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Andropogon hallii - Calamovilfa longifolia - Hesperostipa comata Sand Grassland Group | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Andropogon hallii - Calamovilfa longifolia - Hesperostipa comata Sand Grassland Group Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019 Description: The sand prairies constitute a very unique group within the Western Great Plains. These sand prairies are often considered part of the tallgrass or mixedgrass regions in the Western Great Plains but can contain elements from ~Great Plains Shortgrass Prairie Group (G144)$$, ~Central Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie Group (G133)$$, and ~Northern Great Plains Mesic Mixedgrass Prairie Group (G141)$$. The largest expanse of sand prairies (approximately 5 million ha) can be found in the Sandhills of north-central Nebraska and southwestern South Dakota. These areas are relatively intact. The unifying and controlling feature for this group is that coarse-textured soils predominate and the dominant grasses are well-adapted to this condition. Graminoid species dominate the sand prairies, although relative dominance can change due to impacts of wind disturbance. <i>Andropogon hallii</i> and <i>Calamovilfa longifolia</i> are the most common species, but other grass and forb species such as <i>Hesperostipa comata, Carex inops ssp. heliophila</i>, and <i>Panicum virgatum</i> may be present. Apparently only <i>Calamovilfa longifolia</i> functions as a dominant throughout the range of the group. In the western extent, <i>Hesperostipa comata</i> becomes more dominant, and <i>Andropogon hallii</i> is less abundant but still present. Communities of <i>Artemisia cana ssp. cana</i> are included here in central and eastern Montana. Patches of <i>Quercus havardii</i> can also occur within this group in the southern Great Plains. Soils in the sand prairies can be relatively undeveloped and are highly permeable. Soil texture and drainage along with a species' rooting morphology, photosynthetic physiology, and mechanisms to avoid transpiration loss are highly important in determining the composition of the sand prairies. In the northwestern portion of its range, stand size corresponds to the area of exposed caprock sandstone; small patches predominate, but large patches are also found embedded in the encompassing ~Northern Great Plains Mesic Mixedgrass Prairie Group (G141)$$. Another important feature is their susceptibility to wind erosion. Blowouts and sand draws are some of the unique wind-driven disturbances in the sand prairies. In most of eastern Montana, substrates supporting this group have weathered in place from sandstone caprock; thus, the solum is relatively thin, and the wind-sculpted features present further east do not develop. In Colorado, examples of this group include active sand dunes in the shortgrass prairie and San Luis Valley with the largest occurrence occurring in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve and surrounding dune field. Fire and grazing constitute the other major dynamic processes that can influence this group.  Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:39775-{2A710E40-AD74-451B-97FB-2F5FC940CAC0} Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 17-Dec-2010 to: ongoing
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Andropogon hallii - Calamovilfa longifolia - Artemisia filifolia Great Plains Sand Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup This Community's Level: Group This Community's Children: Show/Hide   Andropogon hallii Sand Prairie Alliance   Calamovilfa longifolia Sand Prairie Alliance		Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.857005 NatureServe Explorer   Code: G068   Scientific: Andropogon hallii - Calamovilfa longifolia - Hesperostipa comata Sand Grassland Group