DOCSLIB.ORG

Gambel Oak Ecology and Management in the Southern Rockies

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Gambel Oak Ecology and Management in the Southern Rockies disturbances, and in some parts of its range it may ing and managing both the spread of fire and subse- Introduction This report examines the status of our scientific reproduce by prolific acorn production and germi- quent impacts fires have on post-fire ecology are knowledge about the ecology and concomitant nation. Thus oak remains one of the most important considerations in oak management. management implications of Gambel oak and asso- Gambel oak is a prominent and ecologically persistent, stable, and common components in the Gambel Oak Ecology and Management in important component of natural vegetation in the ciated species, with a geographic focus on Colorado landscape even after severe disturbance. Spe- Previous Gambel oak research and cur- Southern Rocky Mountains and Southwest. Wood- and Utah where published literature is notably limit- cies-specific differences in environmental and soil rent assessment the Southern Rockies: land and shrub communities dominated by Gambel ed. Through this effort we hope to set the stage for requirements, response to disturbances, and repro- increased discussion and research that will provide Considerable research has been done on Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) are widely distributed in Colo- ductive processes contribute to the wide range of oak vegetation (see suggested reading list), but rado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. Gambel land managers with a more complete understanding associations and community types that include The Status of Our Knowledge of the Gambel oak ecosysyems throughout the because oak occurs over such a wide range of land- oak has long been recognized to have important Gambel oak. scape settings and conditions throughout much of benefits and uses such as supplying high-quality Southern Rockies region. Wildfire and Gambel oak the southwestern US, generalizations about oak fuelwood and wildlife habitat, and has been man- ecology and management have been elusive. This aged for various benefits for a century or more. In Under moderate burning conditions, Gambel oak is report reviews the status of our knowledge about Colorado and Utah, oak is generally found on mod- resistant to fire spread and can serve as a “green- oak ecology and management in Colorado and erate to steep slopes, and on a diverse range of soil belt”. However, Gambel oak communities often Utah, where research is notably incomplete. While types. With understory grasses, forbs, and other have heavy and continuous fuels, and under more many informal studies have been conducted in these shrub species, oak provides primary protection severe burning conditions, wildland fires may be two states, and numerous valuable experiences can against soil erosion over large areas. explosive and difficult to suppress. Even in com- be shared, few of these have adhered to sound plex, diverse landscapes natural fuel breaks may be scientific procedures or have been well documented Diverse wildlife species, both large and small, utilize relatively uncommon. Wildland fires in Gambel oak and made available in published form. oak for food and cover. Wildlife use often varies shrublands pose serious threats to firefighters and seasonally depending on migration patterns across the public. Fast-moving fires can rapidly consume While a significant portion of the content in this both longitudes and elevations. Gambel oak is a report reflects information found in published Figure 1. The geographic distribution of Gambel oak through- large areas of vegetation and in some cases carry preferred habitat type for elk and deer during out the Southern Rockies region by county (Map data: USGS. intense fire into the wildland/urban interface where literature, a large amount of information was winter months when snow limits accessibility to 1971, USDA 2016) human life and property are at risk. The memorable obtained through workshops and interactions with higher elevations and where oak is not too dense. 1994 South Canyon Fire in Gambel oak on Storm individuals having experience in Gambel oak ecolo- Black bears and turkeys utilize Gambel oak for General environment King Mountain near Glenwood Springs, Colorado gy and management but whose findings have not spring habitat, and acorns are an important fall Gambel oak and associated species in Colorado and was particularly devastating, killing 14 firefighters. been published. We have chosen not to cite refer- food resource for a variety of species. In many Utah occur primarily at the lower forest ecotones In 2012, Gambel oak contributed to intense fire ences in the text as normally done for published areas, oak-dominated communities have provided and are frequently found in a band separating or behavior reaching well into urban areas in Colorado scientific works, in part because this is an assess- herbaceous plants for domestic livestock grazing overlapping with forest and grassland or sagebrush Springs, Colorado, with the loss of more than 300 ment of our knowledge including insights from for well over a century. zones. Gambel oak may be the sole dominant in homes during the Waldo Canyon Fire. Understand- unpublished studies and observations. Therefore, a woodlands or shrublands covering extensive areas, suggested reading list has been provided that com- Throughout their range, Gambel oak shrublands or it may be associated with prairie grass communi- piles known scientific research in the central and have been impacted extensively by both natural and ties, montane sagebrush steppe, mountain shrub- southern Rockies area. Additionally, readers may human-caused disturbances, including fire, fire lands, piñon/juniper woodlands, or forests com- refer to a publication on Gambel oak by Simonin suppression, grazing, and mechanical treatments. A posed of various combinations of ponderosa pine, (2000) in the Fire Effects Information System host of management practices have been imple- Douglas-fir, white fir, quaking aspen and big-tooth (FEIS), a helpful resource for finding much of the mented for a range of intended objectives and have maple (See figure 4). For clarification of terminolo- literature that is available. focused more on pure or nearly pure Gambel oak gy used in this document, Gambel oak shrublands Our goal in this report is to assess the status of our communities instead of those dominated by other or simply oak or oak shrublands refer to Gambel knowledge (both published and unpublished) about mountain shrubs. Yet the ecology of pure or nearly oak communities including associated shrubland oak ecology and management in Colorado and SRFSN Publication 2016-1 pure Gambel oak communities and effects of natu- and tree species. Where Gambel oak occurs alone Utah. We examine the various types of stands and Merrill R. Kaufmann, Daniel W. Huisjen, Stanley Kitchen, Mike Babler, Scott R. Abella, Todd ral and human disturbances on them are not well as pure stands or patches, terms such as pure communities featuring Gambel oak in this S. Gardiner, Darren McAvoy, Josh Howie, Douglas H. Page Jr. understood. Furthermore, there is widespread Gambel oak or pure oak will be used. recognition that management practices often fail to geographic area. We review the knowledge available and gaps in our understanding, and summarize achieve desired benefits, or that benefits exist too Gambel oak tolerates a wide range of environmen- research needs for improving our ecological under- briefly to justify treatment expense. tal and soil conditions. Furthermore, Gambel oak standing and evaluating management objectives and readily resprouts after fire, heavy grazing, or other practices. Two stages of investigation were undertaken to Other tree species associated with Gambel oak may or sprouting through to maturity. Gambel oak many, if not most, attempts to suppress it. develop a current assessment. First, a literature be important locally but less common regionally, attains individual plant/clone longevity through Nonetheless, with relatively little knowledge about review was completed in 2013 searching for any including bigtooth maple, aspen, and white fir. vegetative reproduction in environments rarely historical oak ecology, it is unclear if oak commu- available science in the central Rockies and South- favorable for new seedling establishment. Exten- nities and associations with other species are in a west regions. Second, a series of three small regional Key Point Two: Considerable uncertainty sive root systems and re-sprouting facilitate rapid healthy, sustainable condition. For example, is workshops was held in 2014, one in Utah and two in exists about the long-term ecology of recovery of plants and clones not only in response ponderosa pine with an understory of thick shrub- Colorado (west and east of the Continental Divide) Gambel oak ecosystems. to fire and drought, but also following other by oak at risk of elimination by catastrophic fire, or in areas where Gambel oak management is a signifi- Gambel oak occurs not only across a range of natural disturbances such as frost damage or insect is sagebrush with oak sustainable or at risk of cant issue. At each of these workshops, discussion community types, but also a range of growth attack, and they provide an advantage for oak over being overtaken by oak? Do ecosystems with an focused on developing a set of key points to deter- forms and environmental conditions. Oak com- other species competing for limited resources. oak component provide historically appropriate mine our degree of understanding of Gambel oak munities exist and survive as clones and rely on benefits and conditions for local and migratory ecology and management and any significant differ- resprouting after severe disturbance that kills The role of Gambel oak in successional trajectories animals? Moreover, with other oak species in ences among the three regions. We welcomed above-ground parts. Mature plants and sprouting varies widely depending in large part on the types different regions already being afflicted or devastat- insights based upon field experience as much as root systems may have greater environmental of plant communities present and the life cycle and ed by introduced pests, will a pest emerge that will those found in published form.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Clonality and Dynamics of Leaf Abscission of Gambel Oaks at Small Spatial Scales in Utah
    For. Sci. 61(●):000–000 FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH http://dx.doi.org/10.5849/forsci.14-204 Copyright © 2015 Society of American Foresters forest ecology Clonality and Dynamics of Leaf Abscission of Gambel Oaks at Small Spatial Scales in Utah Jacob W. Chalmers, Karen E. Mock, Kevin D. Kohl, Katelin J. Madsen, and Nalini M. Nadkarni The Intermountain West of the United States supports a mosaic of Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) clumps interspersed with grassland. Both the tree and shrub forms of Gambel oak are typically found in distinct clumps that have often been presumed to be single clones, although quantitative evidence to support this is minimal. We examined the patterns of clonality within and between oak clumps and explored the variance in phenology of leaf abscission within and among clones and clumps in a study site in the Wasatch Mountains, Utah, USA. Using amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis, we genotyped multiple stems within 10 clumps of Gambel oaks in Red Butte Canyon. Nine of the 10 clumps were monoclonal (each a single distinct genet). The 10th clump was composed of 2 genets. To characterize the genetic influence on leaf abscission phenology, we compared the timing of abscission of individually marked leaves among genets, ramets, and branches. Of these three levels of organization, genet membership had the greatest influence on timing of leaf abscission, and branch membership had the smallest influence. Our results suggest that clonal diversity may be an important metric of phenotypic and ecological diversity in Gambel oak landscapes. Keywords: genet, ramet, abscission, Gambel oak lant communities often comprise genetic mosaics at multiple trait variances are partitioned among genets (clones) versus ramets spatial scales because species in the communities reproduce (stems).
    [Show full text]
  • The Collection of Oak Trees of Mexico and Central America in Iturraran Botanical Gardens
    The Collection of Oak Trees of Mexico and Central America in Iturraran Botanical Gardens Francisco Garin Garcia Iturraran Botanical Gardens, northern Spain [email protected] Overview Iturraran Botanical Gardens occupy 25 hectares of the northern area of Spain’s Pagoeta Natural Park. They extend along the slopes of the Iturraran hill upon the former hay meadows belonging to the farmhouse of the same name, currently the Reception Centre of the Park. The minimum altitude is 130 m above sea level, and the maximum is 220 m. Within its bounds there are indigenous wooded copses of Quercus robur and other non-coniferous species. Annual precipitation ranges from 140 to 160 cm/year. The maximum temperatures can reach 30º C on some days of summer and even during periods of southern winds on isolated days from October to March; the winter minimums fall to -3º C or -5 º C, occasionally registering as low as -7º C. Frosty days are few and they do not last long. It may snow several days each year. Soils are fairly shallow, with a calcareous substratum, but acidified by the abundant rainfall. In general, the pH is neutral due to their action. Collections The first plantations date back to late 1987. There are currently approximately 5,000 different taxa, the majority being trees and shrubs. There are around 3,000 species, including around 300 species from the genus Quercus; 100 of them are from Mexico and Central America. Quercus costaricensis photo©Francisco Garcia 48 International Oak Journal No. 22 Spring 2011 Oaks from Mexico and Oaks from Mexico
    [Show full text]
  • Oaks for Nebraska Justin R
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Publications Nebraska Statewide Arboretum 2013 Oaks for Nebraska Justin R. Evertson University of Nebraska - Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/arboretumpubs Part of the Botany Commons, and the Forest Biology Commons Evertson, Justin R., "Oaks for Nebraska" (2013). Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Publications. 1. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/arboretumpubs/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Oaks for Nebraska Justin Evertson, Nebraska Statewide Arboretum arboretum.unl.edu or retreenebraska.unl.edu R = belongs to red oak group—acorns mature over two seasons & leaves typically have pointed lobes. W = belongs to white oak group— acorns mature in one season & leaves typically have rounded lobes. Estimated size range is height x spread for trees growing in eastern Nebraska. A few places to see oaks: Indian Dwarf chinkapin oak, Quercus Cave State Park; Krumme Arboretum Blackjack oak, Quercus prinoides (W) in Falls City; Peru State College; marilandica (R) Variable habit from shrubby to Fontenelle Nature Center in Bellevue; Shorter and slower growing than tree form; prolific acorn producer; Elmwood Park in Omaha; Wayne most oaks with distinctive tri- can have nice yellow fall color; Park in Waverly; University of lobed leaves; can take on a very national champion grows near Nebraska Lincoln; Lincoln Regional natural look with age; tough and Salem Nebraska; 10-25’x 10-20’.
    [Show full text]
  • TREES for WESTERN NEBRASKA Justin Evertson & Bob Henrickson
    THE NEBRASKA STATEWIDE ARBORETUM PRESENTS TREES FOR WESTERN NEBRASKA Justin Evertson & Bob Henrickson. For more plant information, visit plantnebraska.org or retreenbraska.unl.edu The following species are recommended for areas in the western half of Nebraska and/or typically receive less than 20” of moisture per year. Size Range: The size range indicated for each plant is the expected average mature height x spread for Nebraska. Large Deciduous Trees (typically over 40 feet tall at maturity) NOTE ON ASH SPECIES: Native American ash trees are being decimated by Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and the insect is now in Nebraska. NSA recommends that native ash species no longer be planted in Nebraska. 1. Ash, Manchurian - Fraxinus mandshurica (from Asia; upright growth; drought tolerant; may be resistant to EAB; 40’x 30’) 2. Catalpa, Northern - Catalpa speciosa (native; tough tree; large, heart-shaped leaves, showy flowers and long seed pods; 50’x 35’) 3. Coffeetree, Kentucky - Gymnocladus dioicus (native; amazingly adaptable; beautiful winter form; 50’x 40’) 4. Cottonwood, Eastern - Populus deltoides (majestic native; not for extremely dry sites; avoid most cultivars; 80’x 60’) 5. Cottonwood, Lanceleaf - Populus acuminata (native; naturally occurring hybrid; narrow leaves; for west. G.P.; 50’x 35’) 6. Elm, American - Ulums americana (disease resistant varieties include ‘Valley Forge’ and ‘New Harmony’; 50’x50’) 7. Elm, Japanese - Ulmus davidiana var. japonica (cold tolerant; rounded; glossy green; ‘Discovery’ is a cultivar from Manitoba Canada; 45’x 45’) 8. Elm, Rock - Ulmus thomasii (distinctive corky stems; upright habit; DED resistance in west; 50-60’x 30-40’) New Elm, Hybrids - many disease resistant hybrid elms have been developed and show promise, including: 9.
    [Show full text]
  • 25. Utah Serviceberry-Saskatoon Serviceberry Ecological Series
    G. NON-RIPARIAN TALL SHRUBLANDS (SA) 25. Utah Serviceberry-Saskatoon Serviceberry Ecological Series Table 25-1. Full and short names for the ecological types in the Utah-Saskatoon Serviceberry Ecological Series. Ecological Type Plant Association Code Name Code Short Name Utah serviceberry/dryland sedge-sun sedge–Deep Utah serviceberry/sedge– SA1 Argiborolls–Leeward upper backslopes and shoulders, AMUT/CAGE-CAPEH Dark clay soils–Leeward < 9,100 ft Utah serviceberry-mountain-mahogany/dryland sedge-sun Utah serviceberry-mountain- AMUT-CEMO2/ SA2 sedge–Argiborolls–Protected colluvial backslopes and mahogany/sedge–Dark clay CAGE-CAPEH shoulders, < 8,700 ft soils–Protected Serviceberry-Gambel oak/Sedge–Deep Argiborolls, little AMELA-QUGA/ Serviceberry-oak–Dark clay SA3 coarse on surface–Lees or other protected slopes, CAREX soils–Protected 7,600 - 8,600 ft Serviceberry/green needlegrass-spike-fescue–Deep Serviceberry/green SA4 Argiborolls, sometimes Pachic–Lee sides of ridges and AMELA/NAVI4-LEKI2 needlegrass–Deep clay soils– mesas, 8,000-9,300 ft Lees Saskatoon serviceberry/elk sedge–Deep Argiborolls and Argic Saskatoon serviceberry/elk SA5 Cryoborolls, often Pachic–Lee slopes on ridges and mesas, AMAL2/CAGE2 sedge–Deep dark soils–Lees 8,500-9,900 ft Saskatoon serviceberry/Thurber fescue–Deep Argic Serviceberry/Thurber fescue– SA6 Cryoborolls, loam surface–subalpine slopes, AMAL2/FETH Deep dark cold loamy soils– 8,700-10,000 ft Subalpine The Amelanchier utahensis-Amelanchier includes part of the Mountain Mahogany-Mixed alnifolia series is described as new here, based on Shrub series of Dick-Peddie (1993), but it is not the the Amelanchier alnifolia series of Komárková same as the eastern slope Cercocarpus montanus (1986-1988) and on the Quercus gambelii series of series of Hess (1981).
    [Show full text]
  • Bird Communities of Gambel Oak: a Descriptive Analysis
    United States Department of Agriculture Bird Communities Forest Service Rocky Mountain of Gambel Oak: A Research Station General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-48 Descriptive Analysis March 2000 Andreas Leidolf Michael L. Wolfe Rosemary L. Pendleton Abstract Leidolf, Andreas; Wolfe, Michael L.; Pendleton, Rosemary L. 2000. Bird communities of gambel oak: a descriptive analysis. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 30 p. Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) covers 3.75 million hectares (9.3 million acres) of the western United States. This report synthesizes current knowledge on the composition, structure, and habitat relationships of gambel oak avian communities. It lists life history attributes of 183 bird species documented from gambel oak habitats of the western United States. Structural habitat attributes important to bird-habitat relationships are identified, based on 12 independent studies. This report also highlights species of special concern, provides recommendations for monitoring, and gives suggestions for management and future research. Keywords: Avian ecology, bird-habitat relationships, neotropical migrant, oakbrush, oak woodlands, scrub oak, Quercus gambelii, Western United States The Authors ______________________________________ Andreas Leidolf is a Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Utah State University (USU). He received a B.S. degree in Forestry/Wildlife Management from Mississippi State University in 1995. He is currently completing his M.S. degree in Fisheries and Wildlife ecology at USU. Michael L. Wolfe is a Professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at USU. He received a B.S. degree in Wildlife Management at Cornell University in 1963 and his doctorate in Forestry/Wildlife Management at the University of Göttingen, Germany, in 1967.
    [Show full text]
  • Quercus (Fagaceae) in the Utah Flora
    Great Basin Naturalist Volume 46 Number 1 Article 7 1-31-1986 Quercus (Fagaceae) in the Utah flora Stanley L. Welsh Brigham Young University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn Recommended Citation Welsh, Stanley L. (1986) "Quercus (Fagaceae) in the Utah flora," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 46 : No. 1 , Article 7. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol46/iss1/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Basin Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. — QUERCUS (FAGACEAE) IN THE UTAH FLORA Stanley L. Welsh' Abstract —Reviewed are the oak taxa as they are presently understood in Utah. Keys and descriptions are included, occurrences are cited, and problems of hybridization are discussed. Named as new varieties from Utah are Qticrcus gambelii Nutt. var. honina Welsh and Qucrcus havardii Rydb. var. tuckeri Welsh. Both varieties occur in southeastern Utah. Qttercus eastwoodicie Rydb. is proposed as a hybrid. The native oaks have been a source of con- ella Greene, and Q. havardii Rydb. Within fusion ahnost from the beginning of botanical those complexes the species concepts are mostly exploration, and a huge bibliography has ac- clear and unarguable, but they have no really cumulated dealing with the oaks of Utah and apparent barriers to hybridization, and interme- the West (Harper et al. 1985). Collection of diates are known between nearly all of them, the materials serving in typification of the ear- The following taxonomic treatment is based liest known portion of the complex of species on the examination of more than 300 specimens existing in Utah confounded interpretation "i Utah herbaria and more than three decades of from the beginning.
    [Show full text]
  • An Updated Infrageneric Classification of the North American Oaks
    Article An Updated Infrageneric Classification of the North American Oaks (Quercus Subgenus Quercus): Review of the Contribution of Phylogenomic Data to Biogeography and Species Diversity Paul S. Manos 1,* and Andrew L. Hipp 2 1 Department of Biology, Duke University, 330 Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC 27708, USA 2 The Morton Arboretum, Center for Tree Science, 4100 Illinois 53, Lisle, IL 60532, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: The oak flora of North America north of Mexico is both phylogenetically diverse and species-rich, including 92 species placed in five sections of subgenus Quercus, the oak clade centered on the Americas. Despite phylogenetic and taxonomic progress on the genus over the past 45 years, classification of species at the subsectional level remains unchanged since the early treatments by WL Trelease, AA Camus, and CH Muller. In recent work, we used a RAD-seq based phylogeny including 250 species sampled from throughout the Americas and Eurasia to reconstruct the timing and biogeography of the North American oak radiation. This work demonstrates that the North American oak flora comprises mostly regional species radiations with limited phylogenetic affinities to Mexican clades, and two sister group connections to Eurasia. Using this framework, we describe the regional patterns of oak diversity within North America and formally classify 62 species into nine major North American subsections within sections Lobatae (the red oaks) and Quercus (the Citation: Manos, P.S.; Hipp, A.L. An Quercus Updated Infrageneric Classification white oaks), the two largest sections of subgenus . We also distill emerging evolutionary and of the North American Oaks (Quercus biogeographic patterns based on the impact of phylogenomic data on the systematics of multiple Subgenus Quercus): Review of the species complexes and instances of hybridization.
    [Show full text]
  • Indigenous Uses, Management, and Restoration of Oaks of the Far Western United States
    United States Technical Note No. 2 Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service National Plant Data Center Indigenous Uses, Management, September 2007 and Restoration of Oaks of the Far Western United States Issued September 2007 Cover photo: Shelled acorns from the California black oak (Quercus kel­ loggii) (Courtesy of Kat Anderson, NRCS) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, re­ prisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should con­ tact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–9410, or call (800) 795–3272 (voice) or (202) 720–6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Acknowledgments This publication was authored by M. Kat Anderson, ethnoecologist, National Plant Center, Davis, California, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and reviewed by Scott Peterson, director, National Plant Data Center, NRCS; Michael Johnson, anthropologist, NRCS; Reina Rogers, American Indian liaison, NRCS; Pat Shaver, rangeland management specialist, NRCS; Pedro Tor­ res, tribal liaison, NRCS; and Sarah Bridges, national cultural resources specialist, NRCS.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecological Site F039XA002NM Pinus Ponderosa-Pseudotsuga Menziesii/Quercus Gambelii-Cercocarpus Montanus
    Natural Resources Conservation Service Ecological site F039XA002NM Pinus ponderosa-Pseudotsuga menziesii/Quercus gambelii-Cercocarpus montanus Last updated: 4/03/2020 Accessed: 09/28/2021 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. Ecological site concept This ecological site appears mostly on escarpments of plateaus. Soils can be of different textures based on parent material. Table 1. Dominant plant species Tree (1) Pinus ponderosa (2) Pseudotsuga menziesii Shrub (1) Quercus gambelii (2) Cercocarpus montanus Herbaceous (1) Poa fendleriana Physiographic features This site occurs on escarpments of sedimentary plateaus. Elevation ranges from 6600 to 8000 feet. Slope typically ranges from 15 to 45 percent. Climatic features Table 2. Representative climatic features Frost-free period (characteristic range) 102 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 132 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 22 in Frost-free period (actual range) 102 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 132 days Precipitation total (actual range) 22 in Frost-free period (average) 102 days Freeze-free period (average) 132 days Precipitation total (average) 22 in Climate stations used (1) RUIDOSO [USC00297649], Ruidoso, NM Influencing water features This is an upland site. Soil features This site has a range of textures derived from sedimentary geology.
    [Show full text]
  • Some Aspects of Black Bear Ecology in the Arizona
    SOME ASPECTS OF BLACKBEAR ECOLOGYIN THE ARIZONACHAPARRAL ALBERT L. LeCOUNT, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 2222 West Greenway Road, Phoenix 85023 Abstract: A study of the black bear (Ursus americanus) on a 100-km2study area in the chaparralvegetation type of Arizona was initiatedin 1973. During the subsequent 3.5-year period, 44 individual bears were capturedand minimum density of 1 bear per 2 km2 was estimated. Twenty-eightbears were radio-instrumentedand more than 1,100 locations were recorded.The radio-locationsindicated that subadultmales have a home range averaging42 km2, adultmales 29 km2, adultfemales 18 km2, and subadultfemales 13 km2. There is considerableoverlap of home ranges among adult males. A lesser degree of overlap was observed for adult females. Twenty-fourdens were located. Most den sites were at elevations between 1,300 and 1,500 m. Some bears den by 1 November, the majorityby 15 November. Emergencefrom dens begins about 15 Marchand all bears, except females with cubs, leave theirdens by 15 April. Femaleswith cubs remainat den sites approximately30 days longer. Until recently, Arizona black bears were of little interest to either hunters or wildlife biologists. The majorityof bears taken in the state were shot incidental to the hunting of other big game. Few sportsmen hunted specifically for bears. Campers and picnickers also encountered bears on occasion, and livestock operators suffered varying degrees of livestock loss each year from bears. As Arizona's population has increased, campers, picnickers, and summer home residents have increas- ingly encounteredbears. Also, more huntersbegan to pursue the black bear as an interesting and unique trophy in itself, ratherthan something to be shot inci- dental to other hunting.
    [Show full text]
  • Large Graphic of Vegetation
    U.S. Department of the Interior Vegetation Mapping Project National Park Service 439400 439600 439800 440000 440200 440400 Timpanogos Cave National Monument 4477400 4477400 25 30 30 Vegetation Map Classes 101 Plot location K 101 25 K 25 K 25 25 K K H 101 101 25 25 30 30 H 1 Aspen Forest Observation location TICA.0002 K 25 K 25 K G 9 200 Coverage Density Classes 101 202 4 2 Douglas-fir - Limber Pine Woodland H 101 202 9 7 10 TICA.0204 Closed Tree Canopy (>60% coverage) 3 Douglas-fir / Mountain Maple Woodland 9 H TICA.9001 30 TICA.0003 4 TICA.9207 H 200 L 4 200 Open Tree Canopy (25-60% coverage) 25 K 200 30 TICA.9206 7 White fir - Douglas-fir / Gambel Oak - Bigtooth Maple Forest 201 4477200 202 4477200 101 TICA.0001 Sparse Tree Canopy (10-25% coverage) 22 H 8 White fir - Douglas-fir / Rocky Mountain Juniper / Gambel Oak Woodland 30 101 L H 30 101 H 22 Dense Shrub Canopy (>40% coverage) 9 White fir / Gambel Oak Woodland K 101 K 101 8 Light Shrub Canopy (<10-40% coverage) 6 White fir - Douglas-fir / Bunchgrass Forest 31 25 H N/A 200 TICA.0205 23 Box Elder-Bigtooth Maple Ravine Woodland L TICA.9208 23 Timpanogos Cave National Monument boundary 8 4 Narrowleaf Cottonwood-Conifer Riparian Woodland TICA.0103 H TICA.0203 H 4477000 4477000 Height Classes 4H 25 Gambel Oak - Bigtooth Maple Shrubland TICA.0104 H G 8 G = 15 - 30 meters 22 H 7 22 Bigtooth Maple-Chokecherry Ravine Shrubland TICA.0201 H 7 TICA.0105 100 TICA.9201 H = 5 - 15 meters 28 Gambel Oak - Snowberry Shrubland 31 I = 1 - 5 meters 22 7 H H 10 Meadow 25 6 H K = 1 - 5 meters K TICA.0202 100 TICA.9202 H 22 51 Grassy Rock Goldenrod - Bluebunch Wheatgrass H L = 0.5 - 1 meter 4476800 4476800 100 23 TICA.9205 3 30 Rock Outcrop Sparse Vegetation (Littleleaf Mtn Mahogany Phase) H 31 H TICA.9203 7 3 H 31 Rock Outcrop Sparse Vegetation (Rocky Mountain Juniper Phase) 31 8 100 100 Cliff Band 100 100 TICA.0102 31 Cooperator: U.S.
    [Show full text]