Print Report
CEGL001027 Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Leymus cinereus Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mountain Big Sagebrush / Basin Wildrye Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This widely distributed association occupies shallow upland drainages associated with springs, slumps or seepage areas on hillslopes, as well as riparian terraces. Stands are small and isolated but occur throughout the sagebrush zone in the Great Basin, Wyoming Basins and Uinta Basin. Sites are located on gentle to moderate lee slopes (3-30%) that collect windblown snow and may be oriented to any aspect. Elevations range between 2100 and 2560 m (6890-8400 feet). Soils are deep, well-developed, moderately well-drained and variable in texture. The underlying substrate is sandstone, marlstone or shale. Shrub cover is lower in this association than in most mountain sagebrush types. Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana dominates the shrub layer with at least 10% cover. Other shrubs present are Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Tetradymia canescens, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Rosa woodsii, and Ericameria nauseosa. Leymus cinereus is the dominant grass, usually with at least 10% cover, although cover may be lower in stands that have been heavily grazed. Associated grasses include Elymus lanceolatus, Bromus carinatus, Festuca idahoensis, Poa pratensis, Poa fendleriana, and Poa secunda. Forb species contribute sparse cover and vary among sites. Common species include Achillea millefolium, Balsamorhiza sagittata, and Phlox spp.
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 association is relatively common within its range but tends to occur in small, isolated stands. Shrub cover is lower in this association than in most mountain sagebrush types. Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana dominates the shrub layer with at least 10% cover. Other shrubs present are Symphoricarpos oreophilus, Tetradymia canescens, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Rosa woodsii, and Ericameria nauseosa. Leymus cinereus is the dominant grass, usually with at least 10% cover, although cover may be lower in stands that have been heavily grazed. Associated graminoids include Elymus lanceolatus, Bromus carinatus, Carex filifolia, Festuca idahoensis, Leucopoa kingii, Pascopyrum smithii, Poa fendleriana, and Poa secunda. Forb species contribute sparse cover and vary among sites. Common species include Achillea millefolium, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Cirsium undulatum, Comandra umbellata, Eriogonum umbellatum, Linum lewisii, Lithospermum ruderale, Mertensia oblongifolia, Phlox spp., Pteryxia terebinthina (= Cymopterus terebinthinus), and Trifolium gymnocarpon. Introduced species such as Bromus tectorum, Poa pratensis, Thinopyrum intermedium, and Taraxacum officinale are common in some stands.
Dynamics: This association requires an unusual combination of soil characteristics; soils must be aerated to support sagebrush, but the water table must be high enough to support the wild rye. Fire converts this association to a Leymus cinereus grassland. Heavy grazing through the growing season will eventually remove the Leymus cinereus and convert this type to a denser sagebrush shrubland with a sparse or weedy understory.
Environmental Description: This widely distributed association occupies shallow upland drainages associated with springs, slumps or seepage areas on hillsides, as well as riparian terraces. Stands are small and isolated but occur throughout the sagebrush zone in the Great Basin, Wyoming Basins and Uinta Basin. Sites are located on gentle to moderate lee slopes (3-30%) that collect windblown snow and may be oriented to any aspect. Elevations range between 2100 and 2560 m (6890-8400 feet). Substrates are deep, well-developed, moderately well-drained alluvial or colluvial soils with variable texture ranging from clay to sand loam. Parent materials include sandstone, marlstone or shale. Bare soil, gravel or litter cover most of the unvegetated ground surface.
Geographic Range: This association is widely distributed from small, isolated stands in northwestern Colorado (Dinosaur National Monument) and southwestern Wyoming (Fossil Butte National Monument). It has been reported from northern and central Nevada, northeastern Utah, southwestern Montana, southern Idaho and possibly from northeastern California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA?, CO, ID, MT, NV, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688900
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4?
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 | CEGL001027 Mountain Big Sagebrush / Basin Wildrye Shrubland | CEGL001027 | 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 / Elymus cinereus / Bromus carinatus Association (Mooney 1985)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Elymus cinereus Community Type (Jensen et al. 1988a)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Leymus cinereus Plant Association (Cooper et al. 1999)
= Mountain Big Sagebrush / Basin Wildrye Shrubland (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Leymus cinereus Shrubland) (Bell et al. 2009)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Elymus cinereus Community Type (Jensen et al. 1988a)
= Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Leymus cinereus Plant Association (Cooper et al. 1999)
= Mountain Big Sagebrush / Basin Wildrye Shrubland (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Leymus cinereus 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.
- Cooper, S. V., C. Jean, and B. L. Heidel. 1999. Plant associations and related botanical inventory of the Beaverhead Mountains Section, Montana. Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 235 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]
- 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.
- IDCDC [Idaho Conservation Data Center]. 2005. Wetland and riparian plant associations in Idaho. Idaho Conservation Data Center, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise. [http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/tech/CDC/ecology/wetland_riparian_assoc.cfm] (accessed 14 June 2005).
- 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.
- 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.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.