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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 38.2 - Interior Chaparral-Woodlands
Elevations range from 4000 to 5500 feet and precipitation averages 16 to 20 inches per year. Vegetation includes turbinella oak, Wright silktassel, hollyleaf buckthorn, desert buckbrush, one-seed juniper, alligator juniper, pinyon, algerita, sugar sumac, prairie junegrass, blue grama, curly mesquite, bottlebrush squirreltail, muttongrass, cane beardgrass, plains lovegrass and bullgrass. The soil temperature regime ranges from thermic to mesic and the soil moisture regime is aridic ustic. 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 Sites) map unit no's. 463, 471 and 472 on the Prescott National Forest.
Associated sites
R038XB203AZ Clay Loam Upland 16-20" p.z.
R038XB209AZ Loamy Upland 16-20" p.z.
R038XB215AZ Clayey Hills 16-20" p.z.
Similar sites
R038XA102AZ Clayey Upland 12-16" p.z.
R041XC304AZ Clayey Upland 12-16" p.z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Pleuraphis mutica
(2) Koeleria macranthaPhysiographic features
This site occurs in the mid to upper elevations of the Mogollon Transition zone south of the Rim in central Arizona.
This site is in an upland position. It neither benefits significantly from run-in moisture nor suffers from excess runoff. Slopes range from 0 to 8 percent on valley fill plains, basalt flows and mesa tops.Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Alluvial flat
(2) Lava flow
(3) Mesa
Elevation 4400 – 5600 ft Slope 0 – 8 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
Precipitation in this common resource area averages 16 to 20 inches annually. The winter-summer rainfall ratio ranges from about 60/40% in the western part of the area to 45/55% in the eastern 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 5 to 35 inches per year and can occur from November through April. Snow seldom persists for more than a week. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is generally low all year. Average annual air temperatures range from 51 to 60 degrees F
(thermic temperature regime). Daytime temps in the summer are commonly in the low 90's. Freezing temperatures are common from October through April. The actual precipitation, avaliable moisture and temperature varies, depending on, region, elevation, rain shadow effect and aspect.Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 180 days Freeze-free period (average) 240 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 moderately deep to deep (30 to 60 inches), clayey throughout, and well drained. They are formed in alluvium from basalt, andesite and related volcanic tuffs and ash. The surface textures are clay and silty clay except for small areas with silty clayloam textures. They have vertic properties and crack and churn with wetting and drying. The effective rooting depth is 30 to 60 inches, plus. Runoff is slow on dry soils due to cracks and holes, but is moderate to high on moist soils. The erosion hazard is slight unless heavy traffic causes trailing and compaction.
Soil series mapped include: SSA639 Black Hills-Sedona Area MU 417 Biplane and SSA675 San Carlos IR Area MU's 008 Ashcreek, 023 & 025 Cherrycow clay and 024, 025, 026, 45 & 81 Cloverdale clay.Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium – basalt
Surface texture (1) Cobbly clay
(2) Gravelly silty clay
(3) Silty clay loam
Family particle size (1) Clayey
Drainage class Well drained to moderately well drained Permeability class Moderately rapid to slow Soil depth 30 – 60 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 5 – 20 % Surface fragment cover >3" 1 – 10 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)3.6 – 7.2 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)1 – 15 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 2 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7 – 8.2 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 10 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 5 % Ecological dynamics
The native plant community is a tobosa grassland (canopy cover of 50 to 70%) with an important component of cool season grasses that fluctuate with climate. Cool and warm season annual grasses and forbs are well represented in the flora. Perennial forbs are an important group also. Periodic wildfires occured every 10 to 15 years; June through August, and controlled shrubs and succulents invading from adjacent, shallow soil, areas. In the absence of fire for long periods of time; shrubs, trees and cacti can dominate the site. The interactions of drought, fire and grazing can result in a loss of tobosa cover. If tobosa canopy is reduced to less than 5% cover and is patchy in distribution; it may not be able to re-colonize large areas. In these situations annuals, both native and non-native can dominate the plant community. Non-native annuals can, over time, diminish the soil seed-bank of native annual species.
State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 4. Clayey Upland 16-20" pz. state and transition
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
Tobosa Grassland StateCommunity 1.1
Tobosa Grassland Plant Community
Figure 5. Clayey Upland 16-20" pz. photos
The historic, native, plant community is a grassland dominated by tobosa grass with lesser amounts of vine mesquite, blue grama, sideoats grama, black grama and curley mesquite. Prairie junegrass, western wheatgrass, muttongrass and bottlebrush squirreltail are an important group of cool season grasses in the plant community, but can diminish to low levels after severe winter - spring drought. A rich flora of native annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, exist in the plant community. Periodic, naturally occuring, wildfires were important in maintaining the potential plant community.
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 750 925 1275 Tree 140 182 238 Shrub/Vine 100 130 170 Forb 40 52 68 Total 1030 1289 1751 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 0-10% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 10-20% Forb foliar cover 0-0% Non-vascular plants 0-0% Biological crusts 0-10% Litter 40-60% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 0-20% Surface fragments >3" 0-10% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 20-30% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – – 0-5% 1-5% >0.5 <= 1 – 0-2% 2-15% 1-10% >1 <= 2 – 0-2% 40-70% 1-2% >2 <= 4.5 – 0-2% – – >4.5 <= 13 0-2% 0-2% – – >13 <= 40 0-2% – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Figure 7. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3812 , 38.2 16-20" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring and continues into the summer and fall..
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 5 5 15 10 10 15 20 10 5 5 0 State 2
Annual Dominated StateCommunity 2.1
Annual Forb and Grass Plant CommunityTobosa canopy cover is reduced due to the interactions of drought, grazing and / or fire. Native and non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the plant community. Tobosa canopy cover is less than 5% and patchy in distribution. Tobosa may not be able to re-colonize large areas because of very poor seed production and little or no seeds in the seed-bank. Vertic soil properties maintain good, surface, soil tilth and good infiltration rates when soils are dry. Plant production is high, even with the lack of perennial grass cover, due to soil cracking and churning.
State 3
Shrub and Annual Dominated StateCommunity 3.1
Shrub and Annual Plant CommunityShrubs like; mesquite, wait a bit mimosa and catclaw acacia; succulents like; prickly pear, cholla and yucca, and trees like one-seed juniper, alligator juniper and redberry juniper, invade from adjacent, shallow soil, areas, to dominate the site in the absence of fire. Native and non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the understory. 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. Tobosa cannot re-colonize large areas with low canopy cover levels and patchy distribution.
State 4
Exotic Invaded StateCommunity 4.1
Exotic Forb and Grass Plant CommunityNon-native annual grasses and forbs like; red brome, cheatgrass, kochia, tumble pigweed, russian thistle, tumble mustard, yellow starthistle, wild oats and filaree, can invade and dominate areas of the site with very low tobosa cover. Perennial forbs like russian knapweed and leafy spurge could invade and, perhaps, dominate this 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.
Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Grasses 100–300 tobosagrass PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 100–300 – 2 Cool Season Grasses 325–650 western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 195–325 – muttongrass POFE Poa fendleriana 65–195 – squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides 65–130 – 3 misc. perennial grasses 10–100 vine mesquite PAOB Panicum obtusum 0–100 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 0–50 – sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 0–50 – blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 0–50 – curly-mesquite HIBE Hilaria belangeri 0–50 – black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 0–25 – threeawn ARIST Aristida 0–25 – common wolfstail LYPH Lycurus phleoides 0–15 – creeping muhly MURE Muhlenbergia repens 0–10 – slender muhly MUTE4 Muhlenbergia tenuifolia 0–10 – 4 annual grasses 25–400 little barley HOPU Hordeum pusillum 10–300 – Mexican sprangletop LEFUU Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia 10–200 – mucronate sprangeltop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata 10–200 – Mexican panicgrass PAHI5 Panicum hirticaule 0–200 – prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 0–100 – needle grama BOAR Bouteloua aristidoides 0–50 – tufted lovegrass ERPE Eragrostis pectinacea 0–50 – desert lovegrass ERPEM Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima 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 – sticky sprangletop LEVI5 Leptochloa viscida 0–50 – sixweeks threeawn ARAD Aristida adscensionis 0–50 – feather fingergrass CHVI4 Chloris virgata 0–50 – witchgrass PACA6 Panicum capillare 0–50 – canyon cupgrass ERLE7 Eriochloa lemmonii 0–25 – delicate muhly MUFR Muhlenbergia fragilis 0–25 – littleseed muhly MUMI Muhlenbergia microsperma 0–25 – Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0–25 – sixweeks grama BOBA2 Bouteloua barbata 0–25 – Arizona brome BRAR4 Bromus arizonicus 0–25 – Arizona signalgrass URAR Urochloa arizonica 0–15 – Forb5 perennial forbs 15–100 largeflower onion ALMA4 Allium macropetalum 1–50 – Lewis flax LILE3 Linum lewisii 0–50 – desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 0–25 – copper globemallow SPAN3 Sphaeralcea angustifolia 0–25 – brownplume wirelettuce STPA4 Stephanomeria pauciflora 0–25 – weakleaf bur ragweed AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 1–25 – bluedicks DICA14 Dichelostemma capitatum 1–25 – Indian rushpea HOGL2 Hoffmannseggia glauca 1–25 – leastdaisy CHAET2 Chaetopappa 0–15 – Greene's bird's-foot trefoil LOGR4 Lotus greenei 0–15 – Wright's deervetch LOWR Lotus wrightii 0–15 – vetch VICIA Vicia 0–10 – rose heath CHER2 Chaetopappa ericoides 0–10 – Texas bindweed COEQ Convolvulus equitans 0–10 – onion ALLIU Allium 0–10 – Forb, perennial 2FP Forb, perennial 0–10 – scarlet spiderling BOCO Boerhavia coccinea 0–10 – ragwort SENEC Senecio 0–10 – sego lily CANU3 Calochortus nuttallii 0–5 – brownfoot ACWR5 Acourtia wrightii 0–5 – tuber anemone ANTU Anemone tuberosa 0–5 – Braun's rockcress ARPE3 Arabis perstellata 0–5 – southwestern mock vervain GLGO Glandularia gooddingii 0–5 – desert larkspur DEPA Delphinium parishii 0–5 – Parry's beardtongue PEPA24 Penstemon parryi 0–5 – orange fameflower PHAU13 Phemeranthus aurantiacus 0–5 – canaigre dock RUHY Rumex hymenosepalus 0–5 – twinleaf senna SEBA3 Senna bauhinioides 0–5 – 6 annual forbs 25–500 common sunflower HEAN3 Helianthus annuus 0–100 – longleaf false goldeneye HELOA2 Heliomeris longifolia var. annua 0–50 – crestrib morning-glory IPCO2 Ipomoea costellata 1–50 – spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 0–50 – Arizona popcornflower PLAR Plagiobothrys arizonicus 1–50 – creamcups PLCA5 Platystemon californicus 0–50 – Forb, annual 2FA Forb, annual 0–50 – aster ASTER Aster 0–50 – carelessweed AMPA Amaranthus palmeri 0–50 – New Mexico thistle CINE Cirsium neomexicanum 2–50 – goldeneye VIGUI Viguiera 0–50 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–25 – Coulter's spiderling BOCO2 Boerhavia coulteri 0–25 – lambsquarters CHAL7 Chenopodium album 0–25 – aridland goosefoot CHDE Chenopodium desiccatum 0–25 – desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 0–25 – woolly plantain PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 0–25 – New Mexico plumeseed RANE Rafinesquia neomexicana 0–25 – miniature woollystar ERDI2 Eriastrum diffusum 0–25 – miniature lupine LUBI Lupinus bicolor 0–25 – Coulter's lupine LUSP2 Lupinus sparsiflorus 0–25 – hollowleaf annual lupine LUSU3 Lupinus succulentus 0–25 – tanseyleaf tansyaster MATA2 Machaeranthera tanacetifolia 0–25 – manybristle chinchweed PEPA2 Pectis papposa 0–25 – California poppy ESCAM Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana 0–25 – western tansymustard DEPI Descurainia pinnata 0–25 – California goldfields LACA7 Lasthenia californica 0–25 – camphorweed HESU3 Heterotheca subaxillaris 0–25 – Thurber's pepperweed LETH2 Lepidium thurberi 0–25 – foothill deervetch LOHU2 Lotus humistratus 0–25 – coastal bird's-foot trefoil LOSA Lotus salsuginosus 0–25 – trefoil LOTUS Lotus 0–25 – Arizona lupine LUAR4 Lupinus arizonicus 0–15 – Goodding's bladderpod LEGO2 Lesquerella gooddingii 0–15 – shaggyfruit pepperweed LELA Lepidium lasiocarpum 0–15 – purslane PORTU Portulaca 0–15 – desert unicorn-plant PRAL4 Proboscidea althaeifolia 0–15 – doubleclaw PRPA2 Proboscidea parviflora 0–15 – sand fringepod THCU Thysanocarpus curvipes 0–15 – sleepy silene SIAN2 Silene antirrhina 0–10 – ragwort SENEC Senecio 0–10 – phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0–10 – green carpetweed MOVE Mollugo verticillata 0–10 – evening primrose OENOT Oenothera 0–10 – grassleaf lettuce LAGRA Lactuca graminifolia var. arizonica 0–10 – sanddune wallflower ERCA14 Erysimum capitatum 0–10 – American wild carrot DAPU3 Daucus pusillus 0–10 – spurge EUPHO Euphorbia 0–10 – New Mexico fleabane ERNE3 Erigeron neomexicanus 0–10 – sorrel buckwheat ERPO4 Eriogonum polycladon 0–10 – bristly fiddleneck AMTE3 Amsinckia tessellata 0–10 – annual agoseris AGHE2 Agoseris heterophylla 0–10 – scrambled eggs COAU2 Corydalis aurea 0–5 – cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0–5 – Florida pellitory PAFL3 Parietaria floridana 0–5 – spreading fanpetals SIAB Sida abutifolia 0–5 – Shrub/Vine7 shrubs 0–100 catclaw acacia ACGR Acacia greggii 0–25 – catclaw mimosa MIACB Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera 0–25 – velvet mesquite PRVE Prosopis velutina 0–25 – Sonoran scrub oak QUTU2 Quercus turbinella 0–25 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 0–15 – pale desert-thorn LYPA Lycium pallidum 0–15 – algerita MATR3 Mahonia trifoliolata 0–15 – fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 0–15 – sugarberry CELA Celtis laevigata 0–10 – 8 half shrubs 0–50 bastardsage ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 0–50 – broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 0–25 – yerba de pasmo BAPT Baccharis pteronioides 0–25 – Coville's bundleflower DECO4 Desmanthus covillei 0–15 – prairie acacia ACAN Acacia angustissima 0–15 – 9 succulents 0–50 walkingstick cactus CYSP8 Cylindropuntia spinosior 0–25 – sacahuista NOMI Nolina microcarpa 0–25 – cactus apple OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 0–25 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 0–15 – soaptree yucca YUEL Yucca elata 0–15 – Whipple cholla CYWH Cylindropuntia whipplei 0–15 – goldenflower century plant AGCH2 Agave chrysantha 0–15 – chaparral yucca HEWH Hesperoyucca whipplei 0–10 – common sotol DAWH2 Dasylirion wheeleri 0–10 – spinystar ESVI2 Escobaria vivipara 0–5 – Tree10 evergreen trees 0–25 redberry juniper JUCO11 Juniperus coahuilensis 0–25 – alligator juniper JUDE2 Juniperus deppeana 0–25 – oneseed juniper JUMO Juniperus monosperma 0–25 – Rocky Mountain juniper JUSC2 Juniperus scopulorum 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 and is easily traversed by all classes of livestock. the site is susceptible to erosion only in overgrazed areas, old roads, cattle trails and concentration areas like bed grounds, water-lots and salt grounds.
The site has good habitat diversity for grassland wildlife species. Where it is adjacent to hill sites with tree species or chaparral; it is a foraging area for elk.Hydrological functions
Due to severe cracking and churning (producing rough and porous surfaces), this site has very high initial infiltration rates. It produces runoff only when soils are moist.
Recreational uses
Hunting, camping, hiking, horseback riding, and backpacking.
Wood products
None
Other products
There is some native harvest of foods like wild onion, sunflower and thistle.
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) Dave Womack, Emilio Carrillo Contact for lead author USDA NRCS Globe Soil Survey Office Date 05/09/2008 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None present on this site. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns are 1-2 feet in length and broken by microtopography created by cracking and churning of the soil and frequent perennial grass plant bases. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None present on this site. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
15-25% -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None present on this site. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None present on this site. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Herbaceous litter is dominant on this site and moves 1-2 feet until it encounters microtopographic lows or perennial grass plant bases. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface stability values range from 5-6. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Weak granular to moderate fine subangular blocky. 7.5YR 4/3 dry, 7.5YR 3/3 moist. Thickness to 3 inches. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Warm season grasses dominate the plant community and contribute the most towards infiltration. High shrink-swell soil properties are also significant to infiltration. Plants are well distributed across site with average spacing of 1 foot between perennial plants. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None present on this site. Freeze-thaw action reduces the incidence of compaction. -
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:
tobosa >> cool season perennial grasses > warm season perennial grassesSub-dominant:
annual grasses = annual forbs > perennial forbs (in el nino years annual grassses and forbs >= other warm season perennial grassesOther:
shrubs = half shrubs = succulentsAdditional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Some. Approximately 30-40% of basal cover is lost in prolonged 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 average annual production is: 750 lbs/ac(drought), 1725 lbs/ac(normal year), 2600 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:
tumble mustard, filaree. mesquite, juniper, wait-a-bit mimosa, catclaw acacia, cane cholla, prickley pear, wild oats, red brome, cheatgrass, yellow starthistle, Russian knapweed, leafy spurge -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Not affected even during prolonged regional drought.
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