Login | Datasets | Logout
Jump to... Home PLOT search PLANT search COMMUNITY search Simple search Manage datasets Tutorial About FAQ ------- Site map VegBranch Data dictionary ERD

stdcommconcept4281242812

View Community Concepts - Detail

Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Festuca campestris Shrub Grassland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
click to update datacart
Name: Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Festuca campestris Shrub Grassland Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019 Description: This big sagebrush shrub prairie type is found in Montana, Washington, southwestern Alberta, and adjacent British Columbia. Stands in Montana are usually found north of 46°N latitude and between 1036 and 1950 m (3400-6400 feet) on southerly exposures with less than 40% slope, as well as alluvial flats. Precipitation within this zone ranges from 15 to more than 40 inches per year. Moderately deep soils are derived from a variety of parent materials. Its distribution outside Montana includes lower elevation sites (to 610 m [2000 feet]) within the Okanogan Valley (Washington) and the Colville country north of Spokane. The high productivity of this type results in comparatively little (&lt;20%) exposed rock or soil. The vegetation description is based primarily on Montana occurrences. This association usually occurs as large patches in a mosaic with fescue grasslands and <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i>- or <i>Pinus flexilis</i>-dominated forests. Shrub layer dominance (10-30% canopy cover, average 20%) by <i>Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana</i> characterizes the upper elevation examples of this type. <i>Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis</i> has been noted as a canopy dominant in lower elevation occurrences associated with central Montana ranges isolated within the Great Plains. As little as 5% canopy cover of the highly palatable <i>Festuca campestris</i> may be diagnostic for the type, but generally it dominates the herbaceous layer, ranging in canopy cover from 10% to as much as 70-80% on the least disturbed, most mesic sites. Other important and high-constancy (&gt;75%) grasses are <i>Festuca idahoensis, Koeleria macrantha, Pseudoroegneria spicata</i>, and <i>Poa cusickii</i>; the cover of <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata</i> and <i>Festuca idahoensis</i> may exceed that of <i>Festuca campestris</i> on more intensively grazed sites. On overgrazed sites this type may be recognized by scattered remnant clumps of <i>Festuca campestris</i>. The forb layer is generally both diverse and abundant, constituting upwards of 20% of the standing crop biomass; those of high constancy include <i>Arenaria congesta, Eriogonum umbellatum, Antennaria microphylla, Geranium viscosissimum</i>, and <i>Cerastium arvense</i>.  Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:30440-{597FABD7-674E-4293-872C-8EEE214428CF} Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 2
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 14-Jan-2004 to: ongoing
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Artemisia tridentata ssp. spiciformis - Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana Steppe & Shrubland Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685838 NatureServe Explorer   Code: CEGL001531   Translated: Mountain Big Sagebrush / Rough Fescue Shrub Grassland   Common: Big Sagebrush / Rough Fescue Shrub Prairie   Scientific: Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Festuca campestris Shrub Grassland (convergence) and Synonyms: (similar) CEGL001531 (similar) Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Festuca campestris Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (similar) Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana / Festuca campestris Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation