Ecological dynamics

Plant tables have not been developed for this site. Until such time as they can be updated, use the plant tables in the referenced literature that correlates to this concept (refer to plant tables from legacy ecological sites below). Since current ecological sites and legacy manuscript information was not correlated to the precise concept of the Lithic Limestone there are notable shortcomings in their applicability to conservation planning here.

The Lithic Limestone site is distinguished from other upland sites in the CP in that cool-season grasses (namely New Mexico feathergrass) are at least codominant in most of its community phases. Similar plant communities can be seen on the upper escarpments of the Limy Escarpments site, and also on many soils in the High Plains (HP) LRU of 70A. In the latter, abundant free carbonates and calcareous petronodes create the same basic soil properties that select for New Mexico feathergrass in the Lithic Limestone site. Another grass species that seems particularly well-suited to this site is sideoats grama.

Since this site is distributed across a relatively large area and covers a considerable range in elevation, and since its soil properties are variable, plant community composition is variable within any given state or community phase. At lower elevations toward the eastern end of the CP, hairy grama is quite common, and one frequently encounters sacahuista and hairy tridens. At higher elevations and toward the northern end of the CP, fringed sage is often found on this site. Similarly, twoneedle pinyon dominates the tree communities at the highest elevations, while oneseed juniper is the dominant tree across most of this site’s extent. Older trees are more common in locations with a significant amount of rock outcrop.

Within this site, the dominant species of short grasses are inherently drought- and grazing-tolerant (Lauenroth, 1994). Across the western parts of the U.S., blue grama is one of the most extensively distributed grasses and occurs in a wide variety of different ecosites ranging from grasslands to shrubland and woodland sites. This grass evolved with grazing by large herbivores and, when grazed continuously, tends to form a short sod. When allowed to grow under lower grazing pressures, the plants develop the upright physiognomy of a bunchgrass. If blue grama is eliminated from an area by extended drought (3 to 4 years) or disturbance such as plowing, regeneration is slow because of very slow tillering rates (Samuel, 1985), low and variable seed production, minimal seed storage in the soil (Coffin, 1989) and limited seedling germination and establishment due to particular temperature and extended soil moisture requirements for successful seedling establishment (Briske, 1978). Buffalograss, which is more abundant at warmer, lower elevations of this site, is often found occupying swale or depression positions across the landscape. Buffalograss is less drought-tolerant than blue grama but re-establishes more quickly following disturbance due to higher seed abundance and viability and more effective above-ground tillering (Peters, 2008).

Large-scale processes such as climate, fire and grazing influence this site. During years with favorable growing seasons, the effects of grazing may be mitigated. During years of low precipitation, grazing can magnify degradation of the site (Milchunas D.G., 1989). Fire is a natural disturbance regime that suppresses succulents and shrubs while stimulating grasses and forbs, however, in contrast to mid and tall grass prairie sites, fire is less important (Wright, 1982). This is because the drier conditions produce less vegetation/fuel load, lowering the relative fire frequency. However, historically, fires that did occur were often very expansive, especially after a series of years where above average precipitation built enough litter/fine fuels. Currently, fire suppression and more extensive grazing in the region have decreased the fire frequency, and it is unlikely that these processes could occur at a natural scale (USNVC, 2017)-G144. According to (Gebow, 2001), fire effects in the same location will vary, especially with fire timing, where seasonality can either hinder or benefit plants depending on their growing stage. Precipitation events occurring before and after fire will also influence the recovery of plants. Fire promotes rhizomatous plant species, such as western wheatgrass, that can take advantage of below-ground rhizomes from which tillering is rapidly initiated.

Correlation to Current Ecological Sites:
The Penrose components of the Lithic Limestone are currently correlated to the Shallow Upland (R070AY003NM) site. Penrose series is an MLRA 69 concept. As noted above, the plant community described in this ESD seems to have been developed using data from hotter, drier areas than the CP, such as MLRAs 70B and 70C.

Shallow Upland legacy tables (R070AY003NM)
Annual production by plant type
Plant Type-------------Low(Lb/Acre) ----------Representative Value(Lb/Acre) ----------High(Lb/Acre)
Grass/Grasslike-------------312--------------------------------700--------------------------------------858
Shrub/Vine-------------------32---------------------------------70----------------------------------------88
Forb----------------------------32---------------------------------70----------------------------------------88
Total---------------------------376--------------------------------840--------------------------------------1034

Community 1.1 plant community composition
Common Name----------Symbol----------Scientific Name----------Annual Production (Lb/Acre)
GRASS/GRASSLIKE
1 sideoats grama----------BOCU-----------Bouteloua curtipendula----------63–150
2 blue grama---------------BOGR2----------Bouteloua gracilis------------------63–150
3 hairy grama--------------BOHI2-----------Bouteloua hirsuta------------------63–150
4 little bluestem-----------SCSC------------Schizachyrium scoparium---------63–150
5 needle and thread------HECO26--------Hesperostipa comata--------------75–113
6 New Mexico feathergrass-HENE5------Hesperostipa neomexicana------75–113
7 threeawn-------------------ARIST----------Aristida--------------------------------8–38
8 common wolfstail---------LYPH----------Lycurus phleoides-------------------8–38
9 squirreltail-------------------ELEL5---------Elymus elymoides-------------------8–38
10 western wheatgrass-----PASM---------Pascopyrum smithii-----------------8–38
11 Graminoid (grass or grass-like)-2GRAM-Graminoid (grass or grass-like)-8–38
FORB
12 buckwheat------------------ERIOG--------Eriogonum----------------------------8–38
13 globemallow----------------SPHAE--------Sphaeralcea--------------------------8–38
14 Forb, annual----------------2FA------------Forb, annual-------------------------15–38
15 Forb, perennial-------------2FP------------Forb, perennial---------------------15–38
SHRUB/VINE
16 prairie sagewort-----------ARFR4---------Artemisia frigida--------------------8–38
17 Bigelow sage---------------ARBI3----------Artemisia bigelovii-----------------15–23
18 winterfat-------------------KRLA2-----------Krascheninnikovia lanata--------15–23
19 skunkbush sumac--------RHTR------------Rhus trilobata-----------------------15–38
20 Shrub, deciduous---------2SD-------------Shrub, deciduous--------------------8–38

Loamy Upland legacy tables (R070AY001NM)
Annual production by plant type
Plant Type-------Low(Lb/Acre) -------RV(Lb/Acre)-------High(Lb/Acre)
Grass/Grasslike -------610--------------860---------------------1100
Forb---------------------130--------------130---------------------140
Shrub/Vine------------130--------------130---------------------130
Total---------------------870--------------1120-------------------1370

Community 1.1 plant community composition
Common Name--------------Symbol-------Scientific Name-------Annual Production (Lb/Acre)
GRASS/GRASSLIKE
1-------blue grama--------------BOGR2-------Bouteloua gracilis---------312–357
2-------western wheatgrass----PASM-------Pascopyrum smithii-------178–223
3-------squirreltail----------------ELEL5-------Elymus elymoides---------89–133
4-------James' galleta-------------PLJA-------Pleuraphis jamesii----------43–89
5-------sideoats grama-----------BOCU-------Bouteloua curtipendula---43–89
6-------threeawn------------------ARIST-------Aristida-----------------------25–44
7-------ring muhly-----------------MUTO2------Muhlenbergia torreyi-----25–44
8-------buffalograss---------------BODA2------Bouteloua dactyloides-----25–44
9-------common wolfstail--------LYPH---------Lycurus phleoides-----------25–44
10-------sand dropseed-----------SPCR---------Sporobolus cryptandrus----25–44
FORB
12-------Forb, annual---------------2FA----------Forb, annual------------------10–48
13-------Forb, perennial------------2FP----------Forb, perennial---------------10–48
14-------Cuman ragweed----------AMPS---------Ambrosia psilostachya------10–25
15-------scurfpea--------------------CULLE---------Cullen-------------------------5–25
16-------prairie clover---------------DALEA-------Dalea---------------------------5–25
17-------dotted blazing star---------LIPU----------Liatris punctata--------------5–25
18-------locoweed--------------------OXYTR-------Oxytropis---------------------5–25
19-------upright prairie coneflower-RACO3------Ratibida columnifera-------5–25
20-------scarlet globemallow--------SPCO--------Sphaeralcea coccinea-------5–25
SHRUB/VINE
21-------winterfat---------------------KRLA2-------Krascheninnikovia lanata---29–48
22-------prairie sagewort-------------ARFR4-------Artemisia frigida-------------29–48
23-------Shrub, deciduous-------------2SD---------Shrub, deciduous-------------29–48