Associations of Grasslands

Ron Craig Xavier Driver

Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Loess Mixedgrass Herbaceous Vegetation

Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Loess Mixedgrass Herbaceous Vegetation

Associations An association usually has four central

ideas: uniform physiognomy and structure, uniform habitat, definite floristic composition, and recurring distribution across a landscape or region.

Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Loess Mixedgrass Herbaceous Vegetation

Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Loess Mixedgrass Herbaceous Vegetation

The conservation status of this particular association has been listed as G3 which means it is at a moderate risk of extinction due to a restricted range, relatively few populations (often 80 or fewer), recent and widespread declines, or other factors. The reason for the G3 status is because most sites have been converted to cropland. Many remaining sites are overgrazed and extensively invaded by exotic species.

GX-GH-G1-5

Distribution of Association

Vegetation documentation and classification are central to biological conservation, from planning and inventory to direct resource management.

Kingdom,Phylum, Class etc.

Class- Shrubland and Grassland Subclass- Temperate and Boreal Grassland, Savanna and

Shrubland Formation- Temperate Grassland, Meadow, Shrubland and

savanna Division- Great Plains Grassland and Shrubland Macrogroup-Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie and Shrubland Group- Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula

- Pascopyrum smithii Mixedgrass Prairie Group Alliance- Under Review Association- Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua

curtipendula Loess Mixedgrass Herbaceous Vegetation

First three levels of The International Vegetation Classification (IVC)

Physiognomy plays a predominant role Class-Broad combinations of general dominant

growth forms that are adapted to basic temperature, moisture, and substrate/aquatic conditions.

Subclass-Combinations of general dominant and diagnostic growth forms that reflect global macroclimatic factors driven primarily by latitude and continental position, or that reflect overriding substrate/aquatic conditions.

Formation-Combinations of dominant and diagnostic growth forms that reflect global macroclimatic factors as modified by altitude, seasonality of precipitation, substrates, and hydrologic conditions

Middle Levels Floristics and physiognomy play predominant roles Division- Combinations of dominant and diagnostic growth forms and a

broad set of diagnostic plant species that reflect biogeographic differences in composition and continental differences in mesoclimate, geology, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance regimes.

Macrogroup- Combinations of moderate sets of diagnostic plant species and diagnostic growth forms, that reflect biogeographic differences in composition and sub-continental to regional differences in mesoclimate, geology, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance regimes.

Group- Combinations of relatively narrow sets of diagnostic plant species (including dominants and co-dominants), broadly similar composition, and diagnostic growth forms that reflect regional mesoclimate, geology, substrates, hydrology and disturbance regimes.

Bottom levels Floristics plays a predominant role Alliance- Diagnostic species, including some from

the dominant growth form or layer, and moderately similar composition that reflect regional to subregional climate, substrates, hydrology, moisture/nutrient factors, and disturbance regimes.

Association- Diagnostic species, usually from multiple growth forms or layers, and more narrowly similar composition that reflect topo-edaphic climate, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance regimes

Required Topical Sections for Monographic Description of Alliances and Associations.Overview1) Proposed names of the type (Latin, translated, common).2) Floristic unit (alliance or association).3) Placement in hierarchy.3) Brief description of the overall type concept.5) Classification comments.6) Rationale for nominal species.Vegetation7) Physiognomy and structure.8) Floristics.9) Dynamics.Environment10) Environment description.Distribution11) Description of the geographic distribution.12) List of U.S. and Mexican states and Canadian provinces where the type occurs or may occur.13) List of nations outside the U.S., Mexico, and Canada where the type occurs or may occur.Plot sampling and analysis13) Plots used to define the type.15) Location of archived plot data.16) Factors affecting data consistency.17) The number and size of plots.18) Methods used to analyze field data and identify the type.a) Details of the methods used to analyze field data.b) Criteria for defining the type.Confidence level19) Overall confidence level for the type (see section on classification confidence).Citations20) Synonymy.21) Full citations for any sources.22) Author of description.Discussion23) Possible sub-association or sub-alliance types or variants, if appropriate, should be discussed herealong with other narrative information.

Vegetation documentation and classification are central to biological conservation, from planning and inventory to direct resource management.

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=yuglhttp://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/ http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?init=Ecol

References

MICHAEL D. JENNINGS et al. Standards for associations and alliances of the U.S. NationalVegetation Classification Ecological Monographs, 79(2), 2009, pp. 173