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Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 022A–Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi Mountains
This ESD was developed using older policy requirements which have been improved with the intent of improving ESD products overall. Users should approach these materials with some caution as the content herein, while likely useful for some purposes, was developed within parameters now recognized as needing varying levels of improvement. As always, a site-specific investigation is highly recommended when site-specific management alternatives are to be developed and/or management decisions are to be made.
Each ESD is an interpretation of the ecological relationships between biotic and abiotic aspects of the landscape. Users of this document should be aware of the limitations of this tool to the extent that specific local conditions may not be entirely captured within the ESD. In particular, management decisions should be supported by site-specific inventories, assessments and planning processes based on the best available information including and extending beyond the ESD.
An ESD is not a permanent determination of ecological dynamics. Rather, each ESD is an evolving body of work intrinsically tied to the soil surveys and data associated with soil map unit components of correlated soil-ecological site relationships. As new information becomes available, updates may be made or may be underway at any given time. Minor updates may be made without announcement when such changes do not modify the ecological site concept, the soils correlated or the state-and-transition model.
Associated sites
R022AY020NV PRUNUS POCKET
R022AY022NV LOAMY SLOPE 14-16 P.Z.
R022AY023NV LOAMY SLOPE 16-20 P.Z.
R022AY025NV MAHOGANY THICKET
R022AY028NV CLAYPAN 16+ P.Z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana
(2) Purshia tridentataHerbaceous (1) Achnatherum occidentale
Physiographic features
This site occurs on moutain sideslopes on all aspects. Slopes range from 10 to 45 percent, but slope gradients of 15 to 30 percent are most typical. Elevations are 7000 to about 8000 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountain slope
Elevation 7000 – 8000 ft Slope 10 – 45 % Climatic features
The climate on this site is subhumid-continental, characterized by cold, moist winters, and cool dry summers. The average annual precipitation ranges from 16 to 20 inches, mostly occurring as snow. The linear to convex slope shapes associated with this site cause some of the precipitation to be removed from the site because of wind action, thus reducing the moisture available for plant growth. The mean annual air temperature ranges from 36 to 39 degrees F. The average frost free growing season is 30 to 60 days. Climate data used to support this section were derived from PRISM and is not specifically tied to any dominant climate station.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 60 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 20 in BarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
There are no influencing water features associated with this site
Soil features
The soils associated with this site are moderately deep to very deep, well drained and derived from mixed sources. The soils have an argillic horizon and a mollic epipedon and are skeletal throughout the profile. The soils are moist in the moisture control section during late fall, winter, and spring. Soils are dry from July through October.
Soil series associated with this site include: Burchfat, and Murain.
CA729 Toiyabe National Forest Area, California
222;Hardtil-Alpineco-Rock outcrop complex, warm, 8 to 30 percent slopes;Murain
392;Heenlake-Loope association;Burchflat;Murain
480;Aspetill association;Murain
490;Cloudburst-Murain association;Murain
491;Cloudburst-Murain-Hardtil association;Murain
531;Elaero association;Elaero
580;Murain-Shorthike association;Murain
581;Murain association;Murain
590;Loope-Heenlake-Carshal association;Murain
591;Loope-Heenlake-Celeridge association;Murain
770;Sweetmount-Hawkinspeak-Hawkridge association;Burchflat
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Very gravelly sandy loam
(2) Extremely stony coarse sandy loam
(3) Very gravelly coarse sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate to moderately rapid Soil depth 20 – 72 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 20 – 35 % Surface fragment cover >3" 6 – 20 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)1.7 – 4.5 in 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)18 – 41 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)2 – 25 % Ecological dynamics
The fire return interval in mountain big sagebrush communities ranges from 15 to 40 years. Very frequent fire suppresses mountain big sagebrush establishment, while long fire return intervals promote tree invasion into mountain big sagebrush communities. Mountain big sagebrush is highly susceptible to injury from fire. Plants are readily killed in all seasons, even by light severity fires. Mountain big sagebrush plants top-killed by fire will not resprout. Regeneration of mountain big sagebrush is from on-site or off-site seed. Depending on circumstances of the environment and seed source, mountain big sagebrush seeds may sprout profusely the spring after burning, or very sparsely.
Antelope bitterbrush is highly susceptible to fire. Some ecotypes sprout following fire, either from dormant buds encircling an aboveground root crown, from calluses of meristematic tissue beneath the bark, or from dormant buds on a belowground lignotuber. Very young and very old plants (younger than 5 or older than 40-60 years) do not sprout well.
Western needlegrass is classified as "moderately" resistant, but depending on the season of burn, phenology, and fire severity, this perennial bunchgrass is moderately to severely damaged by fire. Aboveground vegetation of western needlegrass is often consumed by fire. The distribution of fuels within the plant influences the severity and length of burn time. Fire in the many leafy vegetative culms can promote burning beneath the soil surface, producing subsurface charring. The abundant dead material which is sometimes present with western needlegrass contributes to fire damage regardless of season. Post burn regeneration usually occurs by seed. Western needlegrass has also adapted to fire by regenerating by fire-enhanced flowering.
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 characterized by an open canopy of soft-woody shrubs and a dense understory of perennial grasses. The plant community is dominated by western needlegrass and mountain big sagebrush. Potential vegetative composition is about 35% grasses, 5% forbs and 60% shrubs and trees. Approximate ground cover(basal and crown) is 40 to 60 percent.
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 480 840 1080 Grass/Grasslike 280 490 630 Forb 40 70 90 Total 800 1400 1800 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 350–490 western needlegrass ACOCO Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale 350–490 – 2 Secondary Perennial Grasses 140–210 Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 7–42 – Letterman's needlegrass ACLE9 Achnatherum lettermanii 7–42 – desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 7–42 – Thurber's needlegrass ACTH7 Achnatherum thurberianum 7–42 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 7–42 – needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 7–42 – basin wildrye LECI4 Leymus cinereus 7–42 – Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 7–42 – Forb4 Perennial Forbs 28–112 rockcress ARABI2 Arabis 7–28 – tapertip hawksbeard CRAC2 Crepis acuminata 7–28 – buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 7–28 – mule-ears WYAM Wyethia amplexicaulis 7–28 – Shrub/Vine5 Primary Shrubs 700–980 mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 350–490 – antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 350–490 – 6 Secondary Shrubs 70–140 yellow rabbitbrush CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 7–28 – mormon tea EPVI Ephedra viridis 7–28 – slender buckwheat ERMI4 Eriogonum microthecum 7–28 – gilia GILIA Gilia 7–28 – desert peach PRAN2 Prunus andersonii 7–28 – currant RIBES Ribes 7–28 – mountain snowberry SYOR2 Symphoricarpos oreophilus 7–28 – Interpretations
Animal community
Mountain 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.
Domestic livestock and mule deer may compete for antelope bitterbrush in late summer, fall, and/or winter. Cattle prefer antelope bitterbrush from mid-May through June and again in September and October. Antelope bitterbrush is palatable to all types of livestock.
Wildlife Interpretations:
Mountain big sagebrush is highly preferred and nutritious winter forage for mule deer.
In northwestern Nevada and northeastern California, antelope bitterbrush is a critical winter food for mule deer. Antelope bitterbrush seed is a large part of the diets of rodents, especially deer mice and kangaroo rats. Antelope bitterbrush is palatable to all types of wildlife.
Other information
Mountain big sagebrush is easily propagated from seed under greenhouse, nursery, and common garden conditions and has been successfully seeded directly into field sites. Mountain big sagebrush has also been successfully planted in field sites using nursery-grown bareroot and containerized stock.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Mono County, CA Latitude 38° 24′ 17″ Longitude 119° 24′ 50″ General legal description Toiyabe National Forest Other references
Fire Effect Information System (Online; http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/).
USDA-NRCS Plants Database (Online; http://plants.usda.gov/).
Contributors
ALM/GKB
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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