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CEGL001029 Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Poa secunda Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mountain Big Sagebrush / Sandberg Bluegrass Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: Stands of this shrubland association are known from Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho and scattered locations in south-central and southeastern Oregon and northwestern Colorado. It is noted in northern and central Nevada, but these may be early-seral stands of other Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana plant associations. At Craters of the Moon, this association is the most widespread vegetation type and is found on xeric sites with shallow soil, usually on (but not limited to) lava flows and cinder buttes. In the Uinta Basin, stands occur on gentle to moderate slopes on high plateaus between 2072 and 2427 m (6790-7960 feet) elevation. Soils in these sites are deep and well-developed and include clay loams, silt loams and sandy loams. Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana dominates stands, though other shrubs, such as Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Eriogonum microthecum, Linanthus pungens, Purshia tridentata, Amelanchier utahensis, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus, are also common. Poa secunda dominates the relatively sparse herbaceous understory. Other perennial grasses, such as Achnatherum thurberianum, Poa fendleriana, Hesperostipa comata, and Pseudoroegneria spicata, are occasionally found on pockets of better soil. Common forbs include Eriogonum heracleoides, Eriogonum ovalifolium, Trifolium gymnocarpon, and Eriogonum umbellatum.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: In contrast to stands with noticeable Achnatherum thurberianum, Festuca idahoensis, Hesperostipa comata, or Pseudoroegneria spicata, Poa secunda is the only perennial grass of significance in late-seral Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Poa secunda stands (Day and Wright 1985). Similar plant associations documented in northern and central Nevada, such as Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana - Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus / Poa secunda - Wyethia mollis, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Poa secunda - Balsamorhiza sagittata, and Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Poa secunda, are described as "low seral" communities (Tueller and Eckert 1987). They are probably seral to other Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana - Symphoricarpos oreophilus plant associations. For example, the indicator grass species Poa secunda had the highest constancy and cover in late-seral Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Elymus trachycaulus and Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Festuca idahoensis plant associations (Tueller and Eckert 1987).
In the Uinta Basin of northwestern Colorado (Dinosaur National Monument), stands of this association may be representative of ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Poa fendleriana Shrubland (CEGL002812)$$ or ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrubland (CEGL001030)$$ that have been degraded by grazing so that Poa secunda is dominant.
In the Uinta Basin of northwestern Colorado (Dinosaur National Monument), stands of this association may be representative of ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Poa fendleriana Shrubland (CEGL002812)$$ or ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrubland (CEGL001030)$$ that have been degraded by grazing so that Poa secunda is dominant.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The generally open to moderately dense shrub layer is dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana (15-65% cover). Other shrubs, such as Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Eriogonum microthecum, Linanthus pungens (= Leptodactylon pungens), Purshia tridentata, Amelanchier utahensis, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus, are also common. Poa secunda dominates the relatively sparse to moderately dense herbaceous understory with 1-20% cover. Other perennial graminoids, such as Achnatherum thurberianum, Carex geyeri, Elymus lanceolatus, Hesperostipa comata, Leymus cinereus, Leucopoa kingii, Pascopyrum smithii, Poa fendleriana, and Pseudoroegneria spicata, are occasionally found on pockets of better soil. Forb cover is generally sparse but may be moderately diverse in species composition. Common forbs include Eriogonum brevicaule, Eriogonum flavum, Eriogonum heracleoides, Eriogonum ovalifolium, Eriogonum umbellatum, Antennaria spp., Balsamorhiza sagittata, Comandra umbellata, Lupinus sericeus, Pteryxia terebinthina (= Cymopterus terebinthinus), Trifolium gymnocarpon and Wyethia mollis. Pinus flexilis seedlings and saplings are found in some stands.
Dynamics: Although uncommon throughout the range of Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, at Craters of the Moon National Monument, this shrubland is the most widespread vegetation type. Dominance of shallow-rooted grasses such as Poa secunda often indicates that the sites are too dry for deeper-rooted perennials to persist. Because Poa secunda is less palatable than most associated grasses, some stands of this association may be seral representations later seral associations such as ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Poa fendleriana Shrubland (CEGL002812)$$ or ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrubland (CEGL001030)$$ that have been degraded by grazing so that Poa secunda is dominant.
Environmental Description: Stands of this plant association are known from Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho and scattered locations in south-central and southeastern Oregon, western Wyoming and northwestern Colorado. It is noted in northern and central Nevada, but these may be early-seral stands of other Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana plant associations. At Craters of the Moon, this association is found on xeric sites with shallow soil, usually on (but not limited to) lavaflows and cinder buttes. In the Uinta Basin and southwestern Wyoming, stands occur on gentle to moderate slopes on high plateaus between 2072 and 2427 (6790-7960 feet)elevation. Soils in these sites are deep and well-developed and include clay loams, silt loams and sandy loams. Biological soil crusts tend to be sparse with low to high cover of litter with high to low bare soil cover.
Geographic Range: This plant association is known from Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho, south-central and southeastern Oregon, Dinosaur National Monument in northwestern Colorado and possibly north and central Nevada (Day and Wright 1985, Tueller and Eckert 1987, ORNHP 2001). The distribution of this association is discontinuous, partly due to the restriction of Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana to cooler and moister higher elevations. However, within the range of Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, the discontinuous distribution also probably reflects the lack of sites unsuitable for the growth of perennial grasses other than Poa secunda.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, ID, NV, OR, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687032
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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 | CEGL001029 Mountain Big Sagebrush / Sandberg Bluegrass Shrubland | CEGL001029 | 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 ssp. vaseyana - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Elymus trachycaulus (Tueller and Eckert 1987)
? Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Festuca idahoensis (Tueller and Eckert 1987)
? Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Poa secunda (Tueller and Eckert 1987)
? Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus / Poa secunda / Wyethia mollis (Tueller and Eckert 1987)
? Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Poa secunda / Balsamorhiza sagittata (Tueller and Eckert 1987)
? Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Poa secunda (Day and Wright 1985)
= Mountain Big Sagebrush / Sandberg Bluegrass Shrubland (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Poa secunda Shrubland) (Bell et al. 2009)
? Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Festuca idahoensis (Tueller and Eckert 1987)
? Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana - Symphoricarpos oreophilus / Poa secunda (Tueller and Eckert 1987)
? Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus / Poa secunda / Wyethia mollis (Tueller and Eckert 1987)
? Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Poa secunda / Balsamorhiza sagittata (Tueller and Eckert 1987)
? Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Poa secunda (Day and Wright 1985)
= Mountain Big Sagebrush / Sandberg Bluegrass Shrubland (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Poa secunda Shrubland) (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.
- 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.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- 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.
- Day, T. A., and R. G. Wright. 1985. The vegetation types of Craters of the Moon National Monument. Forestry, Wildlife, and Range Experiment Station Bulletin No. 38. University of Idaho, Moscow. 6 pp.
- Friesen, B. A., S. Blauer, K. Landgraf, J. Von Loh, J. Coles, K. Schulz, A. Tendick, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Fossil Butte National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2010/319. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 552 pp. [http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/fobu/foburpt.pdf]
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
- ORNHP [Oregon Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data files. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, The Nature Conservancy, Portland, OR.
- Peterson, E. B. 2008. International Vegetation Classification alliances and associations occurring in Nevada with proposed additions. Nevada Natural Heritage Program, Carson City, NV. 348 pp.
- Tueller, P. T., and R. E. Eckert, Jr. 1987. Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata vaseyana) and longleaf snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus) plant associations in northeastern Nevada. Great Basin Naturalist 47(1):117-131.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.