Click here to view enlarged map

ZNP1

Coalpits Wash, Zion National Park, Washington Co., Utah, USA.  37° 10.821’ N latitude, 113° 04.703’ W longitude, elevation 3971 ft. Gypsiferous soil past the powerlines on the east side of the trail.

Dominant vascular plants at the site: Artemisia tridentata, Ephedra torreyana, squawbush? Unknown, Bromus rubens.

Mean lichen crust thickness: 28.45 ± 9.7 mm

Cover summary:

Type Cover            % Cover
Shrubs                          0.0
Annuals                       0.4
Perennial grasses       0.0
Perennial forbs           0.0
Algal crust                  9.2
Bryophytes                 4.4
Lichens                      78.8
Bare Soil                      4.0
Rock                             0.4
Gravel                          2.4
Litter                            0.4
Cactus                          0.0

Chlorophyll a (ng/g):  97.98
N fixation rate (mmol/n2/m2/hr):  3347.72
Soil texture class:  loam

ZNP2

Zion National Park, Washington Co., Utah, USA.  Up on slick rock in Carmel area, near a small ephemeral stream, east of second tunnel, on south side of the road. Some foot traffic. GPS: 37° 12.932’ N latitude, 112° 34.933’ W longitude, elevation 4958 ft.  Date of sampling: 17 May 1999.

Dominant vascular plants at the site: Pinus ponderosa, Manzanita, Opuntia, Coleogyne ramosissima, Pinus edulis, Juniperus osteosperma, Castilleja sp., Phlox, Yucca sp.

Mean lichen crust thickness: 18.0 ± 4.4 mm
Mean algal crust thickness: 15.8 ± 11.9 mm

Cover summary:

Type Cover            % Cover
Shrubs                          0.0
Annuals                       5.2
Perennial grasses       0.4
Perennial forbs           0.0
Algal crust                 46.0
Bryophytes                13.6
Lichens                       18.0
Bare Soil                     10.0
Rock                              0.0
Gravel                           0.0
Litter                             6.8
Cactus                           0.0

Chlorophyll a (ng/g):  336.26
N fixation rate (mmol/n2/m2/hr):  6031.99
Soil texture class:  sand

ZNP3

Zion National Park, Washington Co., Utah, USA., road to Kolob Resevoir from the town of Virgin, Utah, 37° 20.556’ N latitude, 113° 06.578’ W longitude, elevation 6700 feet.  Date of sampling 18 May 1999.

Dominant vascular plants at the site: Pinus ponderosa, Manzanita, Opuntia sp., Juniperus osteosperma, Artemisia tridentata, Quercus gambellii, Pinus monophylla, unknown Cupressaceae, small annual grass.

Mean algal crust thickness: 13.9 ± 9.4 mm

Cover summary:

Type Cover         % Cover
Shrubs                         0.0
Annuals                    20.8
Perennial grasses      2.0
Perennial forbs          0.8
Algal crust                51.2
Bryophytes                 5.6
Lichens                        0.0
Bare Soil                      4.0
Rock                             1.6
Gravel                          0.0
Litter                           16.4
Cactus                           0.0