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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): 030X–Mojave Basin and Range
The Mojave Desert Major Land Resource Area (MLRA 30) is found in southern California, southern Nevada, the extreme southwest corner of Utah and northwestern Arizona within the Basin and Range Province of the Intermontane Plateaus. The Mojave Desert is a transitional area between hot deserts and cold deserts where close proximity of these desert types exert enough influence on each other to distinguish these desert types from the hot and cold deserts beyond the Mojave. Kottek et. al 2006 defines hot deserts as areas where mean annual air temperatures are above 64 F (18 C) and cold deserts as areas where mean annual air temperatures are below 64 F (18 C). Steep elevation gradients within the Mojave create islands of low elevation hot desert areas surrounded by islands of high elevation cold desert areas.
The Mojave Desert receives less than 10 inches of mean annual precipitation. Mojave Desert low elevation areas are often hyper-arid while high elevation cold deserts are often semi-arid with the majority of the Mojave being an arid climate. Hyper-arid areas receive less than 4 inches of mean annual precipitation and semi-arid areas receive more than 8 inches of precipitation (Salem 1989). The western Mojave receives very little precipitation during the summer months while the eastern Mojave experiences some summer monsoonal activity.
In summary, the Mojave is a land of extremes. Elevation gradients contribute to extremely hot and dry summers and cold moist winters where temperature highs and lows can fluctuate greatly between day and night, from day to day and from winter to summer. Precipitation falls more consistently at higher elevations while lower elevations can experience long intervals without any precipitation. Lower elevations also experience a low frequency of precipitation events so that the majority of annual precipitation may come in only a couple precipitation events during the whole year. Hot desert areas influence cold desert areas by increasing the extreme highs and shortening the length of below freezing events. Cold desert areas influence hot desert areas by increasing the extreme lows and increasing the length of below freezing events. Average precipitation and temperature values contribute little understanding to the extremes which govern wildland plant communities across the Mojave.
Arid Eastern Mojave Land Resource Unit (XB)LRU notes
The Mojave Desert is currently divided into 4 Land Resource Units (LRUs). This ecological site is within the Arid Eastern Mojave LRU where precipitation is bi-modal, occurring during the winter months and summer months. The Arid Eastern Mojave LRU is designated by the 'XB' symbol within the ecological site ID. This LRU is found across the eastern half of California, much of the mid-elevations of Nevada, the southernmost portions of western Utah, and the mid-elevations of northwestern Arizona. This LRU is essentially equivalent to the Eastern Mojave Basins and Eastern Mojave Low Ranges and Arid Footslopes of EPA Level IV Ecoregions
Elevations range from 1650 to 4000 feet and precipitation is between 4 to 8 inches per year. This LRU is distinguished from the Arid Western Mojave (XA) by the summer precipitation, falling between July and September, which tends to support more warm season plant species. The 'XB' LRU is generally east of the Mojave River and the 117 W meridian (Hereford et. al 2004). Vegetation includes creosote bush, burrobush, Nevada jointfir, ratany, Mojave yucca, Joshua tree, cacti, big galleta grass and several other warm season grasses. At the upper portions of the LRU, plant production and diversity are greater and blackbrush is a common dominant shrub.Ecological site concept
This site occurs on fan remnants and fan aprons on all exposures. Slopes range from 0 to 15 percent. Elevations range from 1500 to 5600 feet.
This is a group concept and provisional STM that also covers the following ecological sites: R030XA047NV, R030XA053NV, R030XA051NV., R030XB082NVAssociated sites
R030XB005NV Arid Active Alluvial Fans
Similar sites
R030XB002NV LOAMY HILL 5-7 P.Z.
Less productive site; typically occurs on steeper slopes
R030XB010NV LOAMY SLOPE 5-7 P.Z.
More productive site; PLRI3 dominant grass
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Atriplex confertifolia
Herbaceous (1) Achnatherum hymenoides
Physiographic features
This site occurs on fan remnants and fan aprons on all exposures. Slopes range from 0 to 15 percent. Elevations range from 1500 to 5600 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Fan remnant
(2) Fan apron
Flooding duration Extremely brief (0.1 to 4 hours) to very brief (4 to 48 hours) Flooding frequency Very rare to rare Ponding frequency None Elevation 1500 – 5600 ft Slope 0 – 15 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
This climate is arid, characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, somewhat moist winters. Average annual precipitation is 5 to 7 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 58 to 67 degrees F. The average growing season is about 170 to 260 days.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 260 days Freeze-free period (average) 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 are typically very deep and are relatively high in sodium near the surface. Surface soils are typically medium to moderately fine textured. The soil surface has high amounts of gravel, cobbles, or stones. Water intake rate is low to moderately rapid and available water capacity is very low. Runoff is low to very high and these soils are well drained. The soil series associated with this site include: Alamoroad, Alko, Threelakes, and Weiser.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium – limestone
(2) Alluvium – dolomite
Surface texture (1) Gravelly loam
(2) Extremely gravelly fine sandy loam
(3) Very gravelly loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Slow to moderately rapid Soil depth 72 – 84 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 20 – 98 % Surface fragment cover >3" 5 – 15 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)1.3 – 2 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)40 – 60 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 8 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 45 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7.9 – 9.6 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)12 – 65 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)1 – 15 % Ecological dynamics
The plant communities of this site are dynamic in response to changes in disturbance regimes and weather patterns. Community phase changes are primarily driven by long term drought. Historically wildfire was infrequent and patchy, due to widely spaced vegetation and low herbaceous production. Soils are dry for much of the year and total vegetative cover is about 10%. Soils are characterized as somewhat excessively drained with very high runoff and moderately alkaline.
Shadscale is a partially deciduous, short lived shrub, and is tolerant of alkaline conditions and relatively high pH. However, germination can be reduced if salt concentrations become too high. Reproduction occurs solely through seed and prolonged drought can result in high mortality of shadscale. Periods of greater than normal precipitation can also lead to increased mortality. Long periods of high soil moisture leave shadscale susceptible to insects and diseases. Shadscale and all Atriplex species are well adapted to the Mojave Desert environment. They are examples of extreme drought resistance, surviving more than a week at -6Megapascals of water potential. Tolerance to drought is achieved through the shedding of some leaves, which reduces water loss.
Associated shrub species include white bursage and bud sagebrush. White bursage leafs out in early spring and flowers in early summer. Seeds typically germinate following heavy September precipitation (Marshall 1994). Bud sagebrush initiates growth as early as March and is dormant by June, depending on soil moisture conditions (McWilliams 2003). Bud sagebrush and white bursage are early colonizers on disturbed sites and exists throughout the successional process.
The spatial distribution of vegetation of this site impacts runoff, infiltration, sediment redistribution and nutrient cycling. Patches of vegetation increase fine sediment deposition and reduce runoff producing positive feedback dynamics in the plant community. Shrub canopies shield the soil from radiation and rainfall (Puigdefabregas 2005). Shrubs partition the rainfall into interception, throughfall and stem flow. Interception diminishes net rainfall, while stemflow concentrates the water and results in deeper infiltration (Puigdefabregas 2005).
Fire Ecology:
Fires in the Mojave Desert are infrequent and of low severity because production of annual and perennial herbs seldom provides a fuel load capable of sustaining fire. The historic mean fire return interval for shadscale communities range from 35 to 100 years. Increased presence of non-native annual grasses, such as red brome, can alter fire regimes by increasing fire frequency under wet to near-normal summer moisture conditions. Fire generally kills white bursage and shadscale. Reestablishment is via off-site seed sources. Bud sagebrush is killed by fire. Nevada ephedra is top-killed by fire, but generally resprouts after fire damages aboveground vegetation and may increase in plant cover. 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. Big galleta sprouts from rhizomes following fire. Damage to big galleta from fire varies, depending on whether big galleta is dormant when burned. If big galleta is dry, damage may be severe. However, when plants are green, fire will tend to be less severe and damage may be minimal. Desert needlegrass has persistent dead leaf bases, which make itState and transition model
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Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textEcosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference StateThe Reference State is representative of the natural range of variability under pristine conditions. The plant community is shrub dominated with perennial cool and warm season grasses. Plant community dynamics are primarily driven by long-term drought and infrequent wildfire. Historically, this state experienced an extended fire return interval due to low fuel loading, which resulted in long-lived stable shadscale plant communities.
Community 1.1
Reference Plant Community
Figure 3. Loamy
The reference plant community is dominated by shadscale, Indian ricegrass and big galleta. Desert needlegrass and bud sagebrush are other important species on this site. Potential vegetative composition is about 25 percent grasses, 10 percent forbs and 65 percent shrubs. Approximate ground cover (basal and crown) is 5 to 15 percent. This plant community is stable and long-lived under pristine conditions.
Figure 4. 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 65 163 228 Grass/Grasslike 25 62 87 Forb 10 25 35 Total 100 250 350 Community 1.2
Plant Community 1.2This plant community is characteristic of a post-disturbance plant community. Initially herbaceous biomass increases, sprouting shrubs quickly recover and provide favorable sites for the establishment of other shrub seedlings. Post-disturbance plant community composition may vary depending on season of disturbance. This plant community is ‘at-risk’ of invasion by non-native species. Non-natives are able to take advantage of increased availability of critical resources following disturbance.
Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.2Prolonged drought, insect attack and/or low intensity, patchy wildfire.
Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.1Absence from disturbance and natural regeneration over time.
State 2
Invaded StateThe invaded state is characterized by the presence of non-native species in the understory. Introduced annuals such as red brome, schismus and redstem filaree have invaded the reference plant community and have become a dominant component of the herbaceous cover. A biotic threshold is crossed with the introduction of non-natives that cannot be easily removed from the system and have the potential to significantly alter disturbance regimes from their historic range of variability.
These non-native annuals are highly flammable and promote wildfires where fires historically have been infrequent. Shadscale persists after invasion, however shrub seedlings and bunchgrasses have limited competitive ability against non-native annuals.Community 2.1
Invaded Plant Community 2.1This plant community is characterized by the presence of non-natives. Species composition and ecological function are similar to the reference plant community. However, ecological resilience is reduced by the presence of non-native species. This plant community may respond differently following a disturbance, when compared to non-invaded plant communities.
Community 2.2
Invaded Plant Community 2.2This plant community is characterized by the reduction of native perennials and an increase of non-native annuals. Native shrubs will persist through the invasion but will experience reduced vigor and seedling recruitment. This plant community is identified as “at-risk”. The decreased native perennial vegetation and dominance by non-native annuals reduces the soil stability and leaves the site vulnerable to erosion from wind and water. Careful management is needed to ensure further degradation and loss of ecosystem function.
Pathway 2.1a
Community 2.1 to 2.2Prolonged drought, wildfire, disease/insect attack or other localized disturbance.
Pathway 2.2a
Community 2.2 to 2.1Absence from disturbance and natural regeneration over time. Non-natives persist in the plant community.
State 3
Eroded StateThe eroded state is characterized by reduced cover of perennial vegetation. Increased cover of bare ground results in higher levels of water erosion and decreased infiltration rates. Feedbacks keeping this state stable include reduced perennial vegetative cover causing increased runoff, decreased infiltration and reduced run-on moisture preventing establishment of desirable perennial vegetation. An abiotic threshold has been crossed preventing the natural recovery of this plant community.
Community 3.1
Eroded Plant Community 3.1This plant community is characterized by decreased perennial native vegetation and increased soil erosion. Patches of vegetation increase water storage capacity and increase organic carbon and nutrient inputs. The loss of patches of vegetation negatively affects soil hydrology, nutrient cycling and vegetation establishment. Severity of erosion is dependent on environmental factors such as topography, rainfall and soil type.
Community 3.2
Eroded Plant Community 3.2This plant community is characterized by the total loss of perennial vegetation. Soil and soil nutrients are being relocated down slope. Ecological processes, including nutrient and carbon inputs, hydrological cycle, and soil stability, have been significantly altered, even truncated in some cases. Non-native annuals persist in the plant community.
Pathway 3.1a
Community 3.1 to 3.2Prolonged surface disturbance, prolonged drought or both.
Pathway 3.2a
Community 3.2 to 3.1Changes in management and/or periods of favorable climatic conditions allow for natural regeneration over time.
Transition T1
State 1 to 2Introduction of non-native species due to a combination of factors including: 1) surface disturbances, 2) changes in the kinds of animals and their grazing patterns, 3) drought, and 4) changes in fire history.
Transition T2
State 2 to 3Large scale disturbance removes native perennial vegetation.
Restoration pathway R3
State 3 to 2Restoration pathway. Possible restoration techniques, to stabilize the site and reestablish native perennials, include flattening and terracing hill slopes, closing roads, vertical, horizontal and rock mulching, as well as, planting container stock. Non-native species remain in the plant community.
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 23–71 Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 13–38 – big galleta PLRI3 Pleuraphis rigida 5–20 – desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 5–13 – 2 Secondary Perennial Grasses 1–13 low woollygrass DAPU7 Dasyochloa pulchella 1–5 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 1–5 – bush muhly MUPO2 Muhlenbergia porteri 1–5 – Forb3 Perennial forbs 5–20 globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea 1–8 – princesplume STANL Stanleya 1–8 – 4 Annual forbs 1–20 Shrub/Vine5 Primary shrubs 118–195 shadscale saltbush ATCO Atriplex confertifolia 87–125 – bud sagebrush PIDE4 Picrothamnus desertorum 13–25 – burrobush AMDU2 Ambrosia dumosa 13–25 – Nevada jointfir EPNE Ephedra nevadensis 5–20 – 6 Secondary shrubs 13–38 fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 3–13 – creosote bush LATR2 Larrea tridentata 3–13 – desert-thorn LYCIU Lycium 3–13 – spiny menodora MESP2 Menodora spinescens 3–13 – Fremont's dalea PSFR Psorothamnus fremontii 3–13 – Table 7. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 8. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 9. Community 2.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 3.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suitable for livestock grazing. Indian ricegrass is highly palatable to all classes of livestock in both green and cured condition. It supplies a source of green feed before most other native grasses have produced much new growth. Big galleta is considered a valuable forage plant for cattle and domestic sheep. Its coarse, rigid culms make it relatively resistant to heavy grazing and trampling. 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. White bursage is of intermediate forage value. It is fair to good forage for horses and fair to poor for cattle and sheep. However, because there is often little other forage where white bursage grows, it is often highly valuable to browsing animals and is sensitive to browsing. Shadscale provides good browse for domestic sheep and goats. Shadscale leaves and seeds are an important component of domestic sheep and cattle winter diets. Shadscale tends to be browse tolerant. Heavy grazing during the winter and/or spring reduces shadscale. Die-off can also occur during extended periods of high precipitation. Shadscale is tolerant of early spring light-intensity browsing. Budsage is palatable and nutritious forage for domestic sheep in the winter and spring although it is known to cause mouth sores in lambs. Budsage can be poisonous or fatal to calves when eaten in quantity. Budsage, while desired by cattle in spring, is poisonous to cattle when consumed alone. Nevada ephedra is important winter range browse for domestic cattle, sheep and goats. Nevada ephedra is usually grazed heavily and seems to be perfectly safe for grazing livestock since it induces neither toxicity in ewes or cows, nor congenital deformities in lambs.
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:
White bursage is an important browse species for wildlife. Shadscale is a valuable browse species providing a source of palatable, nutritious forage for a wide variety of wildlife. The fruits and leaves are a food source for deer, desert bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope. Budsage is palatable, nutritious forage for upland game birds, small game and big game in winter. Budsage provides valuable forage for mule deer in Nevada in winter and is utilized by bighorn sheep in summer, but the importance of budsage in the diet of bighorns is not known. Budsage comprises 18 – 35% of a pronghorn’s diet during the spring where it is available. Chukar will utilize the leaves and seeds of budsage. Budsage is highly susceptible to effects of browsing. It decreases under browsing due to year-long palatability of its buds and is particularly susceptible to browsing in the spring when it is physiologically most active. Mule deer, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn browse Nevada ephedra, especially in spring and late summer when new growth is available. Mountain quail eat ephedra seeds. Indian ricegrass is eaten by pronghorn in moderate amounts whenever available. In Nevada it is consumed by desert bighorns. A number of heteromyid rodents inhabiting desert rangelands show preference for seed of Indian ricegrass. Indian ricegrass is an important component of jackrabbit diets in spring and summer. In Nevada, Indian ricegrass may even dominate jackrabbit diets during the spring through early summer months. Indian ricegrass seed provides food for many species of birds. Doves, for example, eat large amounts of shattered Indian ricegrass seed lying on the ground. Desert bighorn sheep and feral horses and burros will graze desert needlegrass.Hydrological functions
Runoff is low to very high. Permeability is slow to moderately rapid.
Other products
Indian ricegrass was traditionally eaten by some Native Americans. The Paiutes used seed as a reserve food source. White bursage is a host for sandfood, a parasitic plant. Sandfood was a valuable food supply for Native Americans. Seeds of shadscale were used by Native Americans for bread and mush. Some Native American tribes steeped the twigs and drank the tea as a general beverage.
Other information
Big galleta's clumped growth form stabilizes blowing sand. Desert needlegrass may be used for groundcover in areas of light disturbance, but it is susceptible to excessive trampling. White bursage may be used to revegetate disturbed sites in southwestern deserts.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Lincoln County, NV Township/Range/Section T11S R63E S19 General legal description Coyote Springs area, about ½ mile west of US Highway 93, Lincoln County, Nevada. This site also occurs in Clark and southern Lincoln Counties, Nevada. Other references
Fire Effects Information System (Online; http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/).
Marshall, K. Anna. 1994. Ambrosia dumosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online].
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer).
Available:http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
McWilliams, Jack. 2003. Picrothamnus desertorum. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
Puigdefabregas, J. 2005. The role of vegetation patterns in structuring runoff and sediment fluxes in drylands. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 30:133-147.
USDA-NRCS Plants Database (Online; http://www.plants.usda.gov).
Contributors
HA
Approval
Kendra Moseley, 3/11/2025
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) PATTI NOVAK-ECHENIQUE Contact for lead author State Rangeland Management Specialist Date 08/19/2011 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
Rills are none. Soil surface armored by rock fragments. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns are none. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals are none. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare ground is 5-15%; surface rock fragments up to 95%. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Fine litter (foliage from grasses and annual & perennial forbs) expected to move distance of slope length (<10 ft) during intense summer convection storms or rapid snowmelt events. Persistent litter (large woody material) will remain in place except during large rainfall events. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil stability values should be 3 to 6 on most soil textures found on this site. Areas of this site occurring on soils that have a physical crust will probably have stability values less than 3. (To be field tested.) -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Surface structure is typically strong, very thick platy to moderate, medium subangular blocky or single grained. Soil surface colors are light and soils are typified by an ochric epipedon. Organic matter of the surface 2 to 3 inches is typically less than 1%. Organic matter content can be more or less depending on micro-topography. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Perennial herbaceous plants slow runoff and increase infiltration. Shrub canopy and associated litter break raindrop impact. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
Compacted layers are none. Platy or massive sub-surface horizons or subsoil argillic horizons are not to be interpreted as compacted layers. -
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:
Mojave Desert shrubsSub-dominant:
cool-season perennial bunchgrasses > warm-season perennial bunchgrasses > perennial forbs > annual forbsOther:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Dead branches within individual shrubs common and standing dead shrub canopy material may be as much as 25% of total woody canopy; some of the mature bunchgrasses (<20%) have dead centers. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Reference Plant Community: under canopy and interspaces 10-20% cover and depth of litter is <1/4 inch. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
For normal or average growing season ± 250 lbs/ac. Favorable years 350 lbs/ac and unfavorable years 100 lbs/ac. -
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:
Potential invaders on this site include red brome, redstem filaree and Mediterranean grass. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All functional groups should reproduce in average (or normal) and above average growing season years. Little growth or reproduction occurs during drought years.
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