Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R070BB013NM
Gyp Hills
Accessed: 12/22/2024
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.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
Not specified |
| Herbaceous |
Not specified |
Physiographic features
This site occurs on hills, escarpments and breaks between higher and lower plains or terraces, and canyon sides between deep desert drainageways. Slopes range from 10 to 30 percent. Direction of slope varies, the northern exposures having cooler and more moist soils, and the southern exposures having hotter and drier soils in general. Elevations range from 2,800 to 4,000 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Hill
(2) Canyon |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 853 – 1,219 m |
| Slope | 10 – 30% |
| Water table depth | 0 cm |
| Aspect | N, S |
Climatic features
The frost free season ranges from 180 to 221 days between early April and late October. The optimum growing season of the major native warm season plants coincides with the summer rains during June, July, August, and September. However, plants can make some growth at any time during the frost free period when moisture is available and minimum daily temperatures stay above 51 degrees F.
Vegetation on this site will be limited to plants which can take advantage of moisture at the time it falls, since the soil profiles have large amounts of available water for short periods of time and then rapidly dry. The majority of precipitation comes in the form of high intensity, short duration thunderstorms. Little or no available moisture can be stored in the soil profiles of this site. Strong winds from the southwest blow during January through June which accelerate soil drying within the plant root zone and further discourage cool season plant growth or occupancy of the site.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (average) | 221 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | 240 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 330 mm |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Influencing water features
This site is not influenced by water from wetlands or streams.
Soil features
Soils are very shallow and moderately deep to gypsum. Surface and subsurface layers are loam, fine sandy loam, and gravelly loam overlying dense layers of cemented gypsum material or gypsum rock at depths of 7 to 22 inches. The gypsum rock and gypsum materials commonly outcrop to the surface as inclusions of rock outcrop or raw gypsumland which are void of vegetation and not part of the ecological site. In general the greater the slope, the greater the amount of gypsum and rock outcrop. The gypsum materials and gypsum rock are restrictive to root development. The site has a droughty appearance due to the soils inability to support a dense stand of vegetation. If unprotected by plant cover and organic residue, the soil becomes easily water eroded.
Minimum and maximum values listed below represent the characteristic soils for this site.
Characteristic Soils:
Aztec
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Surface texture |
(1) Loam (2) Fine sandy loam (3) Gravelly loam |
|---|---|
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
| Drainage class | Well drained to somewhat excessively drained |
| Permeability class | Moderately slow to moderate |
| Soil depth | 0 – 51 cm |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 0 – 20% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 0 – 10% |
| Available water capacity (0-101.6cm) |
5.08 – 12.7 cm |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-101.6cm) |
7 – 40% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 4 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 1 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-101.6cm) |
7.4 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
0 – 25% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
0 – 10% |
Ecological dynamics
The general aspect of this site is that of a rough, broken badlands, sparsely vegetated and highly dissected. There is more of the surface area comprised of bare ground and rock than that which is vegetated. The map delineations of this site are in actuality a complex of bare ground, rock outcrop, a few deep soil pockets in cracks and fissures of the bedrock and areas of very shallow soils. The vegetation on the very shallow soil areas is dominated by rhizomatous and stoloniferous short grasses and forbs. Shrubs and half shrubs are apparent and rather unevenly distributed. The potential plant community varies somewhat with depth of soil, exposure and slope. Large bare areas with only surface lichens are common. Where there is little or no soil over the gypsum material only rough coldenia may be present.
State and transition model
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Ecosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Historic Climax Plant Community
Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community
The general aspect of this site is that of a rough, broken badlands, sparsely vegetated and highly dissected. There is more of the surface area comprised of bare ground and rock than that which is vegetated. The map delineations of this site are in actuality a complex of bare ground, rock outcrop, a few deep soil pockets in cracks and fissures of the bedrock and areas of very shallow soils. The vegetation on the very shallow soil areas is dominated by rhizomatous and stoloniferous short grasses and forbs. Shrubs and half shrubs are apparent and rather unevenly distributed. The potential plant community varies somewhat with depth of soil, exposure and slope. Large bare areas with only surface lichens are common. Where there is little or no soil over the gypsum material only rough coldenia may be present.
Figure 4. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (kg/hectare) |
Representative value (kg/hectare) |
High (kg/hectare) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forb | 45 | 90 | 135 |
| Grass/Grasslike | 45 | 90 | 135 |
| Shrub/Vine | 22 | 45 | 67 |
| Total | 112 | 225 | 337 |
Table 6. Ground cover
| Tree foliar cover | 0% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover | 0% |
| Grass/grasslike foliar cover | 16% |
| Forb foliar cover | 0% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 0% |
| Litter | 12% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 0% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 48% |
Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NM2813, R042XC013NM Gyp Hills HCPC. R042XC013NM Gyp Hills HCPC Warm Season Plant Community.
| 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 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 25 | 30 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Additional community tables
Table 7. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (kg/hectare) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | 45–67 | |||||
| gypsum grama | BOBR | Bouteloua breviseta | 45–67 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 45–67 | – | ||
| 2 | 22–34 | |||||
| gyp dropseed | SPNE | Sporobolus nealleyi | 22–34 | – | ||
| 3 | 2–11 | |||||
| threeawn | ARIST | Aristida | 2–11 | – | ||
| low woollygrass | DAPU7 | Dasyochloa pulchella | 2–11 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 4 | 11–22 | |||||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 11–22 | – | ||
| littleleaf sumac | RHMI3 | Rhus microphylla | 11–22 | – | ||
| 5 | 11–16 | |||||
| knifeleaf condalia | COSP3 | Condalia spathulata | 11–16 | – | ||
| crown of thorns | KOSP | Koeberlinia spinosa | 11–16 | – | ||
| 6 | 7–11 | |||||
| creosote bush | LATR2 | Larrea tridentata | 7–11 | – | ||
| algerita | MATR3 | Mahonia trifoliolata | 7–11 | – | ||
| soaptree yucca | YUEL | Yucca elata | 7–11 | – | ||
| 7 | 2–7 | |||||
| pricklypear | OPUNT | Opuntia | 2–7 | – | ||
| pricklyleaf dogweed | THAC | Thymophylla acerosa | 2–7 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 8 | 34–56 | |||||
| hairy crinklemat | TIHI | Tiquilia hispidissima | 34–56 | – | ||
| 9 | 11–22 | |||||
| flax | LINUM | Linum | 11–22 | – | ||
| blazingstar | MENTZ | Mentzelia | 11–22 | – | ||
| fiddleleaf | NAMA4 | Nama | 11–22 | – | ||
| Texan phacelia | PHINT | Phacelia integrifolia var. texana | 11–22 | – | ||
| threadleaf ragwort | SEFLF | Senecio flaccidus var. flaccidus | 11–22 | – | ||
| 10 | 11–22 | |||||
| whitest evening primrose | OEAL | Oenothera albicaulis | 11–22 | – | ||
| beardtongue | PENST | Penstemon | 11–22 | – | ||
| desert unicorn-plant | PRAL4 | Proboscidea althaeifolia | 11–22 | – | ||
| whitestem paperflower | PSCO2 | Psilostrophe cooperi | 11–22 | – | ||
| 11 | 2–11 | |||||
| Forb, annual | 2FA | Forb, annual | 2–11 | – | ||
| Seven River Hills buckwheat | ERGY | Eriogonum gypsophilum | 2–11 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
This site provides habitats which support a resident animal community that is characterized by bobcat, gray fox,
black-tailed jackrabbit, rock squirrel, rock pocket mouse, red-tailed hawk, scaled quail, loggerhead shrike, Texas
horned lizard, lesser earless lizard, and western diamondback rattlesnake.
Where closely associated with high cliffs and ledges as in the Guadalupe and Sacramento Mountains, golden eagle
and prairie falcon hunt over the site.
Fourwing saltbush, littleleaf sumac, spiny allthorn, and knifeleaf condalia provide protective cover for scaled quail.
Fourwing saltbush and littleleaf sumac are browsed by desert mule deer. Seed, green herbage and fruit from a
variety of grasses, forbs, and shrubs provide food for a number of birds and mammals, including dove and quail.
Hydrological functions
The runoff curve numbers are determined by field investigations using hydraulic cover conditions and hydrologic
soil groups.
Soil Series Hydrologic Group
Aztec B/C
Recreational uses
Recreational Uses:
This site offers recreation potential for hiking, horseback riding, rock, gem, and mineral collecting, nature
observation and photography, and quail, dove, and predator hunting.
Wood products
This site provides little or no wood products other than curiosities and small furniture which can be made from the
roots and stems of mesquite where it has invaded. The woody pods of devilsclaw are also used in curiosities.
Other products
About 75% of the area within map delineation’s of this site are not suitable for domestic livestock grazing because
of steep slope, rock outcrop and lack of forage. Grazing is least damaging to this sparse vegetative cover during fall
and winter. The site is best utilized by goats or yearling cattle following seasons of abundant moisture. During
normal or unfavorable years the plants are adequately utilized by native fauna. This site should not be depended on
to furnish needed forage for perennial livestock breeding operations but can furnish some incidental grazing in
conjunction with adjacent sites in the same pastures.
Other information
Guide to Suggested Initial Stocking Rate Acres per Animal Unit Month
Similarity Index Ac/AUM
100 - 76 7.5 – 10.0
75 – 51 9.5 – 13.0
50 – 26 13.1 – 19.0
25 – 0 30.0 - +
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Data collection for this site was done in conjunction with the progressive soil surveys within the Southern Desertic
Basins, Plains and Mountains, Major Land Resource Areas of New Mexico. This site has been mapped and
correlated with soils in the following soil surveys. Eddy County, Lea County, and Chavez County
Contributors
Don Sylvester
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
-
Number and extent of rills:
-
Presence of water flow patterns:
-
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
-
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):
-
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:
-
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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