Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS

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Appendix C: Global and local plant community descriptions C.3 Shrubland C.3.13. Rhus trilobata - Ephedra (viridis, torreyana) Talus Shrubland Base map class NatureServe common name NatureServe code Three-leafed.Sumac.-.Mormon.Tea.Talus.Shrubland Skunkbush.-.(Mormon-tea,.Torrey’s.Joint-fir).Talus.Shrubland CEGL003776 Summary: This Colorado Plateau mixed shrub assemblage occurs on steep, rocky colluvial slopes and bedrock canyon rims associated with mesas, canyons, benches, ravines, hills, hogbacks, escarpments, and valley sides. Slopes are typically moderate and range from level to steep (0-70%), occur between 1238 and 1700 m (4000-5580 ft) elevation, and tend to occur on southerly to westerly aspects (less often east-facing slopes). Soils are shallow and rocky and range from rapidly drained clay loams to sandy loams derived from shales and sandstones. It tends to be slightly more mesic than most other talus type vegetation. Total vegetation cover is sparse, not exceeding 25%. It is characterized by a scattered mixture of shrubs, among which Rhus trilobata var. trilobata and Ephedra torreyana or Ephedra viridis are conspicuous and either dominant or codominant. As many as ten other species of shrubs may also be present, including Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia bigelovii, Atriplex confertifolia, Brickellia microphylla, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum corymbosum, and Philadelphus microphyllus. Fraxinus anomala is absent, and if Pinus edulis or Juniperus osteosperma are present, cover is less than 1%. Herbaceous cover is sparse and variable. Biological soil crust formation is rare on these active slopes. Classification confidence: 2 - Moderate. Classification comments: Globally. Data are not available. Petrified Forest National Park. This map class was photointerpreted based on the environmental characteristics of the talus slopes, assuming that the three shrub species uniquely characterized this habitat type. Vegetation hierarchy: Physiognomic class III Shrubland Physiognomic subclass III.B. Deciduous.shrubland Physiognomic group III.B.2. Cold-deciduous.shrubland Physiognomic subgroup III.B.2.N. Natural/Semi-natural.cold-deciduous.shrubland Formation name III.B.2.N.a. Temperate.cold-deciduous.shrubland Alliance name Rhus trilobata.Shrubland.Alliance.(A.3569),.Skunkbush. Shrubland.Alliance Ecological systems placement: Ecological system unique ID CES304.765 Ecological system name Colorado.Plateau.Mixed.Bedrock.Canyon.and.Tableland NatureServe conservation status: Global rank. GNR (20-Mar-2006). C47
Vegetation Classification and Distribution Mapping Report: Petrified Forest National Park Distribution: Globally. This association is known from Arches National Park but likely is widespread in the canyonlands of the Colorado Plateau in eastern Utah. Petrified Forest National Park. Rhus trilobata - Ephedra (viridis, torreyana) Talus Shrubland was identified at three relevés on talus slopes within Petrified Forest National Park. The relevés were located on talus slopes. This association was recorded from two main locations: one location south of Blue Mesa near the Blue Mesa Road and the other north of Jasper Forest in the southwestern corner of the park. Environmental summary: Globally. This Colorado Plateau mixed shrub assemblage occurs on steep, rocky colluvial slopes and bedrock canyon rims associated with mesas, canyons, benches, ravines, hills, hogbacks, escarpments, and valley sides. Slopes are typically moderate and range from level to steep (0-70%), occur between 1238 and 1700 m (4000-5580 ft) elevation, and tend to occur on southerly to westerly aspects (less often east-facing slopes). Soils are shallow and range from rapidly drained clay loams to sandy loams. Parent materials include shales (Moenkopi and Chinle) and sandstones (Cedar Mountain, Navajo, and Wingate). Most of the unvegetated surface is covered by gravel, talus, bedrock and large rocks, and occasionally petrified wood. There is little dead wood, biological soil crust, or litter. It tends to be slightly more mesic than most other talus type vegetation. Petrified Forest National Park. Elevation ranged from 1680 to 1700 m (5500-5580 ft). All of the relevés were sampled on steep slopes that varied between 45 and 50% (average 47%), with variable aspects ranging from an easterly to a southwestern direction. The talus in all of the relevés was composed of sandstone. One relevé also had a low cover of surface rocks consisting of petrified wood. USFWS wetland system: Not applicable. Vegetation description: Globally. This shrubland association has sparse to low cover of vegetation, not exceeding 25% total cover. It is characterized by a scattered mixture of shrubs, among which Rhus trilobata var. trilobata and Ephedra torreyana or Ephedra viridis are conspicuous and either dominant or codominant. As many as ten other species of shrubs may also be present, including Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia bigelovii, Atriplex confertifolia, Brickellia microphylla, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum corymbosum, and Philadelphus microphyllus. Fraxinus anomala is absent or has trace cover, and if Pinus edulis or Juniperus osteosperma are present, cover is less than 1%. The herbaceous layer may include many species but never provides more than a few percent cover. Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Elymus elymoides, Pleuraphis jamesii, Leymus salinus, and exotic annual grasses Bromus rubens or Bromus tectorum are common grasses. Forb compositions are variable with frequent species including Artemisia ludoviciana, Chaetopappa ericoides, Cryptantha crassisepala, Stanleya pinnata, and Plantago patagonica. Biological soil crust formation is rare on these active slopes. Petrified Forest National Park. Three relevés were classified as Rhus trilobata - Ephedra (viridis, torreyana) Talus Shrubland, with total vegetation cover ranging from 8 to 21% (average 15%). This vegetation cover consisted of a shrub layer with 6-12% cover (average 9%) and an herbaceous layer with 2-9% cover (average 6%). The species diversity ranged from 19 to 31 species (average 26 species). The vegetation was composed of three indicator shrub species: Rhus trilobata, Ephedra viridis, and Ephedra torreyana. Each of these shrub species may or may not be present, and their relative proportions to one another varied depending on the environmental conditions. In these three relevés, Rhus trilobata ranged from 0 to 2% cover (average 1%), Ephedra viridis ranged from 1 to 4% cover (average 3%), and Ephedra torreyana ranged from 0 to 0.5% cover (average
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National Park Service U.S. Departme
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Vegetation Classification and Distr
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The National Park Service, Natural
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Acronyms and Abbreviations AA ac AP
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Executive Summary The classificatio
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Acknowledgments Behind the authors
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Axis 3 Axis 2 Vegetation Classifica
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Literature Cited ties: Terrestrial
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Appendix C: Global and local plant
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Appendix C: Global and Local Plant
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Appendix D Plant species list The s
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D3 Appendix D continued Scientific
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Appendix E Plant community and map
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Appendix E: Plant community and map
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Appendix F Plant community and map
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F3 Appendix F continued Plant commu
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Appendix F continued Plant communit
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G4 B1 Cottonwood / Rubber Rabbitbru
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G6 B3 Blue Sage Dwarf-Shrubland Fig
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G8 B5 Copperweed - Alkali Sacaton S
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G10 B7 Drummond Goldenweed - Gallet
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G12 B9 Greasewood / New Mexico Salt
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G14 B11 Iodine Bush Shrubland Figur
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G16 B13 Sandsage Colorado Plateau S
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G18 B15 Tamarisk Shrubland Figure.G
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G20 B17 Winter-fat / Blue Grama Dwa
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G22 B19 Alkali Sacaton - Blue Grama
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G24 B21 Blue Grama Herbaceous Veget
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G26 B23 Galleta - Alkali Sacaton He
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G28 B25 New Mexico Saltbush / Alkal
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G30 B27 Russian Thistle Sand Dune V
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G32 B29 Arizona Siltbush Sparse Veg
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G34 B31 Slender Buckwheat Sparse Ve
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G36 B33 Airstrip Figure.G65..Photos
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G38 B35 Barren Wash Figure.G68..Gro
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G40 B37 Park Sites Figure.G71..Phot
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G42 B39 Residences Figure.G73..Phot
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G44 B41 Run-off Control Feature Fig
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G46 B43 Stock Ponds Figure.G77..Pho
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G48 B45 Vegetated Wash Complex Figu
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Appendix H: Accuracy Assessment Dat
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Table H-4. Contingency table: Manag
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The Department of the Interior prot
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