Compiled by Roger Steeb, New Mexico State University Library
Revised June 30, 2000
Subject Headings used:
ACACIA
AGAVES
ALGAE
APACHE PLUME
BUCKWHEATS
CACTUS
CEVALLIA
COLUMBINES
COTTONWOODS
CREOSOTEBUSH
CRUCIFIXION THORN
DALEA
DESERT HOLLY
DESERT WILLOW
EPHEDRA
EVENING PRIMROSE
FERNS
FIRS
FOUR O’CLOCKS
GLOBEMALLOWS
GOOSEBERRIES
GRASSES
GUMWEED
JUNIPERS
PINES
LOCOWEEDS
MESQUITE
MISTLETOE
MOSSES
MOUNTAIN MAHOGANY
MUSTARDS
OAKS
OCOTILLO
ORCHIDS
SALTBUSH
SALTCEDAR
SNAKEWEED
SPRUCE
TARBUSH
THISTLES
VERBENA
YUCCA
Ishaque, M., R. F. Beck, R. L. Steiner. 1996. Ecology of
two Acacia species in Chihuhuan Desert Rangeland. Pages 114-118 in
Shrubland ecosystem dynamics in a changing environment. Forest Service
Intermountain Research Station, General Technical Report INT-GTR-338.
Gov Doc A13.88-INT-GTR-338
Freeman, C. E. 1975. Germination responses of a New Mexico population of Parry agave (Agave parryi Engelm. var Parryi) to constant temperature, water stress, and pH. Southwestern Naturalist 20(1): 69-74. Branson QH1 So89n
Freeman, C. E., R. S. Tiffany, and W. H. Reid. 1977. Germination responses of Agave lecheguilla, A. parryi, and Fouquieria splendens. Southwestern Naturalist 22(2): 195-204. [Ocotillo, lecheguilla and Parry agave] Branson QH1 So89n
Freeman, C. E., and W. H. Reid. 1983. Nectar amino acids
in four species of Agave (Agavaceae). Southwestern Naturalist 28(1):
113-115. [Peloncillo Mountains; Florida Mountains; Sacramento Mountains]
Branson QH1 So89n
Proctor, V. W. 1990. Characeae of Llano-Estacado (Texas
and adjacent New Mexico) Playas. Journal of Biogeography 17(1): 75-84.
[Algae] Branson QH84 J68
Atchley M. C., A.G. deSoyza, and W. G. Whitford. 1999. Arroyo water
storage and soil nutrients and their effects on gas-exchange of shrub species
in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Journal of Arid Environments 43(1) pp.
21-33. Zuhl Library GB611 J68
“The obligate riparian shrub, Chilopsis linearis
(desert willow), had intermediate gas-exchange rates when compared with
Apache plume and mesquite, and neither soil water nor nutrient concentrations
appeared to affect photosynthesis during the growing season. Variation
between and within arroyos was high; however, our data suggest that stored
water enabled mesquite of arroyo margins to maintain relatively high rates
of gas-exchange. When water was relatively abundant, nutrient availability
appeared to limit photosynthetic rates of Apache plume.
Reveal, J. L. 1976. Eriogium (Polygonaceae) of Arizona and New Mexico. Phytologia 34(4): 409-484. Branson QK1 P569
Spellenberg, R., C. Leiva, and E. P. Lessa. 1988. An evaluation
of Eriogonium densum (Polygonaceae). Southwestern Naturalist 33(1):
71-80. Branson QH1 So89n
Champie, C. 1974. Cacti & succulents of El Paso. Santa Barbara: Abbey Garden. Branson Ok495 C115 C53
Fraser, J. G., and R. D. Pieper. 1972. Growth characteristics of Opuntia imbricata [Hw.] DC. in New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 17(3): 229-237. [Walking-Stick Cholla] Branson QH1 So89n
Heil, K.D., and S. Brack. 1985. Cacti of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Cactus and Succulent Journal 57(3): 127-134. Branson QK495 C11 C113
Pieper, R. D., K. H. Rea, and J. G. Fraser. 1974. Ecological characteristics of walkingstick cholla. Bulletin, (New Mexico State University) Agricultural Experiment Station (623). New Library J87 N6 X309.45 no. 623
Rea, K. H., and R. D. Pieper. 1973. Interference between cholla cactus (Optuntia imbricata (Haw) DC.) and herbaceous range vegetation. Research Report (New Mexico State University) Agricultural Experiment Station (244). Zuhl Library J87 N6 X309.57 no. 244
Reid, W. H., G.R. Patrick, and R. Lozano. 1981. Additions
to the cactus flora of White Sands National Monument. Southwestern
Naturalist 26(2): 206-207. Branson QH1 So89n
The plains and stabilized dunes areas were the most
productive. The interior of the moving dune area has no cactus.
Reid, W., R. Lozano, and R. Odom. 1983. Non-equilibrium
population structure in three Chihuahuan Desert cacti. Southwestern
Naturalist 28(1): 115-117. [Barrel cactus; Turk's head cactus; claret
cup cactus] Branson QH1 So89n
Powell, A. M., S. A. Powell, and A. S. Tomb. 1977. Cytotypes
in Cevallia sinuata (Loasaceae). Southwestern Naturalist 21(4): 433-441.
Branson QH1 So89n
Strand, A. E. and B. G. Milligan. 1996. Genetics and conservation
biology: assessing historical gene flow in Aquilegia populations in the
Southwest. Pages 138-145 in Southwestern rare and endangered plants:
proceedings of the second conference, Flagstaff AZ. Ft. Collins: Rocky
Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station General Technical Report 283.
Gov Doc A13.88: RM-GTR-283
The lack of connection between yellow columbine
populations of Aquilegia longissima, A. chrysantha var. chaplinei, A. chrysantha
var. hinckleyana, and A. chrysantha var. rydbergii resulted in a high degree
of localized differentiation. The columbines are found in mesic,
high altitude canyons separated by intervening desert in New Mexico, West
Texas, and Northern Mexico.
Strand, A. E., B. G. Milligan, and C. M Pruitt. 1996.
Are populations islands? Analysis of chloroplast DNA variation in Aquilegia.
Evolution 50(5): 1822-1829. QH301 Ev64
“No significant relationship between geographic
distance and apparent gene flow between population pairs existed. Further,
the estimated level of gene flow was entirely compatible with a historical
subdivision of Aquilegia populations during the late Pleistocene or early
Holocene.”
Strand, A. E. 1997. Integrating population genetics and
demography in Aquilegia. Thesis (Ph.D) NMSU. QH998 S77 1997
The Fillmore Canyon study showed that since the
end of the Pleistocene, populations of columbines in the Southwest have
been going extinct, and are not being recolonized.
Boles, P. H., and W. A. Dick-Peddie. 1983. Woody riparian
vegetation patterns on a segment of the Mimbres River in south-western
New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 28(1): 81-87. Branson QH1
So89n
“Five general wooodland types were recognized along
the Mimbres River on the basis of characteristic species: Broadleaf Cottonwood/Ash
Woodland, Broadleaf Cottonwood/Willow Woodland, Narrowleaf Cottonwood/Alder
Woodland, Open Narrowleaf Woodland, and Narrowleaf Cottonwood/Aspen Woodland.”
“If cottonwoods are to continue in existence on the Mimbres River past
the life spans of the present mature trees, some type of control over cattle
grazing on the river must be exercised.”
Molles, M.C., C. S. Crawford, L. M. Ellis, H. M. Valett, and C. N. Dahm.
1998. Managed flooding for riparian ecosystem restoration.
Bioscience 48(9): 749-753. QH301 A297
Artificial floods at two sites in the Bosque del
Apache were timed to coincide with the historic flood peak in early June.
Long interflood intervals served to reestablish native riparian vegetation
such as cottonwoods & willows rather than foreign saltcedar.
Beck, R. F., and D. A. Tober. 1985. Vegetational changes on creosotebush sites after removal of shrubs, cattle and rabbits. Bulletin, (New Mexico State University) Agricultural Experiment Station (717). Zuhl Library J87 N6 X309.45 no. 717
Brisson, J. and J. F Reynolds. 1994. The effect of neighbors on
root distribution in a
creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) population. Ecology 75(6) 1693-1702.
Branson QH540 Ec7311
“Root systems were more developed away from the
maximum competitive pressure of neighbors. Size of neighbors did not appear
to contribute significantly to the relationship.” It is likely that when
the root systems of neighbors meet, root growth is impaired or ceases at
the zone of contact.
Burk, J. H. 1970. Comparative production of Larrea divaricata Cav. on three geomorphic surfaces in southern New Mexico. Thesis (Ph.D.) NMSU. Branson QH988 B87
Cunningham, G. L. and J. H. Burk. 1973. Effect of carbonate deposition layers (“caliche”) on the water status of Larrea divaricata. American Midland Naturalist 90(2): 474-480. Branson QH1 Am35mn
Cunningham, G. L., J. P. Syvertsen, J. F. Reynolds, and J. M. Wilson. 1979. Some effects of soil-moisture availability on above-ground production and reproductive allocation in Larrea tridentata (DC) Cov. Oecologia 40(2): 113-123. Branson QH540 O34
De Soyza, A. G., W. G. Whitford, R. A. Virginia, and J F. Reynolds.
1996. Effects of summer drought on the water relations, physiology, and
growth of large and small plants of Prosopis glandulosa and Larrea tridentata.
Pages 220-223 in Shrubland ecosystem dynamics in a changing environment.
Forest Service Intermountain Research Station, General Technical Report
INT-GTR-338. Gov Doc A13.88-INT-GTR-338
Under drought conditions, mesquite and creosotebush,
both large and small, obtain some moisture from deep soil reserves and
lowered xylem water potential and lowered photosynthetic gas exchange.
“It is suggested that large, established plants are better able to withstand
drought than are small, establishing shrubs.”
De Soyza, A. G., W. G. Whitford, E. Martinez-Meza, and J. W. van See.
1997. Variation in creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) canopy morphology
in relation to habitat, soil fertility and associated annual plant communities.
American Midland Naturalist 137(1): Branson QH1 Am35mn
“Cresosotebushes with inverted cone-shaped
crowns were more abundant in water-limited environments whereas hemispherical
shaped cresosotebushes were more abundant in less water limited environments.
The cone shape enhances stemflow, but the hemispherical shape retains more
plant litter under the plant in the Jornada’s high winds.
Ernest, K. A. 1994. Resistance of creosotebush to mammalian
herbivory: temporal
consistency and browsing-induced changes. Ecology. 1994. 75: 6, 1684-1692.
Branson QH540 Ec7
Some creosotebushes are heavily browsed by black-tailed
jackrabbits. In field studies on the Sevilleta National Wildlife
Refuge, 40% of the vegetation of creosotebush in a study site was cut to
see if resistance could be induced by artificial herbivory. Jackrabbits
continued to avoid bushes that had been rated as having high constitutive
resistance, but now also tended to feed less on cut shrubs than controls.
“The enhanced resistance of cut shrubs was interpreted as an induced response
by individuals to herbivory.”
Fisher, D. A. 1988. Water and nitrogen effects on growth
and allocation patterns of creosotebush in the northern Chihuahuan
Desert. Journal of Range Management 41(5): 387-391. SF85 J6
Stem mortality and root growth were not significantly
affected by irrigation or nitrogen fertilizer. “Creosotebush appears
to be well adjusted to the relative availability of water and N in the
environment since both resources appear to limit growth. Secondly,
cresotebush, despite being a deep-rooted perennial plant, is able to respond
to the small precipitation events which often occur in the region.
Finally, creosotebush is most responsive to increased moisture availability
during the seasons of the most reliable precipitation in the northern Chihuahuan
Desert, the late summer and fall.
Fisher, F. M., J. C. Zak, G. L. Cunningham, and W. G. Whitford.
1988. Water and nitrogen effects on growth and allocation patterns
of creosotebush in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Journal of Range
Management 41(5): 387-391. Branson SF85 J67
Franco, A.C, A.G. de Soyza, , R.A. Virginia, J.F Reynolds, and W.G.
Whitford. 1994. Effects of plant size and water relations on
gas exchange and growth of the desert shrub Larrea tridentata. Oecologia
97(2): 171-178. QH540 .O34
Creosote is capable of tight stomatal control in
response to changes in environmental factors, allowing it to effectively
utilize the summer rains. “Although creosote bush appears to be mainly
responding to changes in water availability in the first 0.5 m of the soil
profile, long-term survival may be more closely related to deep soil reserves.”
However, small shrubs were able to recover faster from short-term drought.
Gibbens, R. P., K. M. Havstad, D. D Billheimer, and C. H. Herbel.
1993. Creosotebush vegetation after 50 years of lagomorph exclusion.
Oecologia 94(2): 210-217. QH540 .O34
“Seeding and furrowing treatments were ineffective,
but lagomorph exclusion and shrub clearing treatments resulted in significant
treatment differences for several species.” Increases in the basal area
of spike dropseed (Sporobolus contactus) was the greatest effect, but also
honey mesquite, tarbush, and mariola were affected by individual species
sensitivities to either the absence of a primary herbivore or the removal
of above-ground shrub biomass. None of the responses were viewed as successional
in nature.
Gile, L. H., R. P. Gibbens, and J. M. Lenz. 1998. Soil-induced
variability in root systems of creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) and tarbush
(Flourensia cernua). Journal of Arid Environments 39(1): 57-78. Zuhl
Library GB611 J68
“Not only do individual nodules and cemented
pebbly zones grow and eventually merge, they also represent zones of restricted
hydraulic conductivity, funneling soil water and roots to as yet uncemented
parts of the horizon. At the 2% slope, roots did not extend below
2 m depth, whereas at the 1% slope roots extended to as much as 5 m depth.”
Ho, M., R. E. Roisman, and R. A. Virginia. 1996. Using
strontium and rubidium tracers to characterize nutrient uptake patterns
in creosotebush and mesquite. Southwestern Naturalist 41(3): 239-247.
Branson QH1 So89n
“Creosotebush and mesquite has distinct uptake
patterns for the two tracers indicating these species differ in surface
root distribution and activity. Creosote bush appears to respond
more rapidly to short-term increases in the availability of soil moisture
and nutrients.”
Lajtha, K., and M. Klein. 1988. The effect of varying nitrogen and phosphorus availability on nutrient use by Larrea tridentata, a desert evergreen shrub. Oecologia 75: 348-353. Branson QH540 O34
Lajtha, K., and W. G. Whitford. 1989. Effect of water and nitrogen amendments on photosynthesis, leaf demography, and resource-use efficiency in Larrea tridentata, a desert evergreen shrub. Oecologia 80(3): 341-348. Branson QH540 O34
Lightfoot, D. C. and W. G. Whitford. 1987. Variation in insect densities on desert crosotebush: is nitrogen a factor? Ecology 68(3): 547-557. Branson QH540 Ec731
________. 1989. Interplant variation in creosotebush foliage
characteristics and canopy arthropods. Oecologia 81(2): 166-175.
Branson QH540 O34
”High nutrient shrubs were larger, had denser foliage,
greater foliage production, higher concentrations of foliar nitrogen and
water, and lower concentrations of foliar resin than low nutrient shrubs.”
“The positive relationship between creosotebush productivity and foliage
arthropods is contradictory to the tenet that physiologically stressed
plants provide better foliage quality foliage to insect herbivores.”
Lightfoot, K. S. 1991. Associations of annual plants and
shrubs in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Thesis (M.S.) NMSU. QH999
L545 1991
There were no significant differences in annual plant species composition
among mesquite, creosotebush, or tarbush. “Soil or other micro-environmental
site differences, other than the species of shrub, must be responsible
for differences in annual plant communities.”
_______. 1991. Productivity of creosotebush foliage and associated canopy arthropods along a desert roadside. American Midland Naturalist 125(2): 310-322. Branson QH1 Am35mn
Martinez-Meza, E. 1994. Stemflow, throughfall, and root water
channelization by three arid land shrubs in southern New Mexico.
Thesis (Ph.D). NMSU. QH998 M29
The best single variable model for creosote bush
was canopy volume. The best single variable model for mesquite and
tarbush was canopy area. In all three, stem-angle and stem-length
had significant effects on stemflow.
Miller, R. E. and L. F. Huenneke. 1996. Size decline in
Larrea tridentata (creosotebush). Southwestern Naturalist 41(3):
248-250. Branson QH1 So89n
We suggest that the decline in size observed our
study area may be the initial stages of a more widespread phenomenon, driven
by the desertification process that accompanies the conversion of grasslands
into shrublands.” Sites with shallow soil underlain by a well-developed
caliche layer may be the most sensitive to desertification.
Neufeld, H. S., F. C. Meinzer, C. S. Wisdom, M. R. Sharifi, P. W. Rundel, M. S. Neufeld, Y. Goldring, and G. L. Cunningham. 1988. Canopy architecture of Larrea tridentata (D.C.) Cov., a desert shrub: foliage orientation and direct beam radiation interception. Oecologia 75(1): 54-60. Branson QH540 O34
Reynolds, J. F., and G. L. Cunningham. 1981. Validation of a primary production model of the desert shrub Larrea tridentata using soil-moisture augmentation experiments. Oecologia 51(3): 3: 57-363. Branson QH540 O34
Reynolds J. F., R. A. Virginia, P. R. Kemp, A.G. deSoyza, and D. C.
Tremmel. 1999. Impact of drought on desert shrubs: effects of seasonality
and degree of resource island development. Ecological Monographs
69(1): 69-106. QH540 Ec73m
“Shrubs of both species appeared well adapted
to withstand season-long droughts. Mechanisms for survival include the
following capacities: (1) to shift growth and physiological activity to
utilize different temporal moisture (Larrea); (2) to utilize different
levels of soil water (both species); (3) to carry out limited physiological
activity and growth during drought (especially Larrea); and (4) to compensate
for some negative impacts of drought through enhanced physiology (especially
Prosopis) and growth (especially Larrea) in the season following drought.”
“The stage of maturity of a resource island complex did not seem to be
a significant factor to the growth and physiological activity of the shrub.”
Steinberger, Y. and W.G. Whitford. 1983. Contribution
of shrub pruning by jackrabbits to litter input in a Chihuahuan Desert
ecosystem. Journal of Arid Environments 6:183-187. New Library
GB611 J68
Jackrabbits utilize creosotebush twigs with high
moisture content during winter and early spring.
Tromble, J. M. 1983. Interception of rainfall by creosotebush
(Larria tridentata). Pages 373-375 in Proceedings of the XIV International
Grassland Congress (J.A.Smith and V. W. Hays, editors). Boulder:
Westview. Branson S401 In85p 14th 1981
“Twenty percent of the artificially applied rainfall
was intercepted by creosotebush. For the native stands of creosotebush
that had 30% crown cover, the loss of rainfall by interception would equal
22%.” Therefore, light showers do little to replenish soil water.
________. 1988. Water interception by two arid land shrubs.
Journal of Arid Environments 15(1): 65-70. Zuhl Library GB611 J68
Tarbush shrub green weight accounted for 75% of
the variability of the intercepted rainfall. Creosotebush leaf area was
highly correlated (R = 0.52) with intercepted rainfall. Native stands of
creosotebush had 30% crown cover and rainfall loss by interception would
equal approximately 12%. Tarbush, with 15% crown cover, intercepted 6%
of the average rainfall from May through October. Because a high percentage
of precipitation from small storms is intercepted by the shrub canopy and
subsequently evaporated back into the atmosphere, interception by desert
shrubs is of significant importance.”
________. 1988. Water budget for creosotebush-infested rangeland.
Journal of Arid Environments 15(1): 71-74. Zuhl Library GB611 J68
“Combining data generated from precipitation events
received for the study period showed that 20% and 9% of the rainfall contributed
to runoff and interception, respectively.” “These data indicate that conservation
practices designed to convert arid and semiarid rangelands from brush species
to grass species may not be practical under these conditions and for this
site, unless water loses by runoff and interception are reduced.”
Wainwright, J., A. J. Parsons, and A. D. Abrahams. 1999.
Rainfall energy under creosotebush. Journal of Arid Environments
43(2): 111-120. Zuhl Library GB611 J68
Reduction of the kinetic energy of rain-drops contributes
to the build-up of mounds beneath desert shrubs, and aids the development
of islands of fertility.
Welsh, R. G., and R. F. Beck. 1976. Some ecological relationships between creosotebush and bush muhly. Journal of Range Management 29(6): 472-475. Branson SF85 J67
Whitford, W. G., S. Dick-Peddie, D. Walters, and J. A Ludwig. 1978.
Effects of shrub defoliation on grass cover and rodent species in a Chihuhuan
desert ecosystem. Journal of Arid Environments 1(3): 237-242.
Treatment by the herbicide dicamba resulted in reduction
of the live canopy of creosotebush and an increase in coverage of bush
muhly. After treatment, Dipodomys merriami was replaced by Dipodomys ordii
as the dominant species.
Whitford. W. G., E. Martinez-Meza, and A. de Soyza. 1996. Effects
of summer drought on the water relations, physiology, and growth of large
and small plants of Prosopis glandulosa and Larrea tridentata. General
Technical Report - Intermountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service
(338) Gov Doc INT-GTR-338, 220-223.
“Large plants appeared to maintain a reduced but
constant photosynthetic rate during drought, and responded to precipitation
with increased photosynthesis. However, small plants attempted to maintain
a high photosynthetic rate throughout the season, responding less strongly
to precipitation events, but probably depleting reserves more and causing
photosynthesis to decline more when droughted. It is suggested that large,
established plants are better able to withstand drought than are small,
establishing shrubs.
________. 1996. Morphological variation in creosotebush,
Larrea tridentata: effects on ecosystem properties. Pages 195-198 in Shrubland
Ecosystem Dynamics in a Changing environment. Forest Service Intermountain
Research Station, General Technical Report INT-GTR-338. Gov Doc A13.88-INT-GTR-338
“Creosotebushes growing in microsites with enhanced
water (run-on sites and edges of arroyos) tend to be more hemispherical
in shape. This facilitates retention and accumulation of litter and
nutrient enrichment of soils under the canopy.” On a dry bajada a
conical shape enhances stemflow which is channelized to the deep roots.
Whitford, W. G., J. Anderson, and P. M. Rice. 1997. Stemflow contribution
to the fertile island effect in creosotebush, Larrea-tridentata.
Journal of Arid Environments 35(3): 451-457. New Library GB611 J68
“Total nitrogen, sulfate, and calcium concentrations
were more than an order of magnitude higher in the stemflow than in the
bulk precipitation. Concentration of ions in the upper 10 cm of soil were
generally higher in soils under shrubs than in soils between shrubs. Measured
quantities of ions in dry-fall were of sufficient magnitude to account
for the increased concentration in stemflow water of most ions. Dry-fall
that collects on the leaves and stems of this desert shrub may contribute
to the 'fertile island' effect on the soils under the canopies of creosotebushes.
“
Gile, L. H., R. P. Gibbens, and J. M. Lenz. 1995. Soils
and sediments associated with remarkable, deeply penetrating roots of crucifixion
thorn (Koeberlinia spinosa Zucc.). Journal of Arid Environments 31(2):
137-151. Zuhl Library GB611 J68
Spellenberg, R. 1981. Polyploidy in Dalea formosa (Fabaceae)
on the Chihuahuan Desert. Brittonia 33(3): 309-324. Branson
QK1 B778
D. formosa consists of diploids (n = 7), tetraploids (n = 14) and hexaploids
(n = 21). The polypoids are restricted to the Chihuahuan Desert region
or its immediate borders. There is little morphological differentiation
between the 3 chromosome races.
Syvertsen, J. P. 1977. Development and use of a mathematical
model to describe the effects of leaf angle and shading on the net CO2
exchange of Perezia nana. Thesis (Ph.D.) NMSU. Branson QH998
S984
Atchley M. C., A.G. deSoyza, and W. G. Whitford. 1999. Arroyo water
storage and soil nutrients and their effects on gas-exchange of shrub species
in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Journal of Arid Environments 43(1);
21-33. Zuhl Library GB611 J68
“The obligate riparian shrub, Chilopsis linearis
(desert willow), had intermediate gas-exchange rates when compared with
Apache plume and mesquite, and neither soil water nor nutrient concentrations
appeared to affect photosynthesis during the growing season. Variation
between and within arroyos was high; however, our data suggest that stored
water enabled mesquite of arroyo margins to maintain relatively high rates
of gas-exchange. When water was relatively abundant, nutrient availability
appeared to limit photosynthetic rates of Apache plume.
DePree, E., and J. A. Ludwig. 1978. Vegetative and reproductive
growth patterns in desert willow (Chilopsis linearis (Cav.) Sweet).
Southwestern Naturalist 23(2): 239-246. Branson
QH1 So89n
“In a year with a moist spring and a moist summer,
leaf and fruit production was doubled. However, in a year with a
hot, dry spring and summer Chilopsis was adversely affected.”
Brunt, J. 1988. Sex in Ephedra (Ephedraceae) with relation
to Chihuahuan Desert habitats. American Midland Naturalist 119 (1):
137-142. Branson QH1 Am35mn
Debruin, E. A. 1996. Surveys and habitat analyses of five rare
plant species in the Organ Mountains of New Mexico. Pages 307-315
in Southwestern rare and endangered plants: proceedings of the second conference,
Flagstaff. Ft. Collins: Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station
General Technical Report 283. Gov Doc A13.88: RM-GTR-283
The five species that were federal category 2 candidates
for protection and/or endemic were Organ Mountain evening primrose, nodding
cliff daisy, smooth figwort, standley’s whitlowgrass, and Organ Mountain
pincushion cactus. Fillmore Canyon contains all five. Oenothera
organensis is the most threatened because it needs surface water.
Dittmer, H. J., E. F. Castetter, and O. M. Clark. 1954.
Ferns and fern allies of New Mexico. Albuquerque: University of New
Mexico. Zuhl Library J87 N6 F101.47 B61/2 no. 6
Kaufmann, M. R., L. S. Huckaby, C. M. Regan, and J. Popp. 1998.
Forest reference conditions for ecosystem management in the Sacramento
Mountains, New Mexico. Rocky Mountian Research Station, General Technical
Report RMRS GTR-19. Gov Doc
A13.88: RMRS-GTR-19
Historic vegetation conditions and a history of
land use are evaluated. “Present forest are younger and more dense
than historic ones, and in areas that were previously dominated by ponderosa
pine, dominance has shifted to Douglas-fir and white fir in the absence
of frequent surface fire. “
Spellenberg, R., and R. K. Delson. 1974. Aspects of reproduction
in Chihuahuan Desert Nyctaginaceae. Pages 273-287 in Transactions of the
Symposium on the Biological Resources of the Chihuahuan Desert Region United
States and Mexico (R. H. Wauer and D. H. Riskind editors). National
Park Service Transactions and Proceedings Series, number 3. Gov Doc
I29.91: 3
Cleistogamic flowers were studied in Ammocodon chenopodioides,
Selinocarpus lanceolatus, and Acleisanthes longiflora, all members of Members
of the Four O'clock Family. The sites selected were near the Dona
Ana Mountains, at A-Mountain, and at White Sands.
La Duke, J. C., and D. K. Northington. 1978. Systematics of Sphaeralcea coccina (Nutt.) Ryub. (Malvaceae). Southwestern Naturalist 23(4): 651-660. Branson QH1 So89n
La Duke, J. C. 1985. A new species of Sphaeralcea (Malvaceae).
Southwestern Naturalist 30(3): 433-436. Branson QH1 So89n
Mexal, J., and W. C. Martin. 1977. Chemotaxonomy of Ribes.
Southwestern Naturalist 21(4): 523-530. Branson QH1 So89n
Allen, E. B., and G. L. Cunningham. 1983. Effects of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae on Distichlis spicata under three salinity levels. New Phytologist 93(2): 227-236. [Saltgrass] Branson QK1 N471p
Allred, K. W., S. L. Hatch, and R. Soreng. 1986. Verified checklist of the grasses of New Mexico. Research Report, (New Mexico State University) Agricultural Experiment Station (579). Zuhl Library J87 N6 X309.57 no. 579
Allred, K. W., and J. T. Columbus. 1988. New Mexico grasses: a synopsis of the classification and a key to the genera. New Mexico Journal of Science 28(1): 21-44. Branson Q11 N485
Allred, K. W. 1989. Observation on seed dispersal and implantation
in burrowgrass (Scleropogon brevifolius-Graminae) Sida 13(4): 493-496.
Branson QK1 S15
The awns orient the diaspore to facilitate implantation
of the floret into soil cracks, and the callus hairs hold the floret in
the soil.
Allred, K. W. 1990. New Mexico grass types and a selected bibliography of New Mexico grass taxonomy. Great Basin Naturalist 50(1): 73-82. Branson QH1 G7
________. 1993. A field guide to the grasses of New Mexico. Las Cruces: Agricultural Experiment Station. J87 N6 X309.81, G73
________. 1996. Vegetative changes in New Mexico rangelands. New Mexico Academy of Science 36: 168-231. Q11 N485
________. Eponymy of New Mexico Grass Names. Desert Plants
15(1): 3-10. Branson QK938 D4
“Approximately 400 species of grasses occur
in New Mexico. “More than 75 of them bear a personal name, that of
an explorer, a benefactor, a prominent scientist or naturalist, a friend
or the collector.”
Baggs, J. E. 1997. Role of Bouteloua eriopoda in the community
structure and ecosystem function of a semi-arid grassland. Thesis (M.S.)
NMSU. QH999 B23 1997
Removal of black grama affects annuals during the
summer primarily through its use of soil moisture.
Barrow, J. R. and K.M. Havstad. 1995. Natural methods of
establishing native plants on arid rangelands. Pages 44-45 in Wildland
shrub and arid land restoration symposium. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain
Research Station, General Technical Report INT-GTR-315. Gov Doc A13.88:INT-GTR-315
“The area used was an upstream site dominated by
Larrea tridentata and Flourensia cernua. Bouteloua eriopoda and B. curtipendula
were sown by water dispersal or using gully sowers installed along gently
sloping gullies or seeds of several grass and shrub species were dispersed
by animals (using encapsulated seeds inserted directly into the digestive
tracts of cattle and the seed-bearing dung patches were deliberately placed
on germination sites. “
Beres, L. A. 1993. Response potential of three perennial desert
grasses to various disturbances. Thesis (M.S.) NMSU. Branson QH999
B45 1993
“Clonal spread was significantly higher different
between sites and treatments in Bouteloua eriopoa.” “Aristida writhtii
had the highest seed production and germination rate.”
DeLisle, D. G. 1973. Chromosome numbers in the Aristida purpurea complex Gramineae). Southwestern Naturalist 18(1): 79-83. [Needlegrass] Branson QH1 So89n
Devine, D. L., M. K. Wood, and G. B. Donart. 1998. Runoff and
erosion from a mosaic tobosagrass and burrograss community in the northern
Chiuahuahuan Desert
Journal of Arid Environments 39(1): 11-19. Zuhl Library GB611
J68
“Water runoff was three times greater from the burrograss
aggregation than from the tobosagrass aggregation both before and after
the growing season. Sediment concentration and cumulative sediment loss
were also greater from the burrograss than the tobosagrass, except under
wet conditions in the early autumn. Differences are attributed to greater
cover, phytomass, and surface roughness in the tobosagrass aggregation.”
El Shahby, A. F. 1988. Associative nitrogen fixation with C4 grasses of the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Thesis (Ph.D) NMSU. Branson QH998 E47 1988 [Fluff grass; black grama; Lehman’s love grass; Boer love grass; desert marigold]
Fernandez R. J. and J. F. Reynolds. 2000. Potential growth and drought tolerance of eight desert grasses: lack of a trade-off? Oecologia 123(1): 90-98. Branson QH540 O6
Freas, K. E. 1987. Life history, evolution, and reproductive strategies in Distichlis spicata (L) Greene, Poaceae. Thesis (Ph.D) NMSU. Branson QH998 F74
Gadzia, K.L. 1979. Growth and development patterns of Bouteloua eriopoda (Torr.) in southern New Mexico. Thesis (M.S.) NMSU. Branson SF1999 G15
Gibbens, R. P. and R. F. Beck. 1988. Changes in grass basal
area and forb densities over a 64-year period on grassland types of the
Jornada Experimental Range. Journal of Range Management 41(3): 186-192.
Branson SF85 J67
“Quadrats originally dominated by black grama
had large reductions in basal area during droughts, and basal area increased
slowly following droughts. By 1979, black grama no longer occurred
on 77% of the quadrats.” Where poverty threeawn dominated,
the cover shifted to mesquite. Tobosa and burrograss showed the most
rapid recovery from drought.
Gibbens, R. P. Havstad, K. M. Billheimer, D. D. Herbel, C. H. 1993.
Creosotebush vegetation after 50 years of lagomorph exclusion. Oecologia.
1993. 94(2): 210-217. Branson QH540 O34
“Seeding and furrowing treatments were ineffective
but lagomorph exclusion and shrub clearing treatments resulted in significant
treatment differences for several species. In 1989, the basal area of spike
dropseed (Sporobolus contactus) was 30-fold greater on the lagomorph-excluded
than on the lagomorph-included treatment. The canopy cover of honey mesquite
(Prosopis glandulosa), tarbush (Flourensia cernua) and mariola (Parthenium
incanum) were affected by lagomorph exclusion. None of the responses were
viewed as successional in nature.“
Gosz, R. J. and J.R. Gosz. 1996. Species interactions on the biome transition zone in New Mexico: response of blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and black grama (Bouteloua eripoda) to fire and herbivory. Journal of Arid Environments 34(1): 101-114. Zuhl Library GB611 J6
Gross, B. D. 1984. Demographic sensitivity of two perennial desert grasses Bouteloua eriopoda Torr. and Sporobolus flexuosus Thurb.) with inferences toward natural dominance and subdominance. Thesis (Ph.D.) NMSU. [Black grama; mesa dropseed] Branson SF1998 G7 1984
Haque, Z., A. Younga, K. C. McDaniel, and R. D. Pieper. 1991.
Two-phase pattern in mesquite-herbland vegetation in southern New Mexico.
Southwestern Naturalist 36(1): 54-59. Branson QH1 So89n
Bush muhly was the main grass species occurring
under mesquite, while purslane was the only forb positively correlated
with mesquite canopy cover.
Havstad, K. and W. Schlesinger. 1996. Reflections on a century of rangeland research in the Jornada Basin of New Mexico. Pages 10-15 in Shrubland Ecosystem Dynamics in a Changing environment. Forest Service Intermountain Research Station, General Technical Report INT-GTR-338. Gov Doc A13.88-INT-GTR-338
Havstad, K. M., R. P. Gibbens, C. A. Knorr, and L. W. Murray. 1999.
Long-term influences of shrub removal and lagomorph exclusion on Chihuahuan
Desert vegetation dynamics. Journal of Arid Environments 32(3):155-166
Zuhl Library GB611 J6
“Shrub removal increased (p less than or equal to
0.05) the basal cover of two major desert grass species, black grama (Boulteloua
eriopoda Torr.) and spike dropseed (Sporobolus contractus A.S. Hitch.)
between 1939 and 1995, but differences were not evident until 50 years
after initial treatment. Temporal effects of lagomorph exclusion were less
pronounced than shrub removal. Clearly, shrub dominance has an extremely
important and lasting role in determining vegetation community structure
in this arid environment, even when above-ground shrub structures are periodically
removed.”
Herbel, C. H. and R. P. Gibbens. 1996. Post-drought vegetation
dynamics on arid rangelands of southern New Mexico. Bulletin, Agricultural
Experiment Station (776). Zuhl Library J87 N6 X309.45 no. 776
Variation in annual perennial grass yields and the
increase in mesquite was dramatic as a result of the drought of 1951-1956.
Changes were persistant on some sites
Huenneke, L. F. 1996. Shrublands and grasslands of the Jornada
Long-Term Ecological Research Site: desertification and plant communty
structure in the northern Chihuahuan desert. Pages 48-50 in Shrubland ecosystem
dynamics in a changing environment. Forest Service Intermountain
Research Station, General Technical Report INT-GTR-338. Gov Doc A13.88-INT-GTR-338
In the Jornada grasslands had the greatest species
diversity. “While there is some tendency for more species-rich systems
to have higher productivity than others, this higher species richness does
NOT seem to provide the buffering against year-to-year variability one
would expect.”
Lira-Reyes, Gerado de, G. 1992. Response of mesa dropseed
grass, Sporobolus flexuosis, to water and nitrogen in a northern Chihuahuan
Desert grassland. Thesis (M.S.) NMSU. Branson QH999 D438 1992
Nitrogen was the most important factor in increasing
aboveground biomass. Water alone was not significant.
Ludwig, J. A., and W. H. Moir. 1987. A baseline of soil erosion and vegetation monitoring in desert grasslands: Chihuahua, Texas, and New Mexico. General Technical Report 150, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experimental Station, U.S. Department of Agriculture: 214-220. [Otero Mesa] Branson (Gov Doc) A13.88: RM-150.
Minnick, T. J. and D. P. Coffin. 1999. Geographic patterns of simulated
establishment of two Bouteloua species: implications for distributions
of dominants and ecotones. Journal of Vegetation Science 10(3): 343-356.
Branson QK900 J67
Bouteloua gracilis dominates the shortgrass steppe
from northeastern Colorado to southeastern New Mexico. Bouteloua eriopoda
dominates desert grasslands in central and southern New Mexico. A daily
time step, multi-layer soil water model correctly predicted germination
and establishment for each species. “The 95% confidence interval around
the point at which simulated establishment were equal for the two species
was near the location of the shortgrass steppe-desert grassland ecotone
where both species are abundant. Recruitment by seed may be an important
process in determining, at least in part, the geographic distribution of
two species.”
Milton S. J., W. R. J. Dean, G. I. H. Kerley, M.T. Hoffman, and W. G
Whitford. 1998
Dispersal of seeds as nest material by the cactus wren. Southwestern
Naturalist 43(4): 449-452. Branson QH1 So89n
“The most common plants used as construction
material in these nests were
Muhlenbergia porteri, Boerhavia spicata, and the alien grass
Eragrostis lehmanniana. We suggest that birds are potentially important
dispersers of certain types of plants in semiarid rangelands through the
use of plants with seeds as nesting material.”
Neuenschwander, L. F., S. H. Sharrow, and H. A. Wright. 1975.
Review of tobosa grass (Hilaria mutica). Southwestern Naturalist
20(2): 255-263. Branson QH1 So89n
This description includes distribution, soils, succession, taxonomy,
growth and development, fodder value and chemical composition
Nielson, R. P. 1986. High-resolution climatic analysis and Southwest biography. Science 232(4746 April 4): 27-34. Branson Q1 Sci27
Pieper, R. D., and C. H. Herbel. 1982. Herbage dynamics and primary productivity of a desert grassland ecosystem. Bulletin, (New Mexico State University) Agricultural Experiment Station (695). [Black grama] Zuhl Library J87 N6 X309.45 no.695.
Pieper, R. D., D. D. Dwyer, and R. E. Banner. 1975. Primary shoot production of blue grama grassland in south-central New Mexico under two soil nitrogen levels. Southwestern Naturalist 20(3): 293-302. Branson QH1 So89n
Pieper, R. D. 1990. Overstory-understory relations in pinyon-juniper woodlands in New Mexico. Journal of Range Management 43(5): 413-415. [Blue grama; pinon ricegrass; muhly; Fort Stanton] Branson SF85 J67
Stephens, G. and W. G Whitford. 1993. Responses of Bouteloua eriopoda
to irrigation and nitrogen fertilization in a Chihuahuan Desert grassland.
Journal of Arid Environments 24(4): 415-421. GB611 J68
Black grama growing as a community dominant exhibits
little evidence of nitrogen limitation of its growth unlike the creosote
shrublands. Net nitrogen mineralization is sufficient. “N induced early
flowering but water had a greater effect during the various phenological
stages. Water affected flowering, mortality, insect damage and biomass
production.” Small rainfall events may be more effective for blue
grama which has shallower roots
Sundt, P. C. and K. R. Vincent. 1999. Influences of geomorphology
on vegetation in the Animas Creek Valley, New Mexico. Pages 25-43
in Toward integrated research, land management, and ecosystem protection
in the Malpai Borderlands: conference summary. U.S. Forest Service,
Rocky Mountain Research Station, Proceedings RMRS-P-10. Gov Doc A
13.151/5: RMRSP-10.
Affinity or disaffinity for particular geomorphic
surfaces or topographic positions were rated for blue grama, three-awn
grasses, black grama, hairy grama, plains lovegrass, tobosa, vine
mesquite grass, aparejo grass, sideoats grama, wolftail grass, mesa dropseed,
and shrubby buckwheat .
Trent, J. S., and K. W. Allred. 1990. Taxonomic comparison of Aristida ternipes and Aristida hamulosa (Gramineae). Sida, Contributions to Botany 14(2): 251-261. Branson QK1 S15
Vickrey, D. G. and A. J. Peters. 1996. Mapping plains-mesa grasslands of New Mexico using high temporal resolution satellite data. Pages 81-87 in Shrubland ecosystem dynamics in a changing environment. Forest Service Intermountain Research Station, General Technical Report INT-GTR-338. Gov Doc A13.88-INT-GTR-338
Welsh, R. G., and R. F. Beck. 1976. Some ecological relationships between creosotebush and bush muhly. Journal of Range Management 29(6): 472-475. SF85 J67
Wood, M. K., T. L. Jones, and M. T. Vera-Cruz. 1998. Rainfall
interception by selected plants in the Chihuahuan Desert. Journal
of Range Management 51(1): 91-96. SF85 J6
Forb, grass, and shrubs of ten species were evaluated.
“The weight of water intercepted per weight of green or dry plant weight
appears to be a function of plant growth form and surface characteristics
rather than seral position. Plants included cane bluestem, lehmann
lovegrass, mesa dropseed, red awn, bush muhly, black grama, side oats grama,
russian thistle, broom snakeweed, and fourwing saltbush.
Wright, R. G. and G. M. Van Dyne. 1976. Environmental factors
influencing semidesert grassland perennial grass demography.
Southwestern Naturalist 21(3): 259-274. Branson
QH1 So89n
“Maximum life spans varied from 28 years for Bouteloua
eripoda to only 7 years for Hilaria mutica.” “For newly established
plants with shallow root systems, the precipitation the immediate growing
season was more important than precipitation for longer antecedent intervals.
________. 1981. Population age structure and its relationship
to the maintenance of the semidesert grassland undergoing invasion by mesquite.
Southwestern Naturalist 26(1): 13-22. Branson QH1 So89n
Dunford, M. P. 1971. Chromosome characteristics of Texas species of Grindelia (Compositae) and some interspecific hybrids. Southwestern Naturalist 16(2): 131-142. Branson QH1 So89n
________. 1986. Chromosome relationships of diploid
species of Grindelia (Compositae) from Colorado, New Mexico, and adjacent
areas. American Journal of Botany 73(2): 297-303. Branson QK1
Am35jh
Adams, R. P. and T. A. Zanoni. 1979. The distribution, synonymy,
and taxonomy of three junipers of southwestern United States and northern
Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 24(2): 323-329. Branson
QH1 So89n
“Revised distribution maps, new keys, and updated
synonymy are presented for Juniperus erythrocarpa, J. monosperma, J. pinchotii.”
Armentrout, S. M., and R. D. Pieper. 1988. Plant distribution surrounding Rocky Mountain pinyon-pine and one-seed juniper in southcentral New Mexico. Journal of Range Management 41(2): 139-143. Branson SF85 J67
Earl, R. A. and D. L. Bash. 1996. Response of alligator
juniper (Juniperus deppeana Pinaceae) to historic environmental variability
in south central New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 41(3): 227-238.
Branson QH1 So89n
On the slopes of the Organ Mountains, it appears
that juniper older than about 100 years are able to survive short droughts
but mortality occurs after more than six years of drought. “The climate
data and tree ring record show that the 1943-1971 drought is notable for
its length as much as for its severity.” Furthermore, 1950-1959 was
the most severe drought in the region since 680 AD. Juniper can become
established in a wetter year during a drought. In recent decades
the climate has been wetter, but increases in grass have created less favorable
conditions for establishment of alligator juniper.
Schott, M. R., and R. D. Pieper. 1985. Influence of canopy characteristics of one-seed juniper on understory grasses. Journal of Range Management 38(4): 328-331. Branson SF85 J67
_________. 1986. Water relationships of Quercus undulata,
Pinus edulis, and Juniperus monosperma. General Technical Report,
Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Ogden, UT: The Station, (215): 429-433. Branson (Gov Doc) A13.88
INT-215
Knight, P. J., and A. C. Cully. 1991. A new species of Astragalus
(Fabaceae) from southeastern New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist
36(2): 198-200. Branson QH1 So89n
A new species of locoweed, Astragalus kerri, was found in the Capitan
Mountains.
Roalson, R. H. 1995. Atlas of Astragalus and Oxytropsis in New Mexico. Research Report, New Mexico State University, Agricultural Experiment Station (716). Zuhl Library J87 N6 X309.57 no 715
Spellenberg, R. 1974. Chromosome number as an indication
of relationships of Astagalus, section Strigulosi (Leguminosae), with descriptive
notes on A. altus. Southwestern Naturalist 18(4): 393-396. Branson
QH1 So89n
Mathiasen, R. L. 1979. Distribution and effect of dwarf
mistletoes parasitizing Pinus strobiformis in Arizona, New Mexico, and
Northern Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 24(3): 455-461. [Southwestern
White Pine] Branson QH1 So89n
Atchley M. C., A.G. deSoyza and W. G. Whitford. 1999. Arroyo water storage
and soil nutrients and their effects on gas-exchange of shrub species in
the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Journal of Arid Environments 43(1): 21-33.
Zuhl Library GB611 J68
“The obligate riparian shrub, Chilopsis linearis
(desert willow), had intermediate gas-exchange rates when compared with
Apache plume and mesquite, and neither soil water nor nutrient concentrations
appeared to affect photosynthesis during the growing season. Variation
between and within arroyos was high; however, our data suggest that stored
water enabled mesquite of arroyo margins to maintain relatively high rates
of gas-exchange. When water was relatively abundant, nutrient availability
appeared to limit photosynthetic rates of Apache plume.
De Soyza, A.G., A.C Franco, R.A. Virginia, J.F Reynolds, and W.G. Whitford.
1996. Effects of plant
size on photosynthesis and water relations in the desert shrub Prosopis
glandulosa (Fabaceae). American Journal of Botany 83(1): 99-105.
QK1 Am35jb
“The small shrubs had greater net assimilation,
stomatal conductance, transpiration, and xylem water potential than large
shrubs following high summer rainfall in July, and highest seasonal soil
moisture at 0.3 m. High rates of carbon assimilation and water use would
be an advantage for small shrubs competing with grasses when shallow soil
moisture was plentiful. Large shrubs had greater net assimilation and water-use
efficiency, and lower xylem water potential than small shrubs following
a dry period in September, when soil moisture at 0.3 m was lowest. Low
xylem water potentials and high water-use efficiency would allow large
shrubs to continue acquiring and conserving water as soil moisture is depleted.”
De Soyza, A. G., W. G. Whitford, R. A. Virginia, and J F. Reynolds.
1996. Effects of summer drought on the water relations, physiology, and
growth of large and small plants of Prosopis glandulosa and Larrea tridentata.
Pages 220-223 in Shrubland ecosystem dynamics in a changing environment.
Forest Service Intermountain Research Station, General Technical Report
INT-GTR-338. Gov Doc A13.88-INT-GTR-338
Under drought conditions, mesquite and creosotebush,
both large and small, obtain some moisture from deep soil reserves and
lowered xylem water potential and lowered photosynthetic gas exchange.
“It is suggested that large, established plants are better able to withstand
drought than are small, establishing shrubs.”
Gibbens, R.P., J.M. Tromble, J.T. Hennessy, and M. Cardenas. 1983. Soil movement in mesquite dunelands and former grasslands of southern New Mexico. Journal of Range Management 36(2): 145-148. Branson SF85 J67
Gibbens, R.P., R.F. Beck, R.P McNeely, and C.H. Herbel. 1992.
Recent rates of mesquite establishment in the northern Chihuahuan Desert.
Journal of Range Management 45(6): 585-588. Branson SF85 J67
Honey mesquite continues to expand
and become denser, even on areas once "successfully" treated either with
herbicides or by bulldozing in southern New Mexico. “On the College Ranch,
mesquite densities increased 11%, from 130 (1982) to 147 (1988) plants/ha.
Only 19% of a cohort of mesquite seedlings which germinated in 1989 were
still alive in May 1990. Even though only a small percentage of the mesquite
that germinated survived into the second year, this is enough to change
former grasslands into mesquite-dominated rangelands.”
Gile, L. H., R. P. Gibbens, and J. M. Lenz. 1997. Near-ubiquitous
pedogenic world of mesquite roots in an arid basin floor. Journal
of Arid Environments 35(1): 39-58. Zuhl Library GB611 J68
“Although the spread of mesquite seed by cattle
was a major factor in the spread of mesquite, its successful establishment
over large areas is apparently due to the ability of mesquite roots to
adapt to a wide variety of soils and soil conditions to take advantage
of the sparse precipitation; to their ability to greatly proliferate while
spreading laterally over long distances; to grow upwards and take advantage
of small precipitation events that only wet the soil to depths of a few
centimeters; and to decend to great depths.”
Grahman-Gadzia, J. S., and J. A. Ludwig. 1983. Mesquite
age and size in relation to dunes and artifacts. Southwestern
Naturalist 28(1): 89-94. Branson QH1 So89n
“The fact that that the majority of the plants became
established within a relatively short period of time, supports earlier
observations that there was a recent and rapid increase of mesquite on
the Jornada Plains.” “Mesquite may be responsible for the building
of dunes by causing the continual worsening of soils in adjacent areas,
and by providing a catch for the eroding soils.”
Hennessy, J. T. 1982. Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) dunes and interdunes in southern New Mexico: a study of water relations and plant production. Thesis (Ph.D.) NMSU. Branson SF1998 H458
Hennessy, J. T., R. P. Gibbens, J. M. Tromle, and M. Cardenas. 1983. Vegetation changes from 1935 to 1980 in mesquite dunelands and former grasslands of southern New Mexico. Journal of Range Management 36(3): 370-373. Branson SF85 J67
________. 1985. Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) dunes and interdunes
in southern New Mexico: a study of soil properties and soil water
relations. Journal of Arid Environments 9(1): 27-38. Zuhl Library
GB611 J68
“Infiltration and runoff, hydraulic conductivity,
and water retention measurements indicated that dune soils had greater
infiltration and more rapid hydraulic conductivity.” Even after mesquite
control, soils in the dunes will be less favorable for water retention
and plant growth due to high surface temperatures, evaporation rates and
blowing sand.
Reynolds J. F., R. A. Virginia, P. R. Kemp, A.G. deSoyza, and D. C.
Tremmel. 1999. Impact of drought on desert shrubs: effects of seasonality
and degree of resource island development. Ecological Monographs
69(1): 69-106. Branson QH540 Ec73m
“Shrubs of both species appeared well adapted
to withstand season-long droughts. Mechanisms for survival include the
following capacities: (1) to shift growth and physiological activity to
utilize different temporal moisture (Larrea); (2) to utilize different
levels of soil water (both species); (3) to carry out limited physiological
activity and growth during drought (especially Larrea); and (4) to compensate
for some negative impacts of drought through enhanced physiology (especially
Prosopis) and growth (especially Larrea) in the season following drought.”
“The stage of maturity of a resource island complex did not seem to be
a significant factor to the growth and physiological activity of the shrub.”
Whitford. W. G., E. Martinez-Meza, and A. de Soyza. 1996. Effects
of summer drought on the water relations, physiology, and growth of large
and small plants of Prosopis glandulosa and Larrea tridentata. General
Technical Report - Intermountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service
(338) Gov Doc INT-GTR-338, 220-223.
“Large plants appeared to maintain a reduced but
constant photosynthetic rate during drought, and responded to precipitation
with increased photosynthesis. However, small plants attempted to maintain
a high photosynthetic rate throughout the season, responding less strongly
to precipitation events, but probably depleting reserves more and causing
photosynthesis to decline more when droughted. It is suggested that large,
established plants are better able to withstand drought than are small,
establishing shrubs.
Yool, S.R. 1998. Multi-scale analysis of disturbance regimes in
the northern
Chihuahuan Desert. Journal of Arid Environments 40(4):
467-483. Zuhl Library GB6111 J68
Aside from initial mechanical or thermal damage
to vegetation from the first atomic test over a half-century ago at the
Trinity National Historic Site, analyses of vegetation at satellite and
air-photo scales show no apparent persistent blast effects. In contrast,
mesquite dunelands persist on other sites grazed before the blast, showing
the Chihuahuan is less resilient to long-term.
Stark, L. R. 1986. Additions to the bryoflora of southern
New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 31(3): 398-399. Branson
QH1 So89n
Mahgoub, E. F., and R. D. Pieper. 1988. Use of leader lengths
and diameters to estimate production and utilization of Cerococarpus breviflorus.
Journal of Range Management 41(2): 153-155. Branson SF85 J67
Cabin, R. J., R.J. Mitchell, and D. L. Marshall. 1998. Do
surface plant and soil seed bank populations differ genetically?
A multipopulation study of the desert mustard Lesquerella fendleri (Brassicaceae).
American Journal of Botany 85(8): 1098-1109. Branson QK1 Am35jb
“We compared the genetic structure of soil seeds
and surface plants of the desert mustard Lesquerella fendleri within and
among five ecologically diverse populations at the Sevilleta National Wildlife
Refuge in Central New Mexico.
McClellan, Y. 1990. Adaptive significance of sticky rings
formed by Boerhavia spicata (Nyctaginaceae). Thesis (M.S.) NMSU.
Branson QH999 M17 1990
The sticky rings at the nodes appear to protect
spider plants from aphid infestation and ant mutalism with the aphids.
Moorhead, D. L., F. M. Fisher, and W. G. Whitford. 1988. Cover of spring annuals on nitrogen-rich kangaroo rat mounds in a Chihuahuan Desert grassland. American Midland Naturalist 120(4): 443-447. Branson QH1 Am35mn
Moroka, N., R. F. Beck, and R. D. Pieper. 1982. Impact of burrowing activity of the banner-tailed kangaroo rat on southern New Mexico desert rangelands. Journal of Range Management 35(6): 707-710. Branson SF85 J67
Munn, H. T. and W. G. Whitford. 1989. Effects of nitrogen
amendment on annual plants in the Chihuahuan Desert. Plant and Soil
120(2): 225-231. Branson SB13 P694as
“The overall annual plant species diversity in response
to the long-term amendment of nitrogen fertilizer decreased in this semi-arid
environment as predicted by Tilman’s (1982) hypothesis. The absence of
spring annual species can be explained by the lack of open space for them.”
However, according to Tilman’s hypothesis the creosotebush zone in the
upper basin should have had the highest diversity due to available space
and moderately poor nitrogen level. Other factors such as erosion or shrub
shading seem important because diversity was still low after fertilization.
Roll, J. Mitchell, R. J. Cabin, R. J. Marshall, D. L. 1997.
Reproductive success increases with local density of conspecifics in a
desert mustard (Lesquerella fendleri). Conservation Biology 11(3): 738-746.
Branson QH75 C65
At the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, individual
reproductive success, as measured by seeds per fruit, proportion of flowers
setting fruit, and total seed production, increased with the density of
conspecifics within 1 m. Increased pollinator visitation is the most
likely cause of this facilitation and that investigations of the effects
of rarity should directly consider density along with attributes such as
population size and fragmentation.
Hill, A. R. D. Pieper, and G. M. Southward. 1992. Habitat-type
classification of the pinon-juniper woodlands in western New Mexico.
Bulletin, Agricultural Experiment Station (766). Zuhl Library J87
N6 X309.45 no 766
Twelve habitat types are described. “Several pinon-juniper
habitat types lie at higher elevations in the Gila National Forest than
their corresponding types in other parts of New Mexico.”
“Shrub oaks (Quercus grisea and Q. turbinella) influence these western
New Mexico woodlands more than they influence woodlands in other parts
of New Mexico.
Howard, D. J., R. W. Preszler, J. Williams, S. Fenchel, and W. J. Boecklen.
1997. How discrete are oak species? Insights from a hybrid zone between
Quercus grisea and Quercus gambelii. Evolution 51(3): 747-755.
QH301 Ev64
In an area of contact in the San Mateo Mountains,
RAPD markers that distinguish between the two species showed hybridization
is taking place. “Despite the occurrence of hybrids, both species
remain distinct, even in areas of sympatry, and marker exchange appears
to be limited.
Peterson, R. S. and C. S. Boyd. 1998. Ecology and management
of sand shinnery communities: a literature review. General Technical
Report RMRS-GTR-16. Gov Doc A13.88: RMRS-GTR-16
“Oak control is controversial because it can open
sandy soils to wind erosion and can conflict with wildlife-habitat quality
Schott, M. R., and R. D. Pieper. 1986. Water relationships of Quercus undulata, Pinus edulis, and Juniperus monosperma. General Technical Report, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Ogden: The Station, (215): 429-433. Branson (Gov Doc) A13.88 INT-215
Williams, J. H. 1994. Effect of pollen quality on reproductive
isolation between two sympatric oak species. Thesis (M.S.) NMSU.
QH999 W55 1994
In the San Mateo Mountains, Gambel’s oak and gray
oak are at their range margins. These marginal habitats may increase
hybrid offspring by reducing male performance in one species, in this case
that of the Gambel’s oak.
Killingbeck, K. T. 1996. Tracking environmental change with the
desert shrub ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens): prospects and
pitfalls. Pages 224-228 in Shrubland ecosystem dynamics in a changing
environment. Forest Service Intermountain Research Station, General
Technical Report INT-GTR-338. Gov Doc A13.88-INT-GTR-338
Todsen, T. K., and T. A. Todsen. 1971. Color variations
of Corallorhiza in New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 16(1): 121-128.
[Coralroot Orchid] Branson QH1 So89n
Baily, D. K. 1979. Pinyons of the Chihuhuan Desert region.
Phytologia 44(3): 129-133.
Branson QK1 P569
_______. 1983. Pinaceace of the Chihuahuan Desert region. Phytologia 53(3): 226-234. QK1 P569
DeVelice, R. L., and J. T. Fisher. 1982. One-year ponderosa pine seedling produces pollen. Southwestern Naturalist 27(2): 211-213. Branson QH1 So89n
Eggerton, J. 1993. Identification of riparian areas and
associated springs with the aid of satellite imagery, concentrating in
mountainous regions of the White Sands Missle Range. Thesis (M.S.)
NMSU. New G10999 E44 1993
Satellite imagery can be used to identify springs
in the Obscuro and San Andres Mountains, but distinguishing spring vegetation
from runoff or arroyo vegetation was difficult using spectral data.
Forcella, F. 1981. Estimating pinyon cone production in New Mexico and western Oklahoma. Journal of Wildlife Management 45(2): 553-557. Branson SK351 J826wm
Hill, A. R. D. Pieper, and G. M. Southward. 1992. Habitat-type
classification of the pinon-juniper woodlands in western New Mexico.
Bulletin, Agricultural Experiment Station (766). Zuhl Library J87
N6 X309.45 no 766
Twelve habitat types are described.
“Several pinon-juniper habitat types lie at higher elevations in the Gila
National Forest than their corresponding types in other parts of New Mexico.”
“Shrub oaks (Quercus grisea and Q. turbinella) influence these western
New Mexico woodlands more than they influence woodlands in other parts
of New Mexico.
Kennedy, K. L. 1983. Habitat-type classification for the pinyon-juniper woodlands of the Lincoln National Forest. Thesis (M.S.) NMSU. Branson QH999 K4 1983
Lymbery, G. A. 1979. Ecology of pinyon-juniper vegetation in south-central New Mexico. Thesis (Ph.D.) NMSU. Branson SF1998 L9
Lymbery, G. A., and R. D. Pieper. 1983. Ecology of pinyon-juniper
vegetation in the northern Sacramento Mountains. Bulletin, (New Mexico
State University) Agricultural Experiment Station (698). Zuhl
Library J87 N6 X309.45 no 698
“None of the tree species appears to be site specific;
all these occur on most topographic positions. Understory shrubs
and grass appeared to be a little more sensitive to topographic factors
than were the tree species.”
Negron, J. 1997. Estimating probabilities of infestation
and extent of damage by the round-headed pine beetle in ponderosa pine
in the Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico. Canadian Journal of Forestry
Research 27(12): 1936-1945. Branson SD255 C35
“Stands attacked by the pine beetle exhibit poor
growth during the last 5 years prior to attack, abundant host type, and
smaller diameter than uninfested stands.”
Proceedings – 1991 Pinon Conference, April 23, 1991, Santa Fe, NM. New Mexico State University. Zuhl Library J87 N6 X101.81 P65
Rehfeldt, G. E. 1999. Systematics and genetic structure of Ponderosae
taxa (Pinaceae)
inhabiting the mountain islands of the Southwest. American Journal
of Botany 86(5): 741-752. Branson QK1 AM35jb
The systematics and genetic structure of taxa representing
the Ponderosae
subsection of genus Pinus were assessed for disjunct, isolated, and
peripheral
populations including those of the Black Range and the Animas. “Univariate
analyses showed that the three distinct groups displayed different genetic
structures despite similarities in their geographic distributions.” “Nevertheless,
all exhibit levels of genetic variability within populations similar to
the widespread P. ponderosa.
Rehfeldt, G. E. 1999. Systematics and genetic structure of Ponderosae
taxa (Pinaceae)
inhabiting the mountain islands of the Southwest. American Journal
of Botany 86(5): 741-752. Branson QK1 AM35jb
Vogt, D. J. 1975. Pinus ponderosa site index and seedling
survival related to environmental factors - Lincoln National Forest, New
Mexico. Thesis (M.S.) NMSU. Branson S2999 V647 1975
“Characteristics important for evaluating site suitability
for seedlings included topographic position, oak density, and slope.”
Dunford, M. P. 1984. Cytotype distribution of Atriplex canescens (Chenopodiaceae) of southern New Mexico and adjacent Texas. Southwestern Naturalist 29(2): 223-228. Branson QH1 So89n
________. 1985. A statistical analysis of morphological variation in cytotypes of Atriplex canescens (Chenopodiaceae). Southwestern Naturalist 30(3): 377-384. Branson QH1 So89n
Gerard, J. B. 1978. Factors affecting fruit fill and seed germination of fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt.). Pages 403-405 in Proceedings of the First International Rangeland Congress, Denver, Colorado, August 14-18, 1978 (D.N. Hyder editor). Denver: Society for Range Management. Branson SF84.84 I58 1978
Senock, R. S., J. R. Barrow, R. P. Gibbens, and C. H. Herbel. 1991. Ecophysiology of the polyploid shrub Atriplex canescens (Chenopodiacease) growing in situ in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Journal of Arid Environments 21(1): 45-57. Zuhl Library GB611 J68
Sisson, W. B., G. O. Throneberry, and G. M. Southward. 1984. Seasonal leaf nitrate reductase activity, nitrogen and nitrate content, and water relation of Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. General Technical Report, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Ogden: The Station (172) pp. 133-137. Branson (Gov Doc) A13.78: INT-172
Wagner, W. L., and E. F. Aldon. 1978. Manual of the saltbushes
(Atriplex spp.) in New Mexico. General Technical Report, Rocky
Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins: The Station
(57). Branson (Gov Doc) A13.88: RM-57
Taylor, J. P. & K. C. McDaniel. 1998. Restoration of
saltcedar (Tamarix sp.) infested floodplains on the Bosque del Apache National
Wildlife Refuge. Weed Technology 12(2): 345-352. Branson SB610
W45
“Saltcedar clearing is accomplished using a combination
of herbicide, burning, and mechanical control techniques costing form $750
to $1,300/ha. Soil salinity and depth to water are the principle physical
features limiting revegetation efforts.”
Weeks, E. P., H. L. Weaver, and G. S. Campbell. 1987. Water
use by saltcedar and by replacement vegetation in the Pecos River floodplain
between Acme and Artesia, New Mexico. Biological Survey Professional Paper
491G. Branson (Gov Doc) I 19.16: 491-G
Huddleston, E. W. and R. D. Pieper (editors.). 1990. Snakeweed: problems and perspectives. Bulletin, (New Mexico State University) Agricultural Experiment Station (751). Zuhl Library J87 N6 X309.45 no. 751
McDaniel, K. C., R. D. Pieper, L. E. Loomis, and A. A. Osman. 1984. Taxonomy and ecology of perennial snakeweeds in New Mexico. Bulletin, (New Mexico State University) Agricultural Experiment Station (711). Zuhl Library J87 N6 X309.45 no. 711
McDaniel, K. C., and C. Hart. 1993. A bibliography of perennial snakeweeds and related genera. NMSU Agricultural Experiment Station, Research Report 681. Zuhl Library J87 N6 X309.57 no. 681
Osman, A. A. 1982. Establishment of broom snakeweed (Xanthocephalum Sarothrae (Pursh) Shinner) and other species on semiarid desert grasslands of southern New Mexico. Thesis (Ph.D) NMSU. Branson SF1998 O842
Osman, A., and R. D. Pieper. 1988. Growth of Gutierrezia sarothrae seedlings in the field. Journal of Range Management 41(1): 92-94. Branson SF3 J67
Parker M. A. and A. G. Salzman. 1985. Herbivore exclosure and competitor removal effects on juvenile survivorhip and growth in the shrub Gutierrezia-microcephala. Journal of Ecology 73(3): 903-914. QH540 J826e
Whitford W. G., D.J. Rapport, and A.G. deSoyza. 1999. Using resistance
and resilience measurements for 'fitness' tests in ecosystem health.
Journal of Environmental Management 57(1): 21-29. Online Journal
(Academic Press Ideal Package).
“Both survivorship of grasses and a sub-shrub (Gutierrezia
sarothrae) during a drought (a measure of resistance) and re-establishment
of plant cover following a drought (a measure of resilience) were reduced
in the intensely stressed ecosystems in comparison to the lightly stressed
ecosystems. The compromise of the resistance and resilience characteristics
of an ecosystem can be used as a 'fitness' test for the health of ecosystems.
Fitness tests can provide early warning of ecosystem degeneration and allow
intervention to reduce or eliminate anthropogenic stress on the ecosystems.”
Dye, A. J., and W. H. Moir. 1977. Spruce-fir forest at its southern distribution in the Rocky Mountains, New Mexico. American Midland Naturalist 97(1): 133-146. [Sierra Blanca] Branson QH1 Am35mn
Dyer, J. M and K. E. Moffett. 1999. Meadow invasion form high-elevation spruce-fir forest in south-central New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 44(4): 444-456. Branson QH1 So89n
Moir, W. H., and J. A. Ludwig. 1979. A classification of
spruce- fir and mixed conifer habitat types of Arizona and New Mexico.
Research Paper, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station.
Fort Collins: The Station (207). Branson (Gov Doc) A13.78:
RM-207
Tromble, J. M.. 1983. Interception of rainfall by tarbush. Journal of Range Management 36(4): 525-526. Branson SF85 J67
________. 1988. Water interception by two arid land shrubs.
Journal of Arid Environments 15(1): 65-70. Gb611 J68
Tarbush shrub green weight accounted for 75% of
the variability of the intercepted rainfall. Tarbush, with 15% crown cover,
intercepted 6% of the average rainfall from May through October. Because
a high percentage of precipitation from small storms is intercepted by
the shrub canopy and subsequently evaporated back into the atmosphere,
interception by desert shrubs is of significant importance.”
Wallen, D. R., and J. A. Ludwig. 1978. Energy dynamics of
vegetative and reproductive growth in Spanish bayonet (Yucca baccata Torr.).
Southwestern Naturalist 23(3): 409-422. Branson QH1 So89n
“A comparative laboratory study found the optimum
net photosynthesis rate of Y. baccata leaves below 25 C whereas Y. elata
leaves had an optimum above 30 C.“ Banana yucca grows better in cooler
seasons and sites than soaptree yucca. Banana yucca needs about 10-12%
of its dry biomass as stored carbohydrates to flower, and probably takes
about 3 years to replenish.
Burks, K. A. 1994. Effects of population size and density
on the pollination biology of a threatened thistle (Cirsium vinaceum).
Branson QH999 B87 1994.
Pollinator visitation rates, efficacy of pollen transfers, seed set,
and seed predation rates may be sensitive to population size and density.
Craddock, C. L. and L. F. Huenneke. 1997. Aquatic seed dispersal
and its implications in Cirsium vinaceum, a threatened endemic thistle
of New Mexico. American Midland Naturalist 138(1): 215-219 QH1 Am35mn
This endemic thistle occurs in spring and streamside
habitats and is capable of seed movement by water flow. Movement
is sufficient to genetically link discrete patches. Therefore, they
should be managed on a per-watershed basis to reestablish populations.
Huenneke, L. F. and J. K. Thomson. 1995. Potential interference
between a threatened endemic thistle and an invasive nonnative plant.
Conservation Biology 9(2): 416-425. Branson QH75 .A1 .C65
“Descriptions of the habitat distributions of the
two species in the Lincoln National forest suggest similar responses to
environment, although teasel is associated currently with roads at this
early stage in its invasivion of the Sacramento Mountains.” Teasel
may be better able to germinate under condition of crowding or competition.
Huenneke, L. F. 1996. Case study: Cirsium vinaceum, a threatened thistle endemic to the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico. New Mexico Academy of Science 36: 141-151. Branson Q11 N485
Thomson, J. 1991. An investigation of the biology of Cirsium
vinaceum. Thesis (M.S.) NMSU. Branson QH999 T568 1991
The Sacramento thistle is a federally listed threatened
species subject to invasion by fullers teasel, a foreign biennial.
Competition was greatest near roads.
Wood, S. J. 1995. Weedy behavior in the native thistle,
Cirsium parryi Gray (Asteraceae) in the Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico.
Thesis (M.S.) NMSU. Branson QH999 W66 1995
Parry’s thistle is spreading from its historical meadow habitat to
recently disturbed sites such as logged areas and roadsides, but is not
a colonizer of bare ground
Galloway, L. A. 1975. Systematics of the North American desert species of Abronia and Tripterocalyx (Nyctaginaceae). Brittonia 27(4): 328-347. Branson QK1 B778
Royce, C. L. 1980. Ecotypic differenciation in annual and perennial populations of Abronia angustifolia Greene. Thesis (Ph.D.) NMSU. Branson QH998 R6
Royce, C. L. and G. L. Cunningham. 1982. Ecology of
Abronia angustifolia Greene (Nyctaginaceae) I. phenology and perennation.
Southwestern Naturalist 27(4): 413-423. Branson QH1 So89n
Kerley, G. I. H., F. Tiver, and W. G. Whitford. 1993. Herbivory
of clonal populations: cattle browsing affects reproduction and population
structure of Yucca elata. Oecologia 93(1): 12-17. QH540 .O34
“Cattle consumed 98% of inflorescences, which were
found to be highly nutritious.” Cattle browsing of inflorescences
reduced reproductive effort, which may be due to the inability of the plants
to resorb nutrients after flowering. Browsing also increased branching,
probably through lack of apical dominance, whereas physical trampling increased
procumbent habit.” To maintain populations and their associated insects
and birds in the long run, long periods of rest will be necessary to allow
yucca to reach sufficient size to escape feeding on the flowering stalks
by cattle.
Sisson, W. B. 1983. Carbon balance of Yucca elata Engelm. during a hot and cool period in situ. Oecologia 57(3): 352-360. Branson QH540 O34
Smith, S. D, and J. A. Ludwig. 1976. Reproductive and vegetative growth patterns in Yucca elata Engelm. (Liliaceae). Southwestern Naturalist 21(2): 177-184. Branson QH1 So89n
________. 1978. Distribution and phytosociology of Yucca elata in southern New Mexico. American Midland Naturalist 100: 202-212. Branson QH1 Am35mn
_______. 1978. Further studies on growth patterns
in Yucca elata Englm (Liliaceae). Southwestern Naturalist 23(1):
145-150. Branson QH1 So89n