Vegetation characteristics of mountainous northeastern Nevada sagebrush community types

Authors

M. E. Jensen, U.S. Forest Service, Missoula, Montana
L. S. Peck, University of Nevada, Reno
M. V. Wilson, Oregon State University, Corvallis

Abstract

Vegetation characteristics of 15 sagebrush community types identified on the Humboldt National Forest, northeastern Nevada, are described. A total of 218 plant species were found over the 372 relatively undisturbed rangeland communities sampled. The dominant plant families encountered were the Asteraceae (45 taxa), Poaceae (32 taxa), Scrophulariaceae (14 taxa), and the Fabaceae (12 taxa). Average annual dry weight production of the community types ranged from about 400 kg/ha/yr on types with Artemisia nova as the dominant sagebrush species to 1,200 kg/ha/yr on some A. tridentata ssp. vaseyana community types. A general increase in species richness and vegetation plus litter ground cover was observed within community types as the dominant sagebrush species changed from A. nova to A. arbuscula to A. longiloba to A. tridentata spp. tridentata to A. tridentata ssp. vaseyana. Major differences in plant species production and constancy exist between the sagebrush community types studied.

Recommended Citation

Jensen, M. E.; Peck, L. S.; and Wilson, M. V. (1988) "Vegetation characteristics of mountainous northeastern Nevada sagebrush community types," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 48: No. 4, Article 1.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol48/iss4/1