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Draft. A draft ecological site description is either incomplete or has not undergone quality control and quality assurance review.
Classification relationships
Holland, R.F. 1986. Preliminary descriptions of the terrestrial natural communities of California. Unpublished report. State of California, The Resources Agency, Department of Fish and Game, Natural Heritage Division, Sacramento, CA. (Updated September 2003). Element Code: Bitter Cherry Scrub 37.900.00.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Prunus emarginata
(2) Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyanaHerbaceous (1) Bromus marginatus
Physiographic features
This site occurs on mountain sideslopes. Slopes range from 15 to 50 percent. Elevations range from 5200 to 7800 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountain slope
Elevation 5200 – 7800 ft Slope 15 – 50 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate of this site is subhumid, characterized by warm, dry summers and cold, moist winters. The area's precipitation comes mostly from winter Pacific cyclonic storms, with a very slight summer monsoonal season that is erratic but can be locally significant. Average annual precipitation is 20 to 50 inches with most occurring during the winter months. Approximately half the precipitation falls as snow; half as rain.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 70 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 50 in BarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
This site is associated with seeps.
Soil features
The soils associated with this site are deep, moderately well drained soils formed in residuum and colluvium from volcanic rocks. These soils have high amounts of vitric volcanic ash and glass throughout the soil profile which enhances waterholding capacity. The profile is modified with 25 to 40 percent rock fragments.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Residuum – volcanic breccia
Surface texture (1) Ashy sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Moderately well drained Permeability class Moderately rapid Soil depth 48 – 60 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 25 – 40 % Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 10 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)6 – 8 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)Not specified Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)Not specified Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)6.1 – 7.3 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)25 – 40 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 10 % Ecological dynamics
Where management results in abusive livestock use, giant hyssop, rubber rabbitbrush and mountain sagebrush become more prevalent. Species likely to invade the site include cheatgrass, morning glory and yellow salsify.
Fire effects:
Presettlement fire return intervals in mountain big sagebrush communities varied from 15-25 years. Mountain big sagebrush is highly susceptible to injury from fire. Plants are readily killed in all seasons, even light severity fires. Mountain big sagebrush plants top-killed by fire will not resprout.
Bitter cherry is top-killed or killed by severe fires. Bitter cherry sprouts vigorously following fires.State and transition model
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textEcosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference Plant CommunityCommunity 1.1
Reference Plant CommunityThe reference plant community is dominated by bitter cherry, mountain big sagebrush and mountain brome. Potential vegetative composition is about 20% grasses, 15% forbs and 65% shrubs.
Figure 3. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Shrub/Vine 1920 2600 3900 Grass/Grasslike 640 800 1200 Forb 480 600 900 Total 3040 4000 6000 Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Primary Perennial Grasses 400–600 mountain brome BRMA4 Bromus marginatus 400–600 – 2 Secondary Perennial Grasses 80–320 needlegrass ACHNA Achnatherum 20–80 – big squirreltail ELMU3 Elymus multisetus 20–80 – slender wheatgrass ELTR7 Elymus trachycaulus 20–80 – bluegrass POA Poa 20–80 – Forb3 Perennial Forbs 260–1040 nettleleaf giant hyssop AGURU Agastache urticifolia var. urticifolia 20–80 – castilla CASTI Castilla 20–80 – clarkia CLARK Clarkia 20–80 – grand collomia COGR4 Collomia grandiflora 20–80 – Jessica sticktight HAMI Hackelia micrantha 20–80 – tailcup lupine LUCAC3 Lupinus caudatus ssp. caudatus 20–80 – sweetroot OSMOR Osmorhiza 20–80 – Brown's peony PABR Paeonia brownii 20–80 – longleaf starwort STLOL Stellaria longifolia var. longifolia 20–80 – Fendler's meadow-rue THFEF Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri 20–80 – California false hellebore VECA2 Veratrum californicum 20–80 – violet VIOLA Viola 20–80 – woolly mule-ears WYMO Wyethia mollis 20–80 – 4 Annual Forbs 80–200 Shrub/Vine5 Primary Grasses 2080–3320 bitter cherry PREM Prunus emarginata 1800–2400 – mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 200–600 – roundleaf snowberry SYRO Symphoricarpos rotundifolius 80–320 – 6 Secondary Shrubs 280–840 silver sagebrush ARCAB3 Artemisia cana ssp. bolanderi 40–120 – snowbrush ceanothus CEVE Ceanothus velutinus 40–120 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNAN5 Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. nauseosa 40–120 – creeping barberry MARE11 Mahonia repens 40–120 – black chokecherry PRVIM Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa 40–120 – currant RIBES Ribes 40–120 – American black elderberry SANIC4 Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis 40–120 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suited to grazing by cattle and sheep during late spring, summer and fall. Grazing management should be keyed to mountain brome production. Bitter cherry is highly palatable to domestic sheep. Big sagebrush is eaten by domestic sheep and cattle, but has long been considered to be of low palatability to domestic livestock, a competitor with more desirable species, and a physical impediment to grazing. Mountain brome is an important forage for domestic livestock.
Stocking rates vary over time depending upon season of use, climate variations, site, and previous and current management goals. A safe starting stocking rate is an estimated stocking rate that is fine tuned by the client by adaptive management through the year and from year to year.
Wildlife Interpretations:
Bitter cherry is a valuable forage species for mule deer and elk. Big sagebrush is highly preferred and nutritious winter forage for mule deer. Sage grouse are also highly dependent on big sagebrush for both food and cover. Mountain brome is an important forage for several wildlife species.Hydrological functions
Runoff is medium to high.
Other products
Fruits were used as laxatives, and the roots and inner bark were boiled and ingested to prevent heart trouble. The bark of bitter cherry peels off in long fibrous strips which were used to make baskets and other implements. Native peoples used big sagebrush leaves and branches for medicinal teas, and the leaves as a fumigant. Bark was woven into mats, bags and clothing.
Other information
Bitter cherry adapts well to disturbed or degraded sites. It is used for land reclamation and erosion control. Mountain big sagebrush has potential for range restoration and soil stabilization.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Modoc County, CA Latitude 41° 55′ 2″ Longitude 120° 10′ 7″ General legal description On the Modoc National Forest in the Warner Mountains Other references
Fire Effects Information System [Online]. http://www.fs.fed.us/feis
Miles, S.R. and C.B. Goudey. 1997. Ecological Subregions of California Section and Subsection Descriptions. United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region R5-EM-TP-005. Subsection M261Gf-Warner Mountains.
Modoc Elk Working Group. 2000. The Greater Modoc Area A Strategic Plan for Elk Management. Modoc County, CA
Contributors
P.NOVAK-ECHENIQUE
Rangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
Author(s)/participant(s) Contact for lead author Date Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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