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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
F022AY103NV POTR5/SYMPH/BRMA4
F022AY104NV POTR5/SALIX/ELTRT
R022AY031NV LOAMY SLOPE 30+ P.Z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Populus tremuloides
Herbaceous (1) Achnatherum
(2) Bromus marginatusPhysiographic features
This site occurs on concave shoulders of mountains and plateaus on northely aspects or on the lee-side of snow-blown plateau and mountain summits. Slope gradients of 8 to 30 percent are typical. Elevations of 6500 to 9000 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountain slope
(2) Plateau
(3) Mountain
Elevation 6500 – 10000 ft Slope 8 – 30 % Aspect N, NE, NW 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 14 to over 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 40 to 44 degrees F. The average frost free growing season is 40 to 75 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) 80 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
This site occurs on deep, well drained soils that formed in volcanic ash and colluvium over residuum derived from tuff and andesite. These soils are usually moist in winter, spring, and early summer, dry later in summer and fall. Soils are saturated for brief periods below 30 inches during snowmelt. These soils have high amounts of vitric volcanic ash and glass throughout the soil profile whigh enhances the water holding capacity of these soils. Soil series associated with this site include: Pyropatti.
CA729 Toiyabe National Forest Area, California
232;Hawkinspeak-Hawkridge association;Aspocket
234;Hawkinspeak-Thiefridge association;Aspocket
235;Hawkinspeak-Angelwhine association;Aspocket
340;Aspocket association;Aspocket
470;Sumeadow-Lostridge association;Aspocket
480;Aspetill association;Aspetill
481;Aspetill association, very stony;Aspetill
510;Rubble land-Lithnip-Rock outcrop association;Aspocket
540;Lostcannon association;Lostcannon;moist
792;Dab-Aspocket-Hawkridge association;Aspocket
CA732 Inyo National Forest, Western Part, California
232ty;Hawkinspeak-Hawkridge association;Aspocket
234ty;Hawkinspeak-Thiefridge association;Aspocket
470ty;Sumeadow-Lostridge association;Aspocket
CA790 Yosemite National Park, California
510t;Rubble land-Lithnip-Rock outcrop association, 8 to 30 percent slopes, mountains, cryic;Aspocket
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Gravelly sandy loam
(2) Very gravelly coarse sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Somewhat poorly drained to well drained Permeability class Moderately slow to moderately rapid Soil depth 40 – 72 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 15 – 25 % Surface fragment cover >3" 2 – 18 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)3.5 – 4.4 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)3 – 29 % Ecological dynamics
Where management results in abusive livestock use, the aspen overstory can be thinned out and permanent openings in the canopy may be created. If aspen sucker reproduction is inadequate to replace overstory mortality, snowberry, big sagebrush and other shrubs increase and eventually become dominant.
Fire effects:
Quaking aspen is highly competitive on burned sites thus; quaking aspen dominates a site after a fire. Quaking aspens are adapted to 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 the interpretative plant community for this site. The historic climax plant community is dominated by dense stands of low-growing quaking aspen, genrally less than 15-feet tall at maturity (locally known as "snowbank" aspen). Each site normally represents a single clone of aspen with a common genetic makeup. A variety of forbs, mountain brome, needlegrass, slender wheatgrass, and snowberry are important understory species associated with this site and are most prevalent on the periphery of the aspen overstory. Potential vegetative composition is about 20% grasses, 20% forbs and 60% shrubs. Approximate ground cover (basal and crown) is about 50 to 75 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)Tree 120 200 320 Forb 60 100 160 Grass/Grasslike 60 100 160 Shrub/Vine 60 100 160 Total 300 500 800 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 156–325 mountain brome BRMA4 Bromus marginatus 65–130 – slender wheatgrass ELTR7 Elymus trachycaulus 26–65 – Columbia needlegrass ACNEN2 Achnatherum nelsonii ssp. nelsonii 32–65 – western needlegrass ACOCO Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale 32–65 – 2 Secondary Perennnial Grasses/Grasslikes 26–65 sedge CAREX Carex 3–10 – blue wildrye ELGL Elymus glaucus 3–10 – basin wildrye LECI4 Leymus cinereus 3–10 – melicgrass MELIC Melica 3–10 – bluegrass POA Poa 3–10 – Forb3 Perennial Forbs 195–390 nettleleaf giant hyssop AGURU Agastache urticifolia var. urticifolia 3–25 – castilla CASTI Castilla 3–25 – tapertip hawksbeard CRAC2 Crepis acuminata 3–25 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 3–25 – waterleaf HYDRO4 Hydrophyllum 3–25 – tailcup lupine LUCAC3 Lupinus caudatus ssp. caudatus 3–25 – ragwort SENEC Senecio 3–25 – mule-ears WYAM Wyethia amplexicaulis 3–25 – Shrub/Vine4 Primary Shrubs 26–65 roundleaf snowberry SYRO Symphoricarpos rotundifolius 26–65 – 5 Secondary Shrubs 26–195 Utah serviceberry AMUT Amelanchier utahensis 3–15 – mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 3–15 – yellow rabbitbrush CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 3–15 – chokecherry PRVI Prunus virginiana 3–15 – currant RIBES Ribes 3–15 – Tree6 Trees 650–895 quaking aspen POTR5 Populus tremuloides 650–895 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Interpretations:
Livestock utilization of quaking aspen communities vary with species composition of the understory and relative age of the quaking aspen stand. Young stands usually provide the most browse. Quaking aspen crowns can grow out of reach of large ungulates in 6 to 8 years. Although many animals browse quaking aspen year-round, it is especially valuable forage during fall and winter, when protein levels are high relative to other browse species. Mountain brome provide a palatable and nutritious forage for livestock, especially from early spring until seed dispersal.
Wildlife Interpretations:
Wildlife utilization of quaking aspen communities varies with understory composition and age of aspen stand. Mountain brome is an important forage for several wildlife species
Other products
Quaking aspen is widely used in ornamental landscaping.
Other information
Aspens are used to stabilize the soil on disturbed sites. The wide adaptability of quaking aspen makes it well-suited for restoration and rehabilitation projects on a wide range of sites.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Mono County, CA Latitude 38° 40′ 17″ Longitude 119° 39′ 0″ General legal description Toiyabe National Forest Toiyabe National Forest, Monitor Pass Area, approximately 0.2 miles northeast of HWY 89. 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
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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PrintThe Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
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