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COLORADO PLATEAU PINYON-JUNIPER WOODLAND S039
Division 304, Forest and Woodland, CES304.767
Spatial Scale & Pattern: Matrix Classification Confidence: medium
Required Classifiers: Natural/Semi-natural, Vegetated (>10% vasc.), Upland
Diagnostic Classifiers: Montane [Lower Montane], Lowland [Foothill], Mesa, Ridge/Summit/Upper Slope, Sedimentary Rock, Temperate [Temperate Xeric], Aridic, Pinus edulis, Juniperus osteospermaNon-Diagnostic Classifiers: Forest and Woodland (Treed), Foothill(s), Piedmont, Plateau, Sideslope, Alkaline Soil, Long Disturbance Interval, F-Patch/Medium Intensity
Concept Summary: This ecological system occurs on dry mountains and foothills of the Colorado Plateau region from the Western Slope of Colorado to the Wasatch Range, south to the Mogollon Rim and east into the NW corner of New Mexico. It is typically found at lower elevations ranging from 1500-2440 m. These woodlands occur on warm, dry sites on mountain slopes, mesas, plateaus, and ridges. Severe climatic events occurring during the growing season, such as frosts and drought, are thought to limit the distribution of pinyon-juniper woodlands to relatively narrow altitudinal belts on mountainsides. Soils supporting this system vary in texture ranging from stony, cobbly, gravelly sandy loams to clay loam or clay. Pinus edulis and/or Juniperus osteosperma dominate the tree canopy. In the southern portion of the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona and northwestern New Mexico, Juniperus monosperma and hybrids of Juniperus spp may dominate or codominate tree canopy. Juniperus scopulorum may codominate or replace Juniperus osteosperma at higher elevations. Understory layers are variable and may be dominated by shrubs, graminoids, or be absent. Associated species include Arctostaphylos patula, Artemisia tridentata, Cercocarpus intricatus, Cercocarpus montanus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Purshia stansburiana, Purshia tridentata, Quercus gambelii, Bouteloua gracilis, Pleuraphis jamesii, or Poa fendleriana. This system occurs at higher elevations than Great Basin Pinyon-Juniper Woodland (CES304.773) and Colorado Plateau shrubland systems where sympatric.
DISTRIBUTION
Range: Occurs on dry mountains and foothills of the Colorado Plateau region from the Western Slope of Colorado to the Wasatch Range, south to the Mogollon Rim. It is typically found at lower elevations ranging from 1500-2440 m.
Ecological Divisions: 304, 306
TNC Ecoregions: 18:C, 19:C, 20:?
Subnations/Nations: AZ:c, CO:c, NM:c, UT:c
CONCEPT
Alliances and Associations:
• JUNIPERUS MONOSPERMA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.504) Juniperus monosperma - Rhus trilobata / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland (CEGL002121) Juniperus monosperma / Agave lechuguilla Woodland (CEGL000703) Juniperus monosperma / Andropogon hallii Woodland (CEGL000704) Juniperus monosperma / Artemisia bigelovii Woodland (CEGL000705) Juniperus monosperma / Artemisia tridentata Woodland (CEGL000706) Juniperus monosperma / Atriplex confertifolia / Achnatherum hymenoides Woodland (CEGL000707) Juniperus monosperma / Bouteloua curtipendula Woodland (CEGL000708) Juniperus monosperma / Bouteloua eriopoda Woodland (CEGL000709) Juniperus monosperma / Bouteloua gracilis Woodland (CEGL000710) Juniperus monosperma / Bouteloua hirsuta Woodland (CEGL000711) Juniperus monosperma / Cercocarpus montanus - Ribes cereum Woodland (CEGL000714) Juniperus monosperma / Cercocarpus montanus Woodland (CEGL000713) Juniperus monosperma / Ericameria nauseosa - Fallugia paradoxa Woodland (CEGL000715) Juniperus monosperma / Fallugia paradoxa / Xanthoparmelia neoconspersa Woodland (CEGL000716) Juniperus monosperma / Hesperostipa neomexicana Woodland (CEGL000722) Juniperus monosperma / Krascheninnikovia lanata Woodland (CEGL000712) Juniperus monosperma / Nolina microcarpa - Agave lechuguilla Woodland (CEGL000718) Juniperus monosperma / Quercus turbinella Woodland (CEGL000720) Juniperus monosperma / Quercus X pauciloba Woodland (CEGL000721)
• JUNIPERUS OSTEOSPERMA WOODED HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE (A.1502) Juniperus osteosperma / Hesperostipa comata Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL001489) Juniperus osteosperma / Leymus salinus ssp. salmonis Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL001488)
• JUNIPERUS OSTEOSPERMA WOODED SHRUBLAND ALLIANCE (A.2541) Juniperus osteosperma Wooded Shrubland [Placeholder] (CEGL002964)
• JUNIPERUS OSTEOSPERMA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.536) Juniperus osteosperma - Juniperus monosperma / Sparse Understory Woodland (CEGL000737) Juniperus osteosperma / Artemisia arbuscula Woodland (CEGL002757) Juniperus osteosperma / Artemisia nova / Rock Woodland (CEGL000729) Juniperus osteosperma / Artemisia nova Woodland (CEGL000728)
Ecological Systems: Copyright © 2003 NatureServe 53
Juniperus osteosperma / Artemisia tridentata / Achnatherum hymenoides Woodland (CEGL000731) Juniperus osteosperma / Artemisia tridentata Woodland (CEGL000730) Juniperus osteosperma / Cercocarpus intricatus Woodland (CEGL000733) Juniperus osteosperma / Cercocarpus ledifolius Woodland (CEGL000734) Juniperus osteosperma / Cercocarpus montanus Woodland (CEGL000735) Juniperus osteosperma / Coleogyne ramosissima Woodland [Provisional] (CEGL002909) Juniperus osteosperma / Hesperostipa neomexicana Woodland (CEGL000740) Juniperus osteosperma / Pleuraphis mutica Woodland (CEGL000736) Juniperus osteosperma / Pseudoroegneria spicata Woodland (CEGL000738) Juniperus osteosperma / Sparse Understory Woodland (CEGL000732) Juniperus osteosperma / Symphoricarpos oreophilus Woodland (CEGL000741) Juniperus osteosperma Woodland (CEGL000727)
• PINUS EDULIS - (JUNIPERUS SPP.) WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.516) Pinus edulis - (Juniperus monosperma) / Bouteloua gracilis Woodland (CEGL002151) Pinus edulis - (Juniperus monosperma, Juniperus osteosperma) / Hesperostipa comata Woodland (CEGL000797) Pinus edulis - (Juniperus osteosperma) / Bouteloua gracilis Woodland (CEGL000778) Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Arctostaphylos patula Woodland (CEGL002939) Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Cercocarpus intricatus Woodland (CEGL000779) Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Coleogyne ramosissima Woodland (CEGL000781) Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Purshia stansburiana Woodland (CEGL000782) Pinus edulis - Juniperus spp. / Artemisia tridentata Woodland (CEGL000776) Pinus edulis - Juniperus spp. / Cercocarpus montanus Woodland (CEGL000780) Pinus edulis - Juniperus spp. / Quercus gambelii Woodland (CEGL000791) Pinus edulis - Quercus arizonica / Rhus trilobata Woodland (CEGL000790) Pinus edulis / Achnatherum nelsonii ssp. dorei Woodland (CEGL000796) Pinus edulis / Achnatherum scribneri Woodland (CEGL000798) Pinus edulis / Andropogon hallii Woodland (CEGL000774) Pinus edulis / Arctostaphylos pungens Woodland (CEGL000775) Pinus edulis / Bouteloua curtipendula Woodland (CEGL000777) Pinus edulis / Festuca arizonica Woodland (CEGL000783) Pinus edulis / Muhlenbergia pauciflora Woodland (CEGL000785) Pinus edulis / Nolina microcarpa Woodland (CEGL000786) Pinus edulis / Poa fendleriana Woodland (CEGL000787) Pinus edulis / Pseudoroegneria spicata Woodland (CEGL000788) Pinus edulis / Purshia tridentata Woodland (CEGL000789) Pinus edulis / Quercus X pauciloba Woodland (CEGL000793) Pinus edulis / Rockland Woodland (CEGL000794)
• PINUS EDULIS FOREST ALLIANCE (A.135) Pinus edulis / Sparse Understory Forest (CEGL000795)
SOURCES
References: Baker and Kennedy 1985, Stuever and Hayden 1997a, Tuhy et al. 2002, West et al. 1998
Last updated: 20 Feb 2003 Stakeholders: WCS
Concept Author: NatureServe Western Ecology Team |
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