Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R041XB207AZ
Limy Slopes 8-12" p.z.
Last updated: 8/06/2020
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): 041X–Madrean Archipelago
AZ 41.2 – Chihuahuan – Sonoran Desert Shrubs
Elevations range from 2600 to 4000 feet and precipitation ranges from 8 to 12 inches per year. Vegetation includes mesquite, palo verde, catclaw acacia, soaptree yucca, creosotebush, whitethorn, staghorn cholla, desert saltbush, Mormon tea, burroweed, snakeweed, tobosa, black grama, threeawns, bush muhly, dropseed, and burrograss. 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
| F041XB221AZ |
Loamy Bottom 8-12" p.z. woodland |
|---|---|
| F041XB222AZ |
Saline Bottom 8-12" p.z. woodland |
| R041XB206AZ |
Limy Fan 8-12" p.z. |
| R041XB208AZ |
Limy Upland 8-12" p.z. |
Similar sites
| R041XC308AZ |
Limy Slopes 12-16" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R040XA110AZ |
Limy Slopes 10"-13" p.z. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) larrea tridentata |
| Herbaceous |
(1) muhlenbergia porteri |
Physiographic features
This site occurs in the lowest elevations of the Madrean Basin and Range province in southeastern Arizona. It occurs on fan terraces, hill-slopes and ridge-tops. It occurs in the Gila and San Pedro river valleys.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Hill
(2) Fan remnant (3) Ridge |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 2,600 – 4,000 ft |
| Slope | 15 – 55% |
| Aspect | N, E, S |
Climatic features
Precipitation ranges from 8-12 inches annually. More than half falls during July-Sep in brief, but often heavy, thunderstorms. The rest of the moisture comes as light rain or snow that falls slowly for a day or more, but rarely lasts more than a day. May and June are normally the driest months. Humidity is generally very low.
Temperatures are mild throughout most of the year. Freezing temperatures are common at night Dec-Feb; brief 0 F may be observed some nights. During June, July & August some days may exceed 100 F.
In years of average or greater winter precipitation, annual grasses and forbs occur abundantly in the interspaces.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (average) | 240 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | |
| Precipitation total (average) |
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 well drained, coarse textured, stratified and high in calcium carbonates. They are moderately deep to deep and underlain in places by very gravelly, lime cemented, conglomerate. They have formed in old fan deposits.
Soil series mapped on this site include: SSA-663 Gila-Duncan area MU's 10 21 & 26 Pinaleno, 43 Nickel; SSA-666 Cochise county Northwest part MU's 14 Redo, 75 Stagecoach; SSA-671 Cochise county Douglas-Tombstone part MU 35 Redington; SSA-675 San Carlos IR area MU's 86 Rillino, 87 torriorthents.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Surface texture |
(1) Very gravelly sandy loam (2) Very gravelly loamy fine sand (3) Cobbly sandy loam |
|---|---|
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
| Drainage class | Somewhat excessively drained to well drained |
| Permeability class | Rapid to moderately rapid |
| Soil depth | 60 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 20 – 65% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 15% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
3.4 – 6.1 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
5 – 25% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
2 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
2 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
7.4 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
15 – 65% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
15% |
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 community found on relict or relatively undisturbed areas of this site. Other plant communities described here represent plant communities that are known to occur when the site is disturbed by factors such as fire, grazing and 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 described in the 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 amount shown for that 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 the field data is not collected at the end of the summer growing season, then the field data must be corrected to the end of 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.
The historic native state includes the native plant communities that occur on the site, including the historic climax plant community. This state includes other plant communities that naturally occupy the site following fire, drought, flooding, herbivores and other natural disturbances. The historic climax plant community represents the natural climax community that eventually reoccupies the site with proper management and a return to near normal conditions and/or equilibrium.
State and transition model
Figure 4. State and Transition, Limy Slopes 8-12" 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
Ecosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Historic Climax Plant Community
Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community
Figure 5. Limy Slopes 8-12" pz.
This plant community is dominated by creosote bush and whitethorn acacia. Annual grasses and forbs are an important part of the plant community in wet seasons. Perennial grasses are important only on north aspects. Cryptogams are common on this site, often colonizing areas with low covers of gravel and rock.
Figure 6. 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 | 111 | 250 | 360 |
| Grass/Grasslike | 12 | 75 | 220 |
| Forb | 2 | 15 | 115 |
| Total | 125 | 340 | 695 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 1-2% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 0-2% |
| Forb basal cover | 0-2% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 1-10% |
| Litter | 3-35% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 15-50% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 1-15% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 5-50% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (ft) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.5 | – | 1-3% | 1-5% | 1-5% |
| >0.5 <= 1 | – | 1-5% | 1-10% | 1-5% |
| >1 <= 2 | – | 0-2% | 1-10% | 0-5% |
| >2 <= 4.5 | – | 15-35% | 0-5% | 0-2% |
| >4.5 <= 13 | – | 1-5% | – | – |
| >13 <= 40 | – | – | – | – |
| >40 <= 80 | – | – | – | – |
| >80 <= 120 | – | – | – | – |
| >120 | – | – | – | – |
State 2
Shrubs, annuals
Community 2.1
Shrubs, annuals
Figure 7. Limy Slopes 8-12" pz., red brome
This plant community occurs where the native shrub cover is still dominant but the herbaceous layer of the plant community is dominated by non-native annual forbs and grasses. These species can include filaree, mediterranean grass, red brome, Sahara mustard, malta starthistle and London rocket.
State 3
Annuals
Community 3.1
Annuals
Figure 8. Limy Slopes 8-12" pz. two fires since 1983.
This state occurs where areas of the site are subject to repeated fires. This state is usually adjacent to residential areas or along heavily travelled roads where the incidence of fires is high. Repeated burning removes native shrubs and leaves a plant community dominated by native and non-native annual forbs and grasses.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2
Introduction of a seed source of non-natives, Continuous Heavy Grazing. Possible competition of exotics with native species of forbs or grasses.
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3
Repeated fires from adjacent urban areas and roads result in colonization by a mixture of native and non-native annual forbs and grasses, removal of native shrubs.
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1
Unknown
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3
Repeated fires from adjacent urban areas and roads result in colonization by a mixture of native and non-native annual forbs and grasses, removal of native shrubs.
Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1
Unknown, possible seeding of shrubs with fire protection.
Restoration pathway R3
State 3 to 2
Unknown, possible seeding of shrubs with fire protection.
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 | 11–150 | ||||
| blue threeawn | ARPUN | Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi | 5–50 | – | ||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 5–50 | – | ||
| slim tridens | TRMU | Tridens muticus | 1–25 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 0–25 | – | ||
| low woollygrass | DAPU7 | Dasyochloa pulchella | 1–25 | – | ||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 0–15 | – | ||
| Parish's threeawn | ARPUP5 | Aristida purpurea var. parishii | 0–10 | – | ||
| 2 | Misc. perennial grasses | 0–20 | ||||
| purple threeawn | ARPU9 | Aristida purpurea | 0–5 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 0–5 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 0–5 | – | ||
| tobosagrass | PLMU3 | Pleuraphis mutica | 0–5 | – | ||
| alkali sacaton | SPAI | Sporobolus airoides | 0–2 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 0–2 | – | ||
| whiplash pappusgrass | PAVA2 | Pappophorum vaginatum | 0–2 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–2 | – | ||
| mesa dropseed | SPFL2 | Sporobolus flexuosus | 0–2 | – | ||
| spike dropseed | SPCO4 | Sporobolus contractus | 0–1 | – | ||
| burrograss | SCBR2 | Scleropogon brevifolius | 0–1 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona cottontop | DICA8 | Digitaria californica | 0–1 | – | ||
| squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 0–1 | – | ||
| nineawn pappusgrass | ENDE | Enneapogon desvauxii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona muhly | MUAR3 | Muhlenbergia arizonica | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico needlegrass | ACPE13 | Achnatherum perplexum | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert needlegrass | ACSP12 | Achnatherum speciosum | 0–1 | – | ||
| 3 | Annual grasses | 1–50 | ||||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–20 | – | ||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 1–15 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 0–10 | – | ||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 0–10 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 0–10 | – | ||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 0–5 | – | ||
| witchgrass | PACA6 | Panicum capillare | 0–5 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 0–5 | – | ||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–2 | – | ||
| canyon cupgrass | ERLE7 | Eriochloa lemmonii | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert lovegrass | ERPEM | Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima | 0–2 | – | ||
| tufted lovegrass | ERPEP2 | Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea | 0–2 | – | ||
| Bigelow's bluegrass | POBI | Poa bigelovii | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 0–2 | – | ||
| delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–2 | – | ||
| littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–2 | – | ||
| Mexican sprangletop | LEFUU | Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 4 | Perennial Forbs | 1–15 | ||||
| dwarf desertpeony | ACNA2 | Acourtia nana | 1–10 | – | ||
| Coues' cassia | SECO10 | Senna covesii | 0–5 | – | ||
| pricklyleaf dogweed | THAC | Thymophylla acerosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert globemallow | SPAM2 | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 0–2 | – | ||
| slender janusia | JAGR | Janusia gracilis | 0–2 | – | ||
| leatherweed | CRPO5 | Croton pottsii | 0–2 | – | ||
| bluedicks | DICA14 | Dichelostemma capitatum | 0–2 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 0–2 | – | ||
| tuber anemone | ANTU | Anemone tuberosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| narrowleaf silverbush | ARLA12 | Argythamnia lanceolata | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico silverbush | ARNE2 | Argythamnia neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| perennial rockcress | ARPE2 | Arabis perennans | 0–1 | – | ||
| dense ayenia | AYMI | Ayenia microphylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| hairyseed bahia | BAAB | Bahia absinthifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert marigold | BAMU | Baileya multiradiata | 0–1 | – | ||
| scarlet spiderling | BOCO | Boerhavia coccinea | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitemargin sandmat | CHAL11 | Chamaesyce albomarginata | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert trumpet | ERIN4 | Eriogonum inflatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert larkspur | DEPA | Delphinium parishii | 0–1 | – | ||
| brownfoot | ACWR5 | Acourtia wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| poreleaf dogweed | ADPO2 | Adenophyllum porophyllum | 0–1 | – | ||
| trailing windmills | ALIN | Allionia incarnata | 0–1 | – | ||
| Fendler's bladderpod | LEFE | Lesquerella fendleri | 0–1 | – | ||
| Parry's false prairie-clover | MAPA7 | Marina parryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPIP4 | Machaeranthera pinnatifida ssp. pinnatifida var. pinnatifida | 0–1 | – | ||
| plains blackfoot | MELE2 | Melampodium leucanthum | 0–1 | – | ||
| wishbone-bush | MILAV | Mirabilis laevis var. villosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert tobacco | NIOB | Nicotiana obtusifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| slender poreleaf | POGR5 | Porophyllum gracile | 0–1 | – | ||
| glandleaf milkwort | POMA7 | Polygala macradenia | 0–1 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| silverleaf nightshade | SOEL | Solanum elaeagnifolium | 0–1 | – | ||
| rue of the mountains | THTE2 | Thamnosma texana | 0–1 | – | ||
| branched noseburn | TRRA5 | Tragia ramosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| 5 | Annual forbs | 1–100 | ||||
| bristly fiddleneck | AMTE3 | Amsinckia tessellata | 0–15 | – | ||
| cryptantha | CRYPT | Cryptantha | 0–15 | – | ||
| Esteve's pincushion | CHST | Chaenactis stevioides | 0–10 | – | ||
| exserted Indian paintbrush | CAEXE | Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta | 0–10 | – | ||
| yellow tackstem | CAPA7 | Calycoseris parryi | 0–10 | – | ||
| white tackstem | CAWR | Calycoseris wrightii | 0–10 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 0–10 | – | ||
| flatcrown buckwheat | ERDE6 | Eriogonum deflexum | 0–10 | – | ||
| miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 0–10 | – | ||
| thelypody | THELY | Thelypodium | 0–10 | – | ||
| woolly tidestromia | TILA2 | Tidestromia lanuginosa | 0–10 | – | ||
| combseed | PECTO | Pectocarya | 0–10 | – | ||
| manybristle chinchweed | PEPA2 | Pectis papposa | 0–10 | – | ||
| phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 0–10 | – | ||
| desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 0–10 | – | ||
| chia | SACO6 | Salvia columbariae | 0–5 | – | ||
| Nuttall's povertyweed | MONU | Monolepis nuttalliana | 0–5 | – | ||
| lyreleaf jewelflower | STCA5 | Streptanthus carinatus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Gordon's bladderpod | LEGO | Lesquerella gordonii | 0–5 | – | ||
| shaggyfruit pepperweed | LELA | Lepidium lasiocarpum | 0–5 | – | ||
| intermediate pepperweed | LEVIM | Lepidium virginicum var. medium | 0–5 | – | ||
| coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSAB | Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus | 0–5 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 0–5 | – | ||
| Coulter's spiderling | BOCO2 | Boerhavia coulteri | 0–5 | – | ||
| hairy prairie clover | DAMO | Dalea mollis | 0–2 | – | ||
| fringed redmaids | CACI2 | Calandrinia ciliata | 0–2 | – | ||
| American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 0–2 | – | ||
| brittle spineflower | CHBR | Chorizanthe brevicornu | 0–2 | – | ||
| hyssopleaf sandmat | CHHY3 | Chamaesyce hyssopifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| hairy desertsunflower | GECA2 | Geraea canescens | 0–2 | – | ||
| star gilia | GIST | Gilia stellata | 0–2 | – | ||
| Coulter's lupine | LUSP2 | Lupinus sparsiflorus | 0–2 | – | ||
| sorrel buckwheat | ERPO4 | Eriogonum polycladon | 0–2 | – | ||
| Texas stork's bill | ERTE13 | Erodium texanum | 0–2 | – | ||
| California poppy | ESCAM | Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana | 0–2 | – | ||
| woollyhead neststraw | STMI2 | Stylocline micropoides | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona poppy | KAGR | Kallstroemia grandiflora | 0–2 | – | ||
| green carpetweed | MOVE | Mollugo verticillata | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert evening primrose | OEPR | Oenothera primiveris | 0–2 | – | ||
| Florida pellitory | PAFL3 | Parietaria floridana | 0–2 | – | ||
| 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 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–1 | – | ||
| Coulter's globemallow | SPCO2 | Sphaeralcea coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| bristly nama | NAHI | Nama hispidum | 0–1 | – | ||
| glandular threadplant | NEGL | Nemacladus glanduliferus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 0–1 | – | ||
| sand fringepod | THCU | Thysanocarpus curvipes | 0–1 | – | ||
| Mexican fireplant | EUHE4 | Euphorbia heterophylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| common woolly sunflower | ERLA6 | Eriophyllum lanatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| sanddune wallflower | ERCA14 | Erysimum capitatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| crestrib morning-glory | IPCO2 | Ipomoea costellata | 0–1 | – | ||
| southwestern pricklypoppy | ARPL3 | Argemone pleiacantha | 0–1 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–1 | – | ||
| wheelscale saltbush | ATEL | Atriplex elegans | 0–1 | – | ||
| soft prairie clover | DAMO2 | Dalea mollissima | 0–1 | – | ||
| hoary bowlesia | BOIN3 | Bowlesia incana | 0–1 | – | ||
| scrambled eggs | COAU2 | Corydalis aurea | 0–1 | – | ||
| annual agoseris | AGHE2 | Agoseris heterophylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 6 | Dominant shrub | 100–300 | ||||
| creosote bush | LATR2 | Larrea tridentata | 100–250 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCO2 | Acacia constricta | 10–100 | – | ||
| viscid acacia | ACNE4 | Acacia neovernicosa | 0–50 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCOP9 | Acacia constricta var. paucispina | 0–25 | – | ||
| 7 | Miscellaneous shrubs | 5–15 | ||||
| Wright's beebrush | ALWR | Aloysia wrightii | 0–10 | – | ||
| mariola | PAIN2 | Parthenium incanum | 0–10 | – | ||
| jojoba | SICH | Simmondsia chinensis | 0–10 | – | ||
| ocotillo | FOSP2 | Fouquieria splendens | 0–5 | – | ||
| western honey mesquite | PRGLT | Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana | 0–2 | – | ||
| button brittlebush | ENFR | Encelia frutescens | 0–2 | – | ||
| catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 0–1 | – | ||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| cattle saltbush | ATPO | Atriplex polycarpa | 0–1 | – | ||
| shortleaf baccharis | BABR | Baccharis brachyphylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| crucifixion thorn | CAHO3 | Canotia holacantha | 0–1 | – | ||
| Warnock's snakewood | COWA | Condalia warnockii | 0–1 | – | ||
| oneseed juniper | JUMO | Juniperus monosperma | 0–1 | – | ||
| crown of thorns | KOSP | Koeberlinia spinosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| water jacket | LYAN | Lycium andersonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| pale desert-thorn | LYPA | Lycium pallidum | 0–1 | – | ||
| longleaf jointfir | EPTR | Ephedra trifurca | 0–1 | – | ||
| American tarwort | FLCE | Flourensia cernua | 0–1 | – | ||
| yellow paloverde | PAMI5 | Parkinsonia microphylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| Parish's goldeneye | VIPA14 | Viguiera parishii | 0–1 | – | ||
| lotebush | ZIOB | Ziziphus obtusifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| 8 | Half shrubs | 5–35 | ||||
| desert zinnia | ZIAC | Zinnia acerosa | 1–20 | – | ||
| rough menodora | MESC | Menodora scabra | 1–15 | – | ||
| whitestem paperflower | PSCO2 | Psilostrophe cooperi | 0–10 | – | ||
| woody crinklemat | TICA3 | Tiquilia canescens | 0–10 | – | ||
| burrobush | AMDU2 | Ambrosia dumosa | 0–10 | – | ||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 0–5 | – | ||
| rayless goldenhead | ACSP | Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus | 0–5 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 0–5 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 1–5 | – | ||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 0–5 | – | ||
| featherplume | DAFO | Dalea formosa | 0–2 | – | ||
| threadleaf snakeweed | GUMI | Gutierrezia microcephala | 0–1 | – | ||
| burroweed | ISTE2 | Isocoma tenuisecta | 0–1 | – | ||
| 9 | Succulents | 1–10 | ||||
| Christmas cactus | CYLE8 | Cylindropuntia leptocaulis | 0–2 | – | ||
| purple pricklypear | OPMA8 | Opuntia macrocentra | 0–2 | – | ||
| tulip pricklypear | OPPH | Opuntia phaeacantha | 0–2 | – | ||
| banana yucca | YUBA | Yucca baccata | 0–2 | – | ||
| soaptree yucca | YUEL | Yucca elata | 0–1 | – | ||
| nightblooming cereus | PEGR3 | Peniocereus greggii | 0–1 | – | ||
| walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 0–1 | – | ||
| common sotol | DAWH2 | Dasylirion wheeleri | 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 | – | ||
| candy barrelcactus | FEWI | Ferocactus wislizeni | 0–1 | – | ||
| devil's cholla | GRKU | Grusonia kunzei | 0–1 | – | ||
| Graham's nipple cactus | MAGR9 | Mammillaria grahamii | 0–1 | – | ||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 0–1 | – | ||
| saguaro | CAGI10 | Carnegiea gigantea | 0–1 | – | ||
| buck-horn cholla | CYAC8 | Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa | 0–1 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
This site offers little in the way of forage for livestock. Areas of bush muhly, black grama and threeawn are grazed on slopes less than 45%. Annual grasses and forbs offer limited grazing in wet winters. High pH, due to calcium carbonates in the soil, lower the availability of essential plant nutrients and reduce the palatability of grasses to livestock. Adjacent, non-limy sites will be overused before appreciable use is made of this site.
Wildlife on this site is limited to small mammals and birds and their associated predators. In areas where the site is adjacent to large stream bottoms or mountains, it can be a forage area for large mammals like mule deer and javalina.
Hydrological functions
Coarse textured soils with very gravelly surfaces make this site a poor producer of runoff.
Recreational uses
Hunting, horseback riding, hiking, photography, bird watching.
Other products
Gravel
Supporting information
Type locality
| Location 1: Cochise County, AZ | |
|---|---|
| Township/Range/Section | T15S R19E S26 |
| General legal description | Whitehouse Ranch |
Contributors
Dan Robinett
Larry D. Ellicott
Approval
Scott Woodall, 8/06/2020
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 | 09/11/2022 |
| Approved by | Scott Woodall |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
-
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:
-
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
-
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):
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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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