Schellenberg Michael P. 2005.Pdf (8.872Mb)

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Schellenberg Michael P. 2005.Pdf (8.872Mb) COMPARISON OF PRODUCTION AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF TWO SEED SOURCES OF WINTERFAT A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty ofGraduate Studies and Research in Partial Fulfilment ofthe Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department ofAnimal and Poultry Science University ofSaskatchewan by Michael P. Schellenberg August 2005 © Copyright Michael P. Schellenberg, 2005. All rights reserved. In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment ofthe requirements for a postgraduate degree from the University ofSaskatchewan, I agree that the libraries of this University may make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for copYing ofthis thesis in any manner, in whole or in part, for scholarly purposes maybe granted by the professor or professors who supervised my thesis work or, in their absence, by the Head ofthe Department or the Dean ofthe College in which my thesis was done. It is understood that any copYing, publication, or use ofthis thesis or parts thereoffor financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of Saskatchewan in any scholarly use which may be made ofany material in my thesis. Requests for permission to copy or make other use ofmaterial in this thesis in whole or part should be addressed to: Head ofthe Department ofAnimal and Poultry Science University ofSaskatchewan Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A8 1 ABSTRACT Winterfat, Krascheninnikovia lanata (Pursh) A.D.J. Meeuse & Smit, a native shrub that exhibits ecotypic variation, has been recommended for extending the grazing season into the fall, when protein levels are low in other plants ofthe northern Great Plains. A series ofstudies was established in 2001 and 2002 at Swift Current, SK to examine developmental and nutritional differences between a northern seed source (Ducks Unlimited Canada ecovar™, DU) and a southern seed source (New Mexico, NM). Additionally, winterfat's nutritional contribution to mixtures containing alfalfa and western wheatgrass was examined. For the first experiment, plants were clipped once, at 50% ofplant height, between June and snow fall. New Mexico winterfat was 8.7 % taller in 2002 than DU, but DU plants were more productive (P < 0.05) on a g m-2 basis (15% in 2002, 110% in 2003) than NM with more primary branches (40 % in 2002,20% in (2003), higher fibre (4% in 2003) and decreased digestibility (7% for 3 year old plants) than NM. NM and DU plants had different (P < 0.05) crude protein, Ca, P, K, Na, Mn, Zn, Fe, Co, and Cd concentrations in 2002 and 2003. Supplementation of Ca, Cu, Co and Se for both seed sources and Zn for older NM plants would be required, to meet nutritional requirements ofa medium framed British breed replacement heifer in its first trimester. Sulfur, Mg and Fe were in excess ofanimal requirements and may decrease Cu availability. In a study examining seed production ofboth seed sources as affected by fertilization and irrigation, DU plants produced seed in potentially commercial potential quantities while NM plants remained vegetative. Fertilizer and water had no effect on seed production (P > 0.05). The third study examining seeding mixtures ofwinterfat with alfalfa and western wheatgrass indicated that the mixtures provided adequate crude protein for a medium framed British breed heifer. Two in sacco experiments modelled a) digestion ofthe two winterfat types compared to alfalfa and western wheatgrass; and b) digestion ofthe same species as poly- or mono-cultures. 11 Alfalfa and NM winterfat, were similar, and had greater (P < 0.05) effective degradability than DU winterfat or western wheatgrass. The poly-culture feed mixture degradability ofcrude protein was greater (P < 0.05) than DU winterfat or Western wheatgrass. A positive synergy was observed for effective degradability ofCP in mixtures. The studies overall demonstrate 1) northern and southern winterfat ecotypes have different growth and nutritional characteristics and 2) inclusion ofalfalfa in mixtures with winterfat could provide adequate crude protein with a proportion (390 g kg- 1 CP) being in the form ofrumen undigestible crude protein. 111 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to express his gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Roger Cohen and Dr. Paul Jefferson for their guidance, constructive criticism and advice throughout this period ofstudy. The author wishes to thank Dr. J. Waddington for planting the seed literally and conceptually which has produced the research project for this thesis. Recognition is also extended to Drs. John McKinnon, Yuguang Bai and Bernard Laarveld who served as members ofmy advisory committee. Appreciation is extended to Dr. Peiqianq Yu for his time explaining the modelling process and the help he provided the author for the modelling component of the thesis. Special appreciation is expressed to Jacqueline Bolton for her dedicated help collecting the data for this thesis as well as ongoing research projects. A special thanks is expressed to the Forage Research team, located at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre in Swift Current, for their assistance in the field, laboratories and bams, and their support throughout this study period. Gratitude is extended to the Saskatchewan Agricultural Development Fund and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Branch for funding. Gratitude is also extended for access to the facilities at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre. Finally, I would like to dedicate this thesis to Vivian, Rachel and Adam Schellenberg for support and sacrifices made during this period ofstudy. tV TABLE OF CONTENTS PERMISSION TO USE......................................................................................... i ABSTRACT............................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ~ v LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................. x LIST OF FIGURES............................................................................................... XVII LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xviii APPENDIX TABLES xx APPENDIX FIGURES ~ ~ xxii 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................... 1 1.1 Why Shrubs? 1 2. LITERATURE REVIEW.................................................................................. 5 2.1 Geographic Range............. 5 2.2 Ecotypic Differences... 6 2.3 Growth......... 7 2.4 Mixtures........................... 9 2.5 Nutritional Characteristics............................. 11 2.6 Utilization. 16 2.7 Seed Availability.................................................................................... 17 2.8 Hypotheses to be Tested......................................................................... 18 2.9 Objectives to Test Hypotheses..................... 18 v 3. PHENOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DUCKS UNLIMITED AND NEW MEXICO SEED SOURCES....................................................................... 21 3.1 Introduction............................................................................................ 21 3.2 Materials and Methods.. 23 3.2.1 Experiment 1........................................................................... 23 3.2.2 Experiment 2........................................................................... 25 3.2.3 Meteorological Data. 25 3.2.4 Statistical Analyses.................................................................. 25 3.3 Results and Discussion............ 26 3.3.1 Meteorological Data 26 3.3.2 Canopy Structure and Biomass............................................... 27 3.3.2.1 Experiment 1............................................................ 27 3.3.2.1.1 First Year ofHarvest 2002 27 3.3.2.1.1.1 Seed source 27 3.3.2.1.1.2 Clipping date 27 3.3.2.1.2 Second Year ofHarvest 2003.................... 32 3.3.2.1.2.1 Seed source 32 3.3.2.1.2.2 Clipping date.............................. 35 3.3.2.2 Experiment 2............................................................ 40 3.3.2.2.1 First Year ofHarvest 2003 40 3.3.2.2.1.1 Seed source 40 3.3.2.2.2.1 Clipping date.............................. 40 3.3.2.3 General Results and Discussion for Canopy Structure and Biomass...................................................................... 41 3.3.3 Stage ofGrowth 43 3.3.3.1 Experiment 1............................................................ 43 3.3.3.1.1 First Year ofHarvest 2002 43 3.3.3.1.2 Second Year ofHarvest 2003 44 3.3.3.2 Experiment 2............................................................ 44 VI 3.3.3.1.1 First Year ofHarvest 2003 44 3.3.3.3 General Results and Discussion for Stage of Growth................................................................................ 44 3.3.4 LeafStem Growth................................................................... 44 3.4 Conclusions.. 48 4. SEED PRODUCTION POTENTIAL AS AFFECTED BY SEED SOURCE, FERTILIZATION AND IRRIGATION........................................... 50 4.1 Introduction.. 50 4.2 Materials and Methods......................................................................... 52 4.3 Results and Discussion.......................................................... 54 4.3.1 Production.............................................................................. 54 4.3.2 Climatic Conditions.............. 61 4.4 Conclusions.......................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Response of Selected Plants to Fire on White Sands
    Session D—Ecology of Fire on White Sands Missile Range—Boykin Response of Selected Plants to Fire on 1 White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico 2 Kenneth G. Boykin Abstract Little was known about the ecology, impacts, effects, and history of fire related to many plants and communities within White Sands Missile Range. I began by identifying the known aspects and the gaps in knowledge for White Sands Missile Range. I analyzed existing data available for the Installation taken from the Integrated Training and Area Management (ITAM) program for 1988 to 1999. Burn plots were identified at 34 sites with fires occurring sometime within that 11 yr span. Selected plant species were analyzed to identify the response to fire including change in frequency, cover, and structure. Analysis of data indicated varied responses to fire and identified a need for long term monitoring to account for natural variability. Introduction Fire is a major factor influencing the ecology, evolution, and biogeography of many vegetation communities (Humphrey 1974, Ford and McPherson 1996). In the Southwest, semi-desert grasslands and shrublands have evolved with fires caused by lightning strikes (Pyne 1982, Betancourt and others 1990). Fires have maintained grasslands by reducing invading shrubs (Valentine 1971). The impact these fires have on the ecosystem depends not only on current biological and physical environment but also on past land use patterns (Ford and McPherson 1996). Fires impact communities by affecting species diversity, persistence, opportunistic invading species, insects, diseases, and herbivores. Plant species diversity often increases after fires and some communities are dependent on fire to maintain their structure (Jacoby 1998).
    [Show full text]
  • GOOSEBERRYLEAF GLOBEMALLOW Sphaeralcea Grossulariifolia (Hook
    GOOSEBERRYLEAF GLOBEMALLOW Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia (Hook. & Arn.) Rydb. Malvaceae – Mallow family Corey L. Gucker & Nancy L. Shaw | 2018 ORGANIZATION NOMENCLATURE Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia (Hook. & Arn.) Names, subtaxa, chromosome number(s), hybridization. Rydb., hereafter referred to as gooseberryleaf globemallow, belongs to the Malveae tribe of the Malvaceae or mallow family (Kearney 1935; La Duke 2016). Range, habitat, plant associations, elevation, soils. NRCS Plant Code. SPGR2 (USDA NRCS 2017). Subtaxa. The Flora of North America (La Duke 2016) does not recognize any varieties or Life form, morphology, distinguishing characteristics, reproduction. subspecies. Synonyms. Malvastrum coccineum (Nuttall) A. Gray var. grossulariifolium (Hooker & Arnott) Growth rate, successional status, disturbance ecology, importance to animals/people. Torrey, M. grossulariifolium (Hooker & Arnott) A. Gray, Sida grossulariifolia Hooker & Arnott, Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia subsp. pedata Current or potential uses in restoration. (Torrey ex A. Gray) Kearney, S. grossulariifolia var. pedata (Torrey ex A. Gray) Kearney, S. pedata Torrey ex A. Gray (La Duke 2016). Seed sourcing, wildland seed collection, seed cleaning, storage, Common Names. Gooseberryleaf globemallow, testing and marketing standards. current-leaf globemallow (La Duke 2016). Chromosome Number. Chromosome number is stable, 2n = 20, and plants are diploid (La Duke Recommendations/guidelines for producing seed. 2016). Hybridization. Hybridization occurs within the Sphaeralcea genus.
    [Show full text]
  • A Reciprocal Transplant Experiment with Winterfat (Krascheninnikovia Lanata) Melanie Barnes
    University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository Biology ETDs Electronic Theses and Dissertations 12-1-2009 The effect of plant source location on restoration success: a reciprocal transplant experiment with winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata) Melanie Barnes Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/biol_etds Recommended Citation Barnes, Melanie. "The effect of plant source location on restoration success: a reciprocal transplant experiment with winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata)." (2009). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/biol_etds/4 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Electronic Theses and Dissertations at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biology ETDs by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The effect of plant source location on restoration success: a reciprocal transplant experiment with winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata) BY Melanie G. Barnes B.A., Biology, Reed College, 2001 DISSERTATION Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Biology The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico December, 2009 DEDICATION In memory of my mother, Georgene Grace Barnes. The completion of this dissertation is also dedicated to my friends and family who have supported me in this endeavor and who taught me many things about life that gave me the perspective I needed to complete this work. I would like to thank Heather Simpson, Jerusha Reynolds, Terri Koontz, Nathan Abrahamson, Jeremy Barlow, Brittany Barker, Laura Calabrese, Jennifer Hollis, Maureen Peters, Helen Barnes, and Tom Barnes. Finally, I want to thank Lisa for her love and emotional support; it means the world to me.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Pleistocene Holarctic Steppe and Semi-Desert Goosefoot Plant Krascheninnikovia Ceratoides
    Flora 262 (2020) 151504 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Flora journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/flora Phylogeny and biogeography of the Pleistocene Holarctic steppe and semi- desert goosefoot plant Krascheninnikovia ceratoides T Anna Seidla,*, Ernesto Pérez-Collazosb, Karin Tremetsbergera, Mark Carinec, Pilar Catalánb, Karl-Georg Bernhardta a Institute of Botany, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria b Escuela Politécnica Superior de Huesca, Universidad de Zaragoza, Ctra. Cuarte Km 1, 22071 Huesca, Spain c Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, Kensington, London SW7 5BD, UK ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Edited by: Chennai Guest Editor Krascheninnikovia ceratoides (Chenopodiaceae) is a steppe and semi-desert plant with two subspecies, K. cer- Keywords: atoides subsp. ceratoides, which is widespread in Eurasia, and K. ceratoides subsp. lanata, which grows in western Altai Mountains and central North America. A few disjunct populations of K. ceratoides subsp. ceratoides are found in Anatolia, Irano-Turanian element Europe and North Africa to the west of its otherwise continuous Eurasian distribution. To understand the evo- rDNA and plastid data lutionary history of this characteristic steppe and semi-desert plant, we analysed its phylogeny and biogeo- phylogeography graphy. We sequenced several loci including ITS, ETS and the chloroplast intergenic spacer regions atpB-rbcL, molecular dating rpl32-trnL and trnL-trnF to establish a time-calibrated phylogeny and reconstruct intraspecific relationships. Pleistocene Furthermore, we identified the ploidy level of individuals. While diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid individuals have been reported in the literature, we were only able to find diploids and tetraploids. The diploids were found in the east of Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and the USA.
    [Show full text]
  • Food Habits of Rodents Inhabiting Arid and Semi-Arid Ecosystems of Central New Mexico." (2007)
    University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository Special Publications Museum of Southwestern Biology 5-10-2007 Food Habits of Rodents Inhabiting Arid and Semi- arid Ecosystems of Central New Mexico Andrew G. Hope Robert R. Parmenter Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/msb_special_publications Recommended Citation Hope, Andrew G. and Robert R. Parmenter. "Food Habits of Rodents Inhabiting Arid and Semi-arid Ecosystems of Central New Mexico." (2007). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/msb_special_publications/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Museum of Southwestern Biology at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Special Publications by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MUSEUM OF SOUTHWESTERN BIOLOGY NUMBER 9, pp. 1–75 10 May 2007 Food Habits of Rodents Inhabiting Arid and Semi-arid Ecosystems of Central New Mexico ANDREW G. HOPE AND ROBERT R. PARMENTER1 Special Publication of the Museum of Southwestern Biology 1 CONTENTS Abstract................................................................................................................................................ 5 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 5 Study Sites ..........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Origin and Age of Australian Chenopodiaceae
    ARTICLE IN PRESS Organisms, Diversity & Evolution 5 (2005) 59–80 www.elsevier.de/ode Origin and age of Australian Chenopodiaceae Gudrun Kadereita,Ã, DietrichGotzek b, Surrey Jacobsc, Helmut Freitagd aInstitut fu¨r Spezielle Botanik und Botanischer Garten, Johannes Gutenberg-Universita¨t Mainz, D-55099 Mainz, Germany bDepartment of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA cRoyal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, Australia dArbeitsgruppe Systematik und Morphologie der Pflanzen, Universita¨t Kassel, D-34109 Kassel, Germany Received 20 May 2004; accepted 31 July 2004 Abstract We studied the age, origins, and possible routes of colonization of the Australian Chenopodiaceae. Using a previously published rbcL phylogeny of the Amaranthaceae–Chenopodiaceae alliance (Kadereit et al. 2003) and new ITS phylogenies of the Camphorosmeae and Salicornieae, we conclude that Australia has been reached in at least nine independent colonization events: four in the Chenopodioideae, two in the Salicornieae, and one each in the Camphorosmeae, Suaedeae, and Salsoleae. Where feasible, we used molecular clock estimates to date the ages of the respective lineages. The two oldest lineages both belong to the Chenopodioideae (Scleroblitum and Chenopodium sect. Orthosporum/Dysphania) and date to 42.2–26.0 and 16.1–9.9 Mya, respectively. Most lineages (Australian Camphorosmeae, the Halosarcia lineage in the Salicornieae, Sarcocornia, Chenopodium subg. Chenopodium/Rhagodia, and Atriplex) arrived in Australia during the late Miocene to Pliocene when aridification and increasing salinity changed the landscape of many parts of the continent. The Australian Camphorosmeae and Salicornieae diversified rapidly after their arrival. The molecular-clock results clearly reject the hypothesis of an autochthonous stock of Chenopodiaceae dating back to Gondwanan times.
    [Show full text]
  • Open Space Master Plan for Louisville Owned Parcels
    CITY OF LOUISVILLE OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN covering the following properties: AQUARIUS CTC DAUGHENBAUGH DAVIDSON MESA LAKE PARK NORTH TAMARISK WAREMBOURG LEON A. WURL WILDLIFE SANCTUARY MISCELLANEOUS January 2004 City of Louisville Department of Land Management and Louisville Open Space Citizens Advisory Board TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF MAPS ...............................................................................................................................2 SUMMARY.....................................................................................................................................3 CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY CHART OF OPEN SPACE LANDS........................................4 1.0 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................5 1.1 Report Organization.................................................................................................6 2.0 RELEVANT GOALS AND POLICIES..............................................................................6 3.0 MANAGEMENT GOALS AND PROTOCOL ..................................................................6 4.0 LANDSCAPE SETTING AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.................................8 4.1 Location ....................................................................................................................8 4.2 Climate ......................................................................................................................9 4.3 Topography...............................................................................................................9
    [Show full text]
  • Winterfat Tested Class of Natural Germplasm
    UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE BRIDGER, MONTANA and MONTANA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BOZEMAN, MONTANA and WYOMING AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION LARAMIE, WYOMING NOTICE OF RELEASE OF OPEN RANGE WINTERFAT TESTED CLASS OF NATURAL GERMPLASM The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Montana and Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Stations announce the release of a ‘Tested Class Germplasm’ of winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata [Pursh] Guldenstaedt, syn. Ceratoides lanata [Pursh] J.T. Howell, syn. Eurotia lanata [Pursh] Moq.), a low growing, shrub, native to the northern Great Plains and Intermountain Desertic Basin. Winterfat has also been referred to as whitesage, lambstail, or sweetsage. This release was evaluated and selected by the USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center (PMC) at Bridger, Montana. Collection Site Information: Open Range Tested Class Germplasm of winterfat is a composite of three accessions: 9039363 collected near Terry, Montana (Custer County), by D. Grandbois (1985), 9039365 collected near Bridger, Montana (Carbon County), by B. Thompson (1985), and 9039416 collected near Rawlins, Wyoming (Carbon County), by R. Baumgartner (1985). Description: The Open Range release is typical of the species, having the same general morphological and physiological characteristics. Winterfat is a half-shrub measuring 0.3 to 0.75 meters (1.0 to 2.5 ft.) tall. From a woody base, the plants produce numerous erect, annual branches. The stems and leaves are covered with soft, woolly hairs that give the plants a whitish to gray-green appearance. The sessile to short-petioled, lanceolate leaves have enrolled edges and persist through the winter season. The plants are monoecious.
    [Show full text]
  • Second Contribution to the Vascular Flora of the Sevastopol Area
    ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Wulfenia Jahr/Year: 2015 Band/Volume: 22 Autor(en)/Author(s): Seregin Alexey P., Yevseyenkow Pavel E., Svirin Sergey A., Fateryga Alexander Artikel/Article: Second contribution to the vascular flora of the Sevastopol area (the Crimea) 33-82 © Landesmuseum für Kärnten; download www.landesmuseum.ktn.gv.at/wulfenia; www.zobodat.at Wulfenia 22 (2015): 33 – 82 Mitteilungen des Kärntner Botanikzentrums Klagenfurt Second contribution to the vascular flora of the Sevastopol area (the Crimea) Alexey P. Seregin, Pavel E. Yevseyenkov, Sergey A. Svirin & Alexander V. Fateryga Summary: We report 323 new vascular plant species for the Sevastopol area, an administrative unit in the south-western Crimea. Records of 204 species are confirmed by herbarium specimens, 60 species have been reported recently in literature and 59 species have been either photographed or recorded in field in 2008 –2014. Seventeen species and nothospecies are new records for the Crimea: Bupleurum veronense, Lemna turionifera, Typha austro-orientalis, Tyrimnus leucographus, × Agrotrigia hajastanica, Arctium × ambiguum, A. × mixtum, Potamogeton × angustifolius, P. × salicifolius (natives and archaeophytes); Bupleurum baldense, Campsis radicans, Clematis orientalis, Corispermum hyssopifolium, Halimodendron halodendron, Sagina apetala, Solidago gigantea, Ulmus pumila (aliens). Recently discovered Calystegia soldanella which was considered to be extinct in the Crimea is the most important confirmation of historical records. The Sevastopol area is one of the most floristically diverse areas of Eastern Europe with 1859 currently known species. Keywords: Crimea, checklist, local flora, taxonomy, new records A checklist of vascular plants recorded in the Sevastopol area was published seven years ago (Seregin 2008).
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix C: Vegetation Management Biozones See District-Specific Posters for More Detailed Biozone Location Information
    Appendix C: Vegetation Management Biozones See District-specific posters for more detailed biozone location information. The following pages give details on each biozone. Contact Roadside Resources to receive a biozone poster if your office does not have one available. 59 CONIFER FOREST • Needleleaf evergreen trees dominate in this biozone • Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) is the most common tree species, occurring at the lower elevations • Occasionally found at the lower elevations are the deciduous trees Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) and New Mexico locust (Robinia neomexicana). • The most common mid- elevation conifer is Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). • Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) and other spruces are found at the higher elevations of the conifer forest. Temperature • Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) fills a 100 niche role in vegetational succession, appearing after fire or other forest 80 disturbance 60 Average Maximum Temperature (F) • Shrubs, grasses, and forbs are not common 40 in the understory, but may occur in natural Average Minimum Temperature (F) openings and at the edge of the forest 20 Freezing (F) • Mountain slopes, high plateaus, as well as 0 canyons, support conifer forest vegetation Jan Oct Apr Feb July Dec Aug Nov Mar May Sept • Soils found within this biozone include June Month andesite, basalt, granite, limestone, and Precipitation sandstone 25 • Elevations range from 3,900 to 8,300 feet • Summer precipitation (July, August, 20 Average Total September) accounts for nearly half of the Precipitation
    [Show full text]
  • European Glacial Relict Snails and Plants: Environmental Context of Their Modern Refugial Occurrence in Southern Siberia
    bs_bs_banner European glacial relict snails and plants: environmental context of their modern refugial occurrence in southern Siberia MICHAL HORSAK, MILAN CHYTRY, PETRA HAJKOV A, MICHAL HAJEK, JIRI DANIHELKA, VERONIKA HORSAKOV A, NIKOLAI ERMAKOV, DMITRY A. GERMAN, MARTIN KOCI, PAVEL LUSTYK, JEFFREY C. NEKOLA, ZDENKA PREISLEROVA AND MILAN VALACHOVIC Horsak, M., Chytry, M., Hajkov a, P., Hajek, M., Danihelka, J., Horsakov a,V.,Ermakov,N.,German,D.A.,Ko cı, M., Lustyk, P., Nekola, J. C., Preislerova, Z. & Valachovic, M. 2015 (October): European glacial relict snails and plants: environmental context of their modern refugial occurrence in southern Siberia. Boreas, Vol. 44, pp. 638–657. 10.1111/bor.12133. ISSN 0300-9483. Knowledge of present-day communities and ecosystems resembling those reconstructed from the fossil record can help improve our understanding of historical distribution patterns and species composition of past communities. Here, we use a unique data set of 570 plots explored for vascular plant and 315 for land-snail assemblages located along a 650-km-long transect running across a steep climatic gradient in the Russian Altai Mountains and their foothills in southern Siberia. We analysed climatic and habitat requirements of modern populations for eight land-snail and 16 vascular plant species that are considered characteristic of the full-glacial environment of central Europe based on (i) fossil evidence from loess deposits (snails) or (ii) refugial patterns of their modern distribu- tions (plants). The analysis yielded consistent predictions of the full-glacial central European climate derived from both snail and plant populations. We found that the distribution of these 24 species was limited to the areas with mean annual temperature varying from À6.7 to 3.4 °C (median À2.5 °C) and with total annual precipitation vary- ing from 137 to 593 mm (median 283 mm).
    [Show full text]
  • List of Plants for Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
    Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Plant Checklist DRAFT as of 29 November 2005 FERNS AND FERN ALLIES Equisetaceae (Horsetail Family) Vascular Plant Equisetales Equisetaceae Equisetum arvense Present in Park Rare Native Field horsetail Vascular Plant Equisetales Equisetaceae Equisetum laevigatum Present in Park Unknown Native Scouring-rush Polypodiaceae (Fern Family) Vascular Plant Polypodiales Dryopteridaceae Cystopteris fragilis Present in Park Uncommon Native Brittle bladderfern Vascular Plant Polypodiales Dryopteridaceae Woodsia oregana Present in Park Uncommon Native Oregon woodsia Pteridaceae (Maidenhair Fern Family) Vascular Plant Polypodiales Pteridaceae Argyrochosma fendleri Present in Park Unknown Native Zigzag fern Vascular Plant Polypodiales Pteridaceae Cheilanthes feei Present in Park Uncommon Native Slender lip fern Vascular Plant Polypodiales Pteridaceae Cryptogramma acrostichoides Present in Park Unknown Native American rockbrake Selaginellaceae (Spikemoss Family) Vascular Plant Selaginellales Selaginellaceae Selaginella densa Present in Park Rare Native Lesser spikemoss Vascular Plant Selaginellales Selaginellaceae Selaginella weatherbiana Present in Park Unknown Native Weatherby's clubmoss CONIFERS Cupressaceae (Cypress family) Vascular Plant Pinales Cupressaceae Juniperus scopulorum Present in Park Unknown Native Rocky Mountain juniper Pinaceae (Pine Family) Vascular Plant Pinales Pinaceae Abies concolor var. concolor Present in Park Rare Native White fir Vascular Plant Pinales Pinaceae Abies lasiocarpa Present
    [Show full text]