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44-639: The Hualapai Mountains are a mountain range located in Mohave County , east of Kingman , Arizona . Rising up to 8,417 feet at its highest peak, the higher elevations of the Hualapai Mountains support Madrean Sky Island habitats, and are host to a plethora of unique flora and fauna in a wide range of microclimates, high above the surrounding Mojave Desert . Pronounced: "wah-lah-pie" Meaning of "Hualapai" in Hualapai language : "People of

88-451: A hospitable environment for diverse plant communities. Overall, the presence of creosotebushes enhances biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in arid regions, underscoring their significance as nurse plants. Salvia officinalis subsp. lavandulifolia (syn. S. lavandulifolia ) serves as a crucial nurse plant in the challenging terrain of Mediterranean mountains, facilitating the growth and survival of newly planted pine seedlings. As

132-473: A member of the Lamiaceae family, this shrubby species, typically ranging from 20 to 35 cm in height, creates an optimal microenvironment for young pines to thrive. Its shallow root system minimizes competition with developing seedlings, ensuring their access to vital nutrients and water. Additionally, its modest stature enables the pine trees to outgrow it over time, making it an advantageous companion during

176-565: A nurse plant by facilitating the establishment and growth of other species in harsh desert environments. Its dense canopy provides shade and shelter, creating a microclimate that reduces temperature extremes and moisture loss, thus promoting the survival of seedlings and young plants. Creosotebushes also trap seeds beneath their canopies, increasing seedling recruitment and contributing to vegetation recovery. Studies have shown that many plant species in desert ecosystems are positively associated with Larrea tridentata , indicating its role in providing

220-550: A positive interaction between themselves and the organisms they protect, and are often crucial in maintaining biodiversity in water-scarce environments. It has been suggested that the assistance provided by nurse plants can enhance the performance of stress intolerant species on green roofs. There is also evidence suggesting that phenotypic traits affect how protégé plants that grow on large green roofs react to nurse plants. Nurse plants also aid with recovery after herbivore grazing, because they provide higher levels of resources to

264-399: A saguaro's network of roots intercept moisture before it can reach a Palo Verde's roots. When analyzing the contributions of Nurse trees, the prevention of herbivory is reduced in arid environments because the herbivores are at a much lower density, so the contribution of herbivore defense is excluded from arid environments. Nurse plants also have better soil under their canopies than what

308-458: A volunteer fire department, and some privately owned cabins for rent may be found here. Accessed from Flag Mine Road, Wild Cow Springs Campground is located on Antelope Wash Road (fire evacuation route). The campground is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and is a paid site with outhouses and a few bear-proof trashcans, but it is recommended to pack out your garbage if possible. This site

352-678: Is a designated fire escape route to get out of out the mountains to the east (toward highway 95) in the event of a wildfire that prevents fleeing using the main road (Antelope Wash Road accessed from Flag Mine Road at the BLM Wildcow Campground) Travel at your own risk. A high-quality OHV/Trail map of the Hualapai Mountains and surrounding areas is generally available at the Mohave County Sheriff's Office (search and rescue map). Mohave County, Arizona Too Many Requests If you report this error to

396-760: Is dominated by short, woody shrubs, especially on south-facing mountain slopes, and areas which are recovering from wildfires. This plant community makes up the buffer between the harsh desert below and the fragile forest-environments above. May include the following plant varieties/species: 4,500–7,500 feet (1,400–2,300 m) Pinyon-juniper woodlands are nurse plants of ecological facilitation between chapparel scrubland and forested environments at higher elevations. Juniper tends to be more predominant at lower elevations, while Piñon Pine grow more vigorously at slightly higher elevations. Other flora varieties of this plant community may include: 5000+ feet Tall pines and thick stands of broad-leaved trees constitute

440-430: Is greater under the canopies of these trees than in surrounding areas The density of plant species that depend on nurse plants depends on the number of nurse plants in a community. For example, the density of the senita cactus ( Pachycereus schottii ) was higher when there was a higher density of nurse plants. But the study by Holland et al., found that "there was not a significant main factor effect of nurse plants on

484-622: Is located in the southern portion of the range, and is in the boundary of the Wabayuma Peak Wilderness Area , consisting of 40,000 acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management Kingman Field Office. Getz Peak is located directly to the north of the Hualapai County Park Ranger Station, and is the site of multiple communications towers, which are also gated, and not accessible to the public. The Hualapai Mountain range extends into both

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528-583: Is located within the Hualapai Mountain County Park . Small stands of quaking aspen grow near its summit, giving the upper portion of the mountain an autumn display amidst a sea of tall evergreens . (8,013 feet / 2,442 meters) is the northern-most of the notable peaks in this range, and is named after the Dean Mine and its discoverer William Dean. who discovered rich gold and silver- sulfide ore there. (7,601 feet / 2,317 meters)

572-555: Is not available to the public, however, it is viewable from a number of high points surrounding the valley, namely along Flag Mine Road, as well as Ponderosa Drive, the public access route to the county "Fuels Management" area (community burn-pile). The community has approximately 140 homes and is a little over 6,000 ft (1,800 m) in elevation. Some basic amenities, including the Hualapai Mountain Resort (general store, hotel, restaurant, bar, and event center),

616-454: Is out in the open. "Soil properties under nurse plants were always better than outside them, which are in concordance with the generalized existence of fertility islands in high mountains" Palo Verde ( Cercidium spp.), mesquite ( Prosopis spp.), and ironwood ( Olneya tesota ) trees all provide positive interactions among other plants species like facilitating seedling survival and germination. The richness and abundance of many plant species

660-732: Is technically accessible with a 5th wheel or class A motorhome, but comes with its own risks. Contact the Bureau of Land Management Kingman Field Office for road conditions if in doubt. From the Pine Lake Community there are a number of dirt roads that lead out into the mountains. There are two main routes in and out of the community, via the Hualapai Mountain Road, and Flag Mine Road (Arizona Peace Trail). Other ATV routes exist, but are not recommended for general through-way travel, or low clearance vehicles. From Flag Mine Road one can access many different routes along

704-574: Is the gateway to the high point of Mohave County; Hualapai Peak at 8,417 feet (2,566 m). Hualapai Peak is located south of the Mohave County Park boundary on Bureau of Land Management land. The park has cabins, recreation areas, dry camping campsites, and hook-up spots for recreational vehicles , and is generally open year-round for camping and recreation. There are signs telling the history, varieties of vegetation, local and migratory birds, and other wildlife which can be spotted around

748-464: The Prosopis canopy highlights its additional protective function, further solidifying its status as a beneficial nurse plant in arid landscapes. Badano et al. used two hypotheses to look at the invasibility by alien species with nurse plants in the area. They used the biotic resistance hypothesis where a new species that arrives is more likely to find strong competitors that impede their success as

792-920: The Upper and Lower Colorado River Basin watersheds . The Hualapai Mountains contain a dramatic range of plant communities depending on the elevation, slope direction, and microclimate conditions of a given area. −282 feet (−86 m) 3,500 feet (1,100 m) Dominating the landscape surrounding the Hualapai Mountain Sky Island, and at the lowest portion of its foothills, is the Mojave Desert which ranges from altitudes as high as 3,500 feet (1,100 m), and as low as 282 feet (86 m) below sea level, at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park , California. (approximately 175 miles (282 km) away as

836-730: The "Ridge Road" (a piece of the Arizona Peace Trail) of the Hualapai Mountains, which traverses north–south through the various valleys, canyons and washes. There are a number of other routes and trails, including the Moss Wash Basin which is adopted by a local OHV group. At the end of Flag Mine Road is the Boreana Mine, and the route to Yucca. The main fire evacuation route is generally maintained to allow low clearance vehicles, but most other roads and atv trails will require high clearance and/ or four-wheel drive. There

880-551: The Hualapai Mountain Range include: (8,417 feet / 2,566 meters) is the highest peak in the range, as well as the highest point in Mohave County. (8,390 feet / 2,560 meters) is the second highest peak in the range, and is the site of a communications tower, which is gated and is not accessible to the public. (8,167 feet / 2,489 meters) is among the most visited of the 8,000-foot peaks in the range, and

924-731: The Hualapai Mountain range, including a breed of ground squirrel , and tarantula . The area that is now Hualapai Mountain Park was first developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and is, today, managed by the Mohave County Parks department. The park encompasses over 2,300 acres (9.3 km) with elevations ranging from 4,984 feet (1,519 m) to the highest peak within its boundary; Hayden Peak8,390 feet (2,560 m)., and

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968-522: The Palo Verde tree ( C. microphyllum ), found in the Sonoran Desert, that may have saguaro cacti underneath its canopy. Other examples of nurses are grasses and cacti. Trees and shrubs are the more common nurse plants. Nurse plants provide the ideal microclimatic environment for species like the saguaros. They allow them to extend their ranges "in otherwise inhospitably cold areas". Some of

1012-625: The Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.150 via cp1114 cp1114, Varnish XID 933567638 Upstream caches: cp1114 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 08:37:54 GMT Nurse plants Overstory trees and shrubs have a facilitative effect on the establishment of understory plants. This effect is also seen in some interactions between herbaceous plant species. Nurse plants are important in xeric environments because they provide shaded microhabitats for

1056-430: The benefits described above can limit saguaros during establishment, but subfreezing temperatures is one variable the cactus is susceptible to. These temperatures in the northern part of Arizona are why saguaros haven't established there. Nurse plants also have better soil under their canopies than what is out in the open. "Soil properties under nurse plants were always better than outside them, which are in concordance with

1100-432: The canopy of Prosopis flexuosa , exhibited enhanced productivity and nutrient content compared to those outside the canopy. Noteworthy increases in cladode production and higher levels of key nutrients, such as moisture, organic matter, and potassium, underscore the facilitative effects of Prosopis on the growth and nutritional quality of associated plant species. Furthermore, the observed mitigation of frost damage beneath

1144-472: The crow flies). This list includes plant species which are native and predominant throughout the environment in and around the Hualapai Mountain foothills: 4,000–5,000 feet (1,200–1,500 m) The most prominent grassland communities in the area are found on the east side of the range, across Big Sandy River Valley up to the foot of the Hualapai Mountains. Dominant species of perennial grass may include: 3,000–5,000 feet (910–1,520 m) A landscape that

1188-461: The generalized existence of fertility islands in high mountains" Saguaros are established on the south side of a nurse plant's canopy more than the north side. According to Drezner and Garrity, the south side of canopies have higher minimum temperatures and the north sides have colder temperatures. Saguaros establish under denser canopies than plants with a more open canopy because of better microclimatic conditions. It might have been unexpected that

1232-412: The germination and seedling recruitment of senita cacti." The positive effects of nurse plants with this plant species depended on rainfall Study of ironwood trees ( O. tesota ) has shown that a nurse plant's importance is not only as a temperature buffer, but also as a water buffer. In terms of water stress, there was a difference in the facilitative effects between mesic and xeric sites. In xeric sites,

1276-439: The initial stages of reforestation efforts. Prosopis species, particularly Prosopis flexuosa , demonstrate a notable capacity to function as nurse plants in arid and semiarid ecosystems . Some research underscores Prosopis' role in improving challenging environmental conditions, particularly in areas characterized by low forage quality and water scarcity. A study demonstrated that Opuntia ellisiana , when planted beneath

1320-400: The minimum temperatures were higher, showing that nurse plants provide a microclimate under their canopy and protects the saguaros from extreme cold or hot temperatures. The death of a nurse plant generally precedes the plant species it protects. There is evidence of competitive interactions between saguaro cacti and paloverde trees. The saguaros under a paloverde's canopy negatively impacted

1364-426: The montane conifer forests in the upper elevations of the Hualapai Mountains. Trees include: Grasses may include: Black bear, elk, mule deer , mountain lion , javelina , and other animals can be found here. Mountain lion and bear have been drawn to civilized areas like Pinion Pines and Atherton Acres due to the large deer population, though bear sightings are very uncommon. There are some animals only native to

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1408-496: The number of native species increases and local diversity acts as a barrier for biological invasions, and the biotic acceptance hypothesis, which is described as the main force that regulates native and alien species' performance and diversity and increased availability of resources and habitat heterogeneity associated with increased surface area. Neither of these hypotheses considered the variations of harsh environments. This harshness could reduce competition in plant communities and

1452-434: The overall performance of plants. The nurse plant in this study was the field chickweed, Cerastium arvense L . For natural assemblages, there was a positive relationship between C. arvense and the abundance and diversity of plant assemblages growing within cushion plants, or cushions. Cushion plants are plants that grow a few inches in height, three meters in diameter, and form a compact mat of closely spaced stems. It

1496-545: The park. There are over 10 miles (16 km) of hiking trails ranging in difficulty, and an OHV trailhead near the ranger station which leads to a vast network of trails on both the county park and BLM lands. Near the end of Hualapai Mountain Road, just past the Hualapai Mountain Park ranger station, is a community known as Pine Lake . The lake itself, for which the valley gets its name, is privately owned, and

1540-403: The plant. The effect of nurse plants on any particular species is dependent upon species richness and the dispersal strategy of the organism. Nurse plants can help with seedling recruitment and protect plants from granivory. A saguaro's root system is restricted to 15 cm of soil surface and the Palo Verde's ( Cercidium microphyllum ) roots go deeper under the surface. Studies suggest that

1584-422: The richness and abundance of perennial plants was higher, whereas, ephemerals saw no difference. In mesic sites, the abundance of perennial and ephemeral plants was no different, but the ephemeral richness was lower. The size of the canopies of ironwood trees was no different between xeric and mesic sites. But the canopy size did affect perennial plants more than ephemeral plants. With the perennial plants, there

1628-410: The richness, abundance, and size of the plants under nurse plant canopies in xeric and mesic habitats. The ironwood was often the only tree growing in xeric areas and their canopies had the largest effect on plant community structure and richness even when water stress was high. Thus, ironwood trees creative diversity that is absent in other desert microhabitats. An example of a nurse plant would be

1672-476: The saguaro established on the south side because of higher minimal temperature. Saguaros can handle higher temperatures but are susceptible to subfreezing temperatures. With the temperatures on the south side of the nurse, the risk of experiencing subfreezing temperatures is reduced in the winter. Ambrosia deltoidea and Cercidium microphyllum were the two main nurse plants observed. The study found that maximum temperatures under C. microphyllum were lower and

1716-429: The surrounding open areas." These nurse plants also help the composition of ant communities. They provide protection and food to the different ant communities in the Sonoran Desert. Four ant species ( Camponotus atriceps , Pheidole sciophila , and Pheidole titanis ) "were associated with tree habitats, whereas Pheidole sp. A was associated with open areas". In the Sonoran Desert, ant species are greater than in

1760-564: The survival of several other plant species, buffering temperature extremes and reducing moisture loss. For example, in the Sonoran Desert , nurse plants canopies provide reduced summer daytime temperatures, soil surface temperatures, and direct sunlight, higher soil fertility, protection from the wind and browsing animals, reduced evapotranspiration rates in the nursed species, elevated nighttime temperatures, and post-fire resprouting in some species... This means that nurse plants provide

1804-610: The tall Pines". English spelling: Walapai Spanish spelling: Hualapai Most used spelling: Hualapai, though both are acceptable Other names for Hualapai Mountain : Mojave language : Amat 'Avii Kahuwaaly The Hualapai Mountain range is located in the central portion of the Basin and Range Province of the southwestern United States, and along the western-most extension of the Arizona Transition Zone (or "Central Highlands" of Arizona). The most notable peaks in

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1848-458: The vigor of the tree. Trees in the absence of saguaros ( Carnegiea gigantea ) did not die as quickly. One factor of this competitive interaction is root competition. The saguaro's roots exist in shallow soil, whereas, a paloverde's roots go deeper. The saguaro's roots are like an umbrella and capture most of the moisture before it can reach the paloverde's roots. Larrea tridentata , commonly known as creosotebush , exhibits characteristics of

1892-458: Was a positive effect. The richness, abundance, and size of the plants was greater under the canopies. With ephemeral plants the richness was unaffected, and the abundance increased in xeric sites. Ironwood tree canopies have provided facilitative effects on plant species richness and abundance in xeric sites in the Sonoran Desert. Two factors, water stress and benefactor size, had effects on facilitation and are factors to consider when looking at

1936-440: Was found from this study that invasive species grew under nurse plant canopies and that they were providing protection for those species. According to Badano et al., "This study indicated that the performance of the invasive plant C. arvense was positively affected by increasing diversity of native species within the habitat patches created by the cushion plant A. madreporica , while these relationships were negative or absent in

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