Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
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<strong>Vegetation</strong> <strong>Classification</strong> <strong>and</strong> Distribution <strong>Mapping</strong> <strong>Report</strong>: Petrified Forest National Park<br />
Ecological systems placement:<br />
Ecological system unique ID<br />
CES306.821<br />
CES306.821<br />
Ecological system name<br />
Rocky.Mountain.Lower.Montane-Foothill.Riparian.Woodl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
<strong>and</strong>.Shrubl<strong>and</strong><br />
Rocky.Mountain.Lower.Montane-Foothill.Riparian.Woodl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
<strong>and</strong>.Shrubl<strong>and</strong><br />
NatureServe conservation status:<br />
Global rank. GNA (invasive) (24-Jul-2001).<br />
Distribution:<br />
Globally. This semi-natural shrubl<strong>and</strong> is found along drainages in the semi-arid western<br />
Great Plains, interior <strong>and</strong> southwestern U.S. <strong>and</strong> northern Mexico, from central <strong>and</strong> eastern<br />
Montana, south to Colorado, western Oklahoma <strong>and</strong> Texas, west to California.<br />
Petrified Forest National Park. Tamarix spp. Semi-natural Temporarily Flooded Shrubl<strong>and</strong><br />
was identified from two relevés in Petrified Forest National Park. These relevés occurred on<br />
bajada <strong>and</strong> talus l<strong>and</strong>forms in the central neck area of the park along the northern edges of the<br />
Puerco River, both east <strong>and</strong> west of the park road.<br />
Environmental summary:<br />
Globally. These widespread shrubl<strong>and</strong>s are common along larger streams, rivers, <strong>and</strong> around<br />
playas in the western U.S. <strong>and</strong> Mexico. Elevation ranges from 75 m below sea level to 1860<br />
m. Tamarix spp. have become naturalized in various sites including riverbanks, floodplains,<br />
basins, s<strong>and</strong>bars, side channels, springs, salt flats, <strong>and</strong> other saline habitats. St<strong>and</strong>s grow especially<br />
well along regulated rivers where flood-regenerated native species such as Populus are<br />
declining <strong>and</strong> the absence of regular scouring floods allows Tamarix seedlings to become established.<br />
Substrates are commonly thin s<strong>and</strong>y loam soil over alluvial deposits of s<strong>and</strong>, gravel,<br />
or cobbles.<br />
Petrified Forest National Park. This association occurred at 1625 <strong>and</strong> 1639 m (5330-5377 ft)<br />
elevation. Slope ranged from none to low (0-4%). Both of these relevés occurred in areas with<br />
intermittent or seasonal flooding.<br />
USFWS wetl<strong>and</strong> system: Palustrine.<br />
<strong>Vegetation</strong> description:<br />
Globally. This semi-natural shrubl<strong>and</strong> occurs along streams, rivers, <strong>and</strong> playas where it forms<br />
a moderate to dense tall-shrub layer that is solely or strongly dominated by species of Tamarix,<br />
including Tamarix ramosissima, Tamarix chinensis, Tamarix gallica, <strong>and</strong> Tamarix parviflora.<br />
Other shrubs may include species of Salix (especially Salix exigua) <strong>and</strong> Prosopis, Rhus trilobata,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Sarcobatus vermiculatus but with low cover (if shrub species are codominant, then the<br />
st<strong>and</strong> is classified as a natural shrubl<strong>and</strong>). Scattered Acer negundo, Salix amygdaloides, Populus<br />
spp., or Elaeagnus angustifolia trees may also be present. Depending on st<strong>and</strong> age <strong>and</strong> density<br />
of the shrub layer, an herbaceous layer may be present. Associated native species include<br />
Distichlis spicata <strong>and</strong> Sporobolus airoides, <strong>and</strong> introduced species include Agrostis gigantea,<br />
Agrostis stolonifera, <strong>and</strong> Poa pratensis. Introduced herbaceous species such as Polypogon<br />
monspeliensis, Conyza canadensis, Lepidium latifolium, <strong>and</strong> others have been reported from<br />
shrubl<strong>and</strong>s in this association.<br />
C62