Animal community

Wildlife Interpretations.

Animal Community – Wildlife Interpretations

This rangeland ecological site provides habitat for select native wildlife species that can tolerate cold sites, high in elevation, with a sparse plant community. Large herbivore use of the reference plant community is dominated by mule deer and elk. The site provides important seasonal habitat for resident and migratory animals including western toad, sagebrush lizard, shrews, bats, jackrabbits, ground squirrels, mice, coyote, red fox, badger, sage-grouse, Ferruginous hawk, prairie falcon, horned lark, and western meadowlark. In isolated areas encroachment of noxious and invasive plant species (cheatgrass and leafy spurge) can replace native plant species which provide critical feed, brood-rearing, and nesting cover for a variety of native wildlife. Water is limited, being provided only by seasonal runoff, artificial water catchments, and spring sites.

State 1 Phase 1.1 – Hot Spring Sagebrush/ Idaho Fescue/ Bluebunch Wheatgrass Plant Community (HCPC): This plant community provides a diversity of grasses, forbs, and shrubs used by native insect communities that assist in pollination. The reptile and amphibian community is represented by leopard lizard, short horned lizard, sagebrush lizard, and western skink. Amphibians may be associated with springs and isolated water bodies adjacent to this plant community. Spring developments that capture all available water would preclude the use of these sites by amphibians. Birds that may be resident or migratory include mountain bluebird, lazuli bunting, vesper sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, and lesser goldfinch. Brood-rearing habitat for sage grouse is provided by this diverse plant community. The plant community provides spring and fall forage for large mammals including mule deer and elk. A diverse small mammal population may include golden-mantled ground squirrels, chipmunks, and pikas (when adjacent to talus slopes at high elevations).

State 1 Phase 1.2- Hot Spring Sagebrush/ Utah Juniper/ Sandberg Bluegrass Plant Community: This plant community is the result of improper grazing management and no fire. An increase in canopy cover of sagebrush and junipers contributes to a sparse herbaceous understory. A reduced herbaceous understory results in lower diversity and numbers of insects. The reptile community will be similar to the State 1 Phase 1.1 community represented by leopard lizard, short horned lizard, sagebrush lizard, and western skink. The reduced diversity of insects and understory cover may reduce the quality of food and cover for reptile populations. As juniper increases, habitat cover for Brewer’s sparrow, sage thrasher, and sage sparrow may increase. Remaining hot spring sagebrush provides brood-rearing habitat for sage-grouse but as juniper encroaches the quality of this habitat is severely reduced or eliminated. The plant community supports limited seasonal habitat for mule deer and elk. As juniper encroaches the site will provide thermal cover and young of year cover for large mammals. A small mammal population including golden-mantled ground squirrels, chipmunks, yellow-bellied marmots, and pikas may utilize this site.

State 1 Phase 1.3 – Bottlebrush Squirreltail/ Bluebunch Wheatgrass/ Root Sprouting Shrubs Plant Community: This phase has developed due to fire. The plant community, dominated by herbaceous vegetation with little or no sagebrush provides less vertical structure for animals. Insect diversity would be reduced with the loss of sagebrush, but a native forb plant community similar to State 1 Phase 1.1 would still support select pollinators. Encroachment of gray horsebrush would add fall pollinator habitat to the site. As horsebrush matures it would help replace the loss of sagebrush cover. Until horsebrush is established, diversity and populations of reptiles would be limited or excluded. This plant community provides limited brood-rearing habitat for sage-grouse if the site is adjacent to sagebrush cover. The dominant herbaceous vegetation improves habitat for grassland avian species (horned lark and western meadowlark). Small mammal diversity and populations would be reduced due to loss of cover and increase in hunting success by predators.

State 1 Phase 1.4- Hot Spring Sagebrush/ Sandberg Bluegrass Plant Community: This phase has developed due to improper grazing management and no fire. The animal community would be similar to State 1 Phase 1.1. The reduced vigor and canopy cover of forbs would lower the quality of habitat for pollinators. The reptile community includes leopard lizard, short horned lizard, sagebrush lizard, and western skink. The reduced diversity of insects and understory cover may reduce the quality of food and cover for reptile populations. The quality of brood-rearing habitat for sage-grouse would be lowered as herbaceous understory is depleted. The plant community provides limited seasonal habitat for mule deer and elk. A small mammal population including golden-mantled ground squirrels, chipmunks, yellow-bellied marmots, and pikas may utilize this site.

State 2 Phase 1.1 - Hot Spring Sagebrush/ Sandberg Bluegrass/ Annuals Plant Community: This plant community is the result of continued improper grazing management and no fire. The reduced forb and shrub components in the plant community would support a very limited population of pollinators. Most reptilian species identified in State 1 Phase 1.1 are present but the quality of habitat is severely reduced, resulting in small populations and an increase in hunting success by coyotes, fox, and raptors. This plant community provides limited brood-rearing habitat for sage-grouse due to the loss of herbaceous cover. Birds of prey including hawks and falcons may range throughout these areas looking for prey species. Large mammals may utilize the herbaceous vegetation in the early part of the year when the invasive annuals (cheatgrass) are more palatable. At other times of the year large mammals would not regularly utilize these areas due to poor food and cover conditions. Small mammal populations and diversity would be reduced due to poor quality cover, food, and an increase in hunting success by predators.

State 2 Phase 1.2 - Sandberg Bluegrass/ Cheatgrass / Annuals/ Gray Horsebrush Plant Community:
This plant community is the result of continued improper grazing management and fire. The plant community, dominated by herbaceous vegetation with little or no sagebrush provides less vertical structure for animals. Insect diversity would be reduced with the loss of sagebrush but a native forb plant community similar to State 1 Phase 1.1 would still support select pollinators. Encroachment of gray horsebrush would add fall pollinator habitat to the site. As horsebrush matures it would help replace the loss of sagebrush cover. Until horsebrush is established, diversity and populations of reptiles would be limited or excluded. The site may provide brood-rearing habitat for sage-grouse when adjacent to sagebrush cover. Birds of prey including hawks and falcons may range throughout these areas looking for prey species. Hunting success by raptors may increase. Large mammals may utilize the herbaceous vegetation in the early part of the year when the invasive annuals (cheatgrass) are more palatable. At other times of the year large mammals would not regularly utilize these areas due to poor food and cover conditions. Small mammal populations and diversity would be reduced due to poor quality cover, food, and an increase in hunting success by predators.

State 3 – Utah Juniper/ Annuals/ Sandberg Bluegrass: This state has developed due to improper grazing management and no fire. The loss of native forbs and understory vegetation will reduce insect diversity on the site. The lack of flowering plants reduces pollinator diversity including butterflies and moths. The loss of understory will lower the quality of habitat for reptilian species identified in State 1 Phase 1.1. This plant community does not provide the habitat requirements for sage-grouse. Birds using this site as resident or migratory habitat include Juniper titmouse, western bluebird, and Virginia’s warbler. The Juniper titmouse relies heavily on juniper seeds for winter food. Hunting success by raptors may decrease due to a heavy overstory of juniper. The plant community supports limited seasonal habitat for mule deer and elk in spring and fall. As juniper encroaches, the site will provide additional thermal cover for large mammals.


Grazing Interpretations.

The suitability of this site for grazing by cattle is limited due steep slopes. This site can be most effectively grazed by sheep in the summer.
Estimated initial stocking rate will be determined with the landowner or decision-maker. They will be based on the inventory which includes species, composition, similarity index, production, past use history, season of use, and seasonal preference. Calculations used to determine estimated initial stocking rate will be based on forage preference ratings.

Hydrological functions

The soils on this site are in hydrologic group D. When ground cover is at or near potential, the erosion hazard is slight to moderate

Recreational uses

This site has good values for aesthetics and recreational hiking. The site is located on elevated areas with a view of the valleys and canyons below.

Wood products

None

Other products

None

Inventory data references

Information presented here has been derived from NRCS clipping and other inventory data. Also, field knowledge of range-trained personnel was used. Those involved in developing this site description include: Dave Franzen, co-owner, Intermountain Rangeland Consultants, LLC Jacy Gibbs, co-owner, Intermountain Rangeland Consultants, LLC Jim Cornwell, Range Management Specialist, IASCD Joe May, State Rangeland Management Specialist, NRCS, Idaho Lee Brooks, Range Management Specialist, IASCD

Type locality

Other references

Beetle, A.A. A study of Sagebrush, The Section Tridentatae of Artemisia. University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin 368.June 1960.

Hironaka, M., M.A. Fosberg, A. H. Winward. 1983. Sagebrush- Grass Habitat Types of Southern Idaho. University of Idaho. Moscow, Idaho. Bulletin Number 35.

Petersen, S.L., 2004. A Landscape-Scale Assessment of Plant Communities, Hydrologic Processes, and State-and-Transition Theory in a Western Juniper Dominated Ecosystem. PhD Dissertation. Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.

USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2004. Restoring Western Ranges and Wildlands. General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-136-vols. 1-3.

USDA, NRCS.2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1 (http://plants.usda.gov.). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA

USDA, Forest Service, Fire Effects Information Database. 2004. www.fs.fed.us/database.

USDI Bureau of Land Management, US Geological Survey; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Agricultural Research Service; Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health. Technical Reference 1734-6; version 4-2005.

Approval

Kendra Moseley, 9/22/2020

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