University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1965 The distribution of plant communities in the Badlands of southeastern Montana Raymond William Brown The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Brown, Raymond William, "The distribution of plant communities in the Badlands of southeastern Montana" (1965). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 6678. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/6678 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE DISTRIBUTION OF PUNT COIMJNITIES IN THE BADLANDS OF SOUTHEASTERN MONTANA by RAYMOND WILLIAM BRCWN, JR. BoS.F. Montana State University, I 963 Presented in partial fulfillm ent of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Forestry MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY 1965 Approved by: Chairman, Board of Examiners Dean, Graduate School MAY 2 1 1965 Date UMI Number: EP37479 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT Dissertation Publishing UMI EP37479 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProOuesC ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 -1346 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Turiter wishes to express his appreciation to Dr. Arnold W. Belle, Dean of the School of Forestry, for the financial support pro­ v id e d . To my advisor and committee chairman. Professor Melvin S, Morris, I wish to extend a special note of appreciation. I am sincerely grateful for having had the opportunity of receiving the benefit of his very stimulating instruction and discussions throughout my undergraduate and graduate career. For his most helpful suggestions throughout this study, including the study outline, field work, laboratory analysis, and the preparation of the manuscript I am deeply appreciative. Appreciation is extended to the members of the examining committee, Professor Melvin S, Morris, Dr. Thomas J, Nimlos, Dr. James R, Habeck, and Mr. J. E. Schmautz,for reviewing the manuscript and their many help­ ful suggestions. To my fellow students, Messrs. Harold Hunter and Laurance Rutagum- irwa, I express my appreciation for their help and suggestions with the field work. This study would not have been possible without the cooperation of the personnel of the U, S, Forest Service. To Mr, R. C. McConnell of the Regional Office in Missoula, the writer expresses his sincere appreciation for reviewing the manuscript and many helpful suggestions. To the personnel of the supervisor* s office of the Custer National Forest in Billings, and particularly to Clarence Alman, the author's gratitude is given for suggestions and encouragement offered. A special note of appreciation is extended to the personnel of the Fort Howes and - i - -11 - Ashland district offices, particularly Messrs, G, H, Nelson and E. E, Bloedel for helpful suggestions and the loan of equipment and living quarters during the field work phase of the study. Special thanks is extended to Dr, William R, Berg, Soil Scientist, U. S, Forest Service, for his helpful instruction regarding the soils and geology of the study area. To my parents, Mr, and Mrs. R, W. Brown, I am sincerely grateful for their generosity and willing assistance, I am particularly grateful to my wife, Carole, for her continuous encouragement and admirable patience during the course of this study. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTim........................................................................................................................ 1 LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................................. h Recognition and Classification of Plant Communities, i; Edaphic Effects on Plant Distribution ...................................................... 8 Physiographic Effects on Plant Distribution ........................................ l5 DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDf AREA.................................................................................. 21 L o c atio n ....................... * ............................. 21 G eology ..................................................................................................... 21 Drainage and Relief ..................................................... 23 Vegetation and Soils, ........................................................................................ 25 C lim ate................................... 28 METHODS AND PROCEDURES.................................................................................................. 32 Vegetation Studies................................................................................................ 32 Soil and Physiographic S tu d ies,,.,.,,..,. ................. Ul FIELD AND IABORATORÏ RESULTS.................................................................................... liU Botanical Composition of Community-Types............................................... hS Community Life-Form ................................................................ U6 Relative Size and Area of the Community-Types...................... h9 Species Composition of the Community-Types,............................. 50 Shrub vegetation,,.......................................................................... 53 Tree vegetation..................................................... 56 Grass and grasslike vegetation............... 58 Forb vegetation ...................... 6 l Badland Microcommunities........................................................................ 62 - i i i - - i v - Page Dominant Species D istribution .......................................................... 63 Dominant species variation among community-types.., 63 Dominant species variation within community-types.. 66 Edaphic Influences and Community Distribution, 68 Soil Physical Properties ................. 71 Soil texture ........... 71 Percent coarse fragments,........................ 73 Permanent wilting percentage................................................. ih Soil Chemical Properties.............................................. 76 Soil reaction ,,, ............. ?6 Soil conductivity,,,..,,.......................................................... 77 Extract able sodium and calcium,,,,,,,,,,, ................. 78 Soil Morphological Features..................................... 80 Physiographic Influences and Community D istribution, ............... 82 Effects of Degree of S lo p e,,,.,,..,................. 83 Effects of Exposure .......... 88 Effects of Position on Slope.............................. 90 DISCUSSION........................................................................................ 97 SUMMARY" AND CCKCLUSIONS............................................................................................. 112 LITERATURE CITED............................................................................................................. 118 APPENDIX............................................................................................................................... 126 I, lis t of the plant species found in the badlands of southeastern Montana,, ............. 12? II, Summary of the number of feet of line intercept and soil samples collected by location ............................................................... 130 -•V— Page I I I # Summary of th e frequency and abundance d ata fo r th e Sarcobatus community-type ........................................................................ 132 IV . Summary of th e frequency and abundance d a ta fo r the Atriplex-Artemisia community-type........................ 133 V, Summary of the frequency and abundance data for the Artemisia-Atriplex-Agropyron community-type............................... 13ii VI. Summary of the frequency and abundance data for the Artemisia-Agropyron community-type .............................................. 13$ VII. Summary of the frequency and abundance data for the Rhus- Agropyron. .......................................................................... 136 VIII. Summary of the frequency and abundance data for the Juniperus-Agropyron community-type.................................................... 138 IX. Summary of the frequency and abundance data for the Juniperus-Oryzopsis community-type.................................................... liiO X. Summary of the frequency and abundance data for the Pinus-Jurdperus community-type............................................................ l l |l XT. Soil profile descriptions for each community-type.................. li|.2 XII, A summary of the environmental characteristics of each c ommuni ty -ty p e ....................................................................