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Submitted to: Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center
Publication Type: Experiment Station Publication Acceptance Date: 12/20/2014 Publication Date: 1/21/2015 Citation: Bates, J.D., Davies, K.W. 2015. Wyoming big sagebrush associations of eastern Oregon; vegetation attributes. Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center Field Day Report. 15 p. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: This report provides a synopsis of several vegetative characteristics for the Wyoming big sagebrush complex in eastern Oregon covering the High Desert , Snake River, and Owyhee Ecological Provinces in Harney, Lake, and Malheur Counties. The complex has been grouped into six associations defined by the dominant large perennial bunchgrasses in the understory; Thurber’s needlegrass, Bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, Needle-and Thread, Bluebunch wheatgrass-Thurber’s needlegrass, and High Desert Mix (Idaho fescue-Thurber’s needlegrass-Bluebunch wheatgrass combo). A total of 48 sites were measured across a 10-year period (2003-2012) in May and June for plant foliar cover, density, species richness, and biomass. Values presented represent 10-yr means. Species numbers presented in the tables indicate what an observer might find growing on site in a year or across several years, since some forbs may only express themselves periodically or be easy to see. All sites are considered intact representatives for their respective associations, having a balanced complement of herbaceous and shrub vegetation. Results here are comparable to a larger evaluation of Wyoming big sagebrush associations completed by Davies et al. 2007. |
