CNP-1

Needles District, Virginia Park, San Juan County, Utah, 38° 05.599’ N latitude, 109° 50.265’ W longitude, elevation 5400 ft. Relatively deep reddish soils in a Stipa grassland without Bromus tectorum.  The plots sampled were NPS plots VPS3, vascular plant data are available.  Date of sampling: 11 May 1999.

Dominant vascular plants at the site: Stipa commata, Oryzopsis hymenoides, Opuntia sp.

Mean lichen crust thickness: 36.4± 5.8 mm
Mean algal crust thickness: 44.2± 8.3 mm

Cover summary:

Type of Cover         % Cover
Shrubs                           1.6    
Annuals                        1.2
Perennial grasses        8.0
Perennial forbs            0.0
Algal crust                  22.8
Bryophytes                 10.8
Lichens                         6.0
Bare Soil                       0.0
Gravel                           0.4
Litter                           45.6
Cactus                           0.8
Rock                              0.0

Chlorophyll a (ng/g):  306.2
N fixation rate (mmol/n2/m2/hr):  12657.25
Soil texture class:  sandy loam

CNP-2

Needles District, Chesler Park, San Juan County, Utah, 38° 06.204’ N latitude, 109° 51.000’ W longitude, elevation 5655 ft. Relatively deep reddish soils in a Stipa grassland being invaded by Bromus tectorum.  The plots sampled were NPS plots CPS2, vascular plant data are available.  Date of sampling: 11 May 1999.

Dominant vascular plants at the site: Stipa commata, Oryzopsis hymenoides, Bromus tectorum, Opuntia sp.

Mean moss crust thickness: 16.6± 2.9 mm
Mean algal crust thickness: 35.4± 5.3 mm

Cover summary:

Type Cover             % Cover   
Shrubs                              0.0
Annuals                           0.0
Perennial grasses           8.8
Perennial forbs               0.0
Algal crust                     47.6
Bryophytes                    24.0
Lichens                            3.6
Bare Soil                          0.0
Rock                                 0.0
Gravel                              0.0
Litter                              16.0
Cactus                              0.0

Chlorophyll a (ng/g):  1799.14
N fixation rate (mmol/n2/m2/hr):  8602.02
Soil texture class:  sandy loam

CNP-3

Island-In-The-Sky District, San Juan County, Utah, 38° 27.592’ N latitude, 109° 49.377’ W longitude, elevation 5946 ft. Relatively deep reddish soils behind the visitors center near the maintenance area. Date of sampling: 13 May 1999.

Dominant vascular plants at the site: Juniperus osteosperma, Pinus edulis, Coleogyne ramosissima, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Yucca sp., Atriplex canescens, Ephedra viridis, Bromus tectorum, Oryzopsis hymenoides, Astragalus sp., Opuntia sp., Vulpina octoflora.

Mean lichen crust thickness: 37.0± 4.8 mm
Mean algal crust thickness: 58.6± 3.2 mm

Cover summary:

Type Cover         % Cover
Shrubs                          4.8
Annuals                        2.4
Perennial grasses        0.0
Perennial forbs            0.0
Algal crust                  77.2
Bryophytes                   5.2
Lichens                          5.2
Bare Soil                        0.0
Rock                               0.0
Gravel                            0.0
Litter                              5.2
Cactus                            0.0