Print Report
CEGL001020 Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Balsamorhiza sagittata Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mountain Big Sagebrush / Arrowleaf Balsamroot Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrubland occurs on ridges, benches and mesas in the northern Colorado Plateau and western slope of the southern Rocky Mountains. Stands occur in somewhat isolated upland patches in western Colorado and in southwestern Wyoming. Slopes range from level to moderate and occur between 2300 and 2675 m (7545-8776 feet) elevation. Soils are derived from a wide variety of substrates; textures vary accordingly from clays to sandy loams. Biological soil crusts may be present but rarely have significant cover. Total vegetation cover ranges from 25 to nearly 100%. The vegetation is characterized by a shrub canopy of Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana (15-75%), often associated with Amelanchier utahensis, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and Purshia tridentata. The herbaceous understory is dominated by Balsamorhiza sagittata and other forbs, including Phlox spp., Eriogonum umbellatum, Castilleja linariifolia, Senecio integerrimus, Arenaria congesta, and Crepis acuminata. Total herbaceous cover ranges from 10 to 30%. Grasses vary among sites and may include Poa fendleriana, Poa secunda, Hesperostipa comata, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Achnatherum pinetorum, Achnatherum lettermanii, and Pascopyrum smithii. Scattered Juniperus osteosperma may be present, but pinyon or juniper trees appear not to threaten stands on high slopes and ridgetops because of their relatively thin soils. Fire tends to convert these sites to grasslands dominated by the herbaceous species present before the burn.
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: This shrubland is characterized by a sparse to dense cover of Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana (15-75%), with an herbaceous understory in which Balsamorhiza sagittata is the most conspicuous species. Total vegetation cover ranges from 25 to nearly 100%. Other shrubs are usually present as minor canopy elements, including Purshia tridentata, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Amelanchier utahensis, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, and the dwarf-shrub Mahonia repens. Total herbaceous cover ranges from 10 to 30%. Grasses often have 5 to 10% cover in the forb-dominated understory, but amounts vary among sites, and include Poa fendleriana, Poa secunda, Hesperostipa comata, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Achnatherum pinetorum, Achnatherum lettermanii, Leymus cinereus, and Pascopyrum smithii. Common forbs in addition to Balsamorhiza include Phlox spp., Eriogonum umbellatum, Arenaria congesta, Castilleja linariifolia, Crepis acuminata, Mertensia oblongifolia, Pteryxia terebinthina (= Cymopterus terebinthinus), Senecio integerrimus, and Wyethia amplexicaulis. Scattered individuals of Juniperus osteosperma may be present with less than 10% cover.
Dynamics: This association is in a mature stage of development. Pinyon or juniper trees may invade over time but appear not to threaten stands on high slopes and ridgetops because of their relatively thin soils. Fire tends to convert these sites to grasslands dominated by the herbaceous species present before the burn.
Environmental Description: This shrubland occurs on ridges, benches and mesas in the northern Colorado Plateau. Slopes range from level to moderate, and known sites occur between 2300 and 2675 m (7545-8776 feet) elevation. Soils are derived from a wide variety of substrates, including shales, volcanic tuff and limestone; textures vary accordingly from clays to clay loams and silty loams to sandy loams. The unvegetated surface has high exposure of bare soil and low to moderate cover of small rocks and litter. Biological soil crusts may be present but rarely have significant cover.
Geographic Range: This association is known from the northern Colorado Plateau and western slope of the southern Rocky Mountains. Stands occur in somewhat isolated upland patches in western Colorado and in southwestern Wyoming.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686099
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.c Spiked Big Sagebrush - Mountain Big Sagebrush - Mountain Silver Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group | G304 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c |
| Alliance | A3207 Spiked Big Sagebrush - Mountain Big Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | A3207 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c |
| Association | CEGL001020 Mountain Big Sagebrush / Arrowleaf Balsamroot Shrubland | CEGL001020 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia tridentata / Balsamorhiza sagittata Habitat Type (Hess and Wasser 1982)
= Artemisia tridentata / Balsamorhiza sagittata Plant Association/Habitat Type (Komarkova 1986)
= Artemisia tridentata / Balsamorhiza sagittata Plant Association/Habitat Type (Komarkova 1986)
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- Coles, J., D. Cogan, D. Salas, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, J. Von Loh, and A. Evenden. 2008a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Dinosaur National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR-2008/112. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 814 pp.
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- Hess, K., and C. H. Wasser. 1982. Grassland, shrubland, and forest habitat types of the White River-Arapaho National Forest. Unpublished final report 53-82 FT-1-19. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 335 pp.
- Johnston, B. C. 2001. Ecological types of the Upper Gunnison Basin. Technical Report R2-RR-2001-01. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Denver, CO.
- Komarkova, V. 1986. Habitat types on selected parts of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre national forests. Unpublished final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins, CO. 270 pp. plus appendices.
- 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.
- Terwilliger, C., Jr., and J. A. Tiedemann. 1978. Habitat types of the mule deer critical winter range and adjacent steppe region of Middle Park, Colorado. Unpublished report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 108 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.