Print Report
CEGL001005 Artemisia tridentata / Pleuraphis jamesii Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Big Sagebrush / James'' Galleta Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrubland association occurs on warm sites with relatively deep soils at around 2000 m (6560 feet) elevation in the Colorado Plateau and Great Basin. Slopes are gentle to moderate, aspects tend to be southerly, and the sandy soils may have a high percentage of bare soil, rock and gravel. This shrubland association is characterized by low to moderate cover of Artemisia tridentata and an understory dominated by grasses, chief among them Pleuraphis jamesii. Chrysothamnus depressus and various species of cactus are common in the shrub layer but with very low cover. Many other grasses may grow with the Pleuraphis, including Achnatherum hymenoides, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, and Pascopyrum smithii. Forbs are sparse and include no diagnostic species. Most stands have been impacted by domestic livestock grazing.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The plot at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park was placed in this association because the dominant shrub was identified as Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana. It is possible that this plot contains a hybrid of Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis and Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana. Most examples of this association are probably dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis and should be placed in a different association [see CEGL002084].
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This shrubland association is characterized by low to moderate cover of Artemisia tridentata and an understory dominated by grasses, chief among them Pleuraphis jamesii. Chrysothamnus depressus and various species of cactus are common in the shrub layer but with very low cover. Many other grasses may grow with the Pleuraphis, including Achnatherum hymenoides, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, and Pascopyrum smithii. Forbs are sparse and include no diagnostic species.
Dynamics: Most stands of this association have been impacted to some degree by domestic livestock grazing. Herbaceous cover in ungrazed stands would likely be higher than the 3% average reported.
Environmental Description: This shrubland association occurs on warm sites with relatively deep soils at around 2000 m (6560 feet) elevation in Colorado. Slopes are gentle to moderate, aspects tend to be southerly, and the sandy soils may have a high percentage of bare soil, rock and gravel.
Geographic Range: This species has been reported from Nevada (Tueller et al. 1966) and western Colorado. Nothing is known about the habitat characteristics or species composition of stands in Nevada. Examples from both states may actually belong in ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Pleuraphis jamesii Shrubland (CEGL002084)$$.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NM, NV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684498
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5
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 | A3184 Wyoming Big Sagebrush Dry Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | A3184 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.a |
| Association | CEGL001005 Big Sagebrush / James'' Galleta Shrubland | CEGL001005 | 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 / Pleuraphis jamesii (Evens et al. 2014)
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- Coles, J., A. Tendick, J. Von Loh, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/361. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
- Salas, D. E., D. Wegner, and L. Floyd-Hanna. 2009. Vegetation mapping and classification report: Aztec Ruins National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2009/244. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 90 pp.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, P. Williams, G. Bradshaw, G. Manis, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Curecanti National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/408. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 797 pp.
- Tueller, P. T., D. H. Heinze, and R. E. Eckert. 1966. A tentative list of existing Nevada plant communities (A third approximation). Unpublished report prepared for the Department of Range Wildlife and Forestry, University of Nevada, Reno. 14 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.