Harvey Monroe Hall
Location
37.966667, -119.316667
Harvey Monroe Hall Research Natural Area
This established RNA is on the Inyo National Forest. The south end of the RNA is only 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Tioga Pass (Highway 120). It occupies all or portions of sections 34 and 35 T2N, R24E and sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 T1N, R24E MDBM (37°58'N., 119°19'W.), USGS Tioga Pass quad. Ecological subsection – Glaciated Batholith (M261Eo).
Target element: alpine meadows and subalpine forest
Ecological and Physical Description
The RNA covers 3883 acres (1571 ha). Elevations range from 9600 ft (2926 m) along Lee Vining Creek to 12,590 ft (3837 m) atop Mount Conness. The entire area is drained by Lee Vining Creek, which flows from northwest to southeast.
Distinctive Features
Long History of Research: This RNA was one of the first established in California (1933). The Carnegie Institute of Washington’s classic studies on genotype-environment interactions made much use of the transplant gardens at the south end of the RNA. Many related studies were carried out in the 1940s and 1950s at these gardens. Since then, other researchers have used the area, studying social organization of Belding ground squirrels, dynamics of wind-blown detritus in snowbanks, and community structuring of subalpine forest birds. A partial bibliography listed by the author of this survey cites 41 references pertaining to the RNA.
High Floristic and Vegetational Diversity: Despite the high elevation of the RNA, a great variety of plants and association types occur. The many studies and botanical collections made in the area have made this one of the best-known RNAs botanically. Three hundred ninety-eight taxa of vascular plants in 190 genera and 55 families are represented. An extensive program of vegetation sampling conducted in this survey revealed 10 major habitat types, which were broken down into 31 vegetation alliances and 66 plant associations.
Rare Plants: Two species present in the RNA are members of CNPS List 2: Salix brachycarpa and Salix reticulata ssp. nivalis. The following are members of CNPS List 4: Astragalus kentrophyta var. danaus, Podistera nevadensis, and Scirpus clementis.
Association Types
A total of 374 stands of vegetation were sampled (releve method), and the results classified using the computer-generated TWINSPAN hierarchical system and detrended correspondence analysis ordination to produce the association tables. The primary division is between dry and wet sites. Within dry sites the next division is made between alpine and subalpine communities (a reflection primarily of temperature differences). The next level of division within dry sites is related to late and early snow-melt patterns. Wet site classification is based on site productivity with graminoid-dominated meadows being 2-3 times less productive than tall, herb-dominated associations. A total of 66 vegetation associations, grouping into thirty-one alliances, were delineated. The following summary lists the ten major habitat types with their corresponding alliances and associations. Sizes for associations are not given.
1. Rock Fissures (91200):
- Cystopteris fragilis alliance
- Heuchera rubescens-Cystopteris fragilis association
- Oxyria digyna alliance
- Draba lemmonii-Oxyria digyna association
2. Scree, Talus and Rock Outcrop Communities (91200):
- Carex congdonii-Arnica amplexicaulis alliance
- Arnica amplexicaulis-Carex congdonii association
- Sambucus microbotrys-Carex congdonii association
- Artemisia rothrockii alliance
- Holodiscus dumosus (H. microphyllus)-Mimulus suksdorfii association
- Stipa occidentalis-Eriogonum nudum association
- Artemisia rothrockii-Monardella odoratissima association
- Saxifraga nidifica-Mimulus rubellus alliance
- Saxifraga nidifica-Mimulus rubellus association
- Rhodiola integrifolia-Selaginella watsonii association
- Saxifraga bryophora association
- Polygonum minimum association
- Penstemon newberryi-Streptanthus tortuosus alliance
- Sedum obtusatum-Muhlenbergia montana association
- Spiraea densiflora association
- Pentaphylloides floribunda (Potentilla fruticosa) alliance
- Pentaphylloides floribunda-Danthonia unispicata association
3. Xeric Alpine Communities (91120):
- Minuartia nuttallii (Arenaria nuttallii)-Haplopappus macronema alliance
- Minuartia nuttallii association
- Calamagrostis purpurascens alliance
- Calamagrostis purpurascens-Leptodactylon pungens association
- Chrysothamnus monocephalus-Leptodactylon pungens association
- Elymus (Sitanion) hystrix-Phlox covillei alliance
- Festuca minutiflora-Penstemon davidsonii association
- Podistera nevadensis-Erigeron pygmeaus association
- Astragalus kentrophyta-Draba oligosperma association
- Elymus hystrix-Phlox covillei alliance
- Phlox covillei-Eriogonum incanum association
- Ivesia muirii association
- Hulsea algida alliance
- Macronema discoideum (Haplopappus macronema)-Phacelia frigida association
4. Subalpine Forests (86100, 86210, 86220, 86600):
- Pinus contorta (lodgepole pine) alliance
- Pinus contorta-Carex rossii association
- Pinus contorta-Thalictrum fendleri association
- Pinus contorta-Ledum glandulosum association
- Pinus albicaulis (whitebark pine) alliance
- Pinus albicaulis-Poa nervosa association
- Pinus albicaulis-Penstemon davidsonii association
- Tsuga mertensiana (mountain hemlock) alliance
- Tsuga mertensiana-Arnica cordifolia association
5. Snowpatch Communities (91300):
- Juncus parryi alliance
- Juncus parryi-Eriogonum incanum association
- Phyllodoce breweri association
- Carex spectabilis-Sibbaldia procumbens association
- Carex helleri alliance
- Eriogonum incanum-Raillardella argentea association
- Carex helleri-Ivesia lycopodioides association
- Saxifraga tolmiei-Luzula divaricata association
- Carex breweri alliance
- Carex breweri association
6. Well-Drained Meadows (45220, 45210):
- Carex exserta alliance
- Carex exserta-Saxifraga aprica association
- Calamagrostis breweri alliance
- Calamagrostis breweri-Vaccinium caespitosum association
- Calamagrostis breweri-Kalmia microphylla association
- Salix orestera-Calamagrostis breweri association
- Juncus drummondii-Calamagrostis breweri association
- Danthonia unispicata alliance
- Piltagrostis (Oryzopis) kingii-Senecio scorzonella association
- Phleum alpinum-Danthonia unispicata association
- Melica bulbosa alliance
- Stipa lemmonii-Carex straminiformis association
- Juncus balticus association
7. Tall-Herb and Willow Thickets (63500, 45210):
- Salix orestera-Allium validum alliance
- Salix orestera-Allium validum association
- Salix orestera-Senecio triangularis association
- Salix planifolia-Carex scopulorum association
- Veratrum californicum alliance
- Veratrum californicum-Senecio triangularis association
- Senecio triangularis-Carex spectabilis association
- Arnica mollis alliance
- Arnica mollis-Arabis davidsonii association
8. Poorly-Drained Meadows (45210):
- Carex luzulaefolia alliance
- Carex luzulaefolia-Ranunculus alismaefolius association
- Carex scopulorum-Pedicularis groenlandica alliance
- Eriophorum crinigerum-Carex scopulorum association
- Carex scopulorum-Pedicularis groenlandica association
- Eleocharis paucifora association
- Carex deweyana alliance
- Rorippa curvisiliqua-Carex deweyana association
- Juncus mertensianus association
- Carex nigricans alliance
- Salix arctica association
- Carex subnigricans-Dodecatheon alpinum association
- Carex nigricans-Kalmia microphylla association
- Carex vernacula-Antennaria alpina association
9. Flowing Springs and Shallow Streams (45210, 63500):
- Mimulus tilingii alliance
- Claytonia nevadensis association
- Mimulus tiningii-Poa gracillima association
- Deschampsia caespitosa alliance
- Deschampsia caespitosa-Solidago multiradiata association
10. Shallow Ponds and Standing Water (52430):
- Carex rostrata alliance
- Torreyochloa (Puccinellia) pauciflora-Isoetes bolanderi association
- Carex rostrata association
Plant Diversity
Three hundred ninety-eight taxa of vascular plants are listed.
Conflicting Impacts
The area is bounded on the southeast by a good gravel road to Saddlebag Lake and is only a few miles by road from Tioga Pass (Yosemite National Park east entrance). However, recreational use of the area is apparently not a significant impact in most areas. In the late 1800s and early 1900s sheep apparently overgrazed much of this area. However, no certain evidence of this impact remains.
The climate is high Sierran montane with copious winter snowfall. Average annual precipitation is estimated to be more than 25 inches (635 mm). There is great variation in temperature and growing season, between south- and north-facing slopes, valley bottoms, and so forth.
Glaciation strongly affected the topography. Several deeply glaciated northeast-facing cirques are present, with steep headwalls and flats or lakes at their floors. Much of the lower elevation area is stepped topography resulting from differential erosion along jointing planes in the granitic bedrock. The granitic rocks are part of the Cathedral Peak Quartz Monzonite and the Half Dome Quartz Monzonite. They occupy the west part of the area. The east portion is underlain by various metamorphic rocks including Paleozoic and Mesozoic metasediments, metadacite, banded calc-silicate hornfels, calc-silicate hornfels varying to limestone-marble, and basic metavolcanics. Soils are typically shallow and poorly developed except in meadows.
Fifteen lakes occur in the RNA in addition to a number of smaller perennial and ephemeral ponds. Lakes occur on various substrates (metamorphic and granitic) which affect their chemistry and biota. Eight small watersheds of approximately equal size are present, each with a perennial stream. Most of the streams arise from snowmelt. Three glaciers occur in the RNA; the largest is about 160 acres (65 ha).
Publications
- Sheauchi Cheng. 2004. Harvey Monroe Hall
- Sheauchi Cheng. 2004. Forest Service Research Natural Areas in California
- Todd Keeler-Wolf. 1990. Ecological surveys of Forest Service research natural areas in California