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CEGL005604 Poa secunda - Bromus tectorum Ruderal Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sandberg Bluegrass - Cheatgrass Ruderal Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This herbaceous vegetation association is dominated by Poa secunda, Bromus tectorum, or a combination of both species. Poa secunda is a native, perennial grass, and Bromus tectorum is an introduced, annual grass. Shrubs may occur sporadically with low densities. Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, and Artemisia tripartita are the most constant native shrubs in this association. In addition to Poa secunda, other native grasses are often present, but no one species occurs with high constancy. Several native perennial and annual forb species may also occur with sparse cover and variable species composition across stands of this type. Non-native forb species are common as well, but species composition is variable. This association occurs on flat to steeply sloping upland sites. Stands occur in swales, gentle slopes and drainage bottoms and valley floors, often with easterly facing aspects. Substrates are deep, well-drained loam, clay loam and silty clay soils. Litter cover is variable but often relatively high. This plant community is often associated with disturbance.
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: No Data Available
Dynamics: The unique life history characteristics of Bromus tectorum and the altered ecological process associated with this species have promoted the spread of it and other exotic annual bromes at the expense of sagebrush shrublands in large parts of the western U.S. Consequently, this species tends to codominate on or in close proximity to sites that have been impacted by disturbance.
Environmental Description: No Data Available
Geographic Range: The distribution of this association coincides with the range of ~Bromus tectorum - Taeniatherum caput-medusae Ruderal Annual Grassland Alliance (A1814)$$, which occurs throughout much of western North America from the western Great Plains to the intermountain and southwestern U.S. It is further constrained to sites within that region where environmental conditions are appropriate for Poa secunda to dominate a plant community.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.948002
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
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.90 Crested Wheatgrass - Cheatgrass - Tall Tumblemustard Western North American Ruderal Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M499 | 3.B.1.Ne.90 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.90.a Great Basin-Intermountain Ruderal Dry Shrubland & Grassland Group | G600 | 3.B.1.Ne.90.a |
| Alliance | A1814 Cheatgrass - Medusa-head Ruderal Annual Grassland Alliance | A1814 | 3.B.1.Ne.90.a |
| Association | CEGL005604 Sandberg Bluegrass - Cheatgrass Ruderal Grassland | CEGL005604 | 3.B.1.Ne.90.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sandberg Bluegrass - Cheatgrass Semi-natural Herbaceous Vegetation (Poa secunda - Bromus tectorum Semi-natural Herbaceous Vegetation) (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.