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CEGL000991 Artemisia tridentata Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Big Sagebrush Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This broadly defined sagebrush shrubland is described from eastern California, Nevada, and Utah, but likely occurs throughout much of the western U.S. Elevations range from 1340-2225 m. This association is used to describe any Artemisia tridentata-dominated shrubland where the subspecies is not known and the herbaceous layer is generally sparse. The herbaceous layer may be limited by substrate or disturbance. Stands in Utah and California have moderate cover (25-50%) of Artemisia tridentata often with scattered individuals of Ephedra cutleri, Ericameria nauseosa, Grayia spinosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia polyacantha, or Sarcobatus vermiculatus. If present, the herbaceous layer typically consists of low cover of graminoids such as Distichlis spicata and Elymus elymoides. Landforms include canyon bottom drainage channels, dunes, basins and slopes. Substrates are variable; soil texture ranges from sand to clay.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is largely known and described from National Park Service inventory efforts in the Colorado Plateau. This is a broadly defined, low-confidence association that could be split into several associations with more information. There are many associations defined for all subspecies of Artemisia tridentata. It has been used to classify often depauperate big sagebrush-dominated stands at the edge of its range that lack a significant understory layer. Leary and Peterson (1984) identified Artemisia tridentata in their stands to ssp. tridentata; however, their stands were almost pure Artemisia tridentata with little else to classify into a less general association.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Short shrubs are 0.5-2 m tall.
Floristics: This broadly defined association is used to describe any Artemisia tridentata-dominated shrubland where the subspecies is not known and the herbaceous layer is generally sparse. The herbaceous layer may be limited by substrate or disturbance. Stands in Utah and California had a moderately dense short-shrub layer (25-70%) dominated by Artemisia tridentata. Associated shrub species may codominate, but more typically occur as scattered individuals including Ephedra cutleri, Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Grayia spinosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, or Opuntia polyacantha. If present, the herbaceous layer typically consists of low cover of graminoids such as Distichlis spicata and Elymus elymoides.
Dynamics: Ecological processes vary among sites.
Environmental Description: This broadly defined sagebrush shrubland is reported from the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin and Uinta Basin but is likely more widespread. Elevations range from 1340-2225 m. Landforms include canyon bottom drainage channels, dunes, basins, and slopes. Substrates are variable; soil texture ranges from sand to clay.
Geographic Range: This sagebrush shrubland is reported from the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert in northern Arizona, eastern California, Nevada, and Utah, but likely occurs throughout much of the Intermountain West.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, NV, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689644
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5?
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 | CEGL000991 Big Sagebrush Shrubland | CEGL000991 | 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 (Sawyer et al. 2009) [35.110.02]
> Artemisia tridentata Association (Leary and Peterson 1984) [(p.62)]
= Artemisia tridentata Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Artemisia tridentata Shrubland (Von Loh 2000)
> Artemisia tridentata Vegetation Zone VIII (Ralston 1969) [(p.33)]
> Artemisia tridentata Association (Leary and Peterson 1984) [(p.62)]
= Artemisia tridentata Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Artemisia tridentata Shrubland (Von Loh 2000)
> Artemisia tridentata Vegetation Zone VIII (Ralston 1969) [(p.33)]
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