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, elk, and pronghorn antelope. The site can provide critical winter habitat for these large mammals. The site provides important seasonal habitat for resident and migratory animals including western toad, sagebrush lizard, western rattlesnake, shrews, bats, jackrabbits, ground squirrels, mice, coyote, red fox, badger, sage-grouse, Ferruginous hawk, prairie falcon, horned lark, and western meadowlark. Sage-grouse and Idaho pocket gopher are area sensitive species that may be present on this site. In isolated areas, encroachment of noxious and invasive plant species (cheatgrass and tumblemustard) 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 – Black Sagebrush/ Needle and Thread/ Sandberg Bluegrass Plant Community (RPC): 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, western skink, western rattlesnake, and western toad. Amphibians are 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, winter cover, and winter food habitat for sage grouse is provided by this diverse plant community. Sage-grouse, mule deer, and pronghorn use black sagebrush for winter food. The plant community provides spring, fall, and winter forage needs for large mammals including mule deer and pronghorn. 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 - Black Sagebrush/ Sandberg Bluegrass/ Utah Juniper Plant Community: This plant community is the result of improper grazing management and no fire. An increase in canopy cover of sagebrush and juniper 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 for Brewer’s sparrow, sage thrasher, and sage sparrow may increase. Remaining black sagebrush will provide brood-rearing, winter cover, and winter forage habitat for sage-grouse but as juniper encroaches the quality of this habitat is severely reduced or eliminated. Reduction of Indian rice-grass lowers the quality of forage habitat for song birds. The plant community supports limited seasonal habitat for mule deer, elk, and pronghorn due to reduced stands of Indian ricegrass and bluebunch wheatgrass. As juniper encroaches, the site will provide additional thermal cover for large mammals. A small mammal population including golden-mantled ground squirrels, chipmunks, yellow-bellied marmots, and pikas (when adjacent to talus slopes at high elevations) may utilize this site.

State 1 Phase 1.3 –Sandberg Bluegrass/ Bottlebrush Squirreltail 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 rabbitbrush would add fall pollinator habitat to the site. As rabbitbrush matures, it would help replace the loss of sagebrush cover. Until rabbitbrush is established diversity and populations of reptiles would be limited or eliminated. The dominance of herbaceous vegetation with no sagebrush canopy cover would eliminate use of this area for nesting, winter cover, and winter food for sage-grouse. 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). Winter habitat for large mammals would be reduced or eliminated with the loss of black sagebrush. Small mammal diversity and populations would be reduced due to a loss of cover and increase in success of hunting by predators.

State 1 Phase 1.4- Black 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 site would provide winter cover and winter food for sage-grouse. The quality of brood-rearing and nesting cover for sage-grouse would be lowered as herbaceous understory is depleted. Mule deer, elk, and pronghorn would utilize the site for winter habitat. A small mammal population including golden-mantled ground squirrels, chipmunks, yellow-bellied marmots, and pikas (when adjacent to talus slopes at high elevations) may utilize this site.

State 2 - Sandberg Bluegrass/ Annuals Plant Community:
This plant community is the result of continued improper grazing management and 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 not supported with food, water, or cover. This plant community does not support the habitat requirements for sage-grouse. Diversity of grassland avian species is reduced due to poor cover and available food. 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 site has developed due to improper grazing management and no fire. The loss of native understory vegetation will reduce insect diversity on the site. The lack of flowering plants reduces use by pollinators like butterflies and moths. Most reptilian species identified in State 1 Phase 1.1 are not supported with food, water, or cover. This plant community does not support 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 provides limited forage for mule deer, elk, and pronghorn in the spring and fall. Mule deer will use this site for winter cover and food. As juniper encroaches, the site will provide additional thermal cover for large mammals.


Grazing Interpretations.
This site is best adapted for livestock grazing in the spring, summer and fall. Natural water supplies are short or absent and livestock water may have to be piped, hauled or otherwise made available. 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 in this site are in hydrologic group B. They have moderately low runoff potential.

Recreational uses

Antelope hunting is the major recreational use of this site. There are limited opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, off-road vehicle use and photography.

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 Brendan Brazee, State Rangeland Management Specialist, NRCS, Idaho Lee Brooks, Range Management Specialist, IASCD Kristen May, Resource Soil Scientist, NRCS, Idaho

Other references

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/feis.

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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