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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): 040X–Sonoran Basin and Range
AZ 40.1 – Upper Sonoran Desert
Elevations range from 2000 to 3200 feet and precipitation averages 10 to 13 inches per year. Vegetation includes saguaro, palo verde, mesquite, creosotebush, triangle bursage, prickly pear, cholla, limberbush, wolfberry, bush muhly, threeawns, ocotillo, and globe mallow. The soil temperature regime is thermic and the soil moisture regime is typic aridic. This unit occurs within the Basin and Range Physiographic Province and is characterized by numerous mountain ranges that rise abruptly from broad, plain-like valleys and basins. Igneous and metamorphic rock classes dominate the mountain ranges and sediments filling the basins represent combinations of fluvial, lacustrine, colluvial and alluvial deposits.Associated sites
R040XA110AZ Limy Slopes 10"-13" p.z.
R040XA111AZ Limy Upland 10"-13" p.z.
R040XA123AZ Volcanic Hills 10"-13" P.Z.
Similar sites
R040XB219AZ Schist Hills 7"-10" p.z.
R038XA118AZ Basalt / Sandstone Hills 12-16" p.z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Parkinsonia microphylla
(2) Carnegia giganteaShrub (1) Encelia farinosa
(2) Larrea tridentataHerbaceous (1) Aristida purpurea
(2) muhlenbergia porteriPhysiographic features
This site occurs in the upper elevations of the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona. Slope aspect is site differentiating at elevations near common resource area boundaries. It occurs on moderately steep hill-slopes and ridge-tops.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Hill
(2) Ridge
Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 2200 – 3700 ft Slope 15 – 45 % Aspect N, E, S Climatic features
Precipitation in the sub resource area ranges from 10 to 13 inches in the southern part, along the Mexican border with elevations from about 1900 to 3200 feet. Precipitation in the northern part of the resource area ranges from 11 to 14 inches with elevations from about 1700 to 3500 feet. Winter-summer rainfall ratios range from 40%-60% in the southern portions of the land resource unit, to 50%-50% in the central portions, to 60%-40% in the northern part of the land resource unit. As one moves from east to west in this resource area rains become slightly more unpredictable and variable with Coefficients of Variation of annual rainfall equal to 29% at Tucson and 36% at Carefree. Summer rains fall July through Sept., originate in the Gulf of Mexico, and are convective, usually brief, intense thunderstorms. Cool season moisture tends to be frontal, originating in the Pacific and Gulf of California. This winter precipitation falls in widespread storms with long duration and low intensity. Snow is rare and seldom lasts more than an hour or two. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is generally very low.
Winter temperatures are mild, with very few days recording freezing temperatures in the morning. Summer temperatures are warm to hot, with several days in June and July exceeding 105 degrees F.
Both the spring and the summer growing seasons are equally important for perennial grass, forb and shrub growth. Cool and warm season annual forbs and grasses can be common in their respective seasons with above average rainfall. Perennial forage species can remain green throughout the year with available moisture.Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 270 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 10 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 are shallow soils formed on metamorphic and volcanic rock, breccia and agglomerates. Bedrock is cracked and weathered offering good opportunity for root growth. Soils are calcareous and have lime accumulations in the fractures of the bedrock material. Soil surfaces have very well developed covers of gravels and cobbles. Areas of rock outcrop range from 1 to 10%. Talus areas or rock slides can make up 5 to 10% of the area. Plant-soil moisture relationships are fair.
Soils mapped on this site include:
SSA-661 Eastern Pinal and Southern Gila Counties MU's 48 & 74 Pantano.Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Gravelly sandy loam
(2) Very gravelly sandy loam
(3) Channery sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Excessively drained to well drained Permeability class Rapid to moderately rapid Soil depth 5 – 20 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 40 – 80 % Surface fragment cover >3" 5 – 20 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)0.4 – 1.5 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)5 – 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 – 8.4 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)35 – 60 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 10 % Ecological dynamics
The plant communities found on an ecological site are naturally variable. Composition and production will vary with yearly conditions, location, aspect, and the natural variability of the soils. The Historical Climax Plant Community represents the natural potential plant communities found on relict or relatively undisturbed sites. Other plant communities described here represent plant communities that are known to occur when the site is disturbed by factors such as fire, grazing, or drought.
Production data provided in this site description is standardized to air dry weight at the end of the summer growing season. The plant communities described in this site description are based on near normal rainfall years.
NRCS uses a Similarity Index to compare existing plant communities to the plant communities described here. Similarity Index is determined by comparing the production and composition of a plant community to the production and composition of a plant community described in this site description. To determine Similarity Index, compare the production (air dry weight) of each species to that shown in the plant community description. For each species, count no more than the maximum amount shown for the species, and for each group, count no more than the maximum amount shown for the group. Divide the resulting total by the total normal year production shown in the plant community description. If the rainfall has been significantly above or below normal, use the total production shown for above or below normal years. If field data is not collected at the end of the summer growing season, then the field data must be corrected to the end of the year production before comparing it to the site description. The growth curve can be used as a guide for estimating production at the end of the summer growing season.
State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 4. State and Transition model, Limy Hills 10-13" 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 5 submodel, plant communities
State 6 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Historical Climax Plant CommunityCommunity 1.1
Historical Climax Plant CommunityThe potential plant community is a diverse mixture of desert shrubs, trees, cacti, and perennial grasses and forbs. The aspect is shrubland.
With continuous, heavy grazing, herbaceous forage species and palatable half shrubs are removed from the plant community and replaced by increases in shrubby species like littleleaf paloverde, white brittlebush, creosotebush, ocotillo, triangle bursage, and cholla. Gravel and cobble covers are continuous but lack the size necessary to prevent erosion on steep slopes if the plant cover has been depleted. This site lacks stone or large cobble covers to protect forage speices from heavy utilization. Plant populations of major shrubs range from 50 to 100 per acre for littleaf paloverde, 10 to 100 for ocotillo, 50 to 150 for creosotebush, 75 to 150 for large shrubs including jojoba and wolfberry, 10 to 50 for mormon tea, and 50 to 200 plants per acre for the brittlebush and bursage group.
North exposures have a higher percentage cover of perennial grasses and suffrutescent forbs than warm exposures. Grass canopy cover ranges from 0-5% on north slopes and 0-1% on south slopes. Forb cover ranges from 1-15% on north slopes and 0-2% on south slopes. Warm exposures have a higher percentage of trees and succulents than north slopes. The half shrub community on north slopes is dominated by species like calliandra, goldeneye, flatop buckwheat and mormon tea while on south slopes brittlebush, white ratany and bursage are dominant. Jojoba will have its higher cover on north aspects while southern aspects will have more ocotillo, creosotebush, whitethorn and wolfberry. The percent of annual forbs and grasses in the plant community can range from 1% in dry years to nearly 50% in very wet winters or summers. The yearly production of annuals ranges from 2 lbs per acre to over 400 lbs. per acre (from dry year to wet year).
Severe drought can reduce the cover of perennial grasses and suffrutescent forbs to less than 1%. Drought can also reduce the cover of sub-shrubs like brittlebush and bursage.
The dynamics of Saguaro on this site is unlike the 200-300 year cycle found on deep upland sites in the Upper Sonoran desert. Saguaro recruitment can occur in any favorable year due to numerous rocky habitats favorable for establishment. Saguaro populations tend to be multi-aged and persistent on this site although very favorable years for establishment may result in very heavy stands on some slopes many years later.
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)Shrub/Vine 120 260 380 Forb 20 100 270 Grass/Grasslike 7 75 200 Tree 40 100 150 Total 187 535 1000 Table 6. Soil surface cover
Tree basal cover 0-0% Shrub/vine/liana basal cover 0-0% Grass/grasslike basal cover 0-0% Forb basal cover 0-0% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0-10% Litter 10-50% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 40-60% Surface fragments >3" 10-20% Bedrock 0-10% Water 0% Bare ground 10-20% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – 0-1% 0-10% 1-5% >0.5 <= 1 – 1-5% 1-10% 1-10% >1 <= 2 – 1-5% 0-2% 0-5% >2 <= 4.5 0-1% 1-5% 0-1% 0-1% >4.5 <= 13 5-10% – – – >13 <= 40 – – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ4011 , 40.1 10-13" p.z. hill sites. Growth begins in the late winter, goes semi-dormant in the drought period of late May through early July, growth continues in the summer through early 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 15 20 5 5 10 15 15 5 5 0 State 2
Native trees, cacti, shrubs and fireCommunity 2.1
Native trees, cacti, shrubs and fireThis plant community occurs as a result of a single hot season fire. Paloverde, ironwood and saguaro can be severely impacted and may take long periods of time (30-50 years) to recover to pre-fire levels. Perennial and annual grasses and forbs dominate the community for some time until shrubs like ocotillo, wolfberry and whitethorn can recover.
This plant community can produce enough herbaceous fuel from native species of grasses and / or forbs to carry fire in El Nino years or after unusually wet summers. The natural incidence of fire in this MLRA is very low and fires are much more common from man-made ignitions. Areas of the site close to urban zones or along heavily travelled roads and highways will experience a higher rate of fires.State 3
Exotic perennial grasses with nativesCommunity 3.1
Exotic perennial grasses with nativesThis community occurs where bufflegrass and / or fountain grass invade the native plant community. These species occupy the niches of low shrubs like desert zinnia, brittlebush, paperflower and grasses like red grama, purple threeawn and slim tridens.
State 4
Exotic perennial grasses and fireCommunity 4.1
Exotic perennial grasses and fireThis community occurs where a native plant community that has been invaded by bufflegrass or fountain grass has burned one or more times. Increasing amounts of bufflegrass leads to more uniform fine fuels. In areas adjacent to roads and urban areas the risk of repeated fires will increase. As fire frequency increases the dominance of the exotic grasses increase.
State 5
Native plant community with exotic annualsCommunity 5.1
Native plant community with exotic annualsThis plant community occurs where the native community has been invaded by red brome and / or schismus. Red brome occupies the niche of the native winter annual forbs and grasses. This exotic annual grass will fluctuate from nearly nothing in a dry winter to dominance of the understory plant community in a El Nino winter.
State 6
Exotic annuals and fireCommunity 6.1
Exotic annuals and fireThis plant community occurs where a native plant community which has been invaded by red brome and / or schismus, and has burned repeatedly. As fires become more frequent the native trees, shrubs and succulents are removed from the plant community and red brome becomes dominant. In areas of the site near urban areas and along heavily travelled roads this will be a more common occurence due to an increased source of ignitions.
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 5–70 bush muhly MUPO2 Muhlenbergia porteri 5–30 – slim tridens TRMU Tridens muticus 5–20 – purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 1–20 – Parish's threeawn ARPUP5 Aristida purpurea var. parishii 0–20 – low woollygrass DAPU7 Dasyochloa pulchella 1–15 – blue threeawn ARPUN Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 0–10 – desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 0–10 – nineawn pappusgrass ENDE Enneapogon desvauxii 0–5 – 2 Miscellaneous perennial grasses 0–30 spidergrass ARTE3 Aristida ternipes 0–10 – black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 0–10 – slender grama BORE2 Bouteloua repens 0–5 – red grama BOTR2 Bouteloua trifida 0–5 – tanglehead HECO10 Heteropogon contortus 0–5 – curly-mesquite HIBE Hilaria belangeri 0–5 – Hall's panicgrass PAHA Panicum hallii 0–5 – Wright's threeawn ARPUW Aristida purpurea var. wrightii 0–2 – big galleta PLRI3 Pleuraphis rigida 0–2 – plains bristlegrass SEVU2 Setaria vulpiseta 0–2 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–2 – sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 0–2 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 0–1 – tobosagrass PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 0–1 – Arizona cottontop DICA8 Digitaria californica 0–1 – fall witchgrass DICO6 Digitaria cognata 0–1 – squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides 0–1 – 3 Annual grasses 2–100 mucronate sprangeltop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata 1–20 – sixweeks threeawn ARAD Aristida adscensionis 1–20 – sixweeks fescue VUOC Vulpia octoflora 1–20 – Mexican panicgrass PAHI5 Panicum hirticaule 0–15 – Mexican sprangletop LEFUU Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia 0–10 – prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 0–5 – Rothrock's grama BORO2 Bouteloua rothrockii 0–5 – Eastwood fescue VUMIC Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata 0–5 – Pacific fescue VUMIP Vulpia microstachys var. pauciflora 0–5 – needle grama BOAR Bouteloua aristidoides 0–2 – sixweeks grama BOBA2 Bouteloua barbata 0–2 – Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0–2 – delicate muhly MUFR Muhlenbergia fragilis 0–2 – littleseed muhly MUMI Muhlenbergia microsperma 0–2 – witchgrass PACA6 Panicum capillare 0–2 – Madagascar dropseed SPPY2 Sporobolus pyramidatus 0–1 – Arizona brome BRAR4 Bromus arizonicus 0–1 – canyon cupgrass ERLE7 Eriochloa lemmonii 0–1 – desert lovegrass ERPEM Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima 0–1 – tufted lovegrass ERPEP2 Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea 0–1 – Forb4 Ferns and fern allies 2–15 cliffbrake PELLA Pellaea 1–5 – Arizona spikemoss SEAR2 Selaginella arizonica 0–5 – lipfern CHEIL Cheilanthes 1–5 – cloak fern NOTHO Notholaena 0–1 – 5 Perennial forbs 15–75 slender janusia JAGR Janusia gracilis 5–10 – Coues' cassia SECO10 Senna covesii 1–10 – desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 1–10 – lacy tansyaster MAPIP4 Machaeranthera pinnatifida ssp. pinnatifida var. pinnatifida 5–10 – rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 0–10 – slender poreleaf POGR5 Porophyllum gracile 0–5 – brownplume wirelettuce STPA4 Stephanomeria pauciflora 0–5 – Parry's false prairie-clover MAPA7 Marina parryi 1–5 – San Felipe dogweed ADPO Adenophyllum porophylloides 0–5 – weakleaf bur ragweed AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 0–5 – narrowleaf silverbush ARLA12 Argythamnia lanceolata 0–5 – wishbone-bush MILAV Mirabilis laevis var. villosa 0–2 – 6 Annual forbs and minor perennials 3–180 California poppy ESCAM Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana 0–40 – Coulter's lupine LUSP2 Lupinus sparsiflorus 0–40 – phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0–30 – desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 0–25 – bristly fiddleneck AMTE3 Amsinckia tessellata 0–25 – exserted Indian paintbrush CAEXE Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta 0–20 – western tansymustard DEPI Descurainia pinnata 0–15 – shaggyfruit pepperweed LELA Lepidium lasiocarpum 0–10 – coastal bird's-foot trefoil LOSAB Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus 0–10 – thelypody THELY Thelypodium 0–10 – woolly tidestromia TILA2 Tidestromia lanuginosa 0–10 – Coulter's spiderling BOCO2 Boerhavia coulteri 0–10 – cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0–5 – combseed PECTO Pectocarya 0–5 – lyreleaf jewelflower STCA5 Streptanthus carinatus 0–5 – sleepy silene SIAN2 Silene antirrhina 0–5 – plains blackfoot MELE2 Melampodium leucanthum 0–5 – flatcrown buckwheat ERDE6 Eriogonum deflexum 1–2 – trailing windmills ALIN Allionia incarnata 1–2 – largeflower onion ALMA4 Allium macropetalum 0–1 – weakleaf bur ragweed AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 0–1 – carelessweed AMPA Amaranthus palmeri 0–1 – brownfoot ACWR5 Acourtia wrightii 0–1 – bigseed alfalfa dodder CUIN Cuscuta indecora 0–1 – American wild carrot DAPU3 Daucus pusillus 0–1 – desert larkspur DEPA Delphinium parishii 0–1 – whitemargin sandmat CHAL11 Chamaesyce albomarginata 0–1 – brittle spineflower CHBR Chorizanthe brevicornu 0–1 – lipfern CHEIL Cheilanthes 0–1 – goosefoot CHENO Chenopodium 0–1 – New Mexico thistle CINE Cirsium neomexicanum 0–1 – hoary bowlesia BOIN3 Bowlesia incana 0–1 – Tucson Mountain spiderling BOME Boerhavia megaptera 0–1 – Arizona wrightwort CAAR7 Carlowrightia arizonica 0–1 – fringed redmaids CACI2 Calandrinia ciliata 0–1 – white sagebrush ARLU Artemisia ludoviciana 0–1 – New Mexico silverbush ARNE2 Argythamnia neomexicana 0–1 – perennial rockcress ARPE2 Arabis perennans 0–1 – aster ASTER Aster 0–1 – desert marigold BAMU Baileya multiradiata 0–1 – scarlet spiderling BOCO Boerhavia coccinea 0–1 – miniature woollystar ERDI2 Eriastrum diffusum 0–1 – spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 0–1 – desert trumpet ERIN4 Eriogonum inflatum 0–1 – buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 0–1 – tall mountain larkspur DESC Delphinium scaposum 0–1 – green carpetweed MOVE Mollugo verticillata 0–1 – bristly nama NAHI Nama hispidum 0–1 – glandular threadplant NEGL Nemacladus glanduliferus 0–1 – evening primrose OENOT Oenothera 0–1 – Florida pellitory PAFL3 Parietaria floridana 0–1 – shrubby deervetch LORI3 Lotus rigidus 0–1 – Coulter's globemallow SPCO2 Sphaeralcea coulteri 0–1 – glandleaf milkwort POMA7 Polygala macradenia 0–1 – chia SACO6 Salvia columbariae 0–1 – Arizona popcornflower PLAR Plagiobothrys arizonicus 0–1 – Coulter's lyrepod LYCO4 Lyrocarpa coulteri 0–1 – whitestem blazingstar MEAL6 Mentzelia albicaulis 0–1 – woollyhead neststraw STMI2 Stylocline micropoides 0–1 – sand fringepod THCU Thysanocarpus curvipes 0–1 – noseburn TRAGI Tragia 0–1 – vervain VERBE Verbena 0–1 – Shrub/Vine7 Dominant half shrubs 30–100 triangle bur ragweed AMDE4 Ambrosia deltoidea 10–50 – brittlebush ENFA Encelia farinosa 10–50 – desert zinnia ZIAC Zinnia acerosa 5–25 – whitestem paperflower PSCO2 Psilostrophe cooperi 1–15 – littleleaf ratany KRER Krameria erecta 1–10 – fairyduster CAER Calliandra eriophylla 0–10 – white ratany KRGR Krameria grayi 1–5 – sangre de cristo JACA2 Jatropha cardiophylla 1–5 – 8 Dominant large shrubs 65–160 ocotillo FOSP2 Fouquieria splendens 25–50 – creosote bush LATRT Larrea tridentata var. tridentata 25–50 – jojoba SICH Simmondsia chinensis 1–50 – whitethorn acacia ACCO2 Acacia constricta 5–20 – Nevada jointfir EPNE Ephedra nevadensis 0–10 – Berlandier's wolfberry LYBE Lycium berlandieri 1–10 – water jacket LYAN Lycium andersonii 0–5 – catclaw acacia ACGR Acacia greggii 0–5 – 9 Miscellaneous shrubs 1–20 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 0–5 – Warnock's snakewood COWA Condalia warnockii 0–2 – Sonoran croton CRSO Croton sonorae 0–1 – Eastern Mojave buckwheat ERFA2 Eriogonum fasciculatum 0–1 – bastardsage ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 0–1 – starry bedstraw GAST Galium stellatum 0–1 – desert lavender HYEM Hyptis emoryi 0–1 – crown of thorns KOSP Koeberlinia spinosa 0–1 – Arizona desert-thorn LYEX Lycium exsertum 0–1 – Arizona mimosa MIDIL Mimosa distachya var. laxiflora 0–1 – mariola PAIN2 Parthenium incanum 0–1 – arrow poision plant SEBI9 Sebastiania bilocularis 0–1 – woody crinklemat TICAC Tiquilia canescens var. canescens 0–1 – American threefold TRCA8 Trixis californica 0–1 – Parish's goldeneye VIPA14 Viguiera parishii 0–1 – lotebush ZIOB Ziziphus obtusifolia 0–1 – pelotazo ABIN Abutilon incanum 0–1 – California copperleaf ACCA3 Acalypha californica 0–1 – rayless goldenhead ACSP Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus 0–1 – Wright's beebrush ALWR Aloysia wrightii 0–1 – spiny hackberry CEEH Celtis ehrenbergiana 0–1 – rosary babybonnets COGL8 Coursetia glandulosa 0–1 – knifeleaf condalia COSP3 Condalia spathulata 0–1 – 10 Succulents 25–100 saguaro CAGI10 Carnegiea gigantea 5–40 – cactus apple OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 10–30 – buck-horn cholla CYAC8 Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa 10–20 – teddybear cholla CYBI9 Cylindropuntia bigelovii 1–10 – jumping cholla CYFU10 Cylindropuntia fulgida 1–10 – tulip pricklypear OPPH Opuntia phaeacantha 1–10 – organpipe cactus STTH3 Stenocereus thurberi 0–10 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 0–5 – purple pricklypear OPMA8 Opuntia macrocentra 0–5 – Christmas cactus CYLE8 Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 1–5 – staghorn cholla CYVE3 Cylindropuntia versicolor 0–5 – common sotol DAWH2 Dasylirion wheeleri 0–2 – candy barrelcactus FEWI Ferocactus wislizeni 1–2 – redspine fishhook cactus ECER2 Echinomastus erectocentrus 0–2 – dollarjoint pricklypear OPCH Opuntia chlorotica 0–2 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECFE Echinocereus fendleri 0–1 – rainbow cactus ECPE Echinocereus pectinatus 0–1 – spinystar ESVIV Escobaria vivipara var. vivipara 0–1 – California barrel cactus FECY Ferocactus cylindraceus 0–1 – Emory's barrel cactus FEEM Ferocactus emoryi 0–1 – Graham's nipple cactus MAGR9 Mammillaria grahamii 0–1 – Thornber's nipple cactus MATH Mammillaria thornberi 0–1 – Scheer's beehive cactus COROS Coryphantha robustispina ssp. scheeri 0–1 – Engelmann's hedgehog cactus ECEN Echinocereus engelmannii 0–1 – desert agave AGDE Agave deserti 0–1 – Tree11 Trees 40–150 yellow paloverde PAMI5 Parkinsonia microphylla 40–140 – desert ironwood OLTE Olneya tesota 1–20 – crucifixion thorn CAHO3 Canotia holacantha 0–15 – velvet mesquite PRVE Prosopis velutina 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 (%) Table 12. Community 5.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 13. Community 6.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
Steep slopes and gravelly surfaces somewhat hinder livestock distribution, but this is the easiest of the hillsites for cattle to traverse and the hillslopes trail easily. The site is not well suited to grazing by cows in the hot season but in areas where ridges trend north-south, distribution will be good even in summer as the west aspects are shady in the morning and the eastern exposures shady in the afternoon. Stocker cattle are best suited to use areas of this site. South aspects are used more in the winter due to warm temperatures and early greenup. North exposures, being shady and cooler, are used more in the fall due to longer green season. The plant community has a good variety of evergreen browse species making it especially good for winter-spring grazing. This site tends to be very dry, even in winter-spring when other hillsites have canyon and seep water.
Water developments are very important to wildlife species on this site. Cover, forage diversity, and topography are good enough for a variety of desert wildlife including the large mammals.Hydrological functions
This site is a fair producer of runoff due to moderately steep slopes and shallow soils. Very gravelly and cobbly soil surfaces tend to hold water on the site.
Recreational uses
Hunting, hiking, bird watching, photography, horseback riding, rock hounding.
Wood products
Some paloverde, ironwood and mesquite for camp-fires and branding fires.
Other products
Stones and cobbles; decomposed gravels. Saguaro ribs, cholla skeletons and ocotillo canes. Tradtional foods like saguaro fruits, prickly pear tunas, cactus flower buds and jojoba nuts. Traditional herbs like coyote tobacco, mint bush, limberbush and creosotebush.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Range 417s include 1 in good condition.
Type locality
Location 1: Gila County, AZ Township/Range/Section T5S R16E S13 General legal description San Carlos Field Office - Mineral Strip Location 2: Pima County, AZ Township/Range/Section T14S R12E S15 General legal description Saguaro Nat. Park, Gates Pass. elevation 3100 ft. Location 3: Pima County, AZ Township/Range/Section T16S R5E S5 General legal description 1 mile SE of Ko Vaya village on the Tohono O'odham Indian Nation. South Comobabi Mountains. 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):
-
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
-
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction 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:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
-
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
-
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:
-
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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