Print Report
CEGL002966 Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Hesperostipa comata Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Basin Big Sagebrush / Needle-and-Thread Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrubland association occurs in small to large patches on point bars, stream terraces, valley floors and alluvial fans in the interior western U.S. and possibly British Columbia, Canada. Slopes are generally gentle but can range up to 20% in steeper tributary drainages. Elevations range from 1220 to 2000 m at any aspect. Soils are sandy loams or loamy sands derived from alluvium. Although associated with drainages and floodplains, this community occurs in sites that rarely flood. Total vegetation cover tends to be somewhat sparse, as many examples have had their herbaceous cover reduced by grazing; undisturbed examples have total vegetation cover up to 90%. The dominant shrub is Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata. Others occurring as scattered individuals include Ericameria nauseosa, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ephedra viridis, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Opuntia polyacantha, and Atriplex canescens. The understory is dominated or codominated by the native bunchgrass Hesperostipa comata. Common herbaceous associates include Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Poa secunda, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and Sphaeralcea coccinea. Moss and cryptogamic crusts may have significant cover in sites that have not experienced recent grazing.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Of the references for this association, Daubenmire (1970), Hironaka et al. (1983), and Caicco and Wellner (1983f, 1983k) clearly reference Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Stipa comata vegetation type. All the others (Poulton 1955, Tueller et al. 1966, Blackburn 1967, Blackburn et al. 1968c, 1971, McLean 1970, Tueller and Blackburn 1974, DeVelice and Lesica 1993) do not provide information as to the subspecies of Artemisia tridentata. However, it is likely, based on habitat data, photos, and descriptions, that these studies were working with Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Stipa comata vegetation types.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Total vegetation cover tends to be somewhat sparse in this association (10-40%), as many examples have had their herbaceous cover reduced by grazing; undisturbed examples have total vegetation cover up to 90%. Cover of the dominant shrub Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata ranges from 5 to 55% in this association. Ericameria nauseosa, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ephedra viridis, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Opuntia polyacantha, and Atriplex canescens also frequently occur as scattered individuals in the shrub layer. The understory cover totals between 5 and 40% and is dominated or codominated by the native bunchgrass Hesperostipa comata. Common herbaceous associates include Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Poa secunda, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and Sphaeralcea coccinea. Moss and cryptogamic crusts may have significant cover in sites that have not experienced recent grazing.
Dynamics: This association occupies similar habitats as ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Sporobolus airoides Shrubland (CEGL002200)$$, but the sandy soils tend to favor the salt-intolerant Hesperostipa comata. Higher cover by Hesperostipa comata indicates less grazing pressure; grazed sites have relatively low Hesperostipa cover. According to Tueller and Blackburn (1974), in the Great Basin of Nevada, this association indicates sites that have been less impacted by grazing, as opposed to sagebrush sites with an understory dominated by grazing-tolerant Pascopyrum smithii, Elymus elymoides, and Poa secunda. Daubenmire (1970) reports that stands of Artemisia tridentata / Hesperostipa comata differ from adjacent stands of Artemisia tridentata / Pseudoroegneria spicata shrublands in that soils under the former prefer drier and/or less fertile soils than the latter.
Environmental Description: This shrubland association occurs in small to large patches on point bars, stream terraces, valley floors and alluvial fans in the interior western U.S. and British Columbia, Canada. Slopes are generally gentle but can range up to 20% in steeper tributary drainages. Elevations range from 1220 to 2000 m (4000-6580 feet), and stands may be oriented to any aspect. Soils are sandy loams or loamy sands derived from alluvium. Although associated with drainages and floodplains, this community occurs in sites that rarely flood.
Geographic Range: This shrubland association occurs in the interior western U.S. from Washington to Montana south to Utah and Nevada. It may also occur in Oregon, California, and British Columbia, Canada.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: BC?, CA?, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR?, UT, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689792
Confidence Level: Low
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.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 | CEGL002966 Basin Big Sagebrush / Needle-and-Thread Shrubland | CEGL002966 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.b |
Concept Lineage: result of split of ARTR/STCO into ARTRV/HECO and ARTRT/HECO types.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia tridentata - Stipa comata Community Type (DeVelice and Lesica 1993)
= Artemisia tridentata / Stipa comata Community (Blackburn 1967)
= Artemisia tridentata / Stipa comata Community (Blackburn et al. 1968c)
= Artemisia tridentata / Stipa comata Community (Blackburn et al. 1971)
= Artemisia tridentata / Stipa comata Habitat Type (Hironaka et al. 1983)
< Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Stipa comata Habitat Type (Daubenmire 1970)
>< Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Stipa comata Vegetation Type (Caicco and Wellner 1983k)
>< Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Stipa comata Vegetation Type (Caicco and Wellner 1983f)
= Artemisia tridentata / Stipa comata Community (Blackburn 1967)
= Artemisia tridentata / Stipa comata Community (Blackburn et al. 1968c)
= Artemisia tridentata / Stipa comata Community (Blackburn et al. 1971)
= Artemisia tridentata / Stipa comata Habitat Type (Hironaka et al. 1983)
< Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Stipa comata Habitat Type (Daubenmire 1970)
>< Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Stipa comata Vegetation Type (Caicco and Wellner 1983k)
>< Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Stipa comata Vegetation Type (Caicco and Wellner 1983f)
- Blackburn, W. H. 1967. Plant succession on selected habitat types in Nevada. Unpublished thesis, University of Nevada, Reno. 162 pp.
- Blackburn, W. H., P. T. Tueller, and R. E. Eckert, Jr. 1968c. Vegetation and soils of the Duckwater watershed. Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin R-40. University of Nevada, Reno. 76 pp.
- Blackburn, W. H., P. T. Tueller, and R. E. Eckert, Jr. 1971. Vegetation and soils of the Rock Springs watershed. Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin R-83. Reno. 116 pp.
- 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/]
- Caicco, S. L., and C. A. Wellner. 1983f. Research Natural Area recommendation for Menan Buttes. Unpublished report prepared for USDI Bureau of Land Management, Idaho Falls District, Idaho by Idaho Natural Areas Coordinating Committee. 10 pp.
- Caicco, S. L., and C. A. Wellner. 1983k. Research Natural Area recommendation for East Fork Salmon River Bench. Unpublished report prepared for USDI Bureau of Land Management, Salmon District, Idaho by Idaho Natural Areas Coordinating Committee. 14 pp.
- 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.
- Coles, J., J. Von Loh, A. Evenden, G. Manis, G. Wakefield. and A. Wight. 2008c. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Natural Bridges National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2008/077. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 390 pp.
- Daubenmire, R. F. 1970. Steppe vegetation of Washington. Washington State University Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin No. 62. 131 pp.
- DeVelice, R. L., and P. Lesica. 1993. Plant community classification for vegetation on BLM lands, Pryor Mountains, Carbon County, Montana. Unpublished report by Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 78 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.
- 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.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- McLean, A. 1970. Plant communities of the Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, and their relationships to soils. Ecological Monographs 40(4):403-424.
- Poulton, C. E. 1955. Ecology of the non-forested vegetation in Umatilla and Morrow counties, Oregon. Unpublished dissertation. State College of Washington, Pullman. 166 pp.
- Tueller, P. T., D. H. Heinze, and R. E. Eckert. 1966. A tentative list of existing Nevada plant communities (A third approximation). Unpublished report prepared for the Department of Range Wildlife and Forestry, University of Nevada, Reno. 14 pp.
- Tueller, P. T., and W. H. Blackburn. 1974. Condition and trend of the big sagebrush/needle-and-thread habitat type in Nevada. Journal of Range Management 27(1):36-40.
- 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.