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Draft. A draft ecological site description is either incomplete or has not undergone quality control and quality assurance review.
Associated sites
R029XY031NV SHALLOW DROUGHTY LOAM 5-8 P.Z.
R029XY064NV STONY SLOPE 5-8 P.Z.
R029XY077NV SHALLOW GRAVELLY LOAM 8-10 P.Z.
R029XY079NV DROUGHTY LOAM 5-8 P.Z.
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R029XY031NV SHALLOW DROUGHTY LOAM 5-8 P.Z.
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R029XY107NV GRANITIC COBBLY LOAM 5-8 P.Z.
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R029XY036NV COBBLY LOAM 5-8 P.Z.
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R029XY080NV SHALLOW SANDY LOAM 5-8 P.Z.
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R029XY064NV STONY SLOPE 5-8 P.Z.
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R029XY038NV COBBLY LOAM 8-12 P.Z.
ARTRW codominant shrub
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Menodora spinescens
(2) Atriplex confertifoliaHerbaceous (1) Achnatherum hymenoides
(2) Achnatherum speciosumPhysiographic features
This site occurs on summits and sideslopes of fan piedmonts on all exposures. Slopes range from 2 to 50 percent, but slope gradients of 2 to 30 percent are most typical. Elevations are 4000 to 5500 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Fan piedmont
Elevation 4000 – 5500 ft Slope 2 – 50 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate associated with this site is arid, characterized by cool, moist winters and hot, dry summers. Average annual precipitation is 5 to 8 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 52 to 58 degrees F. The average growing season is about 140 to 200 days.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 200 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 10 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 have formed in alluvium derived from limestone or dolomite and to a small extent, from quartzite, sandstone, and ignimbrite. The soils are shallow to very shallow, well drained, and moderately to strongly alkaline. These soils have very slow permeability and very low available water capacity. Potential for sheet and rill erosion is moderate.
Ecological dynamics
Where management results in abusive grazing use by livestock and/or feral horses, threadleaf snakeweed, Anderson's wolfberry, and shadscale increase while Indian ricegrass, desert needlegrass and spiny menodora decrease. Annual forbs and grasses, such as red brome, are likely to invade this site.
Fire Ecology:
The mean fire return interval for shadscale communities range from 35 to 100 years. Shadscale communities are usually unaffected by fire because of low fuel loads, although a year of exceptionally heavy winter rains can generate fuels by producing a heavy stand of annual forbs and grasses. Increased presence of non-native annual grasses, such as cheatgrass, can alter fire regimes in shadscale communities by increasing fire frequency under wet to near-normal summer moisture conditions. When fire does occur, the effect on the ecosystem may be extreme. Spiny menodora often survives fire because its foliage does not readily burn. Nevada ephedra generally sprouts after fire damages aboveground vegetation. Underground regenerative structures commonly survive when aboveground vegetation is consumed by fire. However, severe fires may kill shallowly buried regenerative structures. Winterfat is either killed or top-killed by fire, depending on fire severity. Severe fire can kill the perennating buds located several inches above the ground surface and thus kills the plant. In addition, severe fire usually destroys seed on the plant. Low-severity fire scorches or only partially consumes the aboveground portions of winterfat and thus does not cause high mortality. Indian ricegrass can be killed by fire, depending on severity and season of burn. Indian ricegrass reestablishes on burned sites through seed dispersed from adjacent unburned areas. Desert needlegrass has persistent dead leaf bases, which make it susceptible to burning. Fire removes the accumulation; a rapid, cool fire will not burn deep into the root crown. Galleta is a rhizomatous perennial which can resprout after top-kill by fire.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 spiny menodora, shadscale, Indian ricegrass and desert needlegrass. Potential vegetative composition is about 35% grasses, 5% forbs and 60% shrubs. Approximate ground cover (basal and crown) is 10 to 20 percent.
Figure 3. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 4. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Shrub/Vine 180 270 360 Grass/Grasslike 105 157 210 Forb 15 23 30 Total 300 450 600 Additional community tables
Table 5. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Primary Perennial Grasses 92–204 Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 68–113 – desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 23–68 – James' galleta PLJA Pleuraphis jamesii 1–23 – 2 Secondary Perennial Grasses 23–45 purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 2–14 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 2–14 – needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 2–14 – bush muhly MUPO2 Muhlenbergia porteri 2–14 – Forb3 Perennial 9–36 James' galleta PLJA Pleuraphis jamesii 0–23 – globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea 2–9 – 4 Annual 1–14 Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 68–113 – desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 23–68 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 2–14 – needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 2–14 – Shrub/Vine5 Primary Shrubs 154–285 shadscale saltbush ATCO Atriplex confertifolia 68–113 – spiny menodora MESP2 Menodora spinescens 68–113 – Nevada jointfir EPNE Ephedra nevadensis 9–36 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 9–23 – 6 Secondary Shrubs 23–68 Shockley's goldenhead ACSH Acamptopappus shockleyi 5–14 – yellow rabbitbrush CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 5–14 – water jacket LYAN Lycium andersonii 5–14 – bud sagebrush PIDE4 Picrothamnus desertorum 5–14 – horsebrush TETRA3 Tetradymia 5–14 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 5–14 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suited for livestock grazing. Grazing management should be keyed to perennial grass or winterfat production. Indian ricegrass has good forage value for domestic sheep, cattle and horses. It supplies a source of green feed before most other native grasses have produced much new growth. Desert needlegrass produces considerable basal foliage and is good forage while young. Young desert needlegrass is palatable to all classes of livestock. Mature herbage is moderately grazed by horses and cattle but rarely grazed by sheep. When actively growing, galleta provides good to excellent forage for cattle and horses and fair forage for domestic sheep. Although not preferred, all classes of livestock may use galleta when it is dry. Domestic sheep show greater use in winter than summer months and typically feed upon central portions of galleta tufts, leaving coarser growth around the edges. Galleta may prove somewhat coarse to domestic sheep. Shadscale is a valuable browse species, providing a source of palatable, nutritious forage for a wide variety of livestock. Shadscale provides good browse for domestic sheep. Shadscale leaves and seeds are an important component of domestic sheep and cattle winter diets. Spiny menodora has lower palatability than the other shrubs but is consumed during early spring before spines mature. Nevada ephedra is important winter range browse for domestic cattle, sheep and goats. Winterfat is an important forage plant for livestock, especially during winter when forage is scarce. Abusive grazing practices have reduced or eliminated winterfat on some areas even though it is fairly resistant to browsing. Effects depend on severity and season of grazing.
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:
Shadscale is a valuable browse species, providing a source of palatable, nutritious forage for a wide variety of wildlife particularly during spring and summer before the hardening of spiny twigs. It supplies browse, seed, and cover for birds, small mammals, rabbits, deer, and pronghorn antelope. Spiny menodora has lower palatability than the other shrubs but is consumed during early spring before spines mature. Mule deer, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn browse Nevada ephedra, especially in spring and late summer when new growth is available. Winterfat is an important forage plant for wildlife, especially during winter when forage is scarce. Winterfat seeds are eaten by rodents and are a staple food for black-tailed jackrabbits. Mule deer and pronghorn antelope browse winterfat. Winterfat is used for cover by rodents. It is potential nesting cover for upland game birds, especially when grasses grow up through its crown. Indian ricegrass has good forage value for domestic sheep, cattle and horses. It supplies a source of green feed before most other native grasses have produced much new growth. Young desert needlegrass is palatable to many species of wildlife. Desert needlegrass produces considerable basal foliage and is good forage while young. Desert bighorn sheep graze desert needlegrass. Galleta provides moderately palatable forage when actively growing and relatively unpalatable forage during dormant periods. Galleta provides poor cover for most wildlife species.Recreational uses
Aesthetic value is derived from the diverse floral and faunal composition and the colorful flowering of wild flowers and shrubs during the spring and early summer. This site offers rewarding opportunities to photographers and for nature study. This site is used for camping and hiking and has potential for upland and big game hunting.
Other products
Seeds of shadscale were used by Native Americans of Arizona, Utah and Nevada for bread and mush. Native Americans used Nevada ephedra as a tea to treat stomach and kidney ailments. Indian ricegrass was traditionally eaten by some Native American peoples. The Paiutes used seed as a reserve food source. Desert needlegrass seeds are easily germinated and have potential for commercial use. Desert needlegrass may be used for groundcover in areas of light disturbance, but it is susceptible to excessive trampling.
Other information
Nevada ephedra is useful for erosion control, and seedlings have been successfully planted onto reclaimed strip mines, with survival ranging from 12 to 94%. Atrazine may be effective in controlling Nevada ephedra, though some plants can survive through crown sprouting. Irrigation may increase control by atrazine. Winterfat adapts well to most site conditions, and its extensive root system stabilizes soil. However, winterfat is intolerant of flooding, excess water, and acidic soils. Indian ricegrass is well-suited for surface erosion control and desert revegetation although it is not highly effective in controlling sand movement.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Lincoln County, NV Township/Range/Section T4S R61E S32 Latitude 45° 26′ 32″ Longitude 104° 14′ 29″ General legal description Section 31, T4S. R61E. MDBM. Approximately 2 miles east of Hiko Junction on USHwy 93 and 1 mile north on jeep trail leading to toeslopes of Hiko Range, Lincoln County, Nevada. Other references
Fire Effects Information System (Online; http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/).
USDA-NRCS Plants Database (Online; http://www.plants.usda.gov)
Contributors
RRK/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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