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CEGL002585 Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longiloba / Elymus lanceolatus Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Alkali Sagebrush / Thick-spike Wheatgrass Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs in northwestern Colorado and adjacent Utah, as well as southwestern Wyoming. Elevations range between 1600 and 2450 m (5250-8040 feet), and sites are on gentle to moderately steep slopes oriented to any aspect. Soils are typically shallow and rocky with a clay loam texture, as they are derived from underlying Mancos, Morrison, Wasatch or Green River shale. Ground cover is mostly bare soil with organic litter concentrated under the shrubs. Surface gullying in many sites indicates that precipitation tends to run off rather than be absorbed by the soil. The vegetation is characterized by 10 to 30% cover of the dwarf-shrub Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longiloba. Other low-statured shrubs that may be present with low cover include Atriplex confertifolia and Krascheninnikovia lanata. The herbaceous layer is dominated by Elymus lanceolatus with 5 to 10% cover. Other common grasses include Achnatherum hymenoides and Poa secunda. Forb species are variable, but Phlox hoodii appears throughout the range. Total vegetation cover rarely exceeds 45%.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Elymus lanceolatus can be difficult to distinguish from Pseudoroegneria spicata and also from their hybrid, Elymus albicans. All three entities occur within the range of this association. It may be worth considering combining this association with ~Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longiloba / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrub Grassland (CEGL001416)$$ and include stands with Elymus albicans as well.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is characterized by an open to moderate dwarf-shrub layer dominated by Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longiloba (10- 30% cover) with Elymus lanceolatus dominating the herbaceous layer (5-10% cover). Total vegetation cover ranges from 15-50%. Other low-statured shrubs that may be present with low cover include Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Atriplex confertifolia, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Eriogonum microthecum, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Opuntia fragilis, and Opuntia polyacantha. The grass-dominated herbaceous layer includes low cover of other grasses such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Leymus cinereus, Pascopyrum smithii, Poa secunda, and Pseudoroegneria spicata. Forb species are variable, but Phlox hoodii appears throughout the range. Other forbs include sparse cover of Eriogonum brevicaule, Linum lewisii, Phlox longifolia, Trifolium gymnocarpon, and invasive Taraxacum officinale.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs in northwestern Colorado and adjacent Utah, as well as southwestern Wyoming. Elevations range between 1600 and 2450 m (5250-8040 feet), and sites are on gentle to steep slopes oriented to any aspect. Soils are typically shallow and rocky and have a silty clay loam or clay loam texture, as they are derived from underlying Mancos, Morrison, Wasatch or Green River shale deposited as alluvium or colluvium. Ground cover is mostly bare soil with organic litter concentrated under the shrubs. Bare ground, gravel and litter cover most of the unvegetated ground surface, and surface erosion (rills and gullies) in many sites indicates that precipitation tends to run off rather than be absorbed by the soil.
Geographic Range: This association is known from high plateaus in northwestern Colorado and adjacent Utah, as well as southwestern Wyoming.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, MT, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.770490
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.2 Little Sagebrush - Black Sagebrush - Scabland Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Macrogroup | M170 | 3.B.1.Ne.2 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b Little Sagebrush - Bigelow''s Sagebrush - Black Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group | G308 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b |
| Alliance | A3221 Alkali Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | A3221 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b |
| Association | CEGL002585 Alkali Sagebrush / Thick-spike Wheatgrass Shrubland | CEGL002585 | 3.B.1.Ne.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longiloba / Elymus lanceolatus Shrubland (Coles et al. 2008a)
- 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.
- 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]
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.