LANDFIRE Biophysical Setting Model

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LANDFIRE Biophysical Setting Model Biophysical Setting 2310660 Inter-Mountain Basins Mat Saltbush Shrubland This BPS is lumped with: This BPS is split into multiple models:

General Information Contributors (also see the Comments field) Date 2/23/2005 Modeler 1 Annie Brown [email protected] Reviewer Modeler 2 Jolie Pollet [email protected] Reviewer Modeler 3 Stanley Kitchen [email protected] Reviewer

Vegetation Type Dominant Species Map Zone Model Zone ATCO4 Upland Shrubland 23 Alaska Northern Plains ATGA California N-Cent.Rockies General Model Sources Great Basin Pacific Northwest Literature Great Lakes South Central Local Data Hawaii Southeast Expert Estimate Northeast S. Appalachians Southwest

Geographic Range This ecological system occurs on gentle slopes and rolling plains in the northern Colorado Plateau and Uinta Basin on Mancos Shale and arid, wind-swept basins and plains across parts of WY. Biophysical Site Description Substrates are shallow, typically saline, alkaline, fine textured soils developed from shale or alluvium and may be associated with shale badlands. Infiltration rate is typically low. In WY and possibly elsewhere inclusions of non-saline, gravelly barrens or rock outcrops may be present. Vegetation Description These dwarf-shrublands are typically composed of relatively pure stands of Atriplex spp such as Atriplex corrugata (mat saltbush) or Atriplex gardneris (Gardner's saltbush). Other dominant or codominant dwarf- shrubs may include Artemisia longifolia (longleaf wormwood), Artemisia pedatifida (birdfoot sagebrush) or Picrothamnus desertorum (bud sagebrush), sometimes with a mix of other low shrubs such as Krascheninnikovia lanata (winterfat) or Tetradymia spinosa. Atriplex confertifolia (shadscale) or Atriplex canescens (fourwing saltbush) may be present, but do not codominate. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse. Scattered perennial forbs occur, such as Xylorhiza glabriuscula and Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia, and the perennial grasses Achnatherum hymenoides (Indian ricegrass), Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama), Elymus elymoides, Elymus lanceolatus ssp lanceolatus, Pascopyrum smithii (western wheatgrass) or Sporobolus airoides (alkali sacaton) may dominate the herbaceous layer. In less saline areas, there may be inclusions grasslands dominated by Hesperostipa comata, Leymus salinus, Pascopyrum smithii or Pseudoroegneria spicata. In WY and possibly elsewhere, inclusions of non-saline, gravelly barrens or rock outcrops dominated by cushion plants such as Arenaria hookeri (Hooker's sandwort) and Phlox hoodii without dwarf-shrubs may be present. Annuals are seasonally present and

**Fire Regime Groups are: I: 0-35 year frequency, surface severity; II: 0-35 year frequency, replacement severity; III: 35-100+ year frequency, mixed severity; IV: 35-100+ year frequency, replacement severity; V: 200+ year frequency, replacement severity.

Monday, March 03, 2014 Page 1 of 4 may include Eriogonum inflatum and Plantago tweedyi. Disturbance Description This system does not have a fire regime due to discontinuous fuel. High mortality (every 100yrs on average) can occur in conjunction with wet years. Adjacency or Identification Concerns This BpS may be hard to distinguish from Intermountain Basins Mixed Salt Desert Scrub (1081) without ground truthing.

Sickle saltbush communities are common in central and eastern NV. The range described in NatureServe should be extended to the central and eastern Great Basin.

In some areas there is cheatgrass invasion, though usually not enough (continuous) to carry fire or to increase fire frequency Native Uncharacteristic Conditions

Scale Description Patches occur in hundreds to tens of thousands of acres.

Issues/Problems

Comments This model is identical to the model for the same BpS in MZ16 (Utah High Plateaus) and did not receive any peer review for MZ23 and MZ24.

Wet periods contribute to mortality and are the only disturbance in this system.

Vegetation Classes

Indicator Species and Structure Data (for upper layer lifeform) Class A 10 % Canopy Position Min Max Early Development 1 All Structure ATCO4 Cover 05%% Upper Layer Lifeform All Height Shrub 0m Shrub 0.5m Herbaceous ATGA Tree Size Class None All Shrub Upper layer lifeform differs from dominant lifeform. Tree Fuel Model 4

Description Characterized by bare ground and young shrubs that have re-sprouted or established from nearby seed. May find some ephemeral forbs or grasses (listed in vegetation description above) at this stage. Disturbance is characterized by very wet periods that contribute to high shrub mortality every 100yrs on average. Succession to class B after 12yrs.

Monday, March 03, 2014 Page 2 of 4 Indicator Species and Structure Data (for upper layer lifeform) 90 % Canopy Position Class B Min Max Late Development 1 All Structures ATCO4 Cover 10%% 20 Upper Layer Lifeform All Height Shrub 0m Shrub 0.5m Herbaceous ATGA Tree Size Class None All Shrub Upper layer lifeform differs from dominant lifeform. Tree Fuel Model 4

Description Characterized by mature shrubs. Typically lacks understory vegetation. Sites at this stage are very patchy with discontinuous shrubs. Same disturbance as in class A.

Indicator Species and Structure Data (for upper layer lifeform) Class C 0 % Canopy Position Min Max [Not Used] [Not Used] Cover %% Height Upper Layer Lifeform Tree Size Class Herbaceous Upper layer lifeform differs from dominant lifeform. Shrub Tree Fuel Model

Description

Indicator Species and Class D 0 % Canopy Position Structure Data (for upper layer lifeform) Min Max [Not Used] [Not Used] Cover %% Upper Layer Lifeform Height Herbaceous Tree Size Class Shrub Tree Fuel Model Upper layer lifeform differs from dominant lifeform.

Description

Class E Indicator Species and Structure Data (for upper layer lifeform) 0 % Canopy Position Min Max [Not Used] [Not Used] Cover %% Upper Layer Lifeform Height Herbaceous Tree Size Class Shrub Tree Fuel Model Upper layer lifeform differs from dominant lifeform.

Monday, March 03, 2014 Page 3 of 4 Description Disturbances Fire Intervals Fire Regime Group**: V Avg FI Min FI Max FI Probability Percent of All Fires Replacement Historical Fire Size (acres) Mixed Avg Surface Min All Fires Max Fire Intervals (FI): Fire interval is expressed in years for each fire severity class and for all types of fire Sources of Fire Regime Data combined (All Fires). Average FI is central tendency modeled. Minimum and Literature maximum show the relative range of fire intervals, if known. Probability is the inverse of fire interval in years and is used in reference condition modeling. Percent of all Local Data fires is the percent of all fires in that severity class. Expert Estimate Additional Disturbances Modeled Insects/Disease Native Grazing Other (optional 1) Wind/Weather/Stress Competition Other (optional 2)

References Blaisdell, J.P. and R.C. Holmgren. 1984. Managing intermountain rangelands-salt-desert shrub ranges. General Technical Report INT-163. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 52 pp.

Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis [2005, February 23].

NatureServe. 2007. International Ecological Classification Standard: Terrestrial Ecological Classifications. NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, VA. Data current as of 10 February 2007.

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