Series Provides the principal or plant-animal communities within 



general biomes, recognized and distinguished primarily on 

 distinctive climax plant dominants. These series sometimes 

 referred to as cover types or vegetation types are each 

 composed of one or more biotic associations characterized 

 by shared climax dominants — ^within the same formation, 

 zone, and biome. 



Association Refers to distinctive plant associations based on the occur- 



rence of particular dominant species more or less local (or 

 regional) in distribution and generally equivalent to habitat 

 types as outlined by Daubenmire and Daubenmire (1968), 

 Layser (1974), and Pfister et al. (1977). 



Composition- Is a qualitative description of the structure composition, 



Structure-Phase density for the dominants. Most detailed. 



Use, Testing, Validation: The reference for this classification system is preceded by many 

 other references (Brown 1973; Brown and Lowe 1973; Brown and Lowe 1974a, b; Brown, 

 Lowe, and Pase 1977) to the extent it should be considered well tested. There was little 

 information sought on its use; however, it is assumed to be in use in the Southwest. 



Ease of Application: Half of the categories are developed from existing information. Field 

 work is necessary to classify below the series level and also would be required at the series 

 level in areas where vegetation is not generally identified. 



Use in Defining System Response and Potential: The hierarchy of the procedure allows for 

 very general climatic consideration and general animal habitat consideration. The procedure 

 does not deal with geomorphic processes or riverine enviroiunents. However, this informa- 

 tion could be incorporated easily. 



Use in Determining State of System: The state of the system appears inherent at the asso- 

 ciation level in this procedure. The state of a system in regards to site succession and site 

 progression may be identified, but is not recognized as a part of the procedure. 



Relation to Other Procedures: This procedure has placed reliance on existing classification 

 procedures for zoogeography, world climates, wetland determination [through SCS hydric 

 procedures (assumed but not stated in document), world vegetation-habitat zones, and finally 

 successional vegetation procedures of Daubenmire creation]. 



Automated Data Processing: The procedure was set up in. a numeric fashion to facilitate 

 data processing. It is not known whether this procedure has an established data standard 

 through any Federal or State agency, however. 



Limitations and Assumptions: This procedure stresses the importance of evolutionary 

 origin and regional adaptation. The upper portions of the classification may have value to the 

 manager concerned with importing exotic species, recovering native species, and identifying 

 potential zones for adaptation. The lower portions of the classification are very similar to 

 many others* procedures and should provide suitable data at a more site or habitat specific 

 level. The classification does not provide prfiysical process information nor was it intended 

 to; however, this does not preclude more elaboration on the user's part. 



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