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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 site)map unit numbers 430, 441, 462, 464 and 465, on the Prescott national Forest in Yavapai county in central Arizona.
Associated sites
R038XB202AZ Clayey Upland 16-20" p.z.
R038XB203AZ Clay Loam Upland 16-20" p.z.
R038XB209AZ Loamy Upland 16-20" p.z.
Similar sites
R041XC301AZ Basalt Hills 12-16" p.z.
R038XA117AZ Volcanic Hills 12-16" p.z. Clayey
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Juniperus
(2) quercusShrub (1) eriogonum wrightii
(2) Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmanniiHerbaceous (1) bouteloua curtipendula
(2) leptochloa dubiaPhysiographic features
This site occurs in the middle to upper elevations of the Mogollon Transition zone, south of the Rim in central Arizona. It occurs on rugged mountain slopes, ridge-tops and mesa sides.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Hill
(2) Mountain slope
(3) Ridge
Flooding frequency None Elevation 4000 – 5900 ft Slope 15 – 70 % Aspect N, E, S 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 moderate to low all year. Average annual air temperatures range from 51 to 60 degrees F (thermic temperature regime). Daytime temperatures in the summer are commonly in the low 90’s. Freezing temperatures are common from October through April. 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) 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 shallow (10 to 20 inches) and dark colored. They are clayey throughout (smectitic) and well drained. They have formed in residuum and slope alluvium from basalt, andesite, related volcanic tuffs and ash, and quartzite. The surface textures are clayloam to clay. Surfaces are well covered by dark colored; gravels, cobbles and stones. The effective rooting depth is limited by hard bedrock at 10 to 20 inches. Runoff is moderate to high on moist soils. The erosion hazard is slight due to gravel, cobble and rock covers.
The soils mapped on this site include: SSA663 Gila-Duncan area MU's 13 Cabezon & 34 Luzena and SSA675 San Carlos IR area MU's 9 Beaumain, 16 Beaumain & Budlamp, 44 Beaumain & Kuykendall, 47 Beaumain & Limpia family, 69 Magoffin & Beaumain, 22 Cherrycow family, 27 Coppercan, 43 Hurds family & Brunopeak, 46 Kuykendall & Woodcutter, 67 Ustorthents & Haplustolls, 68 Argiustolls & Haplustepts, 88 Turist family.Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Residuum – basalt
(2) Slope alluvium – andesite
Surface texture (1) Very cobbly clay
(2) Cobbly clay loam
(3) Stony clay loam
Family particle size (1) Clayey
Drainage class Moderately well drained to well drained Permeability class Moderately slow to slow Soil depth 10 – 20 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 25 – 50 % Surface fragment cover >3" 5 – 15 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)0.8 – 2.4 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)0 – 5 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 2 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7 – 8.2 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)15 – 45 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)1 – 10 % Ecological dynamics
The historic native plant community is a mixed grassland with lesser amounts of trees, shrubs, succulents, forbs and grasses. Southern exposures have a grassland aspect. Northern exposures have a mixed shrub, tree and grassland community. The plant community includes a diverse flora of native annual grasses and forbs of both the winter and summer seasons. Periodic wildfires occured at moderate intervals (10 to 15 years) and helped maintain a balance between herbaceous plants and shrubs. In the absence of fire for longer periods, shrubby species, trees and cacti can become dominant. The interactions of drought, fire and continuous livestock grazing can, over time, result in the loss of palatable perennial grasses and half shrubs. In "El Nino" years following summer drought, annual forbs like; goldeneye, bitterweed and sunflower can dominate the plant community for a short time, especially on warm exposures, until perennial grasses can recover their basal cover. 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 and Transition, Volcanic Hills, fine 16-20"
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
Grassland StateCommunity 1.1
Historic Native Plant Community
Figure 5. Volcanic Hills, clayey 16-20" pz. photos
The historic, native, plant community is a grassland dominated by sideoats and blue grama, green sprangletop, plains lovegrass and cane beardgrass and dotted with trees and shrubs. Cool season grasses like prairie junegrass, bottlebrush squirreltail and muttongrass are important 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.
Northern exposures have a higher percentage of cool season grasses and trees and shrubs than will occur on south slopes. Grass cover on north aspects will range from 10-30% with 20-35% cover of trees and shrubs. North slopes will also be more likely to experience tree increases especially singleleaf pinon and oak species. Southern exposures will have a higher percentage of perennial grasses and half shrubs in the plant community. Grass cover on south aspects will range from 25-45% with 10-15% cover of shrubs. Shrubs like prickly pear, wait a bit mimosa, mesquite and juniper can increase to dominate southern exposures. At elevations near precipitation zone upper boundaries the northern slopes will look more like the woodland plant community of the 20 inch precip zone in MLRA 39. At lower precipitaion zone boundaries southern exposures will look more like the plant community of the site in the 12 to 16 inch precip zone of MLRA 38.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 610 800 1100 Shrub/Vine 150 400 800 Forb 35 150 450 Tree 10 50 150 Total 805 1400 2500 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0-0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 0-10% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 0-10% Forb foliar cover 0-0% Non-vascular plants 0-0% Biological crusts 0-0% Litter 20-60% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 30-50% Surface fragments >3" 10-20% Bedrock 10-20% Water 0% Bare ground 0-20% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – – 0-5% 0-1% >0.5 <= 1 – 0-2% 2-10% 1-5% >1 <= 2 – 1-5% 10-20% 1-15% >2 <= 4.5 – 1-10% 0-10% – >4.5 <= 13 0-10% 5-20% – – >13 <= 40 0-10% – – – >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
Juniper and Shrub Dominated StateCommunity 2.1
Juniper and Shrub Dominated Plant CommunityPerennial grass canopy cover is reduced due to the interactions of drought, grazing and / or fire. Juniper, turbinella oak and cacti can increase to dominate the overstory plant community. Juniper increases from areas of rock outcrop, that are protected from severe fire due to lack of fuel. When juniper cover exceeds 30%, and size class exceeds 6-8 ft., fire may no longer be effective in restoring a balance to the plant community. Annuals , both native and non-native, can dominate the understory. 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 CommunityShrubs like, whitethorn acacia, mesquite, wait a bit mimosa and turbinella oak; succulents like, prickley pear and cane cholla and trees like, juniper species and singleleaf pinyon can increase to dominate the site in the absence of fire for very long periods of time. Under these circumstances, northern aspects can resemble woodlands. Native and non-native annual forbs and grasses can dominate the understory. The major woody plants are fire resistant once established. Catastrophic fires would remove less tolerant species like pinyon and 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.
State 4
Exotic - Invaded stateCommunity 4.1
Exotic Forb and Grass Invaded Plant CommunityNon-native annual grasses and forbs like; red brome, cheatgrass, and wild oats, can invade and dominate areas of the site with very low perennial grass cover. These species can, over time, reduce the seed-bank of native annual grasses and forbs. Their presence can increase the fire frequency (of man made fires) especially where roads and urban areas are adjacent to areas of the site.
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 400–500 sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 100–350 – green sprangletop LEDU Leptochloa dubia 50–200 – plains lovegrass ERIN Eragrostis intermedia 10–150 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 20–100 – 2 cool season grasses 50–100 prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 10–75 – muttongrass POFE Poa fendleriana 0–50 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 5–50 – muttongrass POFEL Poa fendleriana ssp. longiligula 0–25 – bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 0–25 – desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 0–20 – 3 misc. perennial grasses 50–200 spidergrass ARTE3 Aristida ternipes 10–50 – black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 10–50 – vine mesquite PAOB Panicum obtusum 0–50 – Texas bluestem SCCI2 Schizachyrium cirratum 0–50 – little bluestem SCSC Schizachyrium scoparium 0–50 – James' galleta PLJA Pleuraphis jamesii 0–25 – tobosagrass PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 0–25 – plains bristlegrass SEVU2 Setaria vulpiseta 0–25 – slim tridens TRMUE Tridens muticus var. elongatus 0–25 – bush muhly MUPO2 Muhlenbergia porteri 0–25 – deergrass MURI2 Muhlenbergia rigens 0–25 – spidergrass ARTEG Aristida ternipes var. gentilis 0–25 – purple threeawn ARPUP6 Aristida purpurea var. purpurea 0–25 – Arizona cottontop DICA8 Digitaria californica 0–20 – southwestern bristlegrass SESC2 Setaria scheelei 0–20 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–15 – New Mexico muhly MUPA2 Muhlenbergia pauciflora 0–15 – bullgrass MUEM Muhlenbergia emersleyi 0–10 – slender muhly MUTE4 Muhlenbergia tenuifolia 0–10 – blue threeawn ARPUN Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 0–10 – Parish's threeawn ARPUP5 Aristida purpurea var. parishii 0–10 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 0–5 – 4 annual grasses 10–100 sixweeks threeawn ARAD Aristida adscensionis 0–100 – prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 0–100 – needle grama BOAR Bouteloua aristidoides 0–100 – Mexican sprangletop LEFUU Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia 20–100 – mucronate sprangeltop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata 20–100 – Mexican panicgrass PAHI5 Panicum hirticaule 0–100 – sticky sprangletop LEVI5 Leptochloa viscida 0–50 – small fescue VUMI Vulpia microstachys 0–50 – Eastwood fescue VUMIC Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata 0–50 – sixweeks fescue VUOC Vulpia octoflora 0–50 – witchgrass PACA6 Panicum capillare 0–50 – sixweeks grama BOBA2 Bouteloua barbata 0–50 – Arizona brome BRAR4 Bromus arizonicus 0–50 – feather fingergrass CHVI4 Chloris virgata 0–50 – little barley HOPU Hordeum pusillum 0–30 – canyon cupgrass ERLE7 Eriochloa lemmonii 0–25 – tufted lovegrass ERPE Eragrostis pectinacea 0–25 – desert lovegrass ERPEM Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima 0–25 – delicate muhly MUFR Muhlenbergia fragilis 0–25 – littleseed muhly MUMI Muhlenbergia microsperma 0–25 – Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0–25 – Arizona signalgrass URAR Urochloa arizonica 0–25 – 5 short grasses 100–200 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 5–50 – purple grama BORA Bouteloua radicosa 5–50 – slender grama BORE2 Bouteloua repens 5–50 – curly-mesquite HIBE Hilaria belangeri 5–50 – Hall's panicgrass PAHA Panicum hallii 1–50 – slim tridens TRMU Tridens muticus 0–25 – common wolfstail LYPH Lycurus phleoides 0–25 – hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 0–25 – sprucetop grama BOCH Bouteloua chondrosioides 0–10 – Forb6 perennial forbs 25–150 white sagebrush ARLUM2 Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. mexicana 5–50 – Wright's thimblehead HYWR Hymenothrix wrightii 1–50 – tarragon ARDR4 Artemisia dracunculus 1–25 – southwestern mock vervain GLGO Glandularia gooddingii 1–15 – Indian rushpea HOGL2 Hoffmannseggia glauca 1–15 – largeflower onion ALMA4 Allium macropetalum 0–15 – weakleaf bur ragweed AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 1–15 – bluedicks DICA14 Dichelostemma capitatum 2–15 – desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 1–15 – brownplume wirelettuce STPA4 Stephanomeria pauciflora 0–15 – prairie spiderwort TROC Tradescantia occidentalis 0–10 – hillside vervain VENE Verbena neomexicana 0–10 – scarlet spiderling BOCO Boerhavia coccinea 0–10 – fineleaf hymenopappus HYFIL Hymenopappus filifolius var. lugens 0–10 – El Paso skyrocket IPTH2 Ipomopsis thurberi 0–10 – gumhead GYGL Gymnosperma glutinosum 0–10 – Wright's deervetch LOWR Lotus wrightii 0–10 – lacy tansyaster MAPI Machaeranthera pinnatifida 1–10 – wishbone-bush MILAV Mirabilis laevis var. villosa 0–5 – Colorado four o'clock MIMU Mirabilis multiflora 0–5 – lemon beebalm MOCIA Monarda citriodora ssp. austromontana 0–5 – pearly globe amaranth GONI Gomphrena nitida 0–5 – Arizona wrightwort CAAR7 Carlowrightia arizonica 0–5 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 1–5 – Arizona snakecotton FRAR2 Froelichia arizonica 0–5 – Cooley's bundleflower DECO2 Desmanthus cooleyi 0–5 – tuber anemone ANTU Anemone tuberosa 0–5 – Braun's rockcress ARPE3 Arabis perstellata 0–5 – Forb, perennial 2FP Forb, perennial 0–5 – dwarf Indian mallow ABPA3 Abutilon parvulum 0–5 – brownfoot ACWR5 Acourtia wrightii 0–5 – trailing windmills ALIN Allionia incarnata 0–5 – vetch VICIA Vicia 0–5 – branched noseburn TRRA5 Tragia ramosa 0–5 – Rusby's globemallow SPRU2 Sphaeralcea rusbyi 0–5 – Parry's beardtongue PEPA24 Penstemon parryi 0–5 – canaigre dock RUHY Rumex hymenosepalus 0–5 – twinleaf senna SEBA3 Senna bauhinioides 0–5 – Lemmon's ragwort SELE8 Senecio lemmonii 0–5 – longflower tube tongue JULO3 Justicia longii 0–5 – desert larkspur DEPA Delphinium parishii 0–2 – tall mountain larkspur DESC Delphinium scaposum 0–2 – sego lily CANU3 Calochortus nuttallii 0–2 – wavyleaf Indian paintbrush CAAPM Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii 0–2 – ragged nettlespurge JAMA Jatropha macrorhiza 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 – desert penstemon PEPS Penstemon pseudospectabilis 0–1 – scurfpea PSORA2 Psoralidium 0–1 – 7 annual forbs 10–300 bristly fiddleneck AMTE3 Amsinckia tessellata 0–75 – California poppy ESCAM Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana 0–75 – longleaf false goldeneye HELOA2 Heliomeris longifolia var. annua 0–50 – bitter rubberweed HYOD Hymenoxys odorata 0–50 – carelessweed AMPA Amaranthus palmeri 0–50 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–50 – Forb, annual 2FA Forb, annual 0–50 – manybristle chinchweed PEPA2 Pectis papposa 0–50 – Arizona popcornflower PLAR Plagiobothrys arizonicus 5–50 – creamcups PLCA5 Platystemon californicus 0–50 – desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 1–50 – woolly plantain PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 1–50 – crestrib morning-glory IPCO2 Ipomoea costellata 0–50 – trefoil LOTUS Lotus 0–50 – Arizona lupine LUAR4 Lupinus arizonicus 0–50 – Coulter's lupine LUSP2 Lupinus sparsiflorus 0–50 – slender goldenweed MAGR10 Machaeranthera gracilis 0–50 – tanseyleaf tansyaster MATA2 Machaeranthera tanacetifolia 0–50 – hollowleaf annual lupine LUSU3 Lupinus succulentus 0–25 – miniature lupine LUBI Lupinus bicolor 0–25 – hairy caltrop KAHI Kallstroemia hirsutissima 0–25 – California goldfields LACA7 Lasthenia californica 0–25 – Goodding's bladderpod LEGO2 Lesquerella gooddingii 0–25 – shaggyfruit pepperweed LELA Lepidium lasiocarpum 0–25 – Thurber's pepperweed LETH2 Lepidium thurberi 0–25 – foothill deervetch LOHU2 Lotus humistratus 0–25 – purslane PORTU Portulaca 0–25 – phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0–25 – coastal bird's-foot trefoil LOSA Lotus salsuginosus 0–25 – New Mexico plumeseed RANE Rafinesquia neomexicana 0–25 – Coulter's spiderling BOCO2 Boerhavia coulteri 0–25 – fivewing spiderling BOIN Boerhavia intermedia 0–25 – hoary bowlesia BOIN3 Bowlesia incana 0–25 – New Mexico thistle CINE Cirsium neomexicanum 0–25 – cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0–25 – western tansymustard DEPI Descurainia pinnata 0–25 – miniature woollystar ERDI2 Eriastrum diffusum 0–25 – spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 0–25 – spurge EUPHO Euphorbia 0–25 – curlycup gumweed GRSQ Grindelia squarrosa 0–25 – common sunflower HEAN3 Helianthus annuus 0–25 – sorrel buckwheat ERPO4 Eriogonum polycladon 0–15 – American wild carrot DAPU3 Daucus pusillus 0–15 – scrambled eggs COAU2 Corydalis aurea 0–15 – ragwort SENEC Senecio 0–15 – spreading fanpetals SIAB Sida abutifolia 0–15 – sleepy silene SIAN2 Silene antirrhina 0–15 – New Mexico fanpetals SINE Sida neomexicana 0–15 – sand fringepod THCU Thysanocarpus curvipes 0–15 – green carpetweed MOVE Mollugo verticillata 0–15 – evening primrose OENOT Oenothera 0–15 – Florida pellitory PAFL3 Parietaria floridana 0–15 – desert unicorn-plant PRAL4 Proboscidea althaeifolia 0–15 – doubleclaw PRPA2 Proboscidea parviflora 0–15 – sweet four o'clock MILO2 Mirabilis longiflora 0–10 – annual agoseris AGHE2 Agoseris heterophylla 0–10 – star gilia GIST Gilia stellata 0–5 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 0–5 – grassleaf lettuce LAGRA Lactuca graminifolia var. arizonica 0–5 – Shrub/Vine8 deciduous shrubs 25–100 Texas mulberry MOMI Morus microphylla 0–25 – cliff fendlerbush FERU Fendlera rupicola 0–25 – singleleaf ash FRAN2 Fraxinus anomala 0–15 – singleleaf ash FRANL Fraxinus anomala var. lowellii 0–15 – common hoptree PTTRA Ptelea trifoliata ssp. angustifolia 0–15 – desert sweet CHMI2 Chamaebatiaria millefolium 0–15 – Wright's beebrush ALWR Aloysia wrightii 0–15 – New Mexico locust RONE Robinia neomexicana 0–15 – Arizona necklacepod SOAR3 Sophora arizonica 0–10 – currant RIBES Ribes 0–10 – ambrosia leaf bur ragweed AMAM2 Ambrosia ambrosioides 0–10 – Thurber's desert honeysuckle ANTH2 Anisacanthus thurberi 0–10 – whitethorn acacia ACCO2 Acacia constricta 0–10 – catclaw acacia ACGR Acacia greggii 0–10 – fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 0–5 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 0–5 – catclaw mimosa MIACB Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera 0–5 – pale desert-thorn LYPA Lycium pallidum 0–2 – 9 half shrubs 20–150 bastardsage ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 0–50 – rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 2–50 – Wright's snakeroot AGWR2 Ageratina wrightii 0–25 – California brickellbush BRCA3 Brickellia californica 0–20 – Coulter's brickellbush BRCO Brickellia coulteri 0–15 – fairyduster CAER Calliandra eriophylla 0–10 – yerba de pasmo BAPT Baccharis pteronioides 0–10 – starry bedstraw GAST Galium stellatum 0–10 – longleaf phlox PHLO2 Phlox longifolia 0–10 – heartleaf goldeneye VICO Viguiera cordifolia 0–10 – toothleaf goldeneye VIDEL2 Viguiera dentata var. lancifolia 0–10 – littleleaf ratany KRER Krameria erecta 0–5 – spiny menodora MESP2 Menodora spinescens 0–5 – 10 succulents 20–150 sacahuista NOMI Nolina microcarpa 10–100 – cactus apple OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 5–50 – goldenflower century plant AGCH2 Agave chrysantha 0–35 – walkingstick cactus CYSP8 Cylindropuntia spinosior 0–25 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 1–20 – common sotol DAWH2 Dasylirion wheeleri 0–15 – Palmer's century plant AGPA3 Agave palmeri 0–15 – Parry's agave AGPA4 Agave parryi 0–15 – Schott's century plant AGSC3 Agave schottii 0–15 – Whipple cholla CYWH Cylindropuntia whipplei 0–10 – soaptree yucca YUEL Yucca elata 0–10 – twistspine pricklypear OPMA2 Opuntia macrorhiza 0–10 – dollarjoint pricklypear OPCH Opuntia chlorotica 0–10 – candy barrelcactus FEWI Ferocactus wislizeni 0–5 – Graham's nipple cactus MAGR9 Mammillaria grahamii 1–5 – Arizona hedgehog cactus ECCOA Echinocereus coccineus var. arizonicus 0–5 – Engelmann's hedgehog cactus ECEN Echinocereus engelmannii 0–2 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECFE Echinocereus fendleri 0–2 – spinystar ESVI2 Escobaria vivipara 0–1 – 11 increaser half-shrubs 0–50 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 1–30 – burroweed ISTE2 Isocoma tenuisecta 0–15 – turpentine bush ERLA12 Ericameria laricifolia 0–15 – narrowleaf goldenbush ERLI6 Ericameria linearifolia 0–10 – 12 evergreen shrubs 50–300 Sonoran scrub oak QUTU2 Quercus turbinella 10–200 – desert ceanothus CEGR Ceanothus greggii 5–100 – redberry buckthorn RHCRC Rhamnus crocea ssp. crocea 0–25 – canyon live oak QUCH2 Quercus chrysolepis 0–15 – Palmer oak QUPA10 Quercus palmeri 0–15 – California buckthorn FRCA12 Frangula californica 0–15 – Wright's silktassel GAWR3 Garrya wrightii 0–15 – red barberry MAHA4 Mahonia haematocarpa 0–15 – algerita MATR3 Mahonia trifoliolata 0–15 – curl-leaf mountain mahogany CELE3 Cercocarpus ledifolius 0–15 – alderleaf mountain mahogany CEMO2 Cercocarpus montanus 0–15 – birchleaf mountain mahogany CEMOG Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber 0–15 – Pringle manzanita ARPRP Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. pringlei 0–15 – pointleaf manzanita ARPU5 Arctostaphylos pungens 0–15 – Mexican cliffrose PUME Purshia mexicana 0–10 – stretchberry FOPUP Forestiera pubescens var. pubescens 0–10 – Apache plume FAPA Fallugia paradoxa 0–5 – Tree13 trees 20–150 redberry juniper JUCO11 Juniperus coahuilensis 0–50 – alligator juniper JUDE2 Juniperus deppeana 0–50 – oneseed juniper JUMO Juniperus monosperma 0–50 – Arizona white oak QUAR Quercus arizonica 0–25 – Emory oak QUEM Quercus emoryi 0–25 – gray oak QUGR3 Quercus grisea 0–25 – Utah juniper JUOS Juniperus osteosperma 0–25 – netleaf hackberry CELAR Celtis laevigata var. reticulata 0–15 – blue paloverde PAFL6 Parkinsonia florida 0–10 – velvet mesquite PRVE Prosopis velutina 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 ridgetops. North slopes are little used. Slopes greater than 50% and areas with very cobbly surfaces limit grazing use by cattle. Areas of rock outcrop and rock slides form barriers to livestock movement. The site is susceptible to erosion in overgrazed areas like bed-grounds, livestock trails and lower slopes adjacent to water.
The site has good habitat diversity for a great variety of mountain and grassland wildlife species. It is a foraging area for elk.Hydrological functions
This site has very rough surfaces, due to a high cover of gravels, cobbles and stones, which act to hold water on the site. When the soils are dry, it produces little runoff. It produces significant runoff only when heavy rain falls on snow or moist soils.
Recreational uses
Hunting, camping, horseback riding, backpacking, rock hounding, photography.
Wood products
Limited harvest of fuel-wood, fence posts and stays from pinyon, juniper and oak species.
Other products
There is some native harvest of food plants like; acorns, juniper berries, pinyon nuts, mulberries, wild onions, grass nuts, thistle, prickley pear tunas and mescal.
There is some harvest of beargrass and skunkbush sumac as fiber for basket making.
There is some harvest of pinyon pine, pitch for waterproofing baskets.
There is some harvest of herbaceous sage for a variety of uses.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 Tucson Area Office Date 05/09/2008 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
Rills are very uncommon due to the high rock fragment cover and perennial grass plant density on this site. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns are 1-2 feet in length and broken by rock fragments and frequent perennial grass plant bases. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
High rock fragments and perennial grass plant cover reduce the incidence of erosional pedestals. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
3-15% -
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):
Litter moves 1-2 feet before being trapped by rock fragments 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. 5YR 4/2 to 10YR 5/2 dry, 5YR 3/3 to 10YR 3/3 moist. Thickness to 2 inches. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Perennial grasses are the dominant in the plant community and contribute the most towards infiltration. Plants are well distributed across site with average spacing of 1-2 feet between perennial grass 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. -
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:
warm season mid grasses >> other warm season grasses = cool season grasses = evergreen shrubsSub-dominant:
short grasses = perennial forbs = annual grasses = annual forbs. (In el nino years annual forbs and grasses >= warm season mid grasses).Other:
deciduous 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 of perennial grasses is lost in prolonged drought. 10-15% of shrub canopy is lost during prolonged drought. Desert ceanothus may experience 50-90% mortality 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):
1400 -
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:
one seed juniper, red berry juniper, turbinella oak (north slopes). Prickly pear, mesquite, catclaw and white thorn acacia (south slopes). -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Not affected following several years of prolonged regional drought.
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