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A3986 Festuca campestris - Festuca idahoensis Mesic Grassland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: Vegetation of this mesic grassland alliance is characterized by herbaceous cover ranging from 60-100% codominated by diagnostic perennial bunchgrasses Festuca campestris and Festuca idahoensis. It occurs in the northwestern Great Plains west into the central Rocky Mountains, including the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon and Washington. Some stands may extend up to montane and subalpine elevations.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Rough Fescue - Idaho Fescue Mesic Grassland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Rough Fescue - Idaho Fescue Mesic Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: Vegetation of this mesic grassland alliance is characterized by herbaceous cover ranging from 60-100% dominated by diagnostic perennial bunchgrasses Festuca campestris with Festuca idahoensis often codominant. Achnatherum richardsonii, Carex obtusata, or Geranium viscosissimum may also codominate the herbaceous layer. Occasional shrubs can be present, are generally low in stature (<0.5 m) and cover (<10% total) and include Artemisia frigida, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Juniperus communis, Juniperus horizontalis, Rosa arkansana, Rosa woodsii, and Symphoricarpos albus. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi or Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda are typically absent or have low cover (<5%). Other abundant graminoid species include Carex filifolia, Danthonia intermedia, and Koeleria macrantha, with Bouteloua gracilis, Muhlenbergia cuspidata, and Hesperostipa comata being more common on prairie sites. Forb species typically present include Achillea millefolium, Agoseris glauca, Antennaria rosea, Eriogonum umbellatum, Galium boreale, Geum triflorum, Hedysarum sulphurescens, Heterotheca villosa, Liatris punctata, Lupinus sericeus, Oxytropis sericea, Packera cana, Penstemon confertus, Sedum lanceolatum, and Zigadenus elegans. This alliance occurs in the northwestern Great Plains west into the central Rocky Mountains, including the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon and Washington. Stands occur in glaciated landscapes, on prairies, foothills and mountain slopes. Elevations range from 500-2100 m, but are found only below 1500 m in Canada. Some stands may extend up to montane and subalpine elevations. It occurs on mesic sites on any aspect, becoming restricted to west- and southwest-facing slopes farther north. Slopes vary from flat to gentle toeslopes and lowslopes, generally less than 30%. Soils are loamy and moderately deep on a variety of soil parent materials.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This mesic grassland alliance is characterized by herbaceous cover ranging from 60-100% codominated by diagnostic perennial bunch grasses Festuca campestris and Festuca idahoensis. Achnatherum richardsonii, Carex obtusata, or Geranium viscosissimum may codominant. Other graminoid associates include Carex filifolia, Danthonia intermedia, and Koeleria macrantha. Forb species typically present include Achillea millefolium, Agoseris glauca, Anemone multifida, Antennaria parvifolia, Antennaria rosea, Campanula rotundifolia, Eriogonum umbellatum, Galium boreale, Geum triflorum, Hedysarum sulphurescens, Lomatium triternatum, Lupinus sericeus, Oxytropis sericea, Packera cana, Penstemon confertus, Sedum lanceolatum, and Zigadenus elegans. Scattered shrubs such as Artemisia frigida, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Artemisia frigida, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Juniperus communis, Juniperus horizontalis, Rosa acicularis, Rosa arkansana, Rosa woodsii, and Symphoricarpos albus may be present with low cover (<10% total). If Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is present, then cover is <5%.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Festuca campestris is generally recognized as part of the Festuca scabrella complex which includes two other species, Festuca altaica and Festuca hallii (Aiken and Darbyshire 1996, Aiken et al. 1996). Festuca campestris is thought to occur as far east as the western edge of the Great Plains. The other two species occur in the northern Great Plains of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada, and likely North Dakota. The range of Festuca altaica extends north to Alaska. Further investigation is needed to confirm the distribution of the species in the Festuca altaica complex.
Tisdale (1947) described an "Upper Grassland" from British Columbia, Canada, that closely resembles ~Festuca campestris - Pseudoroegneria spicata Grassland (CEGL001629)$$. Looman (1969) reported Festuca altaica grasslands occurring across southwestern Canada from British Columbia to western Manitoba. Although it is likely stands in eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba are dominated by Festuca hallii, the stands in British Columbia, Alberta and western Saskatchewan may be dominated by Festuca campestris.
Tisdale (1947) described an "Upper Grassland" from British Columbia, Canada, that closely resembles ~Festuca campestris - Pseudoroegneria spicata Grassland (CEGL001629)$$. Looman (1969) reported Festuca altaica grasslands occurring across southwestern Canada from British Columbia to western Manitoba. Although it is likely stands in eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba are dominated by Festuca hallii, the stands in British Columbia, Alberta and western Saskatchewan may be dominated by Festuca campestris.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation in this alliance is characterized by a moderate to dense cover of graminoids that is dominated by perennial bunch grasses. There is also sparse to moderate cover of perennial forbs. Annual forbs and grasses are seasonally present.
Floristics: Stands have a moderate to dense graminoid layer of cool-season, medium-tall bunchgrasses that is dominated by Festuca campestris sometimes with culms that may be taller than 75 cm. Codominants may include Achnatherum richardsonii, Festuca idahoensis or Geranium viscosissimum. Carex obtusata may be common, especially on more mesic sites. Festuca campestris is usually less abundant on disturbed sites. The forb layer is sparse to moderately dense, often with relatively high species diversity. Scattered woody species may also be present. Annuals are typically sparse. Overall species composition varies with geography with stands east of the Continental Divide resembling Northern Mixed Prairie and stands west of the divide floristically related to the Intermountain Basin. The east side stands may lack Festuca idahoensis, but often include grasses Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), Muhlenbergia cuspidata; forbs Artemisia ludoviciana, Heterotheca villosa, Liatris punctata, Lomatium triternatum; and the dwarf-shrubs Artemisia frigida and Gutierrezia sarothrae. West of the divide, forbs Balsamorhiza sagittata, Besseya wyomingensis, Castilleja lutescens, and Lomatium triternatum are more common. Other rangewide associate species include graminoids Achnatherum nelsonii, Achnatherum occidentale (= Stipa occidentalis), Carex filifolia, Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex petasata, Danthonia intermedia, Koeleria macrantha, Poa secunda, and Pseudoroegneria spicata, and forbs Achillea millefolium, Antennaria rosea, Castilleja rhexiifolia, Eriogonum umbellatum, Galium boreale, Geum triflorum, Lupinus sericeus, Penstemon confertus, Potentilla gracilis, Potentilla glandulosa, and Selaginella densa. Total shrub cover is usually less than 10%. Shrub species that may be present include Amelanchier alnifolia, Artemisia campestris, Artemisia frigida, Rosa arkansana, and Symphoricarpos albus. If Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is present, then cover is <5%.
Dynamics: Festuca campestris is highly palatable throughout the grazing season. Summer overgrazing for 2-3 years can result in the loss of Festuca campestris in the stand (Hodgkinson and Young 1973). Although a light stocking rate for 32 years did not affect range condition, a modest increase in stocking rate led to a marked decline in range condition. The major change was a measurable reduction in basal area of Festuca campestris (Willms et al. 1985). Long-term heavy grazing on moister sites can result in a shift to a Kentucky bluegrass - timothy type (Willoughby 1997). Willms and Fraser (1992) found Festuca campestris to be highly susceptible to grazing during the growing season, and conclude that optimum management would include dormant-season grazing. Mueggler and Stewart (1980) also suggest that Festuca campestris is least susceptible to grazing damage in fall and winter. Primary increasers include Artemisia frigida, Antennaria rosea, Cerastium arvense, and Heterotheca villosa. Festuca campestris and Festuca idahoensis decrease in cover and vigor with grazing (Mueggler and Stewart 1980).
Festuca campestris is well-adapted to periodic burning. Burn intervals of 5-10 years have been recommended for Festuca maintenance. Two to three years are needed to recover from a burn, so short fire-return intervals impede Festuca re-establishment. Longer intervals result in excessive litter build-up that causes high tussock mortality. Growing-season burns reduce plant vigor and recovery takes longer. Floral development is initiated in the fall, so spring burning can result in a reduction in seed production (FEIS 1998). Festuca idahoensis is also highly palatable in most seasons, but can withstand occasional heavy grazing. It is "a fire-sensitive species that can be severely damaged by summer and fall fires," and may take many years to recover its pre-fire cover (FEIS 1998). The size of clumps affects fire sensitivity, with smaller ones being less sensitive due to lower fuel build-up. Late summer (August) burns cause more damage than fall (September) burns (FEIS 1998). Pseudoroegneria spicata shows an inconsistent reaction to grazing, increasing on some grazed sites while decreasing on others. It seems to recover more quickly from overgrazing than Festuca campestris (Mueggler and Stewart 1980). It tolerates dormant-period grazing well, but is sensitive to defoliation during the growing season. Light spring use or fall grazing can help retain plant vigor. Plants usually survive fire, but regrowth may be variable. It is particularly sensitive to defoliation in late spring (FEIS 1998).
Festuca campestris is well-adapted to periodic burning. Burn intervals of 5-10 years have been recommended for Festuca maintenance. Two to three years are needed to recover from a burn, so short fire-return intervals impede Festuca re-establishment. Longer intervals result in excessive litter build-up that causes high tussock mortality. Growing-season burns reduce plant vigor and recovery takes longer. Floral development is initiated in the fall, so spring burning can result in a reduction in seed production (FEIS 1998). Festuca idahoensis is also highly palatable in most seasons, but can withstand occasional heavy grazing. It is "a fire-sensitive species that can be severely damaged by summer and fall fires," and may take many years to recover its pre-fire cover (FEIS 1998). The size of clumps affects fire sensitivity, with smaller ones being less sensitive due to lower fuel build-up. Late summer (August) burns cause more damage than fall (September) burns (FEIS 1998). Pseudoroegneria spicata shows an inconsistent reaction to grazing, increasing on some grazed sites while decreasing on others. It seems to recover more quickly from overgrazing than Festuca campestris (Mueggler and Stewart 1980). It tolerates dormant-period grazing well, but is sensitive to defoliation during the growing season. Light spring use or fall grazing can help retain plant vigor. Plants usually survive fire, but regrowth may be variable. It is particularly sensitive to defoliation in late spring (FEIS 1998).
Environmental Description: This mesic grassland alliance occurs in the northwestern Great Plains west into the central Rocky Mountains, including the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon and Washington. Elevations range from 500-2100 m, but are found only below 1500 m in Canada. Climate is temperate, and mean annual precipitation ranges from 40-60 cm. Winters are cold and snowy. Summers are cool. Stands occur in glaciated landscapes, on prairies, foothills and mountain slopes. Sites are mesic, mostly flat to gentle toeslopes and lowslopes on any aspect, but may include steep slopes. In the northern extent it is restricted to warmer west- and southwest-facing slopes. Soils are loamy and moderately deep on a variety of soil parent materials (Mueggler and Stewart 1980). In Glacier National Park, soils are moderately well-drained sandy loams, silt loams or sandy clay loams with neutral pH. Parent material is coarse quartzite and argillite developed on morainal and glacio-fluvial landforms. Litter dominates the ground surface. Bare soil ranges from 5 to 70% cover, and rock and litter is generally less than 40% combined cover. Higher elevation grasslands typically occur in a mosaic with montane forests dominated by Pinus contorta.
Geographic Range: This mesic grassland alliance occurs in the northwestern Great Plains and montane and foothill slopes in the central Rocky Mountains, including Montana, western Saskatchewan and southern Alberta, southwest to the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon and Washington. A disjunct occurrence is reported for the Steens Mountains in southeastern Oregon. The alliance likely occurs in British Columbia, but has not yet been described from there.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, BC?, ID, MT, ND, OR, SK, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.900037
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: A.1255 and A.1251 (in part). This new alliance is composed of associations from Old Alliance V.A.5.N.d. Festuca campestris Herbaceous Alliance (A.1255), and Old Alliance V.A.5.N.d. Festuca idahoensis Herbaceous Alliance (A.1251).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Festuca idahoensis Series (Tisdale 1986)
? Festuca idahoensis Series (Johnston 1987) [includes thirteen Festuca idahoensis-dominated plant associations.]
> Fescue Grassland (Coupland 1952)
> Fescue Prairie (Coupland 1992b)
? Upper Grassland (Tisdale 1947)
? Festuca idahoensis Series (Johnston 1987) [includes thirteen Festuca idahoensis-dominated plant associations.]
> Fescue Grassland (Coupland 1952)
> Fescue Prairie (Coupland 1992b)
? Upper Grassland (Tisdale 1947)
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