Print Report

A3194 Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata - Artemisia tridentata ssp. xericensis Dry Steppe & Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Stands in this semi-arid shrubland alliance have a shrub canopy dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata or Artemisia tridentata ssp. xericensis. Other shrubs have low cover, except species that increase with disturbance such as Gutierrezia sarothrae, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, and Ericameria nauseosa. The understory, if present, is characterized by dry-site grass species.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Basin Big Sagebrush - Foothill Big Sagebrush Dry Steppe & Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Basin Big Sagebrush - Foothill Big Sagebrush Dry Steppe & Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This semi-arid alliance occurs throughout much of the Intermountain West, especially in the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau. Stands in have a mixed shrub canopy dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata or Artemisia tridentata ssp. xericensis. Other shrubs have low cover, except species that increase with disturbance such as Gutierrezia sarothrae, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, and Ericameria nauseosa. Characteristic dry shrubland understory species include Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum lettermanii, Bouteloua gracilis, Distichlis spicata, Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa secunda, Sporobolus airoides, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. The non-native, invasive annual grass Bromus tectorum may be present and dominant in disturbed stands. Sites supporting this alliance include sloping fans, footslopes, rolling hills, swales, draws, and deep, well-drained alluvial bottomlands. Soils are deep, fine- to medium-textured alluvial soils with some source of subirrigation during the summer season, but moderately deep upland soils with ample moisture storage also support these shrublands. Some stands occur on deep, sandy soils, or soils that are highly calcareous.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands in this semi-arid shrubland alliance are dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata or Artemisia tridentata ssp. xericensis. Characteristic herbaceous species include Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum lettermanii, Bouteloua gracilis, Distichlis spicata, Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa secunda, Sporobolus airoides, and Sporobolus cryptandrus.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Associations with undetermined subspecies of Artemisia tridentata from former Artemisia tridentata Shrubland Alliance (A.829) were reviewed and placed into either ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Dry Steppe & Shrubland Alliance (A3184)$$ or ~Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata - Artemisia tridentata ssp. xericensis Dry Steppe & Shrubland Alliance (A3194)$$. More review would increase confidence of placement. ~Artemisia tridentata / Ericameria nauseosa Shrubland (CEGL000998)$$ is currently a broadly defined association that may need to be split into an Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Ericameria nauseosa shrubland association and an Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata / Ericameria nauseosa shrubland association after more data are available.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The shrublands in this alliance are characterized by a open to dense (10-75%) cover of microphyllous evergreen shrubs, usually 1-2 m in height. Cespitose graminoids are scattered in the shrub matrix and can occasionally match the shrubs in height. A sparse, emergent layer of scale-leaved or needle-leaved evergreen trees may also be present, but in many areas no trees are present. Forb species may be frequent, but are usually of low cover. With increasing summer rain in the southeastern edge of the range, there is an increase in the importance of sod-forming grasses in comparison to bunchgrasses. In many areas, undisturbed stands in this alliance will have a cryptogamic soil crust composed of a mix of lichens, tiny mosses, and bacteria.

Floristics: Stands in this semi-arid shrubland alliance have a mixed shrub canopy dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata or Artemisia tridentata ssp. xericensis. Other shrubs have low cover, except species that increase with disturbance such as Gutierrezia sarothrae, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, and Ericameria nauseosa. Characteristic dry shrubland understory species include Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum lettermanii, Bouteloua gracilis, Distichlis spicata, Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa secunda, Sporobolus airoides, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. The non-native, invasive annual grass Bromus tectorum may be present and dominant in disturbed stand. Forbs are generally of low importance and are highly variable across the range, but may be diverse in some stands. Common forbs include species of Astragalus, Oenothera, Eriogonum, and Erigeron.

Dynamics:  Complex ecological interactions between fire regimes, grazing history, and climate patterns result in equally complex patterns of species structure and composition in Artemisia tridentata stands. These present corresponding difficulties in the classification of these shrublands, which have been compounded by the influence of human settlement and agricultural patterns. What follows is a summary of some of the influences of altered fire regimes and grazing history on Artemisia tridentata shrublands and shrub-herbaceous vegetation.

Artemisia tridentata is inhibited by fire, and excessive grazing may decrease fire frequency due to consumption of herbaceous forage, resulting in increased shrub density. Conversely, invasion by non-native annual grasses (e.g., Bromus tectorum) may increase fire frequency sufficiently to eliminate the shrubs from the stands (Daubenmire 1970). With a change in fire frequency, species composition will be altered as well (West 1983c). With a high fire frequency (every 2-5 years), perennial grasses and shrubs are eliminated and non-native annual grasses dominate. At fire-return intervals of 10-30 years, short-lived resprouting shrubs such as Chrysothamnus or Tetradymia spp. dominate. At fire intervals of 30-70 years, a mixture of perennial bunchgrasses and shrubs is maintained. Finally, in the complete absence of fire, deep-rooted shrubs such as Artemisia tridentata become the dominant shrubs.

This alliance is often found in seasonal or intermittent stream drainages. Currently, it can often be found on the benches of perennial steams which have become restricted to a downcut channel, although these are generally in poor condition with a Bromus tectorum understory. It is likely that these habitats are a result of livestock grazing impacts.
Environmental Description:  This alliance occurs throughout the Intermountain West from the western Great Basin to the Columbia Basin and Colorado Plateau at elevations ranging from 240 m in the Columbia Basin up to 2500 m. The climate where this alliance occurs is semi-arid with annual precipitation ranging from 18-40 cm and high inter-annual variation. Much of the precipitation falls as snow, and growing-season drought is characteristic. Temperatures are continental with large annual and diurnal variation. In drier regions, these shrublands are usually associated with perennial or ephemeral stream drainages with water tables less than 3 m from the soil surface. Sites supporting this alliance include sloping fans, footslopes, rolling hills, swales, draws, and deep, well-drained alluvial bottomlands. Soils are deep, fine- to medium-textured alluvial soils with some source of subirrigation during the summer season, but moderately deep upland soils with ample moisture storage also support these shrublands. Some stands occur on deep, sandy soils, or soils that are highly calcareous (Hironaka et al. 1983). Although this alliance may grade into sites with alkaline soils at the edge of internally drained basins, Artemisia tridentata is a non-halophyte and requires low salinity for optimum growth. The importance of perennial bunchgrasses, the most typical herbaceous associates, is favored with greater spring and summer rain, which increases northward and eastward. Because of the deep alluvial soils, stands have been converted to agriculture in much of the range of the alliance. Adjacent vegetation is highly variable, but some common adjacent communities include Juniperus occidentalis-, Pinus ponderosa-, and Cercocarpus ledifolius-dominated woodlands, as well as shrublands dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana.
Geographic Range: This broadly distributed alliance is found in the western United States on dry steppes with core distribution in the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau regions.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, CO, ID, NM, NV, UT, WY


Confidence Level: Low

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.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
Association CEGL000995 Big Sagebrush / Blue Grama Shrubland CEGL000995 3.B.1.Ne.3.a
Association CEGL000996 Big Sagebrush / Blue Grama - James'' Galleta Shrubland CEGL000996 3.B.1.Ne.3.a
Association CEGL000997 Big Sagebrush / Blue Grama - Western Wheatgrass Shrubland CEGL000997 3.B.1.Ne.3.a
Association CEGL000998 Big Sagebrush / Rubber Rabbitbrush Shrubland CEGL000998 3.B.1.Ne.3.a
Association CEGL000999 Big Sagebrush / Yellow Rabbitbrush / (Sandberg Bluegrass) Shrubland CEGL000999 3.B.1.Ne.3.a
Association CEGL001000 Basin Big Sagebrush / Saltgrass Shrubland CEGL001000 3.B.1.Ne.3.a
Association CEGL001006 Big Sagebrush / Indian Ricegrass Shrubland CEGL001006 3.B.1.Ne.3.a
Association CEGL001008 Basin Big Sagebrush / Sandberg Bluegrass Shrubland CEGL001008 3.B.1.Ne.3.a
Association CEGL001011 Big Sagebrush / Letterman''s Needlegrass Shrubland CEGL001011 3.B.1.Ne.3.a
Association CEGL001013 Big Sagebrush Upperzone Community Shrubland CEGL001013 3.B.1.Ne.3.a
Association CEGL001015 Basin Big Sagebrush / James'' Galleta Shrubland CEGL001015 3.B.1.Ne.3.a
Association CEGL001545 Big Sagebrush / Sand Dropseed - Indian Ricegrass Shrub Grassland CEGL001545 3.B.1.Ne.3.a
Association CEGL002200 Basin Big Sagebrush / Alkali Sacaton Shrubland CEGL002200 3.B.1.Ne.3.a
Association CEGL003826 Basin Big Sagebrush / Sand Dropseed Shrubland CEGL003826 3.B.1.Ne.3.a
Concept Lineage: Two old alliances make up most of this alliance: III.A.4.N.a. Artemisia tridentata (ssp. tridentata, ssp. xericensis) Shrubland Alliance (A.830) and III.A.4.N.a. Artemisia tridentata Shrubland Alliance (A.829) (in part), with one association from V.A.7.N.e. Sporobolus cryptandrus Shrub Herbaceous Alliance (A.1525) (in part). This alliance is also similar to proto alliances Artemisia tridentata Dry Shrubland Alliance (A2113) and Artemisia tridentata / Ruderal Understory Shrubland Alliance (A2039).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Artemisia tridentata / Sporobolus cryptandrus - Oryzopsis hymenoides Plant Community (Francis 1986)
>< Big Sagebrush Scrub (#35210) (Holland 1986b)
>< Big Sagebrush Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
< SRM Cover Type #401 - Basin Big Sagebrush (Shiflet 1994)
>< Western Shrub: 38: Great Basin Sagebrush (Artemisia) (Küchler 1964)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
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