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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 - Middle Mogollon Transition
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 and 481 on the Prescott National Forest.
Associated sites
R038XB202AZ Clayey Upland 16-20" p.z.
R038XB209AZ Loamy Upland 16-20" p.z.
R038XB215AZ Clayey Hills 16-20" p.z.
Similar sites
R038XA103AZ Clay Loam Upland 12-16" p.z.
R041XA109AZ Clay Loam Upland 16-20" p.z.
R038XA102AZ Clayey Upland 12-16" p.z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Eriogonum wrightii
Herbaceous (1) Bouteloua gracilis
(2) Bouteloua curtipendulaPhysiographic 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. It occurs on valley slopes, plains and plateaus.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Fan piedmont
(2) Plateau
(3) Plain
Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None 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 deep (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 clayloam and gravelly clayloam. They do not exhibit vertic properties. The effective rooting depth is 40 to 60 inches. Runoff is moderate to high on moist soils. The erosion hazard is slight unless heavy traffic causes trailing and compaction.
Soil series mapped include; SSA639 MU's 411 Cockscomb & 414 Whitehouse GrSL and SSA675 San Carlos IR Area MU 1 Cherrycow.Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium – basalt
Surface texture (1) Clay loam
(2) Gravelly clay loam
Family particle size (1) Clayey
Drainage class Well drained to moderately well drained Permeability class Moderate to slow Soil depth 60 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 5 – 45 % Surface fragment cover >3" 1 – 5 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)4.8 – 9.2 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)6.6 – 8.2 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 20 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 5 % Ecological dynamics
The native plant community is a grama grassland (canopy cover of 40 to 60%) 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. Half shrubs and 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 abscence 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 perennial grass cover. In these situations annuals, both native and non-native, can dominate the plant community. Non-native annuals can, over time, diminish the soil seedbank of native annual species.
State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 4. State & Transition Model, Clayloam Upland 16-20"pz
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 Native Grassland StateCommunity 1.1
Historic Native Plant CommunityThe historic, native, plant community is a grassland dominated by blue grama, sideoats grama, black grama, tobosa and curley mesquite. Prairie junegrass and bottlebrush squirreltail are an important in the plant community, but can diminish to low levels after severe winter - spring drought. Shrubby buckwheat is an important half-shrub in the plant community. 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 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 530 1250 1625 Forb 20 150 400 Shrub/Vine 50 100 150 Tree 0 0 25 Total 600 1500 2200 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 20-60% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 10-50% Surface fragments >3" 0-10% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 20-40% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – 1-5% 0-5% 1-5% >0.5 <= 1 – 1-10% 2-25% 1-10% >1 <= 2 – 1-5% 25-40% 1-2% >2 <= 4.5 – 0-1% – – >4.5 <= 13 0-2% – – – >13 <= 40 0-2% – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Figure 6. 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
Native Annuals StateCommunity 2.1
Native Annuals Plant CommunityPerennial grass 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. If this plant community persists for long periods of time; the seed-bank of native perennial grasses can diminish to a point where artificial reseeding will be necessary to return to a native potential plant community
State 3
Annual-Shrub Dominated StateCommunity 3.1
Annual and Shrub Dominated Plant CommunityShrubs like; mesquite, wait a bit mimosa, catclaw acacia and turbinella oak; succulents like; prickley pear, cholla and yucca, and trees like one-seed juniper, alligator juniper, redberry juniper and pinyon pine, invade from adjacent, shallow soil, areas, to dominate the site in the absense 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.
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 perennial grass 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 mid grasses 300–700 sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 100–500 – green sprangletop LEDU Leptochloa dubia 25–200 – tobosagrass PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 50–200 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 50–200 – plains lovegrass ERIN Eragrostis intermedia 25–100 – 2 short grasses 200–400 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 100–300 – black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 100–200 – sprucetop grama BOCH Bouteloua chondrosioides 0–100 – hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 0–100 – 3 cool season grasses 50–300 squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 10–200 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 10–200 – 4 misc. perennial grasses 10–50 threeawn ARIST Aristida 0–25 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 0–25 – spidergrass ARTE3 Aristida ternipes 0–25 – curly-mesquite HIBE Hilaria belangeri 0–25 – vine mesquite PAOB Panicum obtusum 0–25 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–25 – common wolfstail LYPH Lycurus phleoides 0–15 – creeping muhly MURE Muhlenbergia repens 0–10 – slender muhly MUTE4 Muhlenbergia tenuifolia 0–10 – poverty threeawn ARDI5 Aristida divaricata 0–10 – western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 0–10 – muttongrass POFE Poa fendleriana 0–10 – muttongrass POFEL Poa fendleriana ssp. longiligula 0–10 – 5 annual grasses 25–300 Mexican sprangletop LEFUU Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia 10–200 – mucronate sprangeltop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata 10–200 – Mexican panicgrass PAHI5 Panicum hirticaule 5–200 – prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 5–100 – needle grama BOAR Bouteloua aristidoides 0–50 – sticky sprangletop LEVI5 Leptochloa viscida 0–50 – sixweeks threeawn ARAD Aristida adscensionis 0–50 – feather fingergrass CHVI4 Chloris virgata 0–50 – tufted lovegrass ERPE Eragrostis pectinacea 0–50 – desert lovegrass ERPEM Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima 0–50 – little barley HOPU Hordeum pusillum 0–50 – small fescue VUMI Vulpia microstachys 0–50 – Eastwood fescue VUMIC Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata 0–50 – sixweeks fescue VUOC Vulpia octoflora 5–50 – witchgrass PACA6 Panicum capillare 0–50 – Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0–25 – canyon cupgrass ERLE7 Eriochloa lemmonii 0–25 – delicate muhly MUFR Muhlenbergia fragilis 0–25 – littleseed muhly MUMI Muhlenbergia microsperma 0–25 – sixweeks grama BOBA2 Bouteloua barbata 0–25 – Arizona brome BRAR4 Bromus arizonicus 0–25 – Arizona signalgrass URAR Urochloa arizonica 0–15 – Forb6 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 – beeblossom GAURA Gaura 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 – 7 annual forbs 5–300 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/Vine8 shrubs 0–50 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 – 9 half shrubs 50–150 bastardsage ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 40–150 – broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 0–25 – yerba de pasmo BAPT Baccharis pteronioides 1–25 – Coville's bundleflower DECO4 Desmanthus covillei 0–15 – prairie acacia ACAN Acacia angustissima 0–15 – 10 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 – Tree11 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 – twoneedle pinyon PIED Pinus edulis 0–25 – Utah juniper JUOS Juniperus osteosperma 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 very susceptible to erosion 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
This site produces runoff when soils are moist. Surfaces can be easily compacted by traffic and high densities of livestock when soils are moist. Normal depth of soil freezing in the winter is 5 to 6 inches. This will not break up compacted layers deeper than that. Compacted surfaces will produce much more runoff than surfaces with good tilth and structure.
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) 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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