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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.
Ecological site concept
This site occurs on gently sloping side slopes and tops of mountain foothills. Slopes vary from 1 to 9 percent, but average 5 percent.
The soils on this site are well-drained and shallow to very shallow over indurated caliche. Depth averages 9 to 18 inches. Surface textures vary from loam to cobbly loam.Associated sites
R042CY151NM Limestone Hills
Limestone Hills occurs on limestone hills and footslopes of higher mountains. Slopes range from 10 to 60 percent. Soils are shallow, gravelly, and loamy. The reference plant community is mixed prairie grassland with scattered shrubs, forbs, and trees.
R042CY156NM Gravelly
Gravelly occurs on gravelly alluvial fans of higher limestone mountains. Slopes range from 5 to 20 percent. Soils are deep gravelly loams. The reference plant community is mixed prairie grassland with scattered shrubs, trees, and forbs.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Juniperus pinchotii
Herbaceous (1) Muhlenbergia setifolia
(2) Bouteloua eriopodaPhysiographic features
This site consists of shallow soils occupying upland plains, gently sloping side slopes and tops of mountain foothills. Slopes vary from 1 to 9 percent, but average 5 percent. Direction of the slope varies and is not significant. Elevations range from 4, 000 to 7,000 feet above sea level.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Plain
(2) Fan remnant
Elevation 4000 – 7000 ft Slope 1 – 9 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate of this area is “semi-arid continental.”
Annual average precipitation ranges from 11 to 19 inches. Variations of 5 inches, more or less, are not uncommon. Approximately 70 percent of the precipitation occurs from May through October. Most of the summer rain comes in the form of high-intensity, short- uration thunderstorms. Winter moisture is usually negligible.
Temperatures are characterized by distinct seasonal changes and large annual and diurnal temperature changes. The average annual temperature ranges from 55 degrees to 60 degrees, with extremes of 20 degrees below zero in the winter to 110 degrees in the summer.
The average frost-free season is 170 to 189 days. The last killing frost is in early April and the first killing frost is in mid October.
Both temperature and precipitation favor warm-season perennial plant communities. Sufficient late winter and early spring moisture allows cool season species to occupy a minor component within the plant community in favorable years. Due to the shallow soil profile vegetation responds well to light rains. Strong winds blow from February through June from the west and southwest. This tends to dry out the soil during a critical period for cool season plant growth.
Climate data was obtained from http://www.wrcc.sage.dri.edu/summary/climsmnm.html web site.
Data interpreted utilizing NM NRCS Climate Summarizer spreadsheet.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 190 days Freeze-free period (average) 210 days Precipitation total (average) 20 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
This is an upland site, and is not associated with water features or wetlands. During heavy rain events, this site may receive run-on moisture from landforms above and contribute runoff to landforms below.
Soil features
The soils on this site are well-drained and shallow to very shallow over indurated caliche. Depth averages 9 to 18 inches. The soils have a moderate to moderately rapid permeability and a low water-holding capacity. Surface textures vary from loam to cobbly loam.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium – limestone
Surface texture (1) Gravelly loam
(2) Cobbly
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate to moderately rapid Soil depth 4 – 20 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 15 – 35 % Surface fragment cover >3" 20 – 35 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)1 – 3 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)8 – 15 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 1 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7.6 – 8.2 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)15 – 35 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)15 – 35 % Ecological dynamics
The reference plant community of the Shallow site is a grassland/shrub-mix, dominated by grasses, with scattered shrubs and few trees. Dispersal of shrub seeds, competition for resources, loss of grass cover, and a decrease in natural fire regimes may facilitate the encroachment of shrubs. There is no evidence of a state where grasses are completely lost, perhaps due to low erodibility of high gravel soils and sufficient resources to support grass-shrub coexistence. All plant communities seem to occur within one stable state.
Fire plays an important role in maintaining the reference plant community. A fire frequency of 10-15 years would make this community type grassier (Ahlstrand 1982). However, Paysen et al. (2000) cautions that while fire can be used to accomplish objectives in grassy desert shrublands, it may also contribute to loss of desirable species. At Guadalupe Mountains National, pinyon pine is a minor component of this site, however frequent prescribed fires can potentially reduce its occurrence due to its sensitivity to fire.
Fluctuations in yearly weather conditions is another influential factor that helps shape the plant communities. Prolonged droughts will dramatically reduce herbaceous cover and production while wet summers will favor black grama dominance and wet winters will favor more mesic and cool-season grasses (Ludwig et al. 2000).
Bison may have utilized this site historically, but access to sufficient perennial water probably limited their stay. The reference community is suited for conservative or planned grazing but overutilization can reduce desirable grasses such as black grama and blue grama and increase less desirable grasses such as hairy grama, slim tridens, and perennial threeawn.
The following diagram suggests general pathways that the vegetation on this site might follow. There are other plant communities and states not shown on the diagram. This information is intended to show what might happen in a given set of circumstances; it does not mean that this would happen the same way in every instance. Local professional guidance should always be sought before pursuing a treatment scenario.
State and transition model
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Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textEcosystem states
State 1
Grassland/Shrubland StateThe reference community is the Midgrass/Shrubs/Trees Community (1.1). Curlyleaf muhly, black grama, and blue grama are common grasses. Common shrubs include redberry juniper, skunkbush sumac, wavyleaf oak, and sacahuista. Pinyon pine occurs as a minor component. Annual production ranges from 410 to 1010 pounds per acre.
The Cool-season Grasses/Shrubs/Trees Community (1.2) is dominated by New Mexico feathergrass, a cool-season grass which dominates the herbaceous layer. Other cool-season grasses present in the plant community such as southwestern needlegrass may also increase. Warm-season grasses such as curlyleaf muhly, black grama, and blue grama occur as subdominants.
The Threeawn/Shrubs/Trees Community (1.3)id dominated by less palatable grasses, such as perennial threeawns and hairy grama. Cover of black and blue grama is very low (75 percent) and grasses are completely lost.
Community 1.1
Midgrass/Shrubs/Trees Community
Figure 4. 1.1 Midgrass/Shrubs/Trees Community
This community phase is the reference plant community. Curlyleaf muhly, black grama, and blue grama are common grasses. Common shrubs include redberry juniper, skunkbush sumac, wavyleaf oak, and sacahuista. Pinyon pine occurs as a minor component. Annual production ranges from 410 to 1010 pounds per acre.
Conservation practices such as prescribed fire and/or prescribed grazing can help maintain this plant community with a diverse mix of species. Lack of any disturbance overtime may favor more dominant plant life forms or particular species.
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 460 690 925 Shrub/Vine 180 290 400 Forb 35 60 90 Total 675 1040 1415 Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NM4602 , R070DY152NM Shallow Reference State. R070DY152NM Shallow Reference State Mixed short/mid warm-season grassland with significant shrub component. Forbs vary from year to year. .
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 3 5 10 10 25 30 12 5 0 0 Community 1.2
Cool-season Grasses/Shrubs/Trees Community
Figure 7. 1.2 Cool-season Grasses/Shrubs/Trees Community
New Mexico feathergrass, a cool-season grass dominates the herbaceous layer. Other cool-season grasses present in the plant community such as southwestern needlegrass may also increase. Warm-season grasses such as curlyleaf muhly, black grama, and blue grama occur as subdominants.
Community 1.3
Threeawn/Shrubs/Trees CommunityThis plant community phase is the result of heavy continuous grazing. Less palatable, grasses, such as perennial threeawns and hairy grama are dominant. Cover of black and blue grama is very low (
Community 1.4
Juniper/Mixed-grass CommunityThis community phase is the result of fire suppression and/or heavy continuous grazing. Without fire natural succession will allow shrubs specifically redberry juniper to increase. Overgrazing can cause this transition as well since in can reduce the fine fuels needed to carry a fire. Depending on grazing pressure this community can either be dominated my increaser or decreaser grasses. There has been no evidence of an alternate stable state with very high canopy cover of juniper (>75 percent) and grasses are completely lost.
Conservation practices such as prescribed burning, brush management, prescribed grazing or no grazing can facilitate a transition back to a warm or cool season reference community with a relatively low cover of shrubs.
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2
Midgrass/Shrubs/Trees Community
Cool-season Grasses/Shrubs/Trees CommunityAbove average cool-season precipitation and rainfall events will cause a shift from a warm-season grass community to a cool-season dominated grass community.
Pathway 1.1B
Community 1.1 to 1.3Heavy continuous grazing or overutilization will decrease palatable grasses such as black grama and blue grama. Less palatable grasses, such as perennial threeawns and hairy grama increase.
Pathway 1.1C
Community 1.1 to 1.4The Midgrass/Shrubs/Trees Community will shift to the Juniper/Mixed-grass Community due to fire suppression, no brush management, and heavy continuous grazing.
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1
Cool-season Grasses/Shrubs/Trees Community
Midgrass/Shrubs/Trees CommunityAbove average warm-season precipitation will cause a shift from a cool-season grass community to a warm-season dominated grass community.
Pathway 1.2B
Community 1.2 to 1.3With heavy continuous grazing pressure and warm-season rainfall events, the Cool-season Grasses/Shrubs/Trees Community will shift to the Threeawn/Shrubs/Trees Community.
Pathway 1.2C
Community 1.2 to 1.4With fire suppression, no brush management, heavy continuous grazing, and warm-season rainfall events, the Cool-season Grasses/Shrubs/Trees Community will shift to the Juniper/Mixed-grass Community.
Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.1With Prescribed Burning or No Grazing Pressure and Warm-season rainfall events, the Threeawn/Shrubs/Trees Community will revert back to the Midgrass/Shrubs/Trees Community.
Conservation practices
Prescribed Grazing Pathway 1.3B
Community 1.3 to 1.2With Prescribed Grazing or No Grazing Pressure and Cool-season rainfall events, the Threeawn/Shrubs/Trees Community can revert back to the Cool-season Grasses/Shrubs/Trees Community.
Conservation practices
Prescribed Grazing Pathway 1.3C
Community 1.3 to 1.4The shift from the Threeawn/Shrubs/Trees Community to the Juniper/Mixed-grass Community occurs due to heavy continuous grazing, no fires, and no brush management.
Pathway 1.4B
Community 1.4 to 1.1With Prescribed Burning, Prescribed Grazing or no grazing pressure, Brush Management, and Warm-season rainfall events, the Juniper/Mixed-grass Community can revert back to the Midgrass/Shrubs/Trees Community.
Conservation practices
Brush Management Prescribed Burning Prescribed Grazing Pathway 1.4C
Community 1.4 to 1.2With Prescribed Burning, Prescribed Grazing or no grazing pressure, Brush Management, and Cool-season rainfall events, the Juniper/Mixed-grass Community can revert back to the Cool-season Grasses/Shrubs/Trees Community.
Conservation practices
Brush Management Prescribed Burning Prescribed Grazing Pathway 1.4A
Community 1.4 to 1.3With Prescribed Grazing or no grazing pressure, the Juniper/Mixed-grass Community can be reverted back to the Threeawn/Shrubs/Trees Community.
Conservation practices
Prescribed Grazing Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Stoloniferous shortgrass 155–310 black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 155–310 – 2 Shortgrasses 40–80 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 40–80 – curlyleaf muhly MUSE Muhlenbergia setifolia 15–40 – 3 Midgrasses 120–180 sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 80–115 – little bluestem SCSC Schizachyrium scoparium 40–60 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 40–60 – 4 Mid/Shortgrasses 40–120 plains lovegrass ERIN Eragrostis intermedia 15–40 – Hall's panicgrass PAHA Panicum hallii 15–40 – plains bristlegrass SEVU2 Setaria vulpiseta 15–40 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 10–40 – 5 Shortgrasses 90–200 tridens TRIDE Tridens 40–80 – threeawn ARIST Aristida 40–60 – mat muhly MURI Muhlenbergia richardsonis 25–40 – burrograss SCBR2 Scleropogon brevifolius 25–40 – 6 Graminoids 15–35 Graminoid (grass or grass-like) 2GRAM Graminoid (grass or grass-like) 15–35 – Forb7 Forbs 35–90 Forb (herbaceous, not grass nor grass-like) 2FORB Forb (herbaceous, not grass nor grass-like) 40–55 – dropseed SPORO Sporobolus 8–39 – croton CROTO Croton 8–23 – senna SENNA Senna 8–23 – pricklyleaf dogweed THAC Thymophylla acerosa 8–23 – buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 8–16 – Shrub/Vine8 Shrubs 150–320 Pinchot's juniper JUPI Juniperus pinchotii 50–100 – pungent oak QUPU Quercus pungens 40–80 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 39–62 – little bluestem SCSC Schizachyrium scoparium 39–62 – algerita MATR3 Mahonia trifoliolata 15–40 – catclaw acacia ACGR Acacia greggii 15–40 – resinbush VIST Viguiera stenoloba 15–40 – broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 10–25 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 10–25 – 9 Fibrous/Succulents 30–80 curlyleaf muhly MUSE Muhlenbergia setifolia 16–39 – green sotol DALE2 Dasylirion leiophyllum 10–30 – pricklypear OPUNT Opuntia 10–30 – yucca YUCCA Yucca 10–30 – Table 7. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 8. Community 1.3 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 9. Community 1.4 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Data collection for this site was done in conjunction with the progressive soil surveys within the Pecos-Canadian Plains and Valleys Major Land Resource Area of New Mexico (MLRA 70). This site has been mapped and correlated with soils in the following soil surveys: Otero, Eddy, Chaves, Lincoln
Other references
References
1. Brown, J. R. and S. Archer. 1999. Shrub invasion of grassland: recruitment is continuous And not regulated by herbaceous biomass or density. Ecology 80:2385-2396.
2. Johnsen, T. N., Jr. 1962. One-seeded juniper invasion of northern Arizona grasslands. Ecological Monographs. 32:187-207.
3. Parker, K. W. 1945. Juniper comes to the grassland. American Cattle Producer. 27: 12- 14.
4. Pendleton, R. L., B. K. Pendleton, and K T. Harper. 1989. Breeding systems of woody plant species in Utah. In: Wallace, Arthur; McArthur, E. Durant; Haferkamp, Marshall R., compilers. Proceedings--symposium on shrub ecophysiology and biotechnology; 1987 June 30 - July 2; Logan, UT. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-
56. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: 5-22.
Contributors
David Trujillo
Don Sylvester
Elizabeth Wright
John Tunberg
Michael Margo, RMS, NRCS, Marfa, TexasApproval
Kendra Moseley, 10/21/2024
Rangeland 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 08/20/2026 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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PrintThe Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
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