC6 Euphorbia schizoloba 0–2 – southwestern mock vervain GLGO Glandularia gooddingii 0–2 – desert rosemallow HICO Hibiscus coulteri 0–2 – sego lily CANU3 Calochortus nuttallii 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 – turpentinebroom THMO Thamnosma montana 0–1 – branched noseburn TRRA5 Tragia ramosa 0–1 – Louisiana vetch VILUL2 Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana 0–1 – Wright's deervetch LOWR Lotus wrightii 0–1 – wavyleaf Indian paintbrush CAAPM Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii 0–1 – Arizona wrightwort CAAR7 Carlowrightia arizonica 0–1 – ragged nettlespurge JAMA Jatropha macrorhiza 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 – bluedicks DICA14 Dichelostemma capitatum 0–1 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 0–1 – spikemoss SELAG Selaginella 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 – orange fameflower PHAU13 Phemeranthus aurantiacus 0–1 – desert tobacco NIOB Nicotiana obtusifolia 0–1 – tuber anemone ANTU Anemone tuberosa 0–1 – narrowleaf silverbush ARLA12 Argythamnia lanceolata 0–1 – white sagebrush ARLU Artemisia ludoviciana 0–1 – dwarf desertpeony ACNA2 Acourtia nana 0–1 – brownfoot ACWR5 Acourtia wrightii 0–1 – San Felipe dogweed ADPO Adenophyllum porophylloides 0–1 – New Mexico silverbush ARNE2 Argythamnia neomexicana 0–1 – largeflower onion ALMA4 Allium macropetalum 0–1 – dense ayenia AYMI Ayenia microphylla 0–1 – scarlet spiderling BOCO Boerhavia coccinea 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 – slender goldenweed MAGR10 Machaeranthera gracilis 0–10 – tanseyleaf tansyaster MATA2 Machaeranthera tanacetifolia 0–10 – shaggyfruit pepperweed LELA Lepidium lasiocarpum 0–5 – Arizona poppy KAGR Kallstroemia grandiflora 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 – 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 – combseed PECTO Pectocarya 0–5 – desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 1–5 – woolly plantain PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 0–5 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–5 – carelessweed AMPA Amaranthus palmeri 0–5 – American wild carrot DAPU3 Daucus pusillus 0–5 – cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0–5 – flatcrown buckwheat ERDE6 Eriogonum deflexum 0–5 – sorrel buckwheat ERPO4 Eriogonum polycladon 0–5 – thelypody THELY Thelypodium 0–5 – woolly tidestromia TILA2 Tidestromia lanuginosa 0–5 – sand fringepod THCU Thysanocarpus curvipes 0–2 – miniature woollystar ERDI2 Eriastrum diffusum 0–2 – spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 0–2 – spurge EUPHO Euphorbia 0–2 – New Mexico thistle CINE Cirsium neomexicanum 0–2 – miner's lettuce CLPEP Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata 0–2 – wedgeleaf draba DRCU Draba cuneifolia 0–2 – annual agoseris AGHE2 Agoseris heterophylla 0–2 – purslane PORTU Portulaca 0–2 – Gordon's bladderpod LEGO Lesquerella gordonii 0–2 – Florida pellitory PAFL3 Parietaria floridana 0–2 – creamcups PLCA5 Platystemon californicus 0–2 – miniature lupine LUBI Lupinus bicolor 0–2 – crestrib morning-glory IPCO2 Ipomoea costellata 0–2 – Thurber's pepperweed LETH2 Lepidium thurberi 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 – redstar IPCO3 Ipomoea coccinea 0–1 – ivyleaf morning-glory IPHE Ipomoea hederacea 0–1 – California goldfields LACA7 Lasthenia californica 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 – manybristle chinchweed PEPA2 Pectis papposa 0–1 – desert unicorn-plant PRAL4 Proboscidea althaeifolia 0–1 – doubleclaw PRPA2 Proboscidea parviflora 0–1 – hoary bowlesia BOIN3 Bowlesia incana 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 – sacred thorn-apple DAWR2 Datura wrightii 0–1 – scrambled eggs COAU2 Corydalis aurea 0–1 – hairy prairie clover DAMO Dalea mollis 0–1 – star gilia GIST Gilia stellata 0–1 – longleaf false goldeneye HELOA2 Heliomeris longifolia var. annua 0–1 – Texas stork's bill ERTE13 Erodium texanum 0–1 – Shrub/Vine7 Evergreen shrubs 5–80 Sonoran scrub oak QUTU2 Quercus turbinella 0–50 – narrowleaf yerba santa ERAN2 Eriodictyon angustifolium 0–25 – desert ceanothus CEGR Ceanothus greggii 0–20 – sugar sumac RHOV Rhus ovata 0–5 – algerita MATR3 Mahonia trifoliolata 0–5 – snapdragon penstemon KEANM Keckiella antirrhinoides ssp. microphylla 0–2 – 8 Large shrubs 30–150 catclaw acacia ACGR Acacia greggii 10–80 – Wright's beebrush ALWR Aloysia wrightii 5–50 – desert lavender HYEM Hyptis emoryi 1–45 – ocotillo FOSP2 Fouquieria splendens 5–20 – whitethorn acacia ACCO2 Acacia constricta 0–10 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 0–5 – Berlandier's wolfberry LYBE Lycium berlandieri 0–5 – Arizona desert-thorn LYEX Lycium exsertum 0–5 – ambrosia leaf bur ragweed AMAM2 Ambrosia ambrosioides 0–5 – catclaw mimosa MIACB Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera 0–5 – Mexican bladdersage SAME Salazaria mexicana 0–2 – Arizona necklacepod SOAR3 Sophora arizonica 0–2 – creosote bush LATR2 Larrea tridentata 0–2 – pale desert-thorn LYPA Lycium pallidum 0–1 – Thurber's desert honeysuckle ANTH2 Anisacanthus thurberi 0–1 – fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 0–1 – desertbroom BASA2 Baccharis sarothroides 0–1 – spiny hackberry CEEH Celtis ehrenbergiana 0–1 – desert sweet CHMI2 Chamaebatiaria millefolium 0–1 – Warnock's snakewood COWA Condalia warnockii 0–1 – Florida hopbush DOVI Dodonaea viscosa 0–1 – lotebush ZIOBC Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens 0–1 – jojoba SICH Simmondsia chinensis 0–1 – mariola PAIN2 Parthenium incanum 0–1 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 0–1 – 9 Dominant half shrubs 35–120 fairyduster CAER Calliandra eriophylla 20–70 – bastardsage ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 5–25 – littleleaf ratany KRER Krameria erecta 1–15 – rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 0–10 – Parish's goldeneye VIPA14 Viguiera parishii 0–10 – Eastern Mojave buckwheat ERFA2 Eriogonum fasciculatum 0–10 – longleaf phlox PHLO2 Phlox longifolia 0–5 – American threefold TRCA8 Trixis californica 0–5 – Coulter's brickellbush BRCO Brickellia coulteri 0–5 – desert zinnia ZIAC Zinnia acerosa 0–2 – starry bedstraw GAST Galium stellatum 0–2 – ragged rockflower CRBI2 Crossosoma bigelovii 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 20–80 cactus apple OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 5–40 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 1–20 – tulip pricklypear OPPH Opuntia phaeacantha 1–10 – common sotol DAWH2 Dasylirion wheeleri 1–10 – walkingstick cactus CYSP8 Cylindropuntia spinosior 0–5 – saguaro CAGI10 Carnegiea gigantea 0–5 – buck-horn cholla CYAC8 Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa 0–5 – candy barrelcactus FEWI Ferocactus wislizeni 0–2 – Graham's nipple cactus MAGR9 Mammillaria grahamii 0–1 – sacahuista NOMI Nolina microcarpa 0–1 – dollarjoint pricklypear OPCH Opuntia chlorotica 0–1 – teddybear cholla CYBI9 Cylindropuntia bigelovii 0–1 – jumping cholla CYFU10 Cylindropuntia fulgida 0–1 – Christmas cactus CYLE8 Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 0–1 – goldenflower century plant AGCH2 Agave chrysantha 0–1 – Schott's century plant AGSC3 Agave schottii 0–1 – Whipple cholla CYWH Cylindropuntia whipplei 0–1 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECBO2 Echinocereus bonkerae 0–1 – Arizona hedgehog cactus ECCOA Echinocereus coccineus var. arizonicus 0–1 – Engelmann's hedgehog cactus ECEN Echinocereus engelmannii 0–1 – redspine fishhook cactus ECER2 Echinomastus erectocentrus 0–1 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECFA Echinocereus fasciculatus 0–1 – spinystar ESVI2 Escobaria vivipara 0–1 – 11 Increaser half-shrubs 5–50 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 1–30 – brittlebush ENFA Encelia farinosa 0–15 – button brittlebush ENFR Encelia frutescens 0–15 – 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 15–100 blue paloverde PAFL6 Parkinsonia florida 10–50 – crucifixion thorn CAHO3 Canotia holacantha 0–40 – 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 – 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 very susceptible to erosion in overgrazed areas like bed-grounds, livestock trails and lower slopes adjacent to water, because gravel size is inadequate in preventing soil loss.
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, due to a high cover of fine gravels with some cobbles and stone. When the soils are dry, it produces limited runoff. It produces significant runoff 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 thistle, prickly pear tunas and mescal. There is limited harvest of herbs like herbaceous sage, yerba santa and mormon tea.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Pinal County, AZ Township/Range/Section T7S R18E S31 General legal description Miller Dry Camp Allotment, 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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