Print Report
CEGL001049 Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Poa secunda Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Wyoming Big Sagebrush / Sandberg Bluegrass Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This open to moderately dense shrubland occurs as patches in a matrix of other shrubland or shrub-steppe types in the Columbia and Uinta basins of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming and Colorado. Stands are on level to moderate slopes of derived substrates such as loess deposits or alluvial fans and terraces, often modified by a veneer of alluvial cobble or gravel. Elevations range from 1675 to 2300 m (5500-7550 feet). Soils are generally calcareous, excessively well-drained, fine-textured silts or fine sands, often deep to bedrock but sometimes with a shallow duripan that limits water infiltration. Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis dominates the shrub canopy and ranges from 15-45% cover. Atriplex confertifolia, Purshia tridentata, or Ericameria nauseosa are often present in the shrub layer. Other shrubs may be scattered through the shrub canopy. The native bunchgrass Poa secunda is typically dominant in the sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer. Other grasses present have lower cover and include Achnatherum hymenoides, Elymus elymoides, Elymus lanceolatus, Hesperostipa comata, and Pascopyrum smithii. Forbs are a minor and variable component of this association .
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This sparse shrubland often occupies the lowest, driest sites within the shrub-steppe mosaic in which it occurs. The named species may often be the only species of note present. Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis dominates the open to moderately dense shrub canopy that generally does not exceed 1 m in height and ranges from 15-45% cover. Atriplex confertifolia, Purshia tridentata, or Ericameria nauseosa are often present in the shrub layer. Other shrubs such as Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Atriplex gardneri, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Grayia spinosa, or Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata may be scattered through the shrub canopy. The native bunchgrass Poa secunda is typically dominant in the sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer. Other grasses present may include Achnatherum hymenoides, Elymus elymoides, Elymus lanceolatus, Hesperostipa comata, Koeleria macrantha, and Pascopyrum smithii. Forbs are a minor and variable component of this association . Species include Descurainia pinnata, Eriogonum brevicaule, Petradoria pumila, Phlox hoodii, Sphaeralcea coccinea, Stenotus acaulis, and Trifolium gymnocarpon. Introduced species, such as the annual grass Bromus tectorum and forbs Alyssum desertorum, Ceratocephala testiculata (= Ranunculus testiculatus), and Taraxacum officinale, may also occur. Cryptogams usually provide sparse cover and include mosses and lichens.
Dynamics: Burning or grazing may promote dominance of these shrublands by Bromus tectorum. Dominance of shallow-rooted grasses such as Poa secunda indicates that the sites are too dry for deeper-rooted perennials to persist. The distribution of patches of this association may be controlled by microhabitat factors, such as snow depth, that are difficult to predict or model. Because Poa secunda is less palatable than most associated grasses, some stands of Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Poa secunda in Colorado may represent degraded stands of ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrubland (CEGL001009)$$.
Environmental Description: This sparse shrubland occurs as patches in a matrix of other shrubland or shrub-steppe types in the Columbia Basin of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, extending south into northern Nevada and east into western Wyoming with outliers in northwestern Colorado. Slopes range from level to moderate, and many stands are on derived substrates such as loess deposits or alluvial fans and terraces, often modified by a veneer of alluvial cobble or gravel. Annual precipitation in the main part of the range is around 18 cm (7 inches), and the climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cold, dry winters. Elevations range from 1675 to 2300 m (5500-7550 feet). Soils are generally calcareous, excessively well-drained, fine-textured silts, clays or fine sands, often deep to bedrock but sometimes with a shallow duripan that limits water infiltration. The unvegetated surface has moderate to high exposure of bare soil, low to moderate cover of litter, low cover of small rocks, and sparse cover of downed wood. Parent materials include shales from the Wasatch and Moenkopi formations , sometimes modified by the presence of lag gravels of the Bishop Conglomerate.
Geographic Range: This association has been documented from northwestern Colorado, northeastern Nevada (Jensen et al. 1988a, b), southern Idaho (Hironaka et al. 1983), the Columbia Basin of eastern Washington (Franklin and Dyrness 1969) and Oregon (Kagan et al. 2000). It is likely to occur in Wyoming and possibly also in northeastern California and southern Montana.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA?, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684010
Confidence Level: High
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class | C03 | 3 |
| Subclass | 3.B Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S11 | 3.B |
| Formation | 3.B.1 Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F033 | 3.B.1 |
| Division | 3.B.1.Ne Western North American Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D040 | 3.B.1.Ne |
| Macrogroup | 3.B.1.Ne.3 Big Sagebrush - Threetip Sagebrush - Antelope Bitterbrush Steppe & Shrubland Macrogroup | M169 | 3.B.1.Ne.3 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.3.b Basin Big Sagebrush - Threetip Sagebrush - Antelope Bitterbrush Big Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group | G302 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.b |
| Alliance | A3182 Wyoming Big Sagebrush Mesic Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | A3182 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.b |
| Association | CEGL001049 Wyoming Big Sagebrush / Sandberg Bluegrass Shrubland | CEGL001049 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Artemisia tridentata / Poa secunda (Franklin and Dyrness 1969)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Poa sandbergii Community Type (Caicco and Wellner 1983l)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Poa sandbergii Community Type (Jensen et al. 1988b)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Poa secunda Shrubland (Friesen et al. 2010)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Poa secunda Shrubland (Coles et al. 2008a)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Poa secunda Shrubland (Bell et al. 2009)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Poa secunda Shrubland (Erixson and Cogan 2009)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Poa sandbergii Community Type (Jensen et al. 1988a)
= Artemisia wyomingensis / Poa sandbergii Habitat Type (Hironaka et al. 1983)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Poa sandbergii Community Type (Caicco and Wellner 1983l)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Poa sandbergii Community Type (Jensen et al. 1988b)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Poa secunda Shrubland (Friesen et al. 2010)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Poa secunda Shrubland (Coles et al. 2008a)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Poa secunda Shrubland (Bell et al. 2009)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Poa secunda Shrubland (Erixson and Cogan 2009)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Poa sandbergii Community Type (Jensen et al. 1988a)
= Artemisia wyomingensis / Poa sandbergii Habitat Type (Hironaka et al. 1983)
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- Franklin, J. F., and C. T. Dyrness. 1969. Vegetation of Oregon and Washington. Research Paper PNW-80. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, OR. 216 pp.
- Friesen, B. A., S. Blauer, K. Landgraf, J. Von Loh, J. Coles, K. Schulz, A. Tendick, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Fossil Butte National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/319. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 552 pp. [http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/fobu/foburpt.pdf]
- Hironaka, M., M. A. Fosberg, and A. H. Winward. 1983. Sagebrush-grass habitat types of southern Idaho. Forestry, Wildlife, and Range Experiment Station Bulletin No. 15, University of Idaho, Moscow. 44 pp.
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- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.