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Rocky Mountain Research Station Grassland, Shrubland, and Desert Ecosystems Program GSD Update March 2015 IN THIS ISSUE

• Providing knowledge, technology, and availability of native plants across the Year in Review: Spotlight on 2015 Great Basin Research by the Grassland, Shrubland • Helping native plants move in response to changes in climate and Desert Ecosystems Science • Tribes seek to learn new strategies to restore their native lands Program

• Why does blackbrush persist as a In this issue of the GSD Update, we take a look back at selected studies of the dominant shrub? Grassland, Shrubland and Desert Ecosystems Science Program (GSD) that • Resilience science - key to effective depict its strengths and focus areas. Significant results of recent research restoration of imperiled sagebrush and science delivery by GSD scientists are highlighted. We feature program ecosystems research that lines up with the strategic research priorities of the USDA Forest • Science-based guidelines for restoration Service and the Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS). In particular, we and conservation of sagebrush spotlight accomplishments in GSD research and technology that addresses: ecosystems • Conservation, restoration and resiliency of sagebrush ecosystems, • Biological soil crust response to prescribed fire in a Great Basin juniper • Availability, adaptation, seed zones and deployment of native plant species. woodland

• Interactive impacts of climate change and • The role of climate in species adaptation, carbon storage, and land fire on Southwestern riparian species management.

• Grassland to shrubland state transitions • The effects of disturbances and stressors on ecosystems enhance carbon sequestration

• Climate change and grazing alter belowground bud growth of invasive and native grasses

• Forecasting the influence of climate change on invasive weeds and weed biological control

• Discover the amazing diversity of the long-legged

A high elevation sagebrush hillside on the Uinta-Wasatch- Cache National Forest, Utah. Photo by Teresa Prendusi, USDA Forest Service. 1

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Providing knowledge, technology, bluebunch wheatgrass, that fit well with local “Healthy and availability of native plants and regional climates. across the Great Basin ecosystems need There are more than 30 major cooperators diverse plant Background and Project Objectives in nine states currently working together communities of to meet objectives of the Great Basin Native Demand for native plant seed is increasing Plant Project, which include: grasses, forbs especially in federal agencies including the [herbaceous USDOI Bureau of Land Management (BLM) • Increase the availability of native plant and USDA Forest Service. The BLM is materials, particularly forbs, for flowering plants guided by Executive Orders and restoring disturbed Great Basin other than grasses] Congressional direction to increase, rangelands. where feasible and practical, the and shrubs • Provide an understanding use of native plant seed. Invasive that are native of species variability and species, shifting fire regimes, potential response to climate species with traits and rapid climate change increase change and develop seed adapted to the the need for researchers and land transfer guidelines. right climates, so managers to develop sound management and successful restoration practices. they can establish • Develop seed technology and cultural practices for producing native seed in The Great Basin Native Plant Project seeks successfully,” agricultural settings. to increase the availability of genetically appropriate native plant materials and • Collaborate with seed regulatory agencies to provide the knowledge and technology and the private seed industry to improve – Dr. Francis Kilkenny, required for their use in restoring diverse RMRS Research Biologist, native seed supplies. Boise, ID native plant communities across the Great Basin. This multi-state, collaborative • Examine interactions of native restoration research project was initiated in 2001 by the species and exotic invasives to aid in Plant Conservation Program of the BLM and formulating seeding prescriptions. the Grassland, Shrubland, and Desert • Develop application strategies and Ecosystem Research Program of the Rocky technologies to improve the establishment Mountain Research Station. of native seedings. “Healthy ecosystems need diverse plant • Develop demonstration areas, manuals, communities of grasses, forbs [herbaceous popular publications, and websites to flowering plants other than grasses] and facilitate application of research results. shrubs that are native species with traits adapted to the right climates, so they can Researching Native Plants establish successfully,” said Francis Kilkenny, who leads the Great Basin Native Plant Researchers with the Great Basin Project. To help managers restore landscapes Native Plant Project focus on genetics, with a holistic, biologically diverse ecosystem species-specific seed zones, rapid testing that benefits wildlife, agriculture and and provisional seed zones, and the humans, Kilkenny and his colleagues are establishment of a common garden network breeding native plant varieties, such as to assess the suitability of native seeds for 2

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different climates. The most robust seeds report findings through publications such become the foundation for restoration as annual reports, plant guides, journal projects to rebuild ecosystems after big articles, and brochures, as well as through wildfires, such as those currently wiping out face-to-face workshops and conferences with vast sagebrush expanses in Nevada, Idaho scientists and managers. Biological Technician Matt Fisk, and Utah. Boise, ID cleaning seeds. Success on a national scale will continue to Photo: USDA Forest Service. “Common garden studies” are a happen through a nationwide network of particularly valuable approach for native seed collectors, a network of farmers comparing the performance of native and growers working to develop seed, a seed. Researchers gather native seeds from network of nurseries and seed storage different areas of the country with different facilities to supply adequate quantities climates and grow the seeds together in a of appropriate seed, and a network of single garden. The seeds experience the restoration ecologists who know how to put same environmental conditions in the the right seed in the right place at the right common garden, allowing researchers to time. compare growth and performance of the different varieties. In other words, common Please visit the website for the Great garden studies for plants are similar to “twin Basin Native Plant Project for additional studies” done on humans to separate the information on the project, including effects of nature versus nurture. research descriptions, publications, and updates on conferences and other events. Another research focus is creating an The Great Basin Native Plant Project was Collecting seeds. adequate supply of different varieties of also highlighted in a recent article in Live Photo: USDA Forest Service. native seed mixes. Using one variety of Science, To prevent another dust bowl, the a species during large, landscape-scale U.S. must sow the right seeds. restoration projects raises monoculture concerns. Genetic diversity can ensure seeds Featured Publications have a variety of traits, such as drought Great Basin Native Plant Project: 2014 tolerance, that can help the species establish Progress Report Kilkenny, Francis; Halford, and persist into the future. Anne; Malcomb, Alexis, 2015 Kilkenny’s lab also assesses the outcome Great Basin Native Plant Project: 2013 of plantings 15 years after restoration. Long- Progress Report Kilkenny, Francis; Shaw, term results from plantings are not well- Nancy L; Gucker, Corey, 2014 studied, so it’s important to know under what Great Basin Native Plant Selection and conditions different planting techniques and Increase Project: 2012 progress report seed mixes are more or less successful. Shaw, Nancy L.; Pellant, Mike, 2013

Delivering Knowledge Great Basin Native Plant Selection and Increase Project: 2011 Progress Report The Great Basin Native Plant Project also Shaw, Nancy L; Pellant, Mike, 2012 focuses on sharing knowledge about Great Basin Native Plant Selection and successful seeding of native species with Increase Project: FY2010 Progress Report land managers. Kilkenny and his colleagues Shaw, Nancy L.; Pellant, Mike, 2011 3

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Great Basin Native Plant Selection and Kevin Gunnell and Jason Vernon - Utah Increase Project FY08 Progress Report Division of Wildlife Resources Shaw, Nancy L; Pellant, Mike, 2009 Robert Cox - Texas Tech University Principal Investigators: Jeremy James - University of California

Francis F. Kilkenny Marie Ann DeGraaf and Marcelo Serpe - Bryce A. Richardson Boise State University Scott L. Jensen Mark Kimsey, Anthony Davis, and Kent Apostol - University of Idaho Forest Service Partners: Beth Leger and Kent McAdoo - University of Bob Karrfalt - National Seed Laboratory Nevada Andrew Bower - Olympic National Forest Kari Veblen, Kris Hulvey, and Eric Thacker - Utah State University Holly Prendeville and Brad St. Clair - Pacific Northwest Research Station Clint Shock, Matt Orr, and Kathryn Alexander - Oregon State University Charlie Schrader-Patton - Remote Sensing Applications Center Kevin Grady, Troy Wood, Paul Dijkstra, Catherine Gehring, Egbert Schwartz, and External Partners: Hillary Cooper - Northern Arizona University Mikel Stevens and Jason Stettler - Brigham Matt Germino, Todd Esque, Daniel Shyrock, Young University Lesley Defalco - U.S. Geological Survey Erica David - Perth, Australia Keirith Snyder, Doug Johnson, Beth Newingham, Shaun Bushman, Kirk Davies, College of Western Idaho RC Johnson, Thomas Monaco, Matt Madsen, Plant Conservation Alliance Jim Cane, Tom Jones – USDA Agricultural Private contractors and land owners Research Service Native seed industry Derek Tilley - Natural Resource Conservation Service Truax Company, Inc. Berta Youtie - Eastern Oregon Stewardship U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Services USDI Bureau of Land Management

Researchers with the Great Basin Native Plant Project collecting native seeds in the field.

Photo: USDA Forest Service. 4

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Helping native plants move in Featured Publications response to changes in climate Foundational literature for moving native plant Background materials in changing climates Williams, Mary I.; Dumroese, R. Kasten; Pinto, Jeremiah; With the current rate of climate change, Jurgensen, Martin F, 2015 many landscapes in the United States will have climates that are incompatible with Assisted migration: What it means to nursery Assisted Population current vegetation by the end of the century. managers and tree planters Williams, Mary I.; Migration One adaptation strategy at the nexus of Dumroese, R. Kasten, 2014 Lanx occentalis Nutt native plant transfer guidelines and climate Contemporary forest restoration: A review change is assisted migration, also known emphasizing function Stanturf, John A.; Palik, as managed relocation, defined as the Brian J.; Dumroese, R. Kasten, 2014 intentional movement of plants in response to climate change. Although researchers Role of climate change in reforestation and propose frameworks and guidelines on how nursery practices Williams, Mary I.; Dumroese, to apply assisted migration of native plants, R. Kasten, 2014 there is no consensus on implementation in Climatic change and assisted migration: the U.S. because of ecological and economic Strategic options for forest and conservation concerns and lack of supporting data. nurseries Williams, Mary I.; Dumroese, R. Key Findings Kasten, 2013

Preparing for climate change: Forestry and To identify knowledge gaps and provide Assisted Range Expansion a central foundation for collaboration, assisted migration Williams, Mary I.; Dumroese, Pinus ponderosa Douglas researchers compiled information about R. Kasten, 2013 ex C. Lawson native plant transfer guidelines, climate change, and assisted migration. The resulting Principal Investigator: database connects all pieces of information Kasten Dumroese from peer-review journal articles to decision-

support tools. Forest Service Partners:

This database can help inform scientists, land National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, managers, and university students about and Genetic Resources the intersection of traditional plant transfer Rocky Mountain Research Station guidelines, climate change and assisted migration and in particular the historical, External Partners: biological, social, legal, and ethical aspects of Assisted Species Migration assisted migration. Mary Williams, Martin F Jurgensen - Torreya taxifolia Arn. Michigan Technological University

Illustration of assisted population migration, range expansion, and species migration (from Williams and Dumroese 2013). 5

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Tribes seek to learn new strategies Forest Service scientists helped conduct a to restore their native lands native plant nursery planning workshop in Wisconsin. Attendees came from the The Forest Service’s Reforestation, Nurseries, College of the Menominee, Menominee and Genetic Resources Team provides an Tribal Enterprises, the Oneida Tribe, the important forum for Native American tribes Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, the to network regarding native plant production Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and the and restoration. Team leaders have worked Redlake Band of Chippewa Indians. Several with nearly 80 tribes and one-on-one with of these tribes are in the beginning stages more than 500 tribal members across the of native plant nursery production and are United States and Canada, teaching them eager to learn new strategies for planning, how best to propagate culturally significant implementing, and conducting their own plants for their own uses. programs. The two-day workshop included lectures and tours on nursery planning, Native peoples are seeking out expertise on implementing agroforestry programs, and native plant propagation as they increasingly greenhouse operations. The event was work to restore their lands with culturally well-received among tribal participants, significant native plants. Scientists at the with open discussions promoting the use of agency’s Rocky Mountain Research Station native plant nurseries for tribal restoration are currently working on writing nearly 300 projects, reforestation, education, cultural native plant propagation protocols requested preservation, and science. by different tribes. Several awards have recognized the quality and effectiveness “[The scientists] fill an important role by of the team’s efforts, including the Earle R. helping the Forest Service direct its expertise Wilcox Award from the Intertribal Timber and resources dealing with forestry and Council. native plants to areas where we need help,” said Priscilla Pavatea of the Hopi Office of

Tribe members attending a native plant nursery planning workshop.

Photo: Chris Hoag, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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Range Management in Kykotsmovi, AZ. “We Tribal Nursery Needs Assessment trust them to provide us quality information. Using funding provided Their help is not directed only to Hopi. Many by USDA Forest Service tribes are participating in the Intertribal State and Private Nursery Council they organize and taking Forestry, Native home knowledge on how to produce native Americans associated plants for reforestation, cultural, medicinal, with the Intertribal and spiritual needs.” Nursery Council were Media and YouTube Stories asked to provide information about Highlights: The 2015 Intertribal Nursery their native plant Council Meeting production needs. The information 2015 Intertribal Nursery Council Meeting, was compiled into this needs assessment Western Forestry and Conservation which forms the basis for some new and Association ongoing Forest Service outreach projects Tribes, Pueblos Explore Native Plants to Native Americans. Click here to view the Assessment. Seneca Nation - First U.S. Tribe to Establish Native Plant Policy Principal Investigators: USDA Forest Service Botany in the News Compass Issue 8: Restoring Native Plants and Jeremiah R. Pinto Tribal Traditions in Arizona Kasten Dumroese Intertribal Nursery Council Slideshow - YouTube Forest Service Partners

Featured Publications National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources Tribal Nursery Manual Rocky Mountain Research Station This handbook covers all aspects of External Partners managing a native Native American Tribes plant nursery, from initial planning through crop production to establishing trials to improving nursery productivity into the future. It was written to assist Native Americans in growing native plants and draws extensively on tribal activities for the many photos and specific examples in the text.Click here to view or download the manual.

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Why does blackbrush persist as a on plant growth rates? To address these dominant shrub? questions, we aged stems from 208 clumps in five Mojave Desert and four Colorado Plateau Background populations.

Blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima: Findings Rosaceae) is a slow-growing, non-clonal shrub that is regionally dominant on xeric, Individual plant age estimates ranged from 3 shallow soils in the North American Mojave to 122 years. Clumps comprised of multiple- Desert-Great Basin transition zone and aged cohorts were ubiquitous. Within southern Colorado Plateau. Blackbrush clumps, plant and cohort number increased seed production is concentrated in mast with clump age, suggesting a steady years, and most seeds are cached and later accumulation of new cohorts over time. consumed by heteromyid rodents. Vegetation Clumps in Colorado Plateau populations histories show that blackbrush stands can accumulated cohorts at a significantly persist apparently unchanged for over a faster rate than clumps in Mojave Desert century. populations.

Approach Recruitment occurred in relatively frequent pulses. It was only partially synchronized Scientists used dendrochronological with mast years, with some seedling techniques to examine plant age establishment following years of low seed distributions, recruitment patterns and production. Individuals that recruited into growth rates, to ascertain how blackbrush established clumps averaged half the radial achieves this long-term population stability. growth rate of individuals that recruited into Their study addressed the following openings. Blackbrush recruitment is bimodal, questions: (1) What is the role of within- with initial colonization of open spaces from clump recruitment in long-term patterns rodent caches but with long-term clump of clump persistence? Do blackbrush persistence a product of periodic, within- clumps accrue new cohorts through time? clump recruitment of new plants. This dual (2) How does recruitment vary temporally, recruitment strategy provides a mechanism specifically in relation to years of mast seed for continued community dominance in an production and climate variability? (3) What abiotically stressful environment under low impact does intra-specific competition have levels of disturbance.

Blackbrush plant community in the Arches National Park, Utah.

Photo: Rhean Pendleton, Independent Photographer 8

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Further Research Featured Publications

In another study, investigators followed Mechanisms for maintenance of dominance flowering and seed production in 16 in a nonclonal desert shrub Kitchen, Stanley populations of blackbrush from contrasting G.; Meyer, Susan E.; Carlson, Stephanie L., environments across its range over an 2015. 11-year period to determine patterns of Evolutionary drivers of mast-seeding in interannual reproductive output variation. a long-lived desert shrub Meyer, Susan The premise of the study was that the E.; Pendleton, Burton K., 2015 evolutionary drivers and proximal regulators Seedling establishment in a masting desert of mast-seeding were well understood for shrub parallels the pattern for forest trees species of mesic environments, but how Meyer, Susan E.; Pendleton, Burton K., 2015 these regulators interact with high spatial Blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima and interannual variability in growing- Torr.): State of our knowledge and future season precipitation for a masting species challenges [Chapter 10] Pendleton, in a desert environment had never been Rosemary L.; Pendleton, Burton K.; Meyer, examined. Susan E.; Richardson, Bryce A.; Esque, Patterns of reproductive output in Todd; Kitchen, Stanley G., 2015 blackbrush did not track current growing Adaptive responses reveal contemporary and season precipitation, but instead were future ecotypes in a desert shrub Richardson, regulated by prior-year weather cues. The Bryce A.; Kitchen, Stanley G.; Pendleton, strength of the response to the masting cue Rosemary L.; Pendleton, Burton K.; Germino, depended on habitat quality, with higher Matthew J.; Rehfeldt, Gerald E.; Meyer, Susan mean reproductive output, shorter intervals E., 2014 between years of high seed production, and lower population coefficients of variation Principal Investigators at more favorable sites. Wind pollination Stanley G. Kitchen efficiency was demonstrated to be an important evolutionary driver of masting in Susan E. Meyer blackbrush, and satiation of heteromyid seed Burton K. Pendleton, Emeritus predator-dispersers was supported as an evolutionary driver based on earlier studies. Forest Service Partners

Both the evolutionary drivers and proximal Bryce A. Richardson regulators of masting in blackbrush are Rosemary L. Pendleton similar to those demonstrated for masting Gerald E. Rehfeldt, retired species of mesic environments. Relatively low synchrony across populations External Partners in response to regional masting cues occurs at least partly because prior-year Matthew Germino, Todd Esque - U.S. environmental cues can trigger masting eff Geological Survey orts in years with resource limitation due to suboptimal precipitation, especially in more xeric low-elevation habitats. 9

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Resilience science - key to effective restoration of imperiled sagebrush ecosystems

Background​

Progressive expansion of invasive annual grasses and larger and more severe fires in sagebrush ecosystems underscore the importance of vegetation management treatments that can reverse these trends. In sagebrush ecosystems, vegetation treatments focus on reducing woody species (shrubs and grasses) to reduce fuel loads, and thus A wildfire burning through a Wyoming big sagebrush fire severity and extent, and on post-fire community with the invasive annual grass, cheatgrass, in the understory. These types of communities have low rehabilitation. Overarching management resilience or recovery potential. objectives are restoring and maintaining ecosystem services such as clean air Photo: Doug Shinneman, US Geological Survey. and water by (1) increasing resilience to disturbance or recovery potential, and (2) decreasing the longer term risk of conversion to invasive annual grasses and an annual/ grass fire cycle.

Research

Resilience science has been used to develop management guides for selecting appropriate treatment and restoration strategies for sagebrush and piñon-juniper ecosystems. The guides provide a framework with six key components for rapidly evaluating resilience to disturbance, resistance to invasive annual grasses, and plant community succession Piñon and juniper (PJ) species expanding into a mountain big sagebrush community. PJ expansion following wildfires and management decreases the understory shrubs and grasses and treatments. The key components are: lowers the resilience of these communities to wildfire and other disturbance. • Ecological characteristics of the site; Photo: Jeanne Chambers, USDA Forest Service. • Vegetation composition and structure prior to treatment;

• Severity of the disturbance or treatment;

• Post-treatment weather;

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• Post-treatment management, especially Featured Publications grazing; and A field guide for rapid assessment of post- • Monitoring and adaptive management. wildfire recovery potential in sagebrush and pinon-juniper ecosystems in the Great Several tools are provided to aid in Basin: Evaluating resilience to disturbance determining the most appropriate treatment. and resistance to invasive annual grasses These tools include: and predicting vegetation response Miller, Richard F.; Chambers, Jeanne C.; Pellant, A conceptual model of the relationships Mike, 2015 between the key components and their effects on resilience and resistance, A field guide for selecting the most appropriate treatment in sagebrush and Guides to evaluate disturbance and treatment pinon-juniper ecosystems in the Great Rehabilitation seeding after a severity, and Basin: Evaluating resilience to disturbance wildfire to restore a Wyoming big and resistance to invasive annual grasses, sagebrush community Aids for determining plant composition and and predicting vegetation response Miller, Photo: Chad Boyd, USDA structure after wildfires. Richard F.; Chambers, Jeanne C.; Pellant, Agricultural Research Service. Mike, 2014 Importantly, evaluation score sheets are provided for rating resilience to disturbance Resilience and resistance of sagebrush and resistance to invasive annual grasses, and ecosystems: Implications for state and for evaluating the probability of treatment transition models and management success. The approach is being widely adapted treatments Chambers, Jeanne C.; Miller, Richard F.; Board, David ; Pyke, David A.; by managers seeking to increase treatment Roundy, Bruce A.; Grace, James B.; Schupp, effectiveness. Eugene W.; Tausch, Robin J. , 2014 Key Findings Resilience to stress and disturbance, and resistance to Bromus tectorum L invasion This research provides: in cold desert shrublands of western North • Information and criteria for evaluating America Chambers, Jeanne C.; Bradley, resilience (recovery potential) following Bethany A. ; Brown, Cynthia S.; D’Antonio, wildfire and management treatments in Carla; Germino, Matthew J.; Grace, James B.; sagebrush ecosystems; Hardegree, Stuart P.; Miller, Richard F.; Pyke, David A., 2014 • Information and criteria for evaluating resistance to invasive annual grasses; and Principal Investigators:

• Score sheets for determining the suitability Jeanne C. Chambers of areas for treatment and the need for post- fire or post-treating rehabilitation seeding. External Partners:

Richard F. Miller - Oregon State University Mike Pellant - Bureau of Land Management Joint Fire Science Program Great Basin Fire Science Exchange 11

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Science-based guidelines for Sagebrush communities are the cornerstones restoration and conservation of of arid ecosystems in the West, mitigating sagebrush ecosystems soil erosion, fostering plant and biodiversity, storing carbon, and providing Background cover and forage for wildlife, such as Sagebrush communities are the cornerstones the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus of arid ecosystems in the West, mitigating urophasianus). However, these ecosystems soil erosion, fostering plant and animal are being compromised by increased fire biodiversity, storing carbon, and providing frequency and climate change, coupled cover and forage for wildlife, such as with encroachment of invasive plants. the greater sage-grouse. However, these Subsequently, post-fire restoration has ecosystems are being compromised by become a fundamental component for increased fire frequency and climate change, maintaining ecosystem function and coupled with encroachment of invasive resiliency in these communities. Knowledge plants. Subsequently, post-fire restoration of how plants are adapted to their has become a fundamental component environments is fundamental to ecological for maintaining ecosystem function and restoration and mitigating impacts from resiliency in these communities. Knowledge climate change. of how plants are adapted to their

environments is fundamental to ecological Research restoration and mitigating impacts of climate change. This research focuses on ecological genetics of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), which is under threat principally from wildfire and exotic weed encroachment. Conserving and restoring big sagebrush is critical for the recovery of sage-grouse and other sagebrush- dependent wildlife species. Our goal is to provide management tools to promote successful restoration by: 1) predicting the geographic areas where contemporary and future climates are suitable for this species, 2) developing empirical seed transfer zones, and 3) developing subspecies diagnostic tests to improve seed purity.

Findings

Winter mortality of big Climate change is projected to have a large sagebrush not adapted to colder impact on sagebrush ecosystems. Projections areas of the species distribution show that approximately one-third of the Photo: Bryce Richardson, USDA Forest Service. climatic niche of Wyoming sagebrush will be lost by 2050.

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Populations of big sagebrush are adapted to Biological soil crust response to local climates, specifically cold temperatures. prescribed fire in a Great Basin Movement of seed should be restricted to juniper woodland prevent maladaptation. Approach Seed weight can be used to differentiate co-occurring subspecies of big sagebrush. Expansion of juniper on U.S. rangelands Weighing can be used as a seed certification is a significant environmental concern. step for evaluating subspecies composition of Prescribed fire is often recommended to seed intended for restoration. control juniper. To that end, a late season prescribed burn was conducted in a Great Featured Publications Basin juniper woodland. Conditions were The aftermath of a late-season suboptimal; fire did not encroach into mid- prescribed fire in the Onaqui Genetic and environmental effects on seed Mountains, Utah show the remains of a weight in subspecies of big sagebrush: or late-seral stages and was patchy in the juniper understory, and minimal effect early-seral stage. This study evaluated the on the few mosses or lichens. Applications for restoration Richardson, effects of the burn on biological soil crusts of Photo: Steven D. Warren, Bryce A.; Ortiz, Hector G.; Carlson, Stephanie USDA Forest Service. L.; Jaeger, Deidre M.; Shaw, Nancy L., 2015 early-seral juniper.

Projections of contemporary and future Research Findings climate niche for Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata subsp. wyomingensis): Fire reduced moss cover under sagebrush A guide for restoration Still, Shannon M.; and in shrub interspaces. Mosses were rare Richardson, Bryce A., 2015 under juniper; their cover was unaffected there. Lichens were uncommon under Deep sequencing of amplicons reveals widespread intraspecific hybridization juniper and sagebrush and therefore not and multiple origins of polyploidy in big significantly impacted there. Their cover was sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata, Asteraceae) greater in shrub interspaces, but because Richardson, Bryce A. ; Page, Justin T.; Bajgain, the fire was spotty and of low intensity, Prabin ; Sanderson, Stewart; Udall, Joshua A., the effects of burning were minimal. 2012 Compared with unburned plots, the biomass of cyanobacteria was diminished under Principal Investigators: juniper and sagebrush; it was reduced Bryce A. Richardson in the interspaces in both burned and unburned plots, presumably in response Forest Service Partners: to generally harsher conditions in the postburn environment. Nitrogen fixation Francis F. Kilkenny rates declined over time in juniper plots and Nancy L. Shaw interspaces but not in sagebrush plots. Stewart Sanderson Although fire negatively affected some biological soil crust organisms in some parts External Partners: of the early-seral juniper woodland, the Joshua A Udall, Lindsay Chaney - Brigham overall impact on the crusts was minimal. Young University If the intent of burning is to reduce juniper, Matthew J Germino - U.S. Geological Survey burning of early-seral juniper woodland 13

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is appropriate, as most affected trees Interactive impacts of climate were killed. Control of sagebrush can change and fire on Southwestern likewise be accomplished by low-intensity, riparian species cool season fires without eliminating the crust component. Intense fire should be Background avoided due to the potential for greater The interaction of fire, climate change, and encroachment into the shrub interspaces, invasive species is predicted to have extreme which contain the majority of biological soil effects for ecosystems in the interior western crust organisms. Burning early-seral juniper United States. Wildlife species that rely on may be preferred for controlling juniper riparian habitats are likely to be particularly encroachment on rangeland. hard hit. Climate will drive changes to river Featured Publications flows through modified precipitation regimes and higher temperatures. These changes Biological soil crust response to late season Fire in the Rio Grande Bosque. will, in turn, increase the risk of severe fires prescribed fire in a Great Basin juniper Photo: Albuquerque Fire Department. within riparian woodland habitats, affecting woodland Warren, Steve D.; St.Clair, wildlife communities. Larry L.; Johansen, Jeffrey R.; Kugrens, Paul; Baggett, Scott; Bird, Benjamin J., 2015 The potential for severe changes due to Polyphasic characterization of Trichocoleus climate and fire threatens our capacity to desertorum sp. nov. (Pseudanabaenales, develop successful strategies to manage for Cyanobacteria) from desert soils and the species, habitats, and natural resources of phylogenetic placement of the genus our western water ecosystems. Trichocoleus Muhlsteinova, Radka; Johansen, Rocky Mountain Research Station scientists Jeffrey R.; Pietrasiak, Nicole; Martin, Michael have developed a coupled approach that P.; Osorio-Santos, Karina; Warren, Steve D., 2014 combines species distribution models, predictions for future fire regime, and Role of biological soil crusts in desert climate change vulnerability assessments to hydrology and geomorphology: Implications estimate the interactive impacts of climate for military training operations Warren, change and fire on species that reside within Steve D., 2014. riparian habitats in the Southwest.

Principal Investigator Approach Riparian habitat along the Rio Grande, New Mexico. Steven D. Warren Resource managers need tools that identify Photo: Wikipedia. the likely future of riparian habitats under External Partners various climate and fire scenarios, not only to focus limited resources on the most Brigham Young University, Provo critical needs for wildlife species, but to John Carroll University, University Heights, find opportunities for promoting natural Ohio regeneration of riparian woodland and Colorado State University wetland habitats. Building upon a risk matrix University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic. method developed by the Northern Research Station and vulnerability assessment tools Universidad Nacional Autonóma de México 14

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developed by RMRS, this project quantifies Grassland to shrubland state the effects of fire and climate change on transitions enhance carbon native and nonnative species residing sequestration within New Mexico riparian, wetland, and associated upland habitats. Background

Deliverables The replacement of native C4-dominated grassland by C3-dominated shrubland is • Species vulnerability pamphlets considered an ecological state transition where different ecological communities • Maps of habitat suitability under future can exist under similar environmental climate scenarios conditions. These state transitions are • Project reports occurring globally, and may be exacerbated by climate change. One consequence of the Featured Publications global increase in woody vegetation may be enhanced ecosystem carbon sequestration, Northern Chihuahuan Desert. Vulnerability of riparian obligate species although the responses of arid and semiarid Photo: Sevilleta Long-Term to the interactive effect of fire, climate and Ecological Research Site Program. ecosystems may be highly variable. hydrological change Friggens, Megan M., Loehman, Rachel A.; Holsinger, Lisa M.; Findings Finch, Deborah M., 2014 During a drier than average period from Implications of Climate Change for Bird 2007 to 2011 in the northern Chihuahuan Conservation in the Southwestern U.S. Desert, scientists found established Friggens, Megan M.; Finch, Deborah M., 2015. shrubland to sequester 49 g C m-2 yr-1 on average, while nearby native C4 grassland Principal Investigator: was a net source of 31 g C m-2 yr-1 over this same period. Differences in C exchange Megan M. Friggens between these ecosystems were pronounced - grassland had similar productivity compared Forest Service Partners: to shrubland but experienced higher C efflux Deborah M. Finch via ecosystem respiration, while shrubland was a consistent C sink because of a longer Lisa M. Holsinger - RMRS Human growing season and lower ecosystem Dimensions Program respiration. RMRS Fire, Fuels and Smoke Program At daily timescales, rates of carbon exchange External Partners: were more sensitive to soil moisture variation in grassland than shrubland, Southern Rockies Landscape Conservation such that grassland had a net uptake of C Cooperative when wet but lost C when dry. Thus, even Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative under unfavorable, drier than average Rachel Loehman, US Geological Survey, climate conditions, the state transition Alaska Science Center from grassland to shrubland resulted in a substantial increase in terrestrial C sequestration. 15

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These results illustrate the inherent tradeoffs Climate change and grazing alter in quantifying ecosystem services that belowground bud growth of invasive result from ecological state transitions, such and native grasses as shrub encroachment. In this case, the deleterious changes to ecosystem services Background often linked to grassland to shrubland state transitions may at least be partially offset by Most stems of North American Great increased ecosystem carbon sequestration. Plains grasses come from belowground vegetative buds rather than from seeds. Featured Publications Therefore, grassland biomass production depends on bud outgrowth into stems. Grassland to shrubland state transitions Climate change and grazing can alter the enhance carbon sequestration in the amount of bud outgrowth of both invasive northern Chihuahuan Desert Petrie, M. and native grasses. Invasive species could D.; Collins, S. L.; Swann, A. M.; Ford, Paulette L.; Litvak, M. E., 2015 expand under climate change, especially if their bud outgrowth is superior to bud Climate change impacts on future carbon outgrowth of native species under a range of stores and management of warm deserts of environmental conditions. Belowground buds are attached at the the United States Thomey, Michell L.; Ford, base of a stem. This belowground bud of Western Wheatgrass has not grown Paulette L.; Reeves, Matthew C.; Finch, Research out. It is still covered by its prophyll, a Deborah M.; Litvak, Marcy E.; Collins, Scott protective outer leaf. L., 2014 Our research examined the bud outgrowth of Photo: USDA Forest Service. the native western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum Review of climate change impacts on future smithii) and the invasive smooth brome carbon stores and management of warm (Bromus inermis) under a range of deserts of the United States Thomey, Michell L.; Ford, Paulette L.; Reeves, Matt C.; Finch, environmental conditions including multiple Deborah M.; Litvak, Marcy E.; Collins, Scott temperatures, drought, and clipping. L., 2014. Findings

• Smooth brome had more buds per stem Principal Investigator than western wheatgrass. A greater Paulette L. Ford proportion of smooth brome buds became stems under all temperature and moisture conditions. Western wheatgrass bud Forest Service Partners outgrowth was reduced at temperatures above 72ºF. Matt C. Reeves Deborah M. Finch • Short-term drought did not significantly impact bud outgrowth of either species.

External Partners • Clipping increased western wheatgrass bud mortality and temporarily reduced its Matthrew D. Petrie; Scott L. Collins; Amaris bud outgrowth. M. Swann; Marcy E. Litvak, Michell Thomey, University of New Mexico

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Forest Service USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Rocky Mountain Research Station GSD UPDATE

United States Department of Agriculture March 2016

• The robust bud outgrowth of smooth Forecasting the influence of brome under a range of environmental climate change on invasive weeds conditions is a key mechanism enabling and weed biological control its expansion into northern mixed-grass prairie in North America. Background Invasive plants are a major threat to natural Featured Posters and Publications ecosystems, with global climate change Temperature, clipping and drought effects predicted to further intensify the negative on belowground bud outgrowth on invasive impacts of weeds on native species. Classical Bromus inermus and native Pascopyrum biological control of invasive plants using smithii. Ott, Jacqueline P.; Jack L. Butler; host specific from invaders’ native Yuping Rong; and Lan Xu, 2015 range is a powerful and highly selective tool

Bud-bank and tiller dynamics of co-occurring for mitigating weed spread and impacts. C3 caespitose grasses in mixed grass prairie However, climate change may affect multiple factors that determine the efficacy of this Ott, Jacqueline P.; David C. Hartnett, 2015 important management tool. Vegetative reproduction and bud bank dynamics of the perennial grass Androprogon Future environmental conditions likely geradii in mixedgrass and tallgrass prairie include elevated atmospheric levels of

Ott, Jacqueline P.; David C. Hartnett, 2015 carbon dioxide (CO2) and temperatures, A Western Wheatgrass bud has started to grow out from the base of its parent coupled with reduced or altered patterns in stem. The tip of this new stem has precipitation. Such environmental factors grown past its prophyll. Principal Investigators: can profoundly affect the growth, physiology Photo: Jacqueline Ott, South Dakota State University/USDA Forest Service Jack L. Butler and phenology of invasive plant species and their co-evolved specialist herbivore insects. A mechanistic approach to understanding External Partners: how climate change may impact interactions

Jacqueline P. Ott, Lan Xu - South Dakota State between invasive plants and their biocontrol University; agents is essential for realistically addressing management needs under likely future field Yuping Rong, China Agricultural University conditions.

Research Location: Research The first step in this research is gaining Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, South a greater understanding of how invasive Dakota weeds respond to climate change, namely

to elevated atmospheric CO2. The impact

of elevated atmospheric CO2 on the growth of Dalmatian toadflax Linaria( dalmatica), yellow or common toadflax L.( vulgaris), and their hybrids (L. dalmatica x L. vulgaris) 17

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United States Department of Agriculture March 2016

is not currently known but is being the RMRS Grassland, Shrubland, and Desert experimentally determined by monitoring Ecosystems for more information about

plants grown under differential levels of CO2. invasive plants.

Initial experiments are being conducted in Featured Publications three reach-in growth chambers (Percival® Toadflax stem miners and gallers: The model PGC-6L fitted with optional CO 2 original weed whackers Matonis, Megan enrichment package). The purpose is to S.; Sing, Sharlene E.; Ward, Sarah; Turner,

determine if different CO2 levels (ambient Marie F. S. ; Weaver, David; Tosevski, Ivo; – 480 ppm; low – 580 ppm; and high – 780 Gassmann, Andre; Bouchard, Patrice, 2014 ppm) induce differential growth responses Invasive species and climate change in toadflax. Plants used in this experiment (Chapter 7) Runyon, Justin B.; Butler, Jack L.; were clones generated from molecularly Friggens, Megan M.; Meyer, Susan E.; Sing, confirmed toadflax genotypes. Manipulated, Sharlene E., 2012 reciprocal crosses were initially supplied by Growth inhibition of Dalmatian toadflax, Colorado State University plant geneticist Linaria dalmatica (L.) Miller, in response Dalmatian toadflax is an aggressive Dr. Sarah Ward, and have been used in a invader of western rangelands. to herbivory by the biological control number of related experiments. Photo: Steve Dewey, Utah State agent Mecinus janthinus Germar Schat, University, Bugwood.org. Subsequent experiments will measure Marjolein; Sing, Sharlene E.; Peterson, Robert

the interactive effects of elevated CO2 on K. D.; Menalled, Fabian D.; Weaver, David K., host plant-herbivore interactions. These 2011 will initially focus on determining if and Principal Investigator: how host plants grown under elevated CO2 might influence the biology and efficacy of Sharlene E. Sing approved and candidate weed biocontrol agents. Phenological milestones, fitness Forest Service Partners: correlates, and reproductive success of agents belonging to different feeding and Deborah Finch injury guilds – defoliators vs. stem miners vs. Richard Reardon – Forest Health Technology root gallers - will be compared. Interactions Enterprise Team (FHTET) of agent feeding and injury guilds and FHTET Biological Control of Invasive Native

elevated CO2 on host plant primary metabolic and Non-Native Plants funding responses (gas exchange, photosynthetic RMRS climate change funding rate, transpiration), growth, above- and below-ground biomass will also be evaluated External Partners: to rank agent biocontrol efficacy under one Norma Jean Irish, Robert K.D. Peterson, Jeff of the most significant predicted influences Littlefield, and David K. Weaver – Montana of climate change. State University

See the webinar series Invasive Plants — Sarah Ward – Colorado State University Issues, Challenges, and Discoveries from 18

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Discover the amazing diversity of Approach the long-legged flies The goals of this research are to collect, Background identify, and describe species and to synthesize relationships and distributions The family , commonly of these flies. Scientist are also providing called long-legged flies, is an extremely identifications of species for research abundant and diverse group of insects with collections and scientific studies. more than 1,200 species in North America and more than 7,500 species worldwide. This information is essential if we are to Many undescribed species await discovery. monitor, conserve, and successfully manage Most adults are smaller than a house fly and public lands – how can we successfully of a metallic green or bronze color. Adults manage lands if we don’t know what and larvae are predators and play important species occur there, or if we cannot identify roles in the ecosystems in which they occur. them? Further, this taxonomic research and collections are particularly critical in today’s era of rapid ecological and climate change and is essential to fully understand and address the effects of invasive species, human use, and climate change on forests and grasslands.

Key Findings

• The long-legged flyErebomyia exalloptera is only known from two places in the Coronado National Forest in Arizona. This unique species has two different shaped wings (Fig. 1).

Figure 1: Left. The long-legged fly (Erebomyia exalloptera). Figure 2: Above. pterodactyl is a new species described in 2015. Photos: Justin Runyon. 19

Forest Service USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Rocky Mountain Research Station GSD UPDATE

United States Department of Agriculture March 2016

Program Manager Grassland, • Liancalus pterodactyl is a new species Shrubland and Desert collected on waterfalls in the Gallatin Ecosystems Science National Forest in Montana and described Deborah Finch, Ph.D. in 2015 (Fig. 2).

USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station • Liancalus sonorus is a new species collected on waterfalls in the Coronado 333 Broadway SE, Suite 115 National Forest in Arizona (Fig. 3). Albuquerque, NM 87102

voice 505-724-3671 • Hurleyella is a new genus of long-legged fax 505-724-3688 flies discovered in the Jefferson National cell 505-401-0580 Forest in southwest Virginia (Fig. 4). http://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/ Species in this genus are extremely small–a dozen of them can fit on a grain of rice! http://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/ science-program-areas/ grassland-shrubland-and- Featured Publications desert-ecosystems A revision of the Nearctic species of Writer/Editor Deborah Finch Liancalus (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) Runyon, [email protected] Justin B.; Hurley, Richard L., 2015

Design/Layout Liancalus Loew, 1857 and Loew, Andrew Schlabach andrew@ alloneplanet.com 1857 (Insecta, Diptera, DOLICHOPODIDAE): Proposed conservation of the names by designation of Dolichopus regius Fabricius,

The U.S. Department of Agriculture 1805 as type species for (USDA) prohibits discrimination in Rondani, 1856 [Case 3681] Runyon, Justin all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national B.; Ivie, Michael A.; Evenhuis, Neal L., 2015. origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, Haromyia, a new genus of long-legged flies familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic from Dominica (Diptera: Dolichopodidae). information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an Runyon, Justin B., 2015. individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. The Nearctic species of Telmaturgus (Diptera: (Not all prohibited bases apply to all Dolichopodidae) Runyon, Justin B., 2012 programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program Principal Investigator: information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) Justin B. Runyon 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a Figure 3: Above. Liancalus sonorus is a new species of complaint of discrimination, write to fly discovered in Arizona. USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, External Partners: Figure 4: Right. Hurleyella is a new genus of long- 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call legged flies. Adults of this species are incredibly small. Richard L. Hurley - Montana State University (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) Photos: Justin Runyon. 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal Harold Robinson - National Museum of opportunity provider and employer. Natural History-Smithsonian Institution 20

Forest Service USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Rocky Mountain Research Station