An Interpretation of Synecologic Relationships in the Billy Meadows Area of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
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AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Charles Grier Johnson, Jr. for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Rangeland Resources presented on October 26, 1981. Title: An Interpretation of Synecologic Relationships in the Billy Meadows Area of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Redacted for Privacy Abstract approved: A. H. Winward A study of the plant communities of the Billy Meadows Study Unit, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, was initiated in June, 1978. The objectives were to:(1) identify the plant communities and classify them by habitat types;(2) establish field procedures for subsequent investigation of forest and steppe vegetation over a more extensive area;(3) determine vegetative affinities to aspect and soil depth in patterned ground mounded topography. A reconnaissance survey was developed for rapid plot establishment to permit investigation of the relatively large area. The purpose of the reconnaissance was to gain a familiarity of the vegetation, charac- terize the variability of the plant communities, and establish sites for possible intensive study. Intensive investigations of selected sites were conducted following preliminaryclassification to gain more de- tailed information about the plant communities. A final classification re- sulted based on the habitat type concept using three primary computer programs (PRES, REFORM, ORDER) and discriminantanalysis. Habitat types were delineated based on similarities and differences demonstrated by vegetation composition, environmental attributes and soils data. A total of nine steppe and seven forest habitat types was differenti- ated. Two seral community types of the Abies grandis/Linnaea borealis habitat type (Abies grandis/Vaccinium membranaceum and Pinus contorta/ Vaccinium membranaceum) were studied intensively due to their extensive coverage of the study unit. The steppe habitat types ranged from shrub- land types dominated by Physocarpus and Symphoricarpos to Agropyron spica- tum and Festuca idahoensis dominated bunchgrass types. Xeric scabland types dominated by Artemisia rigida, Poa sandbergii and Eriogonum species completed the principal steppe vegetation. Physocarpus malvaceus/Symphori- carpos albus, Artemisia rigida/Agropyron spicatum and Eriogonum strictum/ Poa sandbergii habitat types were proposed as types not previously des- cribed in the literature. The forested communities were dominated by true firs (Abies,,lasiocarpa and Abies grandis) and Pseudotsuga menziesii. Pinus ponderosa communities were limited in extent. The Billy Meadows Study Unit contained a multitude of patterned ground communities in all stages of plant succession. Five community types were identified on the mound crests. Sequences of retrogressive sucesssions were defined based on comparative analyses between mounds of a singular habitat type. A sequential retrogression might be exempli- fied on Agropyron/Festuca climax vegetation to Koeleria domination to annual Bromus or Eriogonum heracleoides domination to an ultimate dis- climax of Madia glomerata under the pressure of continued grazing. Mound aprons were intensively studied to determine if plants were influenced in their distribution by either aspect or soil depth. Some species were particularly sensitive to soil depth (e.g., Collinsia parviflora) and aspect (e.g., Bromus carinatus) while others were ubiquitous (e.g., Achillea millefolium). Although annuals made up the majority of mound apron communities, it was demonstrated that a dis- tinctive pattern of occurrence could often be determined based on soil depth and aspect of mounded topography. An Interpretation of Synecologic Relationships in the Billy Meadows Area of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest by Charles Grier Johnson, Jr. A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy June 1982 APPROVED: Redacted for Privacy Associate Professor, Rangeland Resources, in charge of major Redacted for Privacy Head Department, Rangeland Resources Redacted for Privacy Dean of Gradua School Date thesis is presented October 26, 1981 Typed by Ione Crandall for Charles Grier Johnson, Jr. Ecology is as much a way of looking at things as it is a body of scientific data, that in effect it is in part an art and therefore intuitive. Perhaps we would learn as much or more if we sat on a stump and just contemplated our surround- ings instead of madly measuring and recording data. P.B. Whitford Department of Botany University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Albany, Oregon 10/26/81 To My Teachers: The trail has often been rocky - blazes have not been fresh and the way lost at times. But finally the trail to a major pinnacle in life has been travelled and I look back at those who taught me how to climb to higher goals and who led me away from side trails that could have taken me off on another journey. It is to these "teachers" I address this account of my journey as I sit upon the pinnacle - for the view is extremely clear and the panorama very grand. Mom and Dad were the first teachers. A set of values was provided - a simple map was drawn of possible routes (different trails) that could be taken to reach varying summits of the mountain. Some were easy hikes, others were more difficult. I took many exploratory hikes, got lost a time or two, and gazed with awe at the untested trails leading to the pinnacle. In youth the pinnacle was too remote, too difficult - and probably not conquerable. Wes Albinson taught me a moral code and guided me over some of the early obstacles in the paths. Emma Pflugfelder saw a gleam through the forest of adolescence and suggested I pursue the opening to see if the trail was straight and in the right direction to achieve the summit. The trail led me through a strange land of mixed vegetation and into a patch of biological tangles. Fred Johnson noticed another gleam through the understory of a deep, dark forest. He offered to guide me out of the forest by show- ing me an order to what was an apparent disarray of plants and environ- ments. He provided indirect nudgings and forceful teachings to assure my attainment as a master of the forest ecological puzzle. A side trail was then taken and keen insight by Jack Krieger helped me to see how to retrace my pathways and discover the way once again. Fred Hall was encountered as the trail steepened and obstacles needed to be hurdled. He helped me clamor over these barriers and find a dim path across a grassy expanse. Then the trail steepened again and the climbing got harder. Al Winward was found at a rest stop and offered direction and counsel as to the best route over the grassy ridge to the long-awaited pinnacle. But perhaps it was not worth trying -I was tiring. The trail was so steep and so long. Angelica provided the reassurance. She packed my bag, made my lunch and gave me the time to make the final assault for the top. Audrey and Melica were understand- ing and patient. They knew, as only children know, that Daddy would be back from his journey and our games could then be played. So the final assault was made over the windy, chill steppe of the summit ridge. Bad weather often forced a cessation but never did it deter the trek. Too many good teachers had seen to that. As I recount my journey,I look down on the slope to those early beginnings. The pattern and order of the forest and nearby grasslands is so easy to see now. The route to the pinnacle can be straightened, bad trails avoided. I had many teachers help me make the climb and attain the summit. Not it is time to help others see the beauty and order of the natural world. I will leave the pinnacle to go below. There I will blaze new trails to help others see and understand the ecological puzzle - to assure people use of the resources of the mountain. It is time to be a teacher - to guide others as so many have guided me to this wonderful panorama. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction 1 Study Area 4 Location 4 Climate 8 Geology 15 Soils 16 Grazing History - Domestic Livestock 20 Grazing History - Wildlife 27 LogginvHistory 31 Fire History 32 Review of Historic Synecologic Literature Pertinent to the Intermountain Pacific Northwest and the Billy Meadows Study Unit 35 J. E. Weaver 35 Daubenmire 35 Tisdale 38 Pfister 39 F. C. Hall 40 Approach to Sampling the Wallowa-Snake Subprovince 42 Methods 43 Reconnaissance Survey 44 Intensive Survey 53 Data Analysis Programs 60 Identification of Habitat Types 62 Results and Discussion 63 Classification Sequence 63 Presence - Species Listing 64 Order - The Association Table 66 Discriminant Analysis 73 The Steppe Habitat Types of Billy Meadows StudyUnit 80 Physocarpus malvaceus/Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type 82 Symphoricarpos albus/Poa pratensis Plant Community Type 90 Festuca idahoensis/Agropyron spicatum Habitat Type 97 Agropyron spicatum/Festuca idahoensis Habitat Type 109 Agropyron spicatum/Poa sandbergii Habitat Type- 120 Artemisia rigida/Agropyron spicatum Habitat Type 133 TABLE OF CONTENTS Continued Page Artemisia rigida/Poa sandbergii Habitat Type 138 Eriogonum douglasii7Poa sandbergii Habitat Type 149 Eriogonum strictum/Poa sandbergii Habitat Type 155 Poa sandbergii/Danthonia unispicata Habitat Type 161 Eriogonum heracleoides/Poa pratensis Plant Community Type 172 Fragmental Communities 180 Meadow 180 Juncus tenuis seepage 180 Artemisia tridentata vaseyana f. spiciformis/ Poa pratensis Plant Community Type 180 Festuca idahoensis/Symphoricarpos albus Plant Community Type 184 Canyon Slope Garland Communities 184 The Forested Habitat Types of Billy Meadows Study Unit 191 Abies lasiocarpa/Linnaea borealis Habitat Type 198 Abies grandis/Linnaea borealis Habitat Type 210 Abies grandis/Vaccinium membranaceum Plant Community Type 223 Pinus contorta/Vaccinium membranaceum Plant Community Type 232 Pseudotsuga menziesii/Calamagrostis rubescens Habitat Type 240 Pseudotsuga menziesii/Physocarpus malvaceus Habitat Type 251 Pseudotsuga menziesii/Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type 262 Pinus ponderosa/Symphoricarpos albus Habitat Type 271 Pinus ponderosa/Festuca idahoensis Habitat Type 280 Fragmental Communities 289 Pinus ponderosa/Agropyron spicatum Plant Community Type 289 Pseudotsuga menziesii/Elymus glaucus Plant Community Type 291 Acer glabrum/Viola sp.