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View repeat photography of the stations
By Robert Fulton, California State University Desert Studies Center
Latitude: 35° 01.929'N
Longitude: 115° 58.172'W
Elevation: 1158 ft (353 m)
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The results of the line-intercept transects are summarized in Table 1.
1branches of deceased specimens still anchored in soil |
As with site #5, total vegetation represents <10% of ground cover. Of that cover, about 21% are living perennials (Larrea, Chrysothamnus and Ambrosia), all of which were hyperdispersed (patchy) within the plot. The largest contribution to ground cover came from deceased creosote bush. This evergreen perennial is generally very long lived, and the presence of so many deceased individuals in the area is unique to this author's experience. Apparently some interesting ecological dynamics are at play here. It should be noted that the growth form of creosote bush (multiple long branches radiating from a relatively small basal area) probably resulted in an overestimation of its ground cover importance. Intercept values for dead creosote bush were taken across the defoliated branches of individuals at some height above the ground (tallying intercept values for each bare branch was not practical). Comparing cover of this type to equivalent values for vegetation with a lower growth form or greater canopy density should be done with caution when considering the relative effects on eolian processes.
Vegetation coverage by annuals accounted for about 36% of the plant cover, but only 2.9% of the total plot sampled. These values probably underestimate the potential annual coverage in wet years, since the species tallied had dried, defoliated, and may have suffered herbivory or become detached and blown away. In the case of dune primrose (Oenothera deltoides deltoides), the plant produces spreading branches with large leaves close to the surface. After flowering, however, the plant loses its leaves and the branches curve up and inward while drying, and it was in this latter condition that they were counted in the transects. As occurred at site #5, S. barbatus formed an understory beneath some plants, with about 38% of its cover occurring over open ground. The majority of annuals still present at the site during sampling likely germinated during the spring and summer of 1998 (personal observation).
No animal species were directly observed during the site visit. The species present, as indicated by indirect means, are given in Table 2.
1area immediately adjacent to vegetation plot |
The nature of the vegetation at this site, the lack of forage, and its distance from available water make this site poor bird habitat, and only transient species or occasional predators and scavengers might be expected to occur. Below is a list of additional vertebrates that may occur.
blacktailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus)
kit fox (Vulpes macrotis arsipus)
badger (Taxidea taxus berlandieri)1
zebra-tailed lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
side-blotched lizard (Uta stansuriana stejnegeri)
long-tailed brush lizard (Urosaurus graciosus graciosus)
desert horned lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos calidiarum)
sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes cerastes)
coachwhip snake (Uvlasticophis flagellum piceus)
gopher snake (Pituaphis melanleucus deserticola)
shovel-nosed snake (Chionactis occipitalis)
night snake (Hypsiglena torquata deserticola)
glossy snake (Arizona elegans eburnata)
western patch-nosed snake (Salvadora hexalepis mojavensis)
spotted leaf-nosed snake (Phyllorhynchus decuriatus perkinsi)
1possible along Kelso Wash
The only invertebrates noted on the site were scorpions (burrows present), but harvester ants were noted in the vicinity of the site as well as in Kelso Wash. Other widely distributed insects and spiders common to Creosote Bush Scrub may occur on the site, but the depauperate vegetation may limit their presence or numbers.
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/info/sw/clim-met/balch.html
Page Contact Information: ESP Web Team
Page Last Modified: Thu 11-May-2006 14:13:15 MDT
