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CEGL001018 Artemisia tridentata (ssp. tridentata, ssp. xericensis) / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrub Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: (Basin Big Sagebrush, Foothill Big Sagebrush) / Bluebunch Wheatgrass Shrub Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a tall-shrub type from deep soils in basins and foothills of the Idaho, Montana and Wyoming Rocky Mountains west to eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and northeastern California. Stands of this type grow in deep, generally alluvial soils of fans, swales, and draws in intermountain basins and in the foothills of the surrounding mountains. Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata dominates the shrub layer, which may contain Chrysothamnus spp. and Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis. Shrub cover generally ranges from 10-25%, but may exceed 25% in some stands. Pseudoroegneria spicata dominates the understory in good condition stands, which may also contain a variety of other graminoids and forbs. Bromus tectorum is common in degraded stands. The species composition of this type is very similar to ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrubland (CEGL001009)$$ (which grows on shallower, drier soils), but Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata dominates the overstory in this association. Stands of this type occupy deeper soils than do stands of the shorter ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrubland (CEGL001009)$$, which may form the surrounding matrix vegetation.
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: Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata forms a shrub layer commonly up to 1.5-2 m tall, with canopy cover of 10% to over 25%. Other shrub species that often are present in smaller amounts are Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus), and Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus. Atriplex confertifolia, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and Tetradymia canescens occur less frequently. Two subshrubs, Artemisia frigida and Gutierrezia sarothrae, usually are present in the understory. Pseudoroegneria spicata contributes substantial cover to the understory and dominates or codominates in stands in good condition. Other grass species that usually are present but contribute less cover are Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comata, Koeleria macrantha, Poa secunda, and Pascopyrum smithii. In degraded stands, Bromus briziformis or Bromus tectorum contribute substantial cover. A number of forbs may be present in small amounts, especially Erigeron spp., Linanthus watsonii (= Leptodactylon watsonii), Phlox hoodii, Opuntia polyacantha, and Allium cernuum.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This tall-shrub big sagebrush association is found on deep soils in basins and foothills of the Idaho, Montana and Wyoming Rocky Mountains west to eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and northeastern California. Stands of this association grow on moderately deep to deep soils of alluvial fans and higher stream terraces (Tweit and Houston 1980) and on slopes (Mueggler and Stewart 1980), as well swales and draws in intermountain basins and in the foothills of the surrounding mountains. Occasional stands in mountains occur on shallow, rocky soils. Judging from information about the similar Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Pseudoroegneria spicata - Stipa thurberiana Association (Hironaka et al. 1983), these soils are deeper and contain more moisture than the soils supporting Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis associations.
Geographic Range: This association at one time extended from the northeastern corner of California, eastern Oregon, and eastern Washington on the west to northwestern Wyoming on the east, and as far south as northeastern Nevada. It has been reported from southwestern Montana. It may also occur in northern Utah and perhaps in northwestern Colorado, although it apparently has not been found in vegetation surveys of northwestern Colorado.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685994
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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 | A3183 Basin Big Sagebrush - Foothill Big Sagebrush Mesic Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | A3183 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.b |
| Association | CEGL001018 (Basin Big Sagebrush, Foothill Big Sagebrush) / Bluebunch Wheatgrass Shrub Grassland | CEGL001018 | 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 (ssp. tridentata, ssp. xericensis) / Pseudoroegneria spicata (Jones and Ogle 2000)
= Artemisia tridentata (ssp. tridentata, ssp. xericensis) / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Cooper et al. 1999)
< Artemisia tridentata - Festuca idahoensis Habitat Type (Daubenmire 1970)
< Artemisia tridentata / Agropyron spicatum (MONT) habitat type (Mueggler and Stewart 1980) [The Artemisia tridentata / Agropyron spicatum (MONT) habitat type of Mueggler and Stewart (1980) in Montana includes vegetation dominated by A. tridentata ssp. wyomingensis and A. tridentata ssp. vaseyana as well as stands of this association.]
= Artemisia tridentata / Agropyron spicatum Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1984)
< Artemisia tridentata / Agropyron spicatum Habitat Type (Hironaka et al. 1983)
< Artemisia tridentata / Roegneria spicata Plant Association (Johnston 1987) [The Artemisia tridentata / Roegneria spicata plant association of Johnston (1987) includes vegetation types dominated by all three subspecies of A. tridentata.]
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Agropyron spicatum Community Type (Jensen et al. 1988a)
< Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Agropyron spicatum habitat type (Tweit and Houston 1980) [This plant association is the vegetation on undisturbed occurrences of the Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Agropyron spicatum habitat type of Tweit and Houston (1980); disturbed vegetation on their habitat type may belong to this association or to other vegetation types, depending on the composition of the vegetation.]
? Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Pseudoroegneria spicata - Stipa thurberiana Association (Daubenmire 1988) [from Washington (Daubenmire 1988), southern Idaho (Hironaka et al. 1983), and probably Oregon; similar in that stands of both associations occur on deep, usually alluvial soils, and have tall-shrub layers dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata and large amounts of Pseudoroegneria spicata in their understories. Stands of this type (CEGL001018), though, usually contain Artemisia frigida, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia polyacantha, and often Bouteloua gracilis, but lack Achnatherum thurberianum.]
= Basin Big Sagebrush / Bluebunch Wheatgrass Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation) (Bell et al. 2009)
= Artemisia tridentata (ssp. tridentata, ssp. xericensis) / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Cooper et al. 1999)
< Artemisia tridentata - Festuca idahoensis Habitat Type (Daubenmire 1970)
< Artemisia tridentata / Agropyron spicatum (MONT) habitat type (Mueggler and Stewart 1980) [The Artemisia tridentata / Agropyron spicatum (MONT) habitat type of Mueggler and Stewart (1980) in Montana includes vegetation dominated by A. tridentata ssp. wyomingensis and A. tridentata ssp. vaseyana as well as stands of this association.]
= Artemisia tridentata / Agropyron spicatum Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1984)
< Artemisia tridentata / Agropyron spicatum Habitat Type (Hironaka et al. 1983)
< Artemisia tridentata / Roegneria spicata Plant Association (Johnston 1987) [The Artemisia tridentata / Roegneria spicata plant association of Johnston (1987) includes vegetation types dominated by all three subspecies of A. tridentata.]
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Agropyron spicatum Community Type (Jensen et al. 1988a)
< Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Agropyron spicatum habitat type (Tweit and Houston 1980) [This plant association is the vegetation on undisturbed occurrences of the Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Agropyron spicatum habitat type of Tweit and Houston (1980); disturbed vegetation on their habitat type may belong to this association or to other vegetation types, depending on the composition of the vegetation.]
? Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Pseudoroegneria spicata - Stipa thurberiana Association (Daubenmire 1988) [from Washington (Daubenmire 1988), southern Idaho (Hironaka et al. 1983), and probably Oregon; similar in that stands of both associations occur on deep, usually alluvial soils, and have tall-shrub layers dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata and large amounts of Pseudoroegneria spicata in their understories. Stands of this type (CEGL001018), though, usually contain Artemisia frigida, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia polyacantha, and often Bouteloua gracilis, but lack Achnatherum thurberianum.]
= Basin Big Sagebrush / Bluebunch Wheatgrass Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation) (Bell et al. 2009)
- Bell, J., D. Cogan, J. Erixson, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation inventory project report, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/UCBN/NRTR-2009/277. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 358 pp.
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- Hansen, P. L., G. R. Hoffman, and A. J. Bjugstad. 1984. The vegetation of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota: A habitat type classification. General Technical Report RM-113. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 35 pp.
- 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.
- Jensen, M. E., L. S. Peck, and M. V. Wilson. 1988a. A sagebrush community type classification for mountainous northeastern Nevada rangelands. Great Basin Naturalist 48(4):422-433.
- Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
- Jones, G., and S. Ogle. 2000. Characterization abstracts for vegetation types on the Bighorn, Medicine Bow, and Shoshone national forests. Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Region 2 by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Mooney, M. J. 1985. A preliminary classification of high elevation sagebrush-grass plant vegetation in northern and central Nevada. Unpublished thesis, University of Nevada, Reno. 118 pp.
- Mueggler, W. F., and W. L. Stewart. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat types of western Montana. General Technical Report INT-66. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 154 pp.
- Tweit, S., and K. Houston. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat types of the Shoshone National Forest. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Shoshone National Forest.
- WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
- 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.