CNM1

Colorado National Monument, Mesa County, Colorado, USA.  Distant Overview pullout, upslope opposite the viewpoint.   39° 06.624’ N latitude, 108° 44.284’ W longitude, elevation 5285 feet.   Shallow reddish soils overlying slickrock.  Date of sampling: 10 May 1999.

Dominant vascular plants at the site: Juniperus osteosperma, Pinus edulis, Ephedra viridis, Oryzopsis hymenoides, Bromus tectorum, Vulpina octoflora, Gutierrezia sarothrae.

Other vascular plants: Artemisia tridentata, Rhus trilobata, Fraxinus (single leaf), Physaria australis, Cryptantha bakeri, Lepidium montanum, Echinocereus sp., Yucca harrimaniae, Opuntia sp., Astragalus amphioxys, Heterotheca villosa, Ranunculus testiculatus, Actinea sp., Cryptantha sp.

Mean lichen crust thickness:  32.2± 3.3 mm
Mean algal crust thickness:  17.4± 3.0 mm

Cover summary:

Type Cover        % Cover
Shrubs                         0.0
Annuals                      0.0
Perennial grasses      0.0
Perennial forbs          0.0
Algal crust               58.8
Bryophytes                0.0
Lichens                     20.0
Bare Soil                   10.4
Rock                            1.6
Gravel                         0.4
Litter                           8.8
Cactus                         0.0

Chlorophyll a (ng/g):  174.88
N fixation rate (mmole/n2/m2):  1852.60
Soil texture class:  loamy sand

CNM-2

Colorado National Monument, Mesa County, Colorado, USA.  Liberty Cap Trail near trailhead.   39° 03.284’ N latitude, 108° 44.095’ W longitude, elevation 6395 feet.  Shallow grayish, soils rich in bentonite clays overlying slickrock. Date of sampling: 10 May 1999.

Dominant vascular plants at the site: Juniperus osteosperma, Pinus edulis, Ephedra viridis, Oryzopsis hymenoides, Astragalus sp., Gutierrezia sarothrae.

Other vascular plants: Artemisia tridentata, Fraxinus anomala, Physaria australis, Cryptantha bakeri, Opuntia sp., Astragalus amphioxys, Heterotheca villosa, Penstemon mofattii, Townsendia incana, Castilleja chromosa, Cymopteris fendleris, Poa sp., Circocarpus montanus.

Mean lichen crust thickness:  54.0± 7.5 mm
Mean algal crust thickness:  19.2± 2.5 mm

Cover summary:

Type Cover        % Cover
Shrubs                         2.0
Annuals                      0.0
Perennial grasses      0.0
Perennial forbs          0.8
Algal crust                53.2
Bryophytes                 0.0
Lichens                      42.8
Bare Soil                      0.0
Rock                             1.6
Gravel                          0.8
Litter                            4.4
Cactus                          0.0

Chlorophyll a (ng/g):  248.78
N fixation rate (mmole/n2/m2):  3094.39
Soil texture class:  sandy loam