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Ericameria nauseosa / Sporobolus airoides Shrubland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Ericameria nauseosa / Sporobolus airoides Shrubland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This sandy site association is found in the Colorado Plateau and the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in south-central Colorado. Vegetation is characterized by an open to closed shrub layer dominated by <i>Ericameria nauseosa</i> that ranges in cover from 5 to 60%, with a sparse to moderately dense understory dominated by the tall bunchgrass <i>Sporobolus airoides</i> (1-10% cover). Associated shrubs contribute little in the way of cover and can include <i>Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Ephedra torreyana, Eriogonum leptocladon</i>, and <i>Gutierrezia sarothrae</i>. The herbaceous layer is diverse and provides sparse to low cover. The most common associated graminoid is <i>Achnatherum hymenoides</i>. Forbs typically provide only trace cover; those present at greater than 1% cover include <i>Astragalus moencoppensis, Dicoria canescens, Psoralidium lanceolatum</i>, and <i>Scabrethia scabra</i>. Total vegetation cover ranges from 15 to 65%. This short-shrub association occurs on stream terraces in the Colorado Plateau and sandsheets and dunes in the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Sandsheet shrubland stands cover vast areas, whereas the stream terrace stands are more patchy, occurring in isolated stands on the floodplains of small or intermittent streams and often forming a mosaic with other wash associations, such as ~<i>Atriplex canescens</i> Shrubland (CEGL001281)$$ and ~<i>Artemisia tridentata</i> Shrubland (CEGL000991)$$. Sites slope gently (1-2%) and occur between 1263 and 1829 m (4145-6000 feet) elevation. Aspect is not important in determining the distribution of stands. The unvegetated surface has high exposure of bare soil and sparse cover by litter. The soils are well-drained sandy loams derived from alluvium and eolian sand. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:31820-{A46BA3AF-A610-4D98-A9D2-FEE63B370B45}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 09-Aug-2016 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686755 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL002918
  Translated: Rubber Rabbitbrush / Alkali Sacaton Shrubland
  Scientific: Ericameria nauseosa / Sporobolus airoides Shrubland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) CEGL002918
(similar) Ericameria nauseosa / Sporobolus airoides Shrubland