Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R038XA126AZ
Limy Slopes 12-16" p.z.
Accessed: 12/21/2024
General information
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.
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 38.1 – Lower Mogollon Transition
Elevations range from 3000 to 4500 feet and precipitation averages 12 to 16 inches per year. Vegetation includes canotia, one-seed juniper, mesquite, catclaw acacia, jojoba, turbinella oak, ratany, shrubby buckwheat, algerita, skunkbush, tobosa, vine mesquite, bottlebrush squirreltail, grama species, curly mesquite, desert needlegrass and New Mexico feathergrass. The soil temperature regime is thermic and the soil moisture regime is ustic aridic. 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 to TES Mapping Units # 356, 383 and 460 on the Prescott National Forest.
Associated sites
| R038XA105AZ |
Limestone Hills 12-16" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R038XA106AZ |
Limy Upland 12-16" p.z. |
| R038XA108AZ |
Clayey Slopes 12-16" p.z. |
Similar sites
| R041XB207AZ |
Limy Slopes 8-12" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R041XC308AZ |
Limy Slopes 12-16" p.z. |
| R040XA110AZ |
Limy Slopes 10"-13" p.z. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) acacia constricta |
| Herbaceous |
(1) bouteloua eriopoda |
Physiographic features
This site occurs at the lowest elevations of the interior chaparral zone in the Mogollon Transition area. It occurs in an upland position; on steep hill slopes and ridges.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Hill
(2) Scarp slope (3) Ridge |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 3,100 – 4,600 ft |
| Slope | 15 – 55% |
| Aspect | N, E, S |
Climatic features
Precipitation in this common resource area averages 12 to 16 inches annually. The winter-summer rainfall ratio ranges from about 60/40% in the northwest part of the area to 50/50% in the southeast part. Summer rains fall July through September; 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 a trace to 10 inches per year and can occur from November through March. Snow seldom persists for more than a day except on north aspects. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is generally low all year. Average annual air temperatures range from 59 to 70 degrees F (thermic temperature regime). Daytime temperatures in the summer are commonly in the high 90’s. Freezing temperatures are common from October through April, usually during the night or early morning hours. 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) | 230 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | 285 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 16 in |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Influencing water features
There are no water features associated with this site.
Soil features
These soils are moderately deep to deep (30-60 inches) and dark colored in the surface (6-12 inches). They are loamy textured, very calcareous and well drained. They have formed in alluvium and colluvium from limestone and related limy conglomerates. Soil surfaces are well covered by light colored gravels, cobbles and/or stones. The erosion hazard is slight due to gravel, cobble and rock covers.
Soils mapped to date on this site include: from SSA-639 Black Hills-Sedona Area MU's Tombstone-441, 541 & 641, Blancoverde-428 & 528 and Mule family-440; SSA-675 Tombstone-505, 551 & 595, Torriorthents-551.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Parent material |
(1)
Alluvium
–
limestone
(2) Colluvium – conglomerate |
|---|---|
| Surface texture |
(1) Gravelly sandy loam (2) Very gravelly sandy loam (3) Very gravelly loam |
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
| Drainage class | Well drained |
| Permeability class | Moderately rapid to moderate |
| Soil depth | 30 – 60 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 35 – 60% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 1 – 10% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
2 – 4 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
10 – 35% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
2 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
2 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
7.8 – 8.6 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
15 – 65% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
10% |
Ecological dynamics
The historic native plant community is dominated by perennial warm season grasses with a mixture of desert shrubs, half shrubs, succulents and forbs. This includes a flora of native annual grasses and forbs of both the winter and summer seasons. Periodic wildfires occurred at moderate intervals (15 to 30 years) and helped to maintain a balance between grasses and shrubs. The interactions of drought, fire and continuous livestock grazing can, over time, result in the loss of palatable grasses, half shrubs and suffrutescent forbs on this site. The lack of fire for very long periods can lead to increases in large shrubs like creosotebush and whitethorn acacia. 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
Figure 4. State and Transition, Limy Slopes 12-16" p.z.
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 text
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Native Grass-Shrub State
Community 1.1
Historic Native Plant Community
The historic, native, plant community is dominated by warm season perennial grasses with a mixture of desert shrubs, half-shrubs, suffrutescent forbs and succulents. A rich flora of native annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, exist in the plant community. Natural fires, which burned at moderate intervals in this region, helped to maintain a balance between perennial grasses and shrubs.
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 | 250 | 500 | 750 |
| Shrub/Vine | 50 | 150 | 290 |
| Forb | 5 | 35 | 190 |
| Tree | 0 | 15 | 75 |
| Total | 305 | 700 | 1305 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0-1% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 2-5% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 5-10% |
| Forb basal cover | 0-1% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 0-5% |
| Litter | 15-60% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 35-60% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 1-10% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 10-40% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (ft) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.5 | – | 1-5% | 5-10% | 0-10% |
| >0.5 <= 1 | – | 1-5% | 5-10% | 1-15% |
| >1 <= 2 | – | 1-5% | 5-15% | 0-2% |
| >2 <= 4.5 | – | 2-5% | 0-5% | 0-1% |
| >4.5 <= 13 | 0-10% | 1-5% | – | – |
| >13 <= 40 | 0-5% | – | – | – |
| >40 <= 80 | – | – | – | – |
| >80 <= 120 | – | – | – | – |
| >120 | – | – | – | – |
Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3811, 38.1 12-16" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring, most growth occurs in the summer..
| 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 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
State 2
Exotic Annual Invaded State
Community 2.1
Exotic Annual Invaded Plant Community
Non-native annual grasses like red brome, mediterranean grass (schismus) and cheatgrass can invade and dominate areas of the site. 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. Repeated fires tend to remove the native shrub, grass and forb canopy.
State 3
Shrub Increased State
Community 3.1
Shrub Increased Plant Community
In the absence of fire for long periods of time and with continuous grazing, shrubs like creosote and whitethorn acacia and succulents like prickly pear and banana yucca can increase to dominate the plant community. Perennial grasses and forbs cannot recover in the face of increased shrub competition.
State 4
Eroded State
Community 4.1
Eroded Plant Community
Shrubs like creosotebush and whitethorn acacia and succulents like prickly pear and banana yucca can increase to dominate the site. Non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the under-story. In "El Nino" years herbaceous fuels are sufficient for burning and repeat fires are especially common in areas close to residential zones and roads. Extreme rainfall events coupled with the fire, drought and grazing interaction, can lead to rilling of steep slopes. Compaction of soils can occur with heavy trailing from continuous livestock use. Loss of plant cover after repeated fire can lead to accelerated sheet and rill erosion under these circumstances.
Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (lb/acre) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Dominant perennial grasses | 235–500 | ||||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 150–400 | – | ||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 15–100 | – | ||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 50–100 | – | ||
| slim tridens | TRMU | Tridens muticus | 10–50 | – | ||
| blue threeawn | ARPUN | Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi | 10–50 | – | ||
| 2 | Cool season grasses | 1–100 | ||||
| New Mexico feathergrass | HENE5 | Hesperostipa neomexicana | 0–75 | – | ||
| needle and thread | HECO26 | Hesperostipa comata | 0–25 | – | ||
| Indian ricegrass | ACHY | Achnatherum hymenoides | 0–15 | – | ||
| desert needlegrass | ACSP12 | Achnatherum speciosum | 0–5 | – | ||
| squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 0–2 | – | ||
| prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 0–2 | – | ||
| 3 | Misc. perennial grasses | 10–100 | ||||
| purple threeawn | ARPU9 | Aristida purpurea | 0–25 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 1–25 | – | ||
| low woollygrass | DAPU7 | Dasyochloa pulchella | 5–20 | – | ||
| Parish's threeawn | ARPUP5 | Aristida purpurea var. parishii | 0–15 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 0–15 | – | ||
| red grama | BOTR2 | Bouteloua trifida | 0–15 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 0–15 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–15 | – | ||
| nineawn pappusgrass | ENDE | Enneapogon desvauxii | 1–10 | – | ||
| shortleaf woollygrass | ERAV | Erioneuron avenaceum | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona cottontop | DICA8 | Digitaria californica | 0–5 | – | ||
| hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 0–5 | – | ||
| slim tridens | TRMUE | Tridens muticus var. elongatus | 0–5 | – | ||
| big galleta | PLRI3 | Pleuraphis rigida | 0–5 | – | ||
| fall witchgrass | DICO6 | Digitaria cognata | 0–2 | – | ||
| slender grama | BORE2 | Bouteloua repens | 0–1 | – | ||
| tanglehead | HECO10 | Heteropogon contortus | 0–1 | – | ||
| curly-mesquite | HIBE | Hilaria belangeri | 0–1 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 0–1 | – | ||
| Fendler threeawn | ARPUL | Aristida purpurea var. longiseta | 0–1 | – | ||
| tobosagrass | PLMU3 | Pleuraphis mutica | 0–1 | – | ||
| 4 | Annual grasses | 1–50 | ||||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 1–10 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 0–10 | – | ||
| small fescue | VUMI | Vulpia microstachys | 0–10 | – | ||
| Eastwood fescue | VUMIC | Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata | 0–10 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 0–10 | – | ||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 0–5 | – | ||
| witchgrass | PACA6 | Panicum capillare | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 0–5 | – | ||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–2 | – | ||
| feather fingergrass | CHVI4 | Chloris virgata | 0–2 | – | ||
| delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–2 | – | ||
| littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–2 | – | ||
| Bigelow's bluegrass | POBI | Poa bigelovii | 0–1 | – | ||
| canyon cupgrass | ERLE7 | Eriochloa lemmonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| tufted lovegrass | ERPE | Eragrostis pectinacea | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert lovegrass | ERPEM | Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima | 0–1 | – | ||
| little barley | HOPU | Hordeum pusillum | 0–1 | – | ||
| Mexican sprangletop | LEFUU | Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia | 0–1 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 0–1 | – | ||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 5 | Perennial forbs | 3–40 | ||||
| trailing windmills | ALIN | Allionia incarnata | 1–5 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 1–5 | – | ||
| hairyseed bahia | BAAB | Bahia absinthifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| leatherweed | CRPO5 | Croton pottsii | 0–5 | – | ||
| paleface | HIDE | Hibiscus denudatus | 0–5 | – | ||
| bluedicks | DICA14 | Dichelostemma capitatum | 0–5 | – | ||
| glandleaf milkwort | POMA7 | Polygala macradenia | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert globemallow | SPAM2 | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 1–5 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 1–5 | – | ||
| wishbone-bush | MILAV | Mirabilis laevis var. villosa | 0–2 | – | ||
| Coues' cassia | SECO10 | Senna covesii | 0–2 | – | ||
| rue of the mountains | THTE2 | Thamnosma texana | 0–2 | – | ||
| Fendler's bladderpod | LEFE | Lesquerella fendleri | 0–2 | – | ||
| Gila manroot | MAGI | Marah gilensis | 0–2 | – | ||
| Parry's false prairie-clover | MAPA7 | Marina parryi | 0–2 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPI | Machaeranthera pinnatifida | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert trumpet | ERIN4 | Eriogonum inflatum | 0–2 | – | ||
| Mojave spurge | EUSC6 | Euphorbia schizoloba | 0–1 | – | ||
| southwestern mock vervain | GLGO | Glandularia gooddingii | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert rosemallow | HICO | Hibiscus coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| purplenerve springparsley | CYMU2 | Cymopterus multinervatus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Gregg's prairie clover | DAGR2 | Dalea greggii | 0–1 | – | ||
| James' prairie clover | DAJA | Dalea jamesii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Cooley's bundleflower | DECO2 | Desmanthus cooleyi | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert larkspur | DEPA | Delphinium parishii | 0–1 | – | ||
| tall mountain larkspur | DESC | Delphinium scaposum | 0–1 | – | ||
| plains blackfoot | MELE2 | Melampodium leucanthum | 0–1 | – | ||
| slender janusia | JAGR | Janusia gracilis | 0–1 | – | ||
| ragged nettlespurge | JAMA | Jatropha macrorhiza | 0–1 | – | ||
| longflower tube tongue | JULO3 | Justicia longii | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert marigold | BAMU | Baileya multiradiata | 0–1 | – | ||
| scarlet spiderling | BOCO | Boerhavia coccinea | 0–1 | – | ||
| climbing wartclub | BOSC | Boerhavia scandens | 0–1 | – | ||
| wavyleaf Indian paintbrush | CAAPM | Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona wrightwort | CAAR7 | Carlowrightia arizonica | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert mariposa lily | CAKE | Calochortus kennedyi | 0–1 | – | ||
| sego lily | CANU3 | Calochortus nuttallii | 0–1 | – | ||
| tuber anemone | ANTU | Anemone tuberosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| narrowleaf silverbush | ARLA12 | Argythamnia lanceolata | 0–1 | – | ||
| white sagebrush | ARLUM2 | Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. mexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico silverbush | ARNE2 | Argythamnia neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| perennial rockcress | ARPE2 | Arabis perennans | 0–1 | – | ||
| dense ayenia | AYMI | Ayenia microphylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| largeflower onion | ALMA4 | Allium macropetalum | 0–1 | – | ||
| dwarf desertpeony | ACNA2 | Acourtia nana | 0–1 | – | ||
| brownfoot | ACWR5 | Acourtia wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| San Felipe dogweed | ADPO | Adenophyllum porophylloides | 0–1 | – | ||
| branched noseburn | TRRA5 | Tragia ramosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| Louisiana vetch | VILUL2 | Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana | 0–1 | – | ||
| Lemmon's ragwort | SELE8 | Senecio lemmonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico fanpetals | SINE | Sida neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| silverleaf nightshade | SOEL | Solanum elaeagnifolium | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert tobacco | NIOB | Nicotiana obtusifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| toadflax penstemon | PELI2 | Penstemon linarioides | 0–1 | – | ||
| Parry's beardtongue | PEPA24 | Penstemon parryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert penstemon | PEPS | Penstemon pseudospectabilis | 0–1 | – | ||
| orange fameflower | PHAU13 | Phemeranthus aurantiacus | 0–1 | – | ||
| slender poreleaf | POGR5 | Porophyllum gracile | 0–1 | – | ||
| canaigre dock | RUHY | Rumex hymenosepalus | 0–1 | – | ||
| twinleaf senna | SEBA3 | Senna bauhinioides | 0–1 | – | ||
| fleabane | ERIGE2 | Erigeron | 0–1 | – | ||
| turpentinebroom | THMO | Thamnosma montana | 0–1 | – | ||
| 6 | Annual forbs | 2–150 | ||||
| California poppy | ESCAM | Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana | 0–25 | – | ||
| phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 0–20 | – | ||
| Coulter's lupine | LUSP2 | Lupinus sparsiflorus | 0–15 | – | ||
| flatcrown buckwheat | ERDE6 | Eriogonum deflexum | 0–15 | – | ||
| lyreleaf jewelflower | STCA5 | Streptanthus carinatus | 0–15 | – | ||
| thelypody | THELY | Thelypodium | 0–10 | – | ||
| bristly fiddleneck | AMTE3 | Amsinckia tessellata | 0–10 | – | ||
| exserted Indian paintbrush | CAEXE | Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta | 0–10 | – | ||
| cryptantha | CRYPT | Cryptantha | 0–10 | – | ||
| pitseed goosefoot | CHBE4 | Chenopodium berlandieri | 0–5 | – | ||
| Coulter's spiderling | BOCO2 | Boerhavia coulteri | 0–5 | – | ||
| fivewing spiderling | BOIN | Boerhavia intermedia | 0–5 | – | ||
| woolly tidestromia | TILA2 | Tidestromia lanuginosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| chia | SACO6 | Salvia columbariae | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 0–5 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 0–5 | – | ||
| Gordon's bladderpod | LEGO | Lesquerella gordonii | 0–5 | – | ||
| shaggyfruit pepperweed | LELA | Lepidium lasiocarpum | 0–5 | – | ||
| foothill deervetch | LOHU2 | Lotus humistratus | 0–5 | – | ||
| desertparsley | LOMAT | Lomatium | 0–5 | – | ||
| coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSA | Lotus salsuginosus | 0–5 | – | ||
| combseed | PECTO | Pectocarya | 0–5 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 0–5 | – | ||
| tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| Thurber's pepperweed | LETH2 | Lepidium thurberi | 0–2 | – | ||
| wedgeleaf draba | DRCU | Draba cuneifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| New Mexico thistle | CINE | Cirsium neomexicanum | 0–2 | – | ||
| sorrel buckwheat | ERPO4 | Eriogonum polycladon | 0–2 | – | ||
| spurge | EUPHO | Euphorbia | 0–2 | – | ||
| crestrib morning-glory | IPCO2 | Ipomoea costellata | 0–2 | – | ||
| purslane | PORTU | Portulaca | 0–2 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–2 | – | ||
| hyssopleaf sandmat | CHHY3 | Chamaesyce hyssopifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| hairy prairie clover | DAMO | Dalea mollis | 0–2 | – | ||
| American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 0–2 | – | ||
| sacred thorn-apple | DAWR2 | Datura wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Esteve's pincushion | CHST | Chaenactis stevioides | 0–1 | – | ||
| brittle spineflower | CHBR | Chorizanthe brevicornu | 0–1 | – | ||
| hoary bowlesia | BOIN3 | Bowlesia incana | 0–1 | – | ||
| yellow tackstem | CAPA7 | Calycoseris parryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| white tackstem | CAWR | Calycoseris wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–1 | – | ||
| annual agoseris | AGHE2 | Agoseris heterophylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert unicorn-plant | PRAL4 | Proboscidea althaeifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| doubleclaw | PRPA2 | Proboscidea parviflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico plumeseed | RANE | Rafinesquia neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| sawtooth sage | SASU7 | Salvia subincisa | 0–1 | – | ||
| spreading fanpetals | SIAB | Sida abutifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| woollyhead neststraw | STMI2 | Stylocline micropoides | 0–1 | – | ||
| sand fringepod | THCU | Thysanocarpus curvipes | 0–1 | – | ||
| redstar | IPCO3 | Ipomoea coccinea | 0–1 | – | ||
| ivyleaf morning-glory | IPHE | Ipomoea hederacea | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona poppy | KAGR | Kallstroemia grandiflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| California goldfields | LACA7 | Lasthenia californica | 0–1 | – | ||
| star gilia | GIST | Gilia stellata | 0–1 | – | ||
| longleaf false goldeneye | HELOA2 | Heliomeris longifolia var. annua | 0–1 | – | ||
| Texas stork's bill | ERTE13 | Erodium texanum | 0–1 | – | ||
| miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 0–1 | – | ||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 0–1 | – | ||
| miner's lettuce | CLPEP | Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata | 0–1 | – | ||
| scrambled eggs | COAU2 | Corydalis aurea | 0–1 | – | ||
| Fendler's desertdandelion | MAFE | Malacothrix fendleri | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona lupine | LUAR4 | Lupinus arizonicus | 0–1 | – | ||
| miniature lupine | LUBI | Lupinus bicolor | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 0–1 | – | ||
| green carpetweed | MOVE | Mollugo verticillata | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert evening primrose | OEPR | Oenothera primiveris | 0–1 | – | ||
| Florida pellitory | PAFL3 | Parietaria floridana | 0–1 | – | ||
| manybristle chinchweed | PEPA2 | Pectis papposa | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 0–1 | – | ||
| creamcups | PLCA5 | Platystemon californicus | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 7 | Dominant large shrubs | 30–100 | ||||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCO2 | Acacia constricta | 20–75 | – | ||
| creosote bush | LATR2 | Larrea tridentata | 1–50 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCOP9 | Acacia constricta var. paucispina | 0–10 | – | ||
| 8 | Miscellaneous large shrubs | 2–25 | ||||
| catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 1–5 | – | ||
| Sonoran scrub oak | QUTU2 | Quercus turbinella | 0–5 | – | ||
| ocotillo | FOSP2 | Fouquieria splendens | 0–2 | – | ||
| Wright's beebrush | ALWR | Aloysia wrightii | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert ceanothus | CEGR | Ceanothus greggii | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert sweet | CHMI2 | Chamaebatiaria millefolium | 0–1 | – | ||
| Warnock's snakewood | COWA | Condalia warnockii | 0–1 | – | ||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| snapdragon penstemon | KEANM | Keckiella antirrhinoides ssp. microphylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| crown of thorns | KOSP | Koeberlinia spinosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| water jacket | LYAN | Lycium andersonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Berlandier's wolfberry | LYBE | Lycium berlandieri | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona desert-thorn | LYEX | Lycium exsertum | 0–1 | – | ||
| red barberry | MAHA4 | Mahonia haematocarpa | 0–1 | – | ||
| algerita | MATR3 | Mahonia trifoliolata | 0–1 | – | ||
| catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 0–1 | – | ||
| redberry buckthorn | RHCR | Rhamnus crocea | 0–1 | – | ||
| littleleaf sumac | RHMI3 | Rhus microphylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 0–1 | – | ||
| Wright's mock buckthorn | SAWR | Sageretia wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| jojoba | SICH | Simmondsia chinensis | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona necklacepod | SOAR3 | Sophora arizonica | 0–1 | – | ||
| lotebush | ZIOBC | Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| longleaf jointfir | EPTR | Ephedra trifurca | 0–1 | – | ||
| 9 | Dominant half shrubs | 15–100 | ||||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 10–50 | – | ||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 0–15 | – | ||
| rough menodora | MESC | Menodora scabra | 0–15 | – | ||
| desert zinnia | ZIAC | Zinnia acerosa | 0–15 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 0–10 | – | ||
| featherplume | DAFO | Dalea formosa | 0–10 | – | ||
| mariola | PAIN2 | Parthenium incanum | 0–5 | – | ||
| longleaf phlox | PHLO2 | Phlox longifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| woody crinklemat | TICA3 | Tiquilia canescens | 0–5 | – | ||
| purple sage | SADOM | Salvia dorrii ssp. mearnsii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Eastern Mojave buckwheat | ERFA2 | Eriogonum fasciculatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| bastardsage | ERWR | Eriogonum wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Coulter's brickellbush | BRCO | Brickellia coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| 10 | Succulents | 2–35 | ||||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 1–15 | – | ||
| tulip pricklypear | OPPH | Opuntia phaeacantha | 0–10 | – | ||
| banana yucca | YUBA | Yucca baccata | 1–10 | – | ||
| sacahuista | NOMI | Nolina microcarpa | 0–10 | – | ||
| soaptree yucca | YUEL | Yucca elata | 0–5 | – | ||
| purple pricklypear | OPMA8 | Opuntia macrocentra | 0–5 | – | ||
| saguaro | CAGI10 | Carnegiea gigantea | 0–5 | – | ||
| Christmas cactus | CYLE8 | Cylindropuntia leptocaulis | 0–2 | – | ||
| common sotol | DAWH2 | Dasylirion wheeleri | 0–2 | – | ||
| pinkflower hedgehog cactus | ECBO2 | Echinocereus bonkerae | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona hedgehog cactus | ECCOA | Echinocereus coccineus var. arizonicus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Engelmann's hedgehog cactus | ECEN | Echinocereus engelmannii | 0–1 | – | ||
| redspine fishhook cactus | ECER2 | Echinomastus erectocentrus | 0–1 | – | ||
| pinkflower hedgehog cactus | ECFA | Echinocereus fasciculatus | 0–1 | – | ||
| spinystar | ESVI2 | Escobaria vivipara | 0–1 | – | ||
| candy barrelcactus | FEWI | Ferocactus wislizeni | 0–1 | – | ||
| devil's cholla | GRKU | Grusonia kunzei | 0–1 | – | ||
| Graham's nipple cactus | MAGR9 | Mammillaria grahamii | 0–1 | – | ||
| walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 0–1 | – | ||
| buck-horn cholla | CYAC8 | Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa | 0–1 | – | ||
| teddybear cholla | CYBI9 | Cylindropuntia bigelovii | 0–1 | – | ||
| jumping cholla | CYFU10 | Cylindropuntia fulgida | 0–1 | – | ||
| goldenflower century plant | AGCH2 | Agave chrysantha | 0–1 | – | ||
| Parry's agave | AGPA4 | Agave parryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| Schott's century plant | AGSC3 | Agave schottii | 0–1 | – | ||
| 11 | Increaser half-shrubs | 2–40 | ||||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 2–30 | – | ||
| whitestem paperflower | PSCO2 | Psilostrophe cooperi | 0–10 | – | ||
| button brittlebush | ENFR | Encelia frutescens | 0–2 | – | ||
| threadleaf snakeweed | GUMI | Gutierrezia microcephala | 0–1 | – | ||
| burroweed | ISTE2 | Isocoma tenuisecta | 0–1 | – | ||
| rayless goldenhead | ACSP | Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 12 | Trees | 0–75 | ||||
| crucifixion thorn | CAHO3 | Canotia holacantha | 0–25 | – | ||
| oneseed juniper | JUMO | Juniperus monosperma | 0–15 | – | ||
| Utah juniper | JUOS | Juniperus osteosperma | 0–15 | – | ||
| blue paloverde | PAFL6 | Parkinsonia florida | 0–10 | – | ||
| redberry juniper | JUCO11 | Juniperus coahuilensis | 0–10 | – | ||
| western honey mesquite | PRGLT | Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana | 0–1 | – | ||
| velvet mesquite | PRVE | Prosopis velutina | 0–1 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
This site is suitable for grazing year round, and is easily traversed by livestock. Livestock grazing use is concentrated on south slopes and ridge-tops. North aspects are not grazed until southern aspects are over-used. 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 variety of desert wildlife species. It is home mainly to small mammals and birds and their associated predators. It is a foraging area for larger mammals like deer and javalina. Water developments are very important to both livestock and wildlife on this site.
Hydrological functions
This site has rough surfaces, due to a high cover of gravels 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, fossil hunting, photography.
Wood products
Very limited fuel-wood for campfires and branding fires.
Other products
There is some harvest of food plants like prickly pear tunas, jojoba nuts and mescal. There is limited harvest of medicinal plants like mormon tea and creosote bush. There is limited harvest of fibers from beargrass, banana yucca and skunkbush sumac.
Supporting information
Type locality
| Location 1: Graham County, AZ | |
|---|---|
| Township/Range/Section | T8S R21E S16 |
| General legal description | Eureka Springs Ranch, 3/4 mile from water trough at end of pipeline. Southern exposure at 4200 feet elevation. |
Contributors
Dan Robinett
Larry D. Ellicott
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 | |
| 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):
-
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):
-
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
-
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:
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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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The 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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