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CEGL005478 Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Festuca idahoensis Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Wyoming Big Sagebrush / Idaho Fescue Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: Throughout the geographic range of this vegetation type, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis dominates the shrub layer and has at least 10% canopy cover. Total vegetation cover ranges between 20% and more than 75%, roughly evenly divided between the shrub and herbaceous strata. Festuca idahoensis codominates this association and usually has a cover of 5-10%. Other shrub species present may include Artemisia tripartita, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Purshia tridentata, and other subspecies of Artemisia tridentata. The herbaceous layer is diverse and variable, providing low to moderate cover. In addition to Festuca idahoensis, associated graminoids generally include, but are not limited to, Elymus elymoides, Poa secunda, and the introduced grass Bromus tectorum. Bromus tectorum typically occurs at relatively low cover. Forbs are variable, provide sparse cover, and may include Allium spp., Crepis acuminata, Delphinium andersonii, Linanthus pungens, Phlox hoodii, and Senecio integerrimus. This shrubland association occurs on slopes and terraces above drainages and ridges. Sites are gentle to steep colluvial slopes and alluvial benches often on warmer southeast to southwest aspects. Substrates are variable but are typically moderately deep, well-drained soils with sandy clay loam, sandy loam and loam textures. The ground surface has high cover of large and small rocks, low to moderate cover of litter, and occasionally high cover of bare ground.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This plant community description is based on data from Craters of the Moon (Bell et al. 2009) and on related plant communities that have been previously described. The description provided herein may vary slightly from similar plant communities found elsewhere due to the local scale at which data were collected. Additional global information will be added as it becomes available.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Throughout the geographic range of this vegetation type, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis dominates the shrub layer and has at least 10% canopy cover. Total vegetation cover ranges between 20% and more than 75%, roughly evenly divided between the shrub and herbaceous strata. Festuca idahoensis codominates this association and usually has a cover of 5-10%. Other shrub species present may include Artemisia tripartita, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Purshia tridentata, and other subspecies of Artemisia tridentata. The herbaceous layer is diverse and variable, providing low to moderate cover. In addition to Festuca idahoensis, associated graminoids generally include, but are not limited to, Elymus elymoides, Poa secunda, and the introduced grass Bromus tectorum. Bromus tectorum typically occurs at relatively low cover. Forbs are variable, provide sparse cover, and may include Allium spp., Crepis acuminata, Delphinium andersonii, Linanthus pungens (= Leptodactylon pungens), Phlox hoodii, and Senecio integerrimus.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This shrubland association occurs on slopes and terraces above drainages and ridges. Sites are gentle to steep colluvial slopes and alluvial benches often on warmer southeast to southwest aspects. Substrates are variable but are typically moderately deep, well-drained soils with sandy clay loam, sandy loam and loam textures. The ground surface has high cover of large and small rocks, low to moderate cover of litter, and occasionally high cover of bare ground.
Geographic Range: This is a wide-ranging association, known throughout the northwestern U.S. It occurs in eastern Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and possibly further north into Alberta and British Columbia. It may also occur in eastern California.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: AB?, BC?, CA?, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.947929
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.b Basin Big Sagebrush - Threetip Sagebrush - Antelope Bitterbrush Big Sagebrush Steppe & Shrubland Group | G302 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.b |
| Alliance | A3182 Wyoming Big Sagebrush Mesic Steppe & Shrubland Alliance | A3182 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.b |
| Association | CEGL005478 Wyoming Big Sagebrush / Idaho Fescue Shrubland | CEGL005478 | 3.B.1.Ne.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Wyoming Big Sagebrush / Idaho Fescue Shrubland (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Festuca idahoensis Shrubland) (Bell et al. 2009)
- Bell, J., D. Cogan, J. Erixson, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation inventory project report, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/UCBN/NRTR-2009/277. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 358 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.