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Populus deltoides (ssp. wislizeni, ssp. monilifera) / Artemisia tridentata Flooded Woodland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Populus deltoides (ssp. wislizeni, ssp. monilifera) / Artemisia tridentata Flooded Woodland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This mature riparian forest association is found in the San Juan River drainage in northwestern New Mexico and adjacent southeastern Utah. It is probably present in northeastern Arizona. It occurs along low-gradient rivers of wide lowland valleys at elevations from 1640 to 1840 m (5375-6025 feet). Stands are located on high terraces well above the active channel (discharge ratio &gt;5), and flooding is infrequent (50- to 100-year recurrence intervals). Soils have coarse loamy profiles throughout and are mostly young and undeveloped Entisols, although Inceptisols can occur on higher terraces where soil development has not been disrupted by flooding. Mature <i>Populus deltoides</i> canopies are generally open, with <i>Juniperus scopulorum, Elaeagnus angustifolia</i>, and <i>Salix amygdaloides</i> in the subcanopy. The shrub layer is dominated by <i>Artemisia tridentata</i> with other upland species associates such as <i>Ericameria nauseosa</i> and <i>Rhus trilobata</i>. The presence of <i>Artemisia</i>, a common dominant from surrounding desert uplands, in these floodplain gallery forests is an indicator of infrequent flooding, perhaps because of regulated streamflows, or because the channel is actively cutting down or away from the forest. Grasses can be well-represented to abundant and are typically dominated by upland species, such as <i>Sporobolus cryptandrus</i> and <i>Achnatherum hymenoides</i>. Although a relatively dry type, some wetland indicator species still occasionally occur, such as <i>Schoenoplectus pungens, Distichlis spicata</i>, and <i>Muhlenbergia asperifolia</i>. Forbs are very scattered and low in diversity. As a keystone species, the reproduction of <i>Populus deltoides</i> after flooding (and sufficient subsequent base flows) is critical to the sustainability of this community. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34618-{2595B8F9-6983-4355-BE51-44476CD874E5}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 07-Feb-2006 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.737568 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL005966
  Translated: (Rio Grande Cottonwood, Plains Cottonwood) / Big Sagebrush Flooded Woodland
  Scientific: Populus deltoides (ssp. wislizeni, ssp. monilifera) / Artemisia tridentata Flooded Woodland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) Populus deltoides (ssp. wislizeni, ssp. monilifera) / Artemisia tridentata Woodland
(similar) Populus deltoides / Artemisia tridentata Woodland