Print Report
CEGL001040 Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis - Atriplex confertifolia Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Wyoming Big Sagebrush - Shadscale Saltbush Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This type is found irregularly in xeric, alkaline sites in the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin and northwestern Great Plains of the United States. Slopes tend to be gentle to moderate, and the relatively deep, alkaline soils may be modified by a thin layer of alluvial or colluvial deposits. Stands are dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, with Atriplex confertifolia as an associate. The understory tends to be sparse and inconsistent in its composition.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type needs further characterization. In the Great Plains, the type is largely synonymous with ~Artemisia tridentata - Atriplex confertifolia Shrubland (CEGL000993)$$. DeVelice and Lesica (1993) described stands of Artemisia tridentata - Atriplex confertifolia Community Type that likely were dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, but sagebrush was not keyed to subspecies. These stands were included in the concept of this association but are also referenced in ~Artemisia tridentata - Atriplex confertifolia Shrubland (CEGL000993)$$ because of the possibility that some of the stands were dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata. More information is needed as to how much Atriplex confertifolia cover is needed to classify a stand as this association. A number of the existing Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis associations list Atriplex confertifolia as an associate. DeVelice and Lesica (1993) sampled four stands that averaged 28% cover Artemisia tridentata, 4% cover Atriplex confertifolia, 2% cover Picrothamnus desertorum, and 2% cover Atriplex gardneri. Knight et al. (1987) indicate that in their stands Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis averaged 7% cover, Picrothamnus desertorum averaged 1% cover, and Atriplex confertifolia averaged <1%. This closely resembles plots at Dinosaur National Monument that were assigned to other Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis associations.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands of this somewhat sparsely vegetated association are dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, with between 1 and 28% cover. Atriplex confertifolia is present and may be codominant. Other shrub species that may be present include Atriplex gardneri, Ericameria nauseosa, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Grayia spinosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia polyacantha, Picrothamnus desertorum, Tetradymia spinosa, and Sarcobatus vermiculatus. The understory in most stands is relatively sparse, rarely exceeding 10% total cover. Herbaceous species may include small amounts of Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Lepidium montanum, Oenothera pallida, Phlox hoodii, Pleuraphis jamesii, Linanthus pungens (= Leptodactylon pungens), Sphaeralcea coccinea, and Sporobolus airoides. Stands degraded by grazing may have an understory dominated or codominated by Bromus tectorum.
Dynamics: This association appears to occupy sites where an alkaline substrate such as a marine shale has been modified by a coating of alluvium or colluvium. Thus, both of the dominant species of shrubs, which vary in their tolerance of alkaline conditions, can persist.
Environmental Description: This short shrubland association occurs on slopes, ridgetops and benches in dry habitats of the Colorado Plateau and Great Basin, extending into the northwestern Great Plains. It is found in lowlands and on terraces and alluvial fans in the outwash plains near Bighorn and Prior mountains (Knight et al. 1987, DeVelice and Lesica 1993) in north-central Wyoming, northwestern Colorado and south-central Montana. Elevations range between 1120 and 1800 m (3680-5900 feet), slopes range from level to gently sloping, and sites may be oriented to any aspect. Soil textures are variable, including silty loam, clay loam, sandy loam and sandy clay, and generally are derived from alluvium, sandstone, siltstone or shale. Soils of this association are more alkaline than those of adjacent sagebrush steppe associations (Knight et al. 1987) and similar in alkalinity to soils supporting saltbush associations. Biological soil crusts may cover up to 50% of the unvegetated ground surface in undisturbed stands.
Geographic Range: This type is found irregularly in the Columbia Plateau, Colorado Plateau, Great Basin and northwestern Great Plains of the United States, ranging from western North Dakota to Montana and southwest to Utah and California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, CO, MT, OR, UT, WY?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684222
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G5
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.a Wyoming Big Sagebrush - Basin Big Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group | G303 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.a |
| Alliance | A3198 Big Sagebrush - Mixed Shrub Dry Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | A3198 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.a |
| Association | CEGL001040 Wyoming Big Sagebrush - Shadscale Saltbush Shrubland | CEGL001040 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Artemisia tridentata - Atriplex confertifolia Community Type (DeVelice and Lesica 1993) [Likely dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, but sagebrush were not keyed to subspecies.]
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis - Atriplex confertifolia Shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
>< Mixed desert shrubland (Knight et al. 1987) [Dominated by Artemisia tridentata with <1% cover of Atriplex confertifolia; occurs where big sagebrush is largely restricted to ravines and depressions.]
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis - Atriplex confertifolia Shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
>< Mixed desert shrubland (Knight et al. 1987) [Dominated by Artemisia tridentata with <1% cover of Atriplex confertifolia; occurs where big sagebrush is largely restricted to ravines and depressions.]
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