Print Report
CEGL001111 Quercus gambelii / Artemisia tridentata Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gambel Oak / Big Sagebrush Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This montane shrubland association has been described from mountains and plateaus of Utah and western Colorado. Sites are variable and occur on nearly level mesas to steep hillslopes (to 75%) coves, terraces, and washes. Elevation ranges from 1512-2506 m (4950-8215 feet). Soils are rapidly drained sandy loam, loamy sand, and gravelly loams. There is typically high cover of litter and low to moderate cover by bedrock, large and small rocks, and bare ground. The vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense to dense (10-65% cover) tall-shrub layer (2-5 m tall) that is dominated by Quercus gambelii, with a sparse to moderately dense short-shrub layer dominated by Artemisia tridentata, often forming a mosaic of oak and sagebrush. If present, Amelanchier spp. and Cercocarpus montanus occur in minor amounts (<10% cover). Other shrubs that may be present include Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Purshia tridentata, Opuntia spp., Rosa spp., Symphoricarpos spp., and Tetradymia canescens. The relatively sparse herbaceous layer is a mixture of grasses and forbs. In stands with a relatively sparse mixed shrub layer (<25% total shrub cover), Artemisia tridentata needs to strongly dominate (have twice the cover of other short shrubs such as Amelanchier spp. and Cercocarpus montanus) to separate from similar associations.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This plant association is similar to other montane Gambel oak shrublands, except for the codominance of Artemisia tridentata with only minor amounts (<10% cover) of Amelanchier utahensis or Cercocarpus montanus. In stands with a relatively sparse mixed shrub layer (<25% total shrub cover), Artemisia tridentata needs to strongly dominate (have twice the cover of other short shrubs such as Amelanchier spp. and Cercocarpus montanus) to separate from similar associations.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is characterized by a moderately dense to dense (10-65% cover) tall-shrub layer (2-5 m tall) that is dominated by Quercus gambelii, with a sparse to moderately dense short-shrub layer dominated by Artemisia tridentata, often forming a mosaic of oak and sagebrush. Scattered Juniperus scopulorum or Juniperus osteosperma trees may be present with low cover. If present, Amelanchier spp. and Cercocarpus montanus occur in minor amounts (<10% cover). Other shrubs that may be present include Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Fraxinus anomala, Purshia tridentata, Opuntia spp., Rosa spp., Symphoricarpos spp., and Tetradymia canescens. In stands with a relatively sparse mixed shrub layer (<25% total shrub cover), Artemisia tridentata needs to strongly dominate (have twice the cover of other short shrubs such as Amelanchier spp. and Cercocarpus montanus) to separate from similar associations. The relatively sparse herbaceous layer is a mixture of grasses and forbs. Graminoids commonly present are Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum pinetorum, Carex geyeri, Carex rossii, Elymus elymoides, Poa fendleriana, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. Common forbs include Achillea millefolium, Artemisia ludoviciana, Astragalus drummondii, Penstemon teucrioides, Thalictrum fendleri, or Vicia americana.
Dynamics: Fire is important in maintaining the montane shrublands, as burning eliminates Juniperus osteosperma and Pinus edulis trees, but not the more fire-adapted shrub species. Quercus gambelii is a fire-adapted species with a well-developed root system used to draw moisture from a large volume of soil allowing for rapid resprouting after fire (Clary 1992). However, Artemisia tridentata shrubs are killed by burns and do not resprout (Wright et al. 1979). Artemisia tridentata will re-establish relatively quickly (about 10-20 years) if a seed source is nearby (Bunting 1987). If fire-return intervals are more frequent than 10 years, then Artemisia tridentata has difficulty recovering (Bunting 1987, Everett 1987). Artemisia tridentata may be able to persist in this community where an open shrub canopy and a sparse herbaceous layer limit fire movement and make it unlikely that it would burn except under extreme conditions.
Environmental Description: This shrubland association has been described from mountains and plateaus of Utah and western Colorado. Elevation ranges from 1512-2506 m (4950-8215 feet). Sites are on nearly level mesas to steep hillslopes (to 75%), coves, terraces, and washes. Soils are rapidly drained sandy loam, loamy sand, and gravelly loams. There is typically high cover of litter and low to moderate cover by bedrock, large and small rocks, and bare ground.
Geographic Range: This montane shrubland association occurs in mountains and plateaus of Utah and western Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685113
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D022 | 2.B.2.Nf |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nf.1 Gambel Oak - Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany - Bitterbrush species Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Shrubland Macrogroup | M049 | 2.B.2.Nf.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.1.a Gambel Oak - Serviceberry species - Chokecherry Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Shrubland Group | G277 | 2.B.2.Nf.1.a |
| Alliance | A3735 Gambel Oak - Mountain Snowberry Shrubland Alliance | A3735 | 2.B.2.Nf.1.a |
| Association | CEGL001111 Gambel Oak / Big Sagebrush Shrubland | CEGL001111 | 2.B.2.Nf.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Mountain Brush Community (Christensen 1955)
>< Mountain Shrub Complex (Boucek 1986) [This complex is made up of oak and sagebrush subtypes.]
>< Mountain Shrub Complex (Boucek 1986) [This complex is made up of oak and sagebrush subtypes.]
- Blackhawk Coal Company. 1981. Vegetation resources. Chapter 9 Section 9.2, pages 9-1 through 9-27 in: Mining and Reclamation Plan for Willow Creek Mine, Blackhawk Coal Company. Utah Division of Oil, Gas & Mining Number ACT/007/002. Salt Lake City, UT.
- Boucek, M. M. 1986. Vegetation survey at the Summit No.1 Coal Mine, Summit County, Utah. Volume 1, Section 783.19, Appendix 783.19. Pages 1-15 in Mining and Reclamation Plan. Summit Minerals Inc. Utah Division of Oil, Gas & Mining Number ACT/043/001. Salt Lake City.
- 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.
- Bunting, S. C. 1987. Use of prescribed burning in juniper and pinyon-juniper woodlands. Pages 141-144 in: R. L. Everett, compiler. Proceedings--pinyon-juniper conference; 1986 January 13-16; Reno, NV. General Technical Report INT-215. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT.
- Christensen, E. M. 1955. Ecological notes on the mountain brush in Utah. Proceedings of the Utah Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters 32:107-111.
- Clary, W. P. 1992. Ecology and values of Gambel oak woodlands. Pages 87-95 in: Ecology and management of oak and associated woodlands. General Technical Report RM-218. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 224 pp.
- Cogan, D., M. Reid, K. Schulz, and M. Pucherelli. 2004. Zion National Park, Utah 1999-2003. Vegetation Mapping Project. Technical Memorandum 8260-03-01. Remote Sensing and GIS Group Technical Service Center, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. Appendix F: Vegetation Association Descriptions for Zion.
- 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.
- Everett, R. L. 1987. Plant response to fire in the pinyon-juniper zone. Pages 152-157 in R. L. Everett, compiler. Proceedings pinyon-juniper conference: 1986 January 13-16, Reno, NV. General Technical Report INT-215. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, K. Decker, M. Hall, J. Von Loh, T. Belote, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2012. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Canyonlands National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2012/577. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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.
- Tendick, A., J. Spence, M. Reid, K. Shulz, G. Kittel, K. Green, A. Wight, and G. Wakefield. 2017. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRR—2017/1500. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 1464 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Wright, H. A., L. F. Neuenschwander, and C. M. Britton. 1979. The role and use of fire in sagebrush-grass and pinyon-juniper plant communities: A state of the art review. General Technical Report INT-58. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT.