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CEGL001006 Artemisia tridentata / Achnatherum hymenoides Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Big Sagebrush / Indian Ricegrass Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This broadly defined sagebrush association is reported from the Great Basin to the western slope of the southern Rocky Mountains, but it likely occurs throughout the Intermountain western U.S. Stands occur in broad valleys in the Great Basin, on midslopes below rimrock on mesatops, on hillslopes, and along drainages and in washes in valley bottoms in the Colorado Plateau and southern Rocky Mountains. Sites are nearly level to moderately steep ranging from 1525-1677 m elevation in the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau to 2317-2546 m elevation in the southern Rocky Mountains. Substrates tend to be coarse-textured and likely have low salinity and high sand content, gravel or rocks. The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense (10-50% cover) shrub layer dominated by sagebrush, usually Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata, or with subspecies unspecified. A typically open herbaceous layer is characterized by the large bunchgrass Achnatherum hymenoides. Other shrubs present may include low cover of Artemisia frigida, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Grayia spinosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia spp., Quercus gambelii, and Rhus trilobata. Scattered trees may also be present. The herbaceous layer provides sparse to moderate cover. Other graminoids present on more diverse sites include Bouteloua gracilis, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii, and Poa secunda. Forb cover is variable and generally low.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: In some cases, this broadly defined association my include ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Achnatherum hymenoides Shrubland (CEGL001046)$$ when the subspecies is not known. Usually Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana (higher elevation) or Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata (valley bottoms) dominate stands in this association. As more data become available, it may be reasonable to create new sagebrush/ricegrass associations based on sagebrush subspecies.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This broadly defined sagebrush association is characterized by an open to moderately dense (10-50% cover) shrub layer of sagebrush, usually Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata, or with subspecies unspecified. A typically open herbaceous layer is characterized by the large bunchgrass Achnatherum hymenoides. Other shrubs present may include Artemisia frigida, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Grayia spinosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia spp., and Rhus trilobata. If Quercus gambelii is present, then it has low cover (<5%). Scattered Juniperus scopulorum or Pseudotsuga menziesii trees may also be present in higher elevation stands. The herbaceous layer provides sparse to moderate cover. Other herbs present on more diverse sites include graminoids Bouteloua gracilis, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa secunda, and forbs Chenopodium spp., Eriogonum umbellatum, Lepidium montanum, Mentzelia albicaulis, Phlox hoodii, and Sphaeralcea coccinea. Other species present include the annual exotic grass Bromus tectorum and exotic forbs Halogeton glomeratus, Descurainia sophia, and Salsola tragus.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This broadly defined sagebrush association occurs on a variety of landforms throughout its range, including sandy soils in broad valleys in the Great Basin, on midslopes below rimrock on mesatops, on hillslopes, and along drainages and in washes in valley bottoms in the Colorado Plateau and western slope of the Rocky Mountains. Sites are nearly level to moderately steep ranging from 1525-1677 m elevation in the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau to 2317-2546 m elevation in the southern Rocky Mountains. Substrates tend to be coarse-textured and likely have low salinity and high sand content, gravel or rocks. Parent materials are variable and include sandstones, shale, and alluvial deposits. The unvegetated surface has moderate to high cover of bare ground with moderate to low cover of rocks and gravel and low cover of litter.
Geographic Range: This broadly defined sagebrush association is found in the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and western slope of the Colorado Rocky Mountains; it likely occurs throughout much of the Intermountain western U.S.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NV, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685360
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 | A3194 Basin Big Sagebrush - Foothill Big Sagebrush Dry Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | A3194 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.a |
| Association | CEGL001006 Big Sagebrush / Indian Ricegrass Shrubland | CEGL001006 | 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 / Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus var. puberulus Community (Blackburn et al. 1968c) [Rabbitbrush cover was relatively low, but frequency was relatively high.]
= Artemisia tridentata dominated vegetation (Rickard and Beatley 1965) [Dominated by Artemisia tridentata with sparse herbaceous layer dominated by Artemisia tridentata. Subspecies of sagebrush is not stated.]
= Sagebrush vegetation type (Harper and Jaynes 1986)
= Artemisia tridentata dominated vegetation (Rickard and Beatley 1965) [Dominated by Artemisia tridentata with sparse herbaceous layer dominated by Artemisia tridentata. Subspecies of sagebrush is not stated.]
= Sagebrush vegetation type (Harper and Jaynes 1986)
- Blackburn, W. H., P. T. Tueller, and R. E. Eckert, Jr. 1968c. Vegetation and soils of the Duckwater watershed. Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin R-40. University of Nevada, Reno. 76 pp.
- 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.
- Clark, D., M. Dela Cruz, T. Clark, J. Coles, S. Topp, A. Evenden, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Capitol Reef National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2009/187. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 882 pp.
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- Harper, K. T., and R. A. Jaynes. 1986. Some edaphic and compositional characteristics of Artemisia tridentata and associated plant communities in southeastern Utah. Pages 265-272 in: E. D. McArthur and B. L. Welch, compilers. Proceedings-Symposium on the Biology of Artemisia and Chrysothamnus, 9-13 July, Provo, UT. General Technical Report INT-200. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT.
- Rickard, W. H., and J. C. Beatley. 1965. Canopy-coverage of the desert shrub vegetation mosaic of the Nevada Test Site. Ecology 46(4):524-529.
- Romme, W. H., K. D. Heil, J. M. Porter, and R. Fleming. 1993. Plant communities of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. USDI National Park Service, Technical Report NPS/NAUCARE/NRTER-93/02. Cooperative Park Studies Unit, Northern Arizona University. 37 pp.
- Schulz, K. A., and M. E. Hall. 2011. Vegetation inventory project: Great Basin National Park. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network. NatureServe, Western Regional Office, Boulder, CO. 30 pp. plus Appendices A-H.
- 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.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.