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Quercus taxonomy
Quercus oblongifolia Torr.
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More info on this topic.
This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):
More info for the term: shrub
FRES21 Ponderosa pine
FRES28 Western hardwoods
FRES32 Texas savanna
FRES33 Southwestern shrubsteppe
FRES34 Chaparral - mountain shrub
FRES35 Pinyon - juniper
Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure
Reasons: Per FNA (1997): "Common in high grasslands and mid-elevation woodlands, mesas, and canyons." Known from southern Arizona, New Mexico, extreme southwestern Texas south to Chihuahua, Sonora, Coahuila, and Baja California Sur.
Mexican blue oak is common in foothills, mountains, and canyons from the
upper edge of desert grasslands extending up to pine woodlands
[7,26,33,35]. It occurs from 4,000 to 6,000 feet (1,219-1,829 m) in
elevation [7,12,44]. At lower elevations from 2,625 to 3,281 feet
(800-1,000 m), Mexican blue oak fingers into riparian communities
[33,40].
Mexican blue oak occurs in semiarid to arid climates with biseasonal
rainfall [31,33,45]. It is found on soils that are often thin, sandy,
rocky, and poorly developed [15,25,31]. Mexican blue oak may grow on
soils derived from granitic parent materials or mixed alluvium-colluvium
[3,33]. It occurs on 15 to 80 percent slopes of all aspects, depending
on moisture availability [2,3].
More info for the terms: codominant, cover, density, frequency
On the lower slopes of Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona, Mexican blue
oak is codominant with Emory oak in a mixed oak woodland. In this
community ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) has very low primary
productivity per year (5.7 mg/ha/yr) [18]. These woodlands are
noncommercial and have low net primary productivity [19]. Biomass and
volume equations have been developed for Mexican blue oak stand
assessments [10,11,14].
In open oak woodlands or savannas where Mexican blue oak occurs, oak
establishment should increase if grasses are preferentially consumed by
livestock [31].
In Arizona riparian woodlands at lower elevations, Mexican blue oak has
about 10 to 20 percent canopy cover [33]. At elevations where it is a
community dominant, Mexican blue oak has a density of 9.3 stems per acre
(23 stems/ha) and frequency of 21 percent. At higher elevations it has
densities of 1.2 to 2.8 (rarely 8) stems per acre (3-7 [rarely 20]
stems/ha) and frequency of 9 percent [31].
Mexican blue oak is susceptible to the wood-decay fungus Inonotus
andersonii. In the beginning stages of infection rotted branches drop
off, creating cavities which provide habitat for cavity nesting birds
and other wildlife. Advanced decay results in the death of older trees
[48].
More info on this topic.
This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):
66 Ashe juniper - redberry (Pinchot) juniper
235 Cottonwood - willow
237 Interior ponderosa pine
239 Pinyon - juniper
240 Arizona cypress
241 Western live oak
242 Mesquite
More info for the term: cover
Mexican blue oak provides food and cover for livestock and wildlife. It
is browsed by white-tailed and mule deer [1,38]. In the Pusch Ridge
Wilderness, Arizona, Mexican blue oak is a major browse species for
bighorn sheep [29]. Acorns are consumed by cattle and wildlife such as
deer, collared peccary, squirrels, and other rodents [12,21,30].
Numerous amphibians and reptiles use the communities in which Mexican
blue oak occurs [28].
Common in high grasslands and midelevation woodlands, mesas, and canyons; 1300-1650m.
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Prescribed burning in Mexican blue oak woodlands may promote sprouting
for wildlife browse. The open Mexican blue oak woodlands accumulate
dead material slowly and probably would not support frequent (less than
25 years) prescribed fires.
The habitat in which Mexican blue oak is dominant provides important
cover for mule deer [2].