MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 3 0864 0010 1838 4 ^^^'2^200(1 PLANT COMMUNITY CLASSIFICATION FOR VEGETATION ON BLM LANDS PRYOR MOUNTAINS, CARBON COUNTY, MONTANA Robert L. DeVelice & Peter Lesica Montana Natural Heritage Program 1515 East 6th Ave,, Helena, MT 59620 © 1993 Montana Natural Heritage Program Montana state library for Mr, 1515 E. 6th AVE HELENA, MONTANA 59620 USDI Bureau of Land Management State Office Billings, Montana Assistance Agreement No. E950-A1-0006 Task Order No. li ■■^H T"" «?, "■-■3 Er-^j* !S m This document should be cited as follows: DeVelice, r.l. and P. Lesica. 1993. Plant community classifica- tion for vegetation on BLM lands, Pryor Mountains, Carbon S?""" 7o ^°"^^"^- Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, i^ll • /8 pp. ' 4/26/93 DATE DUE nrr o ^ ic pr L — ^ i CAVt-ORD rniM-TEO )NU 9 A ABSTRACT The Pryor Mountains provide desert-like habitats unique in Montana and contribute significantly to the overall biological diversity of the state and the region. This study developed a classification of vegetation types on USDI Bureau of Land Management lands in the south Pryor Mountains, Carbon County, Montana. Additionally, endemic and globally rare vegetation types were identified. Using a combination of two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) 33 vegetation types were identified among the 197 study plots. Comparisons with a "comprehensive" listing of vegetation types of the western United States revealed that 9 of the types from the Pryor Mountains had not been reported from elsewhere and 14 are rare globally. This concentration of rare vegetation types, in combination with previously documented occurrences of rare plant species, highlight the significant biodiversity values of the Pryor Mountains. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 5 THE STUDY AREA 6 MATERIALS AND METHODS 8 Data Collection 8 Data Analysis 9 Taxonomic Considerations 9 RESULTS 10 General Vegetation Overview 10 The Classification 10 Forests 10 1. Abies lasiocarpa/Arnica cordif olia c.t. 10 2 . Abies las iocarpa/ Clematis columbiana c.t 11 3. Abies las iocarpa /Ribes montiqenum c.t. 11 4 . Abies las iocarpa /Vaccinium scopariuro c.t 12 5. Pinus f lex ills/ Festuca idahoensis c.t. 13 6. Pinus f lexilis/ Juniperus communis c.t. 13 7 . Pseudotsuqa menziesii/Aqropyron spicatum c.t 14 8 . Pseudotsuqa menziesii/ Festuca idahoensis c.t 15 9 . Pseudotsuqa menziesii /Cercocarpus ledif olius c.t 15 10. Pseudotsuqa menziesii/Symphoricarpos oreophilus c.t 16 Woodlands 17 11. Juniperus osteosperma/Aqropyron spicatum c.t 17 12 . Juniperus osteosperma /Artemisia tridentata c.t 18 13 . Juniperus osteosperma /Cercocarpus ledif olius c.t 18 14. Juniperus scopulorum/ Artemisia nova c.t 19 15. Pinus f lexilis- Juniperus osteosperma c.t 20 16. Pinus f lex i lis- Juniperus scopulorum c.t 20 Shrublands 21 17. Artemisia nova/Agropyron spicatum c.t. 21 18. Artemisia pedatif ida/Aqropyron spicatum c.t 22 19. Artemisia pedatif ida-Atriplex nuttallii c.t 23 20. Artemisia tridentata /Agropyr on smithii c.t 24 3 21. Artemisia tridentata/Agropyron spicatum c.t 24 22. Artemisia trident at a-Atriplex conf ertif olia c.t 25 23. Sarcobatus vermiculatus-Artemisia tridentata c.t 26 24. Artemisia tridentata/ St ipa comata c.t. 27 25. Atriplex nuttallii-Artemisia spinescens c.t 28 26. Artemisia tridentata /Atriplex nuttallii c.t 29 27. Atriplex nuttallii /Monolepis nuttalliana c.t 29 28. Potentilla f ruticosa/Festuca idahoensis c.t 30 29. Sarcobatus vermiculatus/ Atrip lex nuttallii c.t 31 Grasslands 32 30. Aqropyron spicatum/cushion plant c.t. . 32 31. Chrysothamnus nauseosus/Erioqonum brevicaule c.t 33 32. Festuca idahoensis-Aqropyron caninum c.t 33 33. Carex rupestr is /Potent ilia ovina c.t. . 34 Incidental Types 35 DISCUSSION 36 Rarity and Biogeography 36 Management Considerations 37 Exotic Species 38 Grazing 38 ORV Use 39 Mining 39 Protecting Biological Diversity 39 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 40 LITERATURE CITED 41 APPENDIX A. Vascular Plant Species List 44 APPENDIX B. Vascular Plant Constancy and Coverage .... 53 APPENDIX C. Key to the Community Types 75 INTRODUCTION The Pryor Mountain Desert region has a flora and vegetation unique in Montana (Dorn 1973, Kratz 1988, Lesica et al. 1984). The arid climate and unusual and varied soils provide desert-like habitats that are otherwise unknown in Montana. Furthermore, this region lies at the north end of the Bighorn Basin, a broad trough that extends south to the Red Desert of southern Wyoming. The Bighorn Basin has undoubtedly been a migrational pathway for desert plants (Dorn 1978). For these reasons numerous species of desert plants reach the northern limit of their range in the Pryor Mountain Desert • (Lichvar et al. 1985). Many of these species occur nov/here else in the state. Furthermore, many plant communities common in the Great Basin deserts reach their northern limit here (Kratz 1988) , and some community types m.ay be endemic to the area. Peripheral populations of species and their habitats are often important areas for genetic divergence and speciation (Mayr 1963). In addition, monitoring peripheral populations and communities can provide insight into incipient changes throughout their main geographic range. As such, the area makes an important contribution to the overall biological diversity of the state and the region. Floristic and ecological studies have been conducted in the area of the Pryor Mountains in the past. Dorn (1978) made plant collections in the area and reported the occurrence of many species with Great Basin Desert affinities. South (1980) provided a general description of common vegetation types and their relationship to landscape features. In the mid-1980 's researchers at the University of Wyoming conducted a study of the flora and vegetation of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA) , a narrov; corridor along the Bighorn River on the east side of the Pryor Mountains (Lichvar et al. 1985, Knight et al. 1987) . Their studies contributed a great deal to our knowledge of the area. Finally, Kratz (1988) described four "Great Basin-type" communities from the area based on a few carefully selected stands. These studies produced a comprehensive list of species present in the area and provided general descriptions of many of the plant communities. Unfortunately, the exact locations of the peripheral, disjunct and endemic species on most of the public land in the area remained unknown. Furtherr.ore, a formal plant community classification compatible v/ith regional schemes v/as still not available. Thus, land managers are not able to determine which communities should receive priority for conservation management. Finally, locations of these rare communities on public lands is not known. A comprehensive management plan for this unique area cannot be achieved without this information. The purpose of cur study is to provide the USDI Bureau of Land Management (3LI-I) with the information necessary to properly manage public lands in the Pryor Mountain Desert Region to protect ecological values and biological diversity. There are six goals to our studies: (1) conduct a thorough floristic inventory, (2) map locations of putatively rare plant populations to determine which are truly rare in the area and the habitat requirements of truly rare species (3) develop a formal community classification system and provide descriptions of these communities based on field samples (4) use the classification system to determine v,'hich communities are endemic or rare in Montana or the region (5) develop a vegetation map for the study area (6) use maps of rare species and plant communities to delineate areas critical for protecting the biological values of the area. We completed (1) and (2) in 1991 with a floristic survey of the study area, mapping of target species locations, and habitat descriptions (Lesica and Achuff 1992) . This paper presents a classification system and descriptions for community types (vegetation types) for public lands administered by the BLM in the Pryor Mountains and the Bighorn Basin of Montana. In addition, v/e evaluate the state and global distribution of these communities. Goals (5) and (6) will be met in subsequent years as funding becomes available. THE STUDY AREA The Pryor Mountain Desert lies at the north end of the Bighorn Basin in south-central Montana and adjacent Wyoming. It is bordered on the north by the Pryor Mountains, a northwest extension of the Bighorn Mountain Range. The Pryors are a large dome-shaped range rising to nearly 9,000 feet, composed of Paleozoic sedimentary formations, principally Madison limestone. Numerous canyons incised in the limestone occur on the south slope of the range. The east boundary of the Pryor Mountain Desert is formed by the Bighorn River which has formed a spectacular canyon in the sedimentary formations of the Bighorn- Pryor uplift. The slopes of the Bighorn Mountains rise abruptly on the east side of the River. This portion of the river has been . impounded, and it and a strip of land 2 to 6 miles wide on the west side comprise Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area administered by the U. S. Park Service. The valley of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River forms the west boundary of the Pryor Mountain Desert. Just to the west of the Clarks Fork is the east slope of the Beartooth Mountains which rise to over 12,500 feet The Pryor Mountain region lies in the rain shadow produced by this massive uplift. The southern border of the region is formed by the valley of the Shoshone River in Wyoming. Our study area consists of all lands administered by the BLM in the Pryor Mountains and that portion of the Pryor Mountain Desert north of the Wyoming border. Elevations are ca. 4,000 feet at the southwest end of the study area and reaching nearly 8,800 feet on the crest of the Pryors. Wetlands and riparian areas are very limited in the study area, and we made no attempt to sample these rare but important communities. We did not conduct surveys on Bighorn Canyon N.R.A. or on private lands within the study area. The oldest formation outcropping in the study area is the Madison limestone v/hich forms the south slopes of the Pryor Mountains. On more level terrain south of the mountain slopes, younger formations overlie the Madison limestone. These are Paleozoic and late Mesozoic sediments, predominantly sandstones and shales. The red sandstones and siltstones interbedded with thin lenses of gypsum of the Chugwater formation are particularly conspicuous (Richards 1955) . A geologic history of the area is provided by Knight et al. (1987) . Soils of the study area are predominantly Entisols, Mollisols, and Aridisols (Kratz 1988). In general, soils in the northeast portion of the Pryor Mountains Desert are sandy or silty and often calcareous, v/hile those in the south and v;est portions have a higher clay content and are often saline. Very sandy soils occur locally where they v/eather from sandstone outcrops. Productivity of the vegetation is lov; due to the arid climate. As a result, soil development is minimal and organic matter is low. Shallov; soils formed over Chugwater sandstone are particularly barren. The soils of forests, woodlands, and subalpine grasslands in the study area are mostly derived from calcareous parent materials and vary from sandy loams to loams and from clay loams to clays. Climate in the lower portion of the study area is semi-arid. Bridger, Montana, 10 miles north of the west end of the study area at 3,680 feet, receives an average of 12.7 inches of precipitation annually, and mean daily temperatures for January and July are 21.5°F and 70,5°F respectively (NOAA 1982). Lovell, Wyoming, 10 miles south of the east end of the study area at 3,800 feet, receives an average of 7.1 inches of precipitation annually. Daily temperatures averaged 16.8° F in January and 71.8°F in July (Knight et al. 1987). Spring and early summer rainfall accounts for two-thirds of the annual precipitation, the balance coming as snow (Knight et al. 1987). The Pryor Mountains are undoubtedly cooler and moister. Mean annual precipitation on the crest of the Pryor Mountains is estimated to be 20 inches (USDA-SCS 1981) . MATERIALS AND METHODS Data Collection Field sampling took place in the summers of 1991 and 1992 on BLM lands in Carbon County, Montana, south and southeast of the town of Bridger and east of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River. The 1991 work v/as done as an adjunct to the study by Lesica and Achuff (1992) that focused on describing the distribution of vascular plant species of special concern and limited distribution. The 1992 sampling focused on filling in remaining gaps in the characterization of vegetation types. Sampling focused on rare or previously undescribed communities and on common communities in particularly good condition. To minimize the confounding nature of heavy disturbance on vegetation occurrence, areas severely over-grazed, herbicide treated, mechanically disturbed, artificially seeded, or irrigated were not sampled. Plots v/ere established within "portions of stands that appeared to be relatively uniform in topography and vegetation structure. Within an area, one to five plots v/ere chosen to represent the contrasting vegetation composition on differing geomorphic facets. Plot selection focused on contemporary stands of vegetation without reference to successional relationships among stands. We did not attempt to confine our sampling to remnants of presettlement vegetation. All data were recorded on Montana Natural Heritage Program (MTNHP) Community Survey Forms (DeVelice 1991) . Additionally, MTNHP Reconnaissance Soil Characterization Forms were completed during the 1992 sampling. The Community Survey Forms are similar to the general plot data and ocular plant species data forms used by the USDA Forest Service (USDA 1987) . Complete lists and canopy cover estimates of vascular plant species were recorded within each 375 m- circular study plot. Site information such as altitude, slope, aspect, parent material, landform, and erosion characteristics were also recorded for each plot. A 20 inch deep reconnaissance soil pit was excavated at the 1992 sample sites and information was collected to determine soil subgroup and general physical properties (e.g., texture; coarse fragment content) . Additionally, surf icial (top 2 to 6 inches) soil samples were collected in 1992 for pH and electrical conductivity (a measure of free salts) determinations. pH and electrical conductivity measurements were made using 2:1 aqueous suspensions of the soil samples collected in 1992. These suspensions were equilibrated for at least 15 minutes before measurements were taken with a temperature-compensated digital Myron L DCH4 meter. Data Analysis Analysis focused on using a combination of (1) classification, to determine community types, and (2) ordination (gradient analyses) , to describe general patterns of communities in relation to environmental factors. Classification was accomplished using two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN; Hill 1979a) in the CEP MS-DOS computer package (Mohler 1987) . Ordination was achieved using the detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) algorithm in the CANOCO computer package (Ter Braak 1988). The input data were species cover variables recorded in each plot. Both TWINSPAN and DCA are based on the same mathematical strategy (i.e., reciprocal averaging; Hill 1979a, b) and thus offer direct comparisons between the results of ordination and classification. All default options in the TWINSPAN algorithm were used except that pseudospecies cut levels were set at 0 , 2, and 20 percent cover and pseudospecies weights were changed from 111 to 1 2 4 (i.e., pseudospecies at the second and third cut levels were given twice and four-times, respectively, the weight of pseudospecies at cut level one) . Also, all default options were used in running DCA except that rare species were downweighted. Initially, the entire data matrix of 197 stands and 365 species was analyzed. Subsequently, to reduce the amount of variation being considered, which is substantial in the whole matrix, the species list was thinned to the 194 most characteristic species and analyses were conducted on forest/woodland, woodland, and shrubland/grassland subgroups. In some instances, a particular TWINSPAN class included a plot or plots that, based on field experience and DCA patterns, appeared to be better placed in a different existing TWINSPAN class. These plots were repositioned in the classification as appropriate. In addition to helping refine the TWINSPAN classification, DCA ordination assisted in describing and interpreting general patterns of vegetation communities and environment. For example, DCA extracts the dominant compositional gradients from the species data matrix. The environmental controls of these compositional gradients are then interpreted based on comparisons with the site data. Taxonomic Considerations Nomenclature generally follows Great Plains Flora Association (1986) . Nomenclature for taxa not listed in this manual follows Dorn (1988). Scientific names of all species observed in this study and their code names, number of occurrences, and importance values are listed in Appendix A. RESULTS General Vegetation Overview Lowest portions of the study area, generally between 4,000 and 5,000 feet, occur in outwash plains and low hills on the south side of the Pryor Mountains. Shrublands dominated by species of sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata , A. pedatif ida , A. nova , A. spinescens) , rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus , C. viscidif lorus) , saltbush (Atriplex nuttallii , A. conf ertif olia) and greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) and grasslands dominated by bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum) and cushion plant forbs are the principle vegetation in this zone. Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) and limber pine (Pinus f lexilis) woodlands predominate between 4,500 and 5,500 feet in the foothills and on rocky ridges south of the mountains. Rocky Mountain juniper (J^ scopulorum) replaces Utah juniper near the Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone River. With increasing precipitation, woodlands give way to Douglas-fir forest which dominates in the montane zone at ca . 6,000 to 8,000 feet The subalpine zone, at 8,000 to 9,000 feet, is occupied by a mosaic of forest and grassland vegetation. Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) grasslands predominate on gently rounded ridge crests. Warmer, more gentle slopes, often just below these grasslands, support mesic limber pine forests, while cooler, often steeper slopes are dominated by subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) forests. The Classification Forests 1. Abies lasiocarpa /Arnica cordifolia c.t. (ABILAS/ARNCOR; subalpine f ir/heartleaf arnica) (1 Stand) Environment- ABILAS/ARNCOR is a minor type in the study area. It occurs on cool, moist benches and gentle upper slopes above 8,000 feet on limestone substrates. Adjacent warmer sites often support Abies lasiocarpa /Clematis Columbiana while colder sites support Abies lasiocarpa /Ribes montigenum. Adjacent non- calcareous sites that are topographically similar often support Abies lasiocarpa/ Vaccinium scoparium. Vegetation- Abies lasiocarpa is always well represented and Picea enqelmannii , Pseudotsuga menziesii , and/or Pinus contorta may be co-dominant. Undergrowth vegetation varies from herb-rich patches beneath open forest canopies to sparse undergrowth beneath dense canopies. Dominant undergrowth herbs include Arnica cordifolia , Lupinus sericeus, Solidago multiradiata , Carex rossii , and Festuca idahoensis. 10 Soils- Soils underlying the ABILAS/ARNCOR type are generally derived from limestone. Ground surfaces have little bare soil exposed and rock cover seldom exceeding 10%. We collected no additional soils data for this type. Other Studies- This type has been previously described east of the Continental Divide in Montana by Pfister et al. (1977). Similar communities occur in Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Wyoming (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992). Natural Heritage Program Rank- G5/S5 2. Abies las iocarpa /Clematis columbiana c.t. (ABILAS/CLECOL; subalpine fir/virgin's bower) (1 Stand) Environment- ABILAS/CLECOL is a minor type in the study area. It occurs at the lower (warm, dry) limits of Abies lasiocarpa below 8,000 feet on limestone parent materials. The type is primarily found on the steep, northerly slopes below the crest of the Pryor Mountains. Adjacent cooler or more moist sites on calcareous substrate often support Abies las iocarpa /Arnica cordif olia while warmer sites often support forests with Pseudotsuga menziesii or Pinus f lexilis dominated overstories, or Potentilla fruticosa/Festuca idahoensis shrublands. Upslope, on colder sites lacking Pseudotsuqa menziesii , the type intergrades to Abies lasiocarpa/Ribes montiqenum. Vegetation- Although Abies lasiocarpa is alv;ays present and reproducing successfully, stands are generally dominated by Pseudotsuqa menziesii . Picea enqelmannii is usually also present. Characteristic shrubs include Clematis columbiana and Spiraea betulif olia . Dominant undergrowth herbs include Arnica cordifolia. Aster foliaceus, and Viola canadensis. Bryophyte cover often exceeds 10% of the ground surface. Soils- Soils underlying the ABILAS/CLECOL type are generally derived from limestone. Ground surfaces generally have little bare soil or rock exposed. We collected no additional soils data for this type. Other Studies- This type has been previously described east of the Continental Divide in Montana by Pfister et al. (1977) . Natural Heritage Program Rank- G3/S3 3. Abies lasiocarpa/Ribes montiqenum c.t. (ABILAS/RIBMON; subalpine fir/mountain gooseberry) (2 Stands) Environment- ABILAS/RIBMON is common at elevations above 8,2 00 feet on plateau-like sites near the crest of the Pryor Mountains 11 and on the steep, northerly slopes below the crest. It occurs above the elevational limits of Pseudotsuqa roenziesii . Adjacent warmer sites generally support either Abies las iocarpa/ Clematis Columbiana or Abies las iocarpa /Arnica cordif olia. At the crest of the Pryors, ABILAS/RIBMON groves alternate with more exposed sites supporting Festuca idahoensis grasslands. Vegetation- Abies lasiocarpa and Picea enqelmannii co-dominate the overstory. Pinus contorta and Pseudotsuqa menziesii are absent. In addition to Ribes montiqenum, characteristic undergrowth species include Arnica cordif olia , Galium boreale, Pyrola secunda , and Clematis columbiana (the later in stands intergrading to Abies las iocarpa /Clematis columbiana) . Bryophyte cover may exceed 30% of the ground surface and soil lichen cover may exceed 3%. Soils- Soils underlying the ABILAS/RIBMON type are derived from a variety of parent materials. Ground surfaces generally have little bare soil and rock cover of 10% or less. The soil subgroup at our single soil characterization site was a Typic Cryoboroll. The single pH measurement was 6.2, and conductivity was 142 uhmos/cm- (1 stand). Other Studies- This type has been previously described in the Pryor Mountains, the Centennial Mountains, and the Gravelly Range of Montana by Pfister et al, (1977) . Similar communities occur in Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) . Natural Heritage Program Rank- G5/S4 4. Abies las iocarpa /Vaccinium scoparium c.t. (ABILAS/VACSCO; subalpine fir/grouse whortleberry) (1 Stand) Environment- This is one of the most abundant forest vegetation types in Montana but is relatively uncommon within the study area. It was found on cold, gentle slopes and ridges above 8,000 feet. Adjacent sites on calcareous parent materials that are topographically similar often support Abies las iocarpa /Arnica cordif olia. Vegetation- Abies lasiocarpa and Picea enqelmannii co-dominate the overstory. Pinus contorta is usually present. The undergrowth is dominated by a low shrub layer of Vaccinium scoparium. Most other species in the undergrowth have less than 2% cover. Arnica cordif olia cover sometime equals or exceeds 20%. Bryophyte cover often exceeds 20% of the ground surface. Soils- Soils underlying the ABILAS/VACSCO type are usually derived from non-calcareous parent materials. Ground surfaces 12 generally have little bare soil or rock exposed. We collected no additional soils data for this type. Other Studies- This is one of the most common subalpine forest types in the Rocky Mountains and has been documented by numerous authors. Similar communities occur in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) . In Montana, ABILAS/VACSCO has been described near and east of the Continental Divide by Pfister et al. (1977). Natural Heritage Program Rank- G5/S5 5. Pinus f lexilis/Festuca idahoensis c.t. (PINFLE/FESIDA; limber pine/Idaho fescue) (1 Stand) Environment- PINFLE/FESIDA is common on dry, wind-exposed, upper slopes and ridges at elevations around 8,000 feet. Adjacent drier sites predominantly feature Festuca idahoensis grasslands or the Pinus f lexilis/ Juniperus communis type. Vegetation- Pinus f lexilis dominates the tree stratum on most sites. Pseudotsuqa menziesii is often well represented. The undergrowth is dominated by Festuca idahoensis and is often forb- rich. Characteristic species in the Pryor Mountains include Achillea millefolium, Aqoseris glauca , Aster conspicuus , and Galium boreale. Juniperus communis may be v/ell represented in stands transitional to the Pinus f lexilis/ Juniperus communis type. Combined bryophyte and lichen cover seldom exceeds 5% of the ground surface. Soils- Soils underlying the PINFLE/FESIDA type are usually derived from calcareous parent materials. Ground surfaces generally have little bare soil and rock cover of 10% or less. The soil subgroup at our single soil characterization site v,'as a Argic Cryoboroll. The single pH measurement was 6.8, and conductivity was 161 uhmos/cm- (1 stand). Other Studies- This type has been previously described east of the Continental Divide in Montana by Pfister et al. (1977) . Similar communities occur in Idaho and Wyoming (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) . Natural Heritage Program Rank- G5/S5 6. Pinus f lexilis/ Juniperus communis c.t. (PINFLE/JUNCOM; limber pine/common juniper) (4 Stands) Environment- PINFLE/JUNCOM generally occurs on southerly slopes and ridges at elevations betv;een 6,500 and 8,000 feet. Adjacent 13 non-forest vegetation includes Festuca idahoensis grasslands and Artemisia tridentata shrublands. Vegetation- Pinus f lexilis dominates the tree layer or is co- dominant with Pseudotsuga menziesii. Juniperus scopulorum may be well represented. The undergrowth is primarily composed of dry- site shrubs and forbs. Juniperus communis is well represented to abundant, and Berberis repens is common. Characteristic graminoids include Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex rossii , Leucopoa kingii , and Poa nervosa. However, rarely does the cover of any given graminoid species exceed 5%. Forbs commonly found are Arnica cordifolia , Aster conspicuus , Galium boreale, Senecio streptanthif olius, and Solidago sparsif lora. Combined cover of lichens and bryophytes is generally less then 5%. Soils- PINFLE/JUNCOM is predominantly found on limestone derived soils. Total surface cover of bare soil, gravel, and rock was less than 5%. Surface litter plus downed wood cover averaged 90%. Soil subgroups encountered at the tv/o soil characterization sites were Calcic and Argic Cryroborolls . Surface textures were clay loams. Soils had high pH values (7.4 to 7.5) and conductivity ranged from 190 to 230 uhmos/cm- (2 stands) . Other Studies- This type has been previously described as widespread in dry mountain areas east of the Continental Divide (including the Pryor Mountains) in Montana by Pfister et al. (1977) . Similar communities occur in Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) . Natural Heritage Program Rank- G5/S4 7. Pseudotsuga menziesii/Agropyron spicatum c.t. (PSEMEN/AGRSPI; Douglas-f ir/bluebunch wheatgrass) (1 Stand) Environment- PSEMEN/AGRSPI is found on steep southerly slopes at elevations around 5,000 to 7,000 feet. Adjacent drier sites predominantly feature Agropyron spicatum grasslands or Artemisia arbuscula/Agropvron spicatum shrublands. Vegetation- Pseudotsuga menziesii dominates the tree stratum. Pinus f lexilis and Juniperus scopulorum are often present in minor amounts. The undergrowth is dominated by graminoids including Agropyron spicatum, Carex rossii , Leucopoa kingii , and Poa spp . Balsamorhiza sagittata is the most characteristic forb. Combined bryophyte and lichen cover seldom exceeds 5% of the ground surface. Soils- Soils underlying the PSEMEN/AGRSPI type are generally derived from calcareous parent materials. Combined cover of bare soil, gravel, and rock on the ground surface ranges from 5 to 14 50%. The soil subgroup at our single soil characterization site was a Typic Argiboroll. The single pH measurement was 7.5, and conductivity was 215 uhmos/cm- (1 stand). Other Studies- This type has been previously described in central and west-central Montana by Pfister et al. (1977). Similar communities occur in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) . Natural Heritage Program Rank- G5/S4 8. Pseudotsuqa menziesii/Festuca idahoensis c.t. (PSEMEM/FESIDA; Douglas-fir/ Idaho fescue) (1 Stand) Environment- PSEMEN/FESIDA is found on dry sites at elevations around 5,500 to 6,000 feet. Conditions are generally cooler than those of the Pseudotsuqa menziesii/Aqropyron spicatum type. Adjacent drier sites often feature Artemisia arbuscula /Aqropyron spicatum shrublands. Vegetation- Pseudotsuqa menziesii dominates the tree stratum on most sites. Pinus f lexilis , Juniperus scopulorum, and J. osteosperma are often v;ell represented (in the Pryor Mountains). The undergrowth is dominated by Festuca idahoensis , Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and Artemisia tridentata. High cover of Symphoricarpos suggests affinities between the PSEMEN/FESIDA and PSEMEN/SYMORE types. Characteristic forbs include Achillea millefolium and Phlox hoodii. Combined bryophyte and lichen cover may exceed 15% of the ground surface. Soils- Soils underlying the PSEMEN/FESIDA type are generally derived from calcareous parent materials. Combined cover of bare soil, gravel, and rock on the ground surface ranges from 10 to 20%. The soil subgroup at our single soil characterization site was a Typic Argiboroll. The single pH measurement was 7.4, and conductivity was 255 uhmos/cm- (1 stand). Other Studies- This type has been previously described primarily in west-central and southwestern Montana by Pfister et al. (1977). Similar communities occur in Idaho and Wyoming (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) . Natural Heritage Program Rank- G5/S4 9. Pseudotsuqa menziesii/Cercocarpus ledif olius c.t. (PSEMEN/CERLED; Douglas-f ir/curlleaf mountain mahogany) (1 Stand) Environment- PSEMEN/CERLED is found en dry, rocky ridges and upper slopes with shallow soils at elevations around 6,000 to 15 6,500 feet. Adjacent relatively moist drainages often support the Pseudotsuqa menziesii/Symphoricarpos oreophilus type. PSEMEN/CERLED integrades to the Cercocarpus ledif olius/Aqropyron spicatum type. Vegetation- Pseudotsuqa menziesii and Juniperus scopulorum form a very open tree layer (combined cover may be as low as 1 to 5%) . The undergrowth is dominated by an abundance of Cercocarpus ledif olius . Aqropyron spicatum is generally well represented. Other characteristic species include Carex rossii . Hymenoxys acaulis, Koeleria pyramidata, Musineon vaqinatum, and Phlox hoodii . Combined bryophyte and lichen cover averages less than 20% of the ground surface. Soils- Soils underlying the PSEMEN/CERLED type are derived from calcareous parent materials. Combined cover of gravel and rock on the ground surface generally exceeds 50% and bare soil cover exceeds 5%. Soils are typically shallow and the soil subgroup at our single soil characterization site was a Lithic Ustic Torriorthent . The single pH measurement was 7.5, and conductivity v;as 242 uhmos/cm- (1 stand). Other Studies- This type has been previously described primarily in southwestern Montana by DeVelice (1992). Similar communities occur in Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992). Natural Heritage Program Rank- G3/S3 10. Pseudotsuqa menziesii/Symphoricarpos oreophilus c.t. (PSEMEN/SYMORE; Douglas-f ir/mountain snowberry) (3 Stands) Environment- PSEMEN/SYMORE is found on northerly slopes and drainages at elevations between 5,000 to 6,500 feet. Vegetation on adjacent shallov/er soils and in drier situations includes the Pinus flexi lis- Juniperus scopulorum and Artemisia a r bus cula /Aqropyron spicatum types. Vegetation- Pseudotsuqa menziesii dominates the tree stratum on most sites. Pinus f lexilis and/or Juniperus scopulorum may be well represented. The undergrowth is generally very sparse with few species other than Symphoricarpos oreophilus ever exceeding 1% cover. Combined bryophyte and lichen cover may exceed 15% of the ground surface. Soils- Soils underlying the PSEMEN/SYMORE type are generally derived from calcareous parent materials (in the Pryor Mountains). Combined cover of bare soil, gravel, and rock on the ground surface is generally less than 5%. The soil subgroups at our two soil characterization sites were a Typic Argiboroll and a Calcic Cryoboroll. Surface textures varied from loam to clay 16 loam. The pH measurements were 7.4 and 7.7, and conductivity was 275 and 218 uhmos/cm- (2 stands, respectively). Other Studies- This type has been previously described primarily in southwestern Montana by Pfister et al. (1977). Similar communities occur in Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) . Natural Heritage Program Rank- G5/S3 Woodlands 11. Juniperus osteosperma/Aqropyron spicatum c.t. (JUNOST/AGRSPI; Utah juniper/Idaho fescue) (26 Stands) Environment- JUNOST/AGRSPI is common on gentle to moderately steep (and occasionally very steep) slopes at elevations between 4,300 and 6,000 feet. This type occurs on slopes of all aspects (but rarely northeasterly) . Pinus f lexilis woodlands occur on adjacent cooler sites. Adjacent sites with often deeper soils support the Juniperus osteosperma /Artemisia tridentata type or the Artemisia tridentata /Aqropyr on spicatum type. Vegetation- We recognize tv;o phases of the JUNOST/AGRSPI type, a Artemisia arbuscula phase and a Gutierresia sarothrae phase. In both phases, Juniperus osteosperma is the only tree that is well represented and Aqropyron spicatum is well represented in both phases. Artemisia nova is well represented in the ARTNOV phase but is absent from the GUTSAR phase. Gutierresia sarothrae is generally present in both phases. Soil lichens are well represented in most stands, and bryophytes are common in some stands . Soils- JUNOST/AGRSPI is found on generally shallow soils derived from limestone or calcareous sandstone. Combined cover of gravel and rock on the ground surface generally exceeds 50% and bare soil cover exceeds 20%. The soil subgroups at our seven soil characterization sites included Ustic Torriorthents, Lithic Ustic Torriorthents , Lithic Ustollic Haplargids, and Ustollic Calciorthids . Surface textures varied from loam to silty clay. pH varied from 7.4 to 7.9, and conductivity ranged from 200 to 310 uhmos/cm- (7 stands). Other Studies- The Artemisia nova phase of this type has been described, in part, from the Pryor Mountains of Montana by Kratz (1988). Juniper woodlands were described for the adjacent Bighorn Canyon N.R.A. by Knight et al. (1987) . Similar 17 communities occur in Idaho and Wyoming (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) . Natural Heritage Program Rank- G3/S3 12. Juniperus osteosperma/ Artemisia tridentata c.t. (JUNOST/ARTTRI; Utah juniper/big sagebrush) (6 Stands) Environment- JUNOST/ARTTRI is generally found on southwesterly slopes at elevations between 4,000 to 5,500 feet. Upslope vegetation often features the Pinus flexi lis- Juniperus osteosperma type. Downslope vegetation is often of the Artemisia tridentata /Aqropyron spicatum or the A^ tridentata/ St ipa comata types. Vegetation- Juniperus osteosperma is the only tree present and Artemisia tridentata is alv;ays well represented in the undergrowth. The only other species exceeding 1% cover on 50% or more of the study plots are Aristida purpurea and Poa sandberqii. Combined bryophyte and lichen cover is generally less than 5% of the ground surface. Soils- Soils underlying the JUNOST/ARTTRI type are generally derived from calcareous sandstone. Combined cover of gravel and rock on the ground surface averages 60% and bare soil cover averages 20%. The soil subgroup at our single soil characterization site v;as a Ustic Torriorthent . The single pH measurement was 8.0, and conductivity was 202 uhmos/cm- (1 stand) . Other Studies- This type has not been previously described in Montana. Similar communities occur in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) . Natural Heritage Program Rank- G5/S3 13. Juniperus osteosperma/Cercocarpus ledifolius c.t. (JUNOST/CERLED; Utah juniper/curlleaf mountain mahogany) (8 Stands) Environment- JUNOST/CERLED is found on dry, rocky ridges and slopes at elevations around 4,500 to 5,000 feet. The type integrades to Cercocarpus ledifolius /Aqropyron spicatum and commonly adjoins the Juniperus osteosperma /Aqropyron spicatum type. Vegetation- Juniperus osteosperma is the only tree species present (canopy cover averages around 10%) . The undergrov.-th is dominated by Cercccarous ledifolius. Aqropyron spicatum is 18 generally well represented. Other characteristic species include Gutierrezia sarothrae and Arenaria hookeri . Combined bryophyte and lichen cover averages less than 10% of the ground surface. Soils- Soils underlying the JUNOST/CERLED type are derived from calcareous parent materials. Combined cover of gravel and rock on the ground surface generally exceeds 45% and bare soil cover exceeds 5%. Soils vary from shallow to deep and the soil subgroup at our tv.'o soil characterization sites were a Lithic Ustic Torriorthent and a Ustic Torriorthent . Surface texture was sandy loam. For the two stands where soil was sampled, pH measurements were 7.7 and 7.8, and conductivity was 221 and 198 uhmos/cm-, respectively. Other Studies- This type has not been previously described in Montana or elsewhere. Natural Heritage Program Rank- G3/S3 14. Juniperus scopulorum/ Artemisia nova c.t. (JUNSCO/ARTNOV; Rocky Mountain juniper/black sagebrush) (1 Stand) Environment- JUNSCO/ARTNOV is found on dry, rocky ridges and upper slopes with shallow soils at elevations around 6,000 to 6,500 feet. Adjacent relatively moist drainages often feature the Pseudotsucra menziesii/Symphoricarpos oreophilus type. Vegetation- Juniperus scopulorum forms a open tree layer (total cover may be as low as 10%) . The undergrowth is dominated by Artemisia nova . Agropyron soicatum, Koeleria pyramidata , and Poa sandberqii , are generally well represented. Total forb cover seldom exceeds 10%. Bryophytes and lichens cover less than 5% of the ground surface. Soils- Soils underlying the JUNSCO/ARTNOV type are derived from calcareous parent materials. Combined cover of gravel and rock on the ground surface generally exceeds 50% and bare soil cover exceeds 5%. Soils are typically shallow and the soil subgroup at our single soil characterization site was a Lithic Ustic Torriorthent. The single pH measurement v/as 7.5, and conductivity was 211 uhmos/cm- (1 stand). Other Studies- This type has not been previously described in Montana. A similar community occurs in Nevada (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) . Natural Heritage Program Rank- G2/S2 19 15. Pinus f lexilis-Juniperus osteosperma c.t. (PINFLE-JUl^IOST; limber pine-Utah juniper) (10 Stands) Environment- PINFLE-JUNOST is common on mid slopes, upper slopes, and benches at elevations between 4,300 and 5,300 feet. Adjacent drier sites predominantly feature Juniperus osteosperma woodlands and Artemisia tridentata shrublands. Vegetation- Pinus f lexilis and Juniperus osteosperma are both well represented (no other tree species occur with cover exceeding 1%) . Characteristic undergrowth species include Artemisia nova, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Petrophytum caespitosum. Aqropyron spicatum, and Opuntia polyacantha . Combined bryophyte and lichen cover seldom exceeds 5% of the ground surface. Soils- Soils underlying the PINFLE-JUNOST type are usually derived from calcareous sandstone. Combined cover of gravel and rock on the ground surface generally exceeds 70% and bare soil cover exceeds 10%. Soils are predominantly shallow and subgroups at our three characterization sites were all Lithic Ustic Torriorthents . Surface textures varied from loamy sand to sandy loam. pH measurements ranged from 7.5 to 8.0, and conductivity ranged from 212 to 230 uhmos/cm- (3 stands). Other Studies- This type has not been previously described in Montana or elsewhere. Natural Heritage Program Rank- G3/S3 16. Pinus f lexilis-Juniperus scopulorxim c.t. (PINFLE-JUNSCO; limber pine-Rocky Mountain juniper) (8 Stands) Environment- PINFLE-JUlvlSCO is common on mid and upper slopes at elevations between 4,000 and 5,300 feet. Adjacent sites predominantly feature Artemisia spp. shrublands. Vegetation- We recognize two phases of the PINFLE-JUNSCO type, a Artemisia arbuscula phase and a A. tridentata phase. In both phases, Pinus f lexilis and Juniperus osteosperma are the only tree species that are well represented. Artemisia nova is abundant in the ARTNOV phase and in about half of the occurrences of the ARTTRI phase. Artemisia tridentata is well represented only in the ARTTRI phase. Gutierresia sarothrae, Agropyron spicatum, Carex f ilifolia, Koeleria pyramidata, Poa sandbergii. Phlox hoodii, and Opuntia polyacantha are generally present to v;ell represented in both phases. Combined bryophyte and lichen cover seldom exceeds 5% of the ground surface. 20 Soils- PINFLE-JUNSCO is generally found on soils derived from calcareous parent materials. Combined cover of gravel and rock on the ground surface generally exceeds 30% and bare soil cover exceeds 20%. The soil subgroups at our tv.'o soil characterization sites included a Lithic Ustic Torriorthent and a Ustollic Haplargid. Surface textures varied from loamy sand to sandy loam. pH values were 6.1 and 6.6, and conductivity values v;ere 155 and 176 uhmos/cm- (2 stands) . Other Studies- This type has not been previously described in Montana. The type has close affinities with the Pinus f lexilis/Aqropyron spicatum and the P. flexilis/Festuca idahoensis types described by Pfister et al. 1977. However, unlike the Pfister et al. types, Artemisia nova and/or A. tridentata are well represented to abundant in the PINFLE-JUNSCO type. A similar community occurs in Oregon (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) . Natural Heritage Program Rank- G4/S3 Shrublands 17. Artemisia nova / Aqropyron spicatum c.t. (ARTNOV/AGRSPI; black sagebrush/bluebunch v/heatgrass) (8 Stands) Environment- ARTNOV/AGRSPI is common at 4,7 00 to 6,000 feet on gentle to moderately steep slopes of all aspects. This type is most common on ridgetops, benches and upper slopes, it also may be found on terraces and alluvial fans. Adjacent communities are often dominated by Juniperus osteosperma or Pinus f lexilis where fractured bedrock is common near the surface. Adjacent sites with deeper soils are usually dominated by Artemisia tridentata. Vegetation- This community is characterized by a moderate cover of shrubs ca. 1 foot tall and a fairly sparse understory of grasses and forbs. Artemisia nova was present in all stands and had a mean cover of 24%. Gutierrezia sarothrae was present in most stands but had a mean cover of only 1%. Other common shrubs include A_^ tridentata, A. friqida and Ceratoides lanata. Agropyron spicatum and Poa sandbergii were present in all stands with mean cover of 17% and 5% respectively. Koeleria pyramidata is common in some stands, and Stipa comata occurs in the majority of sites. Arenaria hookeri , Hymenoxys acaulis and Phlox hoodii are common forbs; Penstemon eriantherus is frequent, and Penstemon laricif olius is common in some stands. Bryophytes and lichens are usually present on the soil and are corimon in some stands. Soils- ARTNOV/AGRSPI is generally found on shallow to moderately deep soils derived from limestone or calcareous sandstone, but 21 quartzite and shales are also parent materials supporting this type. Surface gravel is cominon to abundant. The soil subgroups at our three soil characterization sites included a Lithic Ustic Torriorthent, a Ustic Torriorthent , and a Ustollic Haplargid. Surface texture ranges from loam to clay-loam. In our stands pH varied from 7.3 to 7.8., and conductivity ranged from 201 to 237 uhmos/cm^ (3 stands) . Other Studies- Kratz (1988) reports this community type in the same study area. Knight et al. (1987) describe a black sagebrush steppe for the Bighorn Canyon NRA. This type is also reported for southwest Montana by Mueggler and Stewart (1980) . Their type (Artemisia arbuscula/Agropyron spicatum) , which was described from areas with higher rainfall, commonly has higher vegetation cover and greater species richness than our stands. Similar communities are described for much of the Intermountain West (Mueggler and Stewart 1980, Franklin and Dyrness 1973, Jensen et al. 1988, Bourgeron and Engelking 1992). Natural Heritage Program Rank- G5/S4 18. Artemisia pedatif ida/Aqropyron spicatum c.t. (ARTPED/AGRSPI; birdfoot sagebrush/bluebunch wheatgrass) (3 stands) Environment- ARTPED/AGRSPI is a minor type in the study area, usually occurring on gentle to moderate slopes at 4,700 to 5,100 feet in the outwash plains and lower foothills. It is most abundant west of Crooked Creek. Adjacent communities on better drained soils are often dominated by Artemisia tridentata, while on heavier or more saline soils Atriplex nuttallii and Aqropyron smithii are important species. Vegetation- This type has a sparse cover of low shrubs with scattered clumps of grass intermixed. Artemisia pedatif ida had a mean canopy cover of 17%. Artemisia tridentata and Ceratoides lanata were the only other frequent shrubs with mean covers of 2% and 1% respectively. Aqropyron spicatum was the only common grass with a mean canopy cover of 21%. Forbs are not abundant, but Allium textile, Arenaria hookeri and Phlox hoodii are frequent species. Soil lichens are present but not abundant. Soils- ARTPED/AGRSPI occurs on deep soils derived from shales or sandstone interbedded with shale or clay. Surface texture is clay loam to clay. We collected no additional soils data for this type. Other Studies- Kratz describes an Artemisia pedatif ida /Aqropyron spicatum community type that probably includes both our ARTPED/AGRSPI and ARTPED-ATRI\'UT types. Knight et al. (1987) do 22 not describe this type for the Bighorn Canyon NRA; however, it is described for Wyoming (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992). Natural Heritage Program Rank- G3/S3 19. Artemisia pedatif ida-Atriplex nuttallii c.t. (ARTPED-ATRNUT; birdfoot sagebrush-Gardner saltbush) (9 Stands) Environment- ARTPED-ATRNUT is common on alluvial fans and terraces and occasionally moderate slopes at 4,100 to 5,000 feet in the outwash plains. It is most common in the south and west portions of our study area. In adjacent sites v/ith less saline soils Aqropyron spicatum rather than Atriplex nuttallii is codominant. Somewhat better-drained soils are dominated by Artemisia tridentata and Aqropyron smithii . Sarcobatus vermiculatus may also be common on adjacent sites. Vegetation- Typically this type has a moderate cover of low shrubs with sparse grass and forb components. Both Artemisia pedatif ida and Atriplex nuttallii were present in all stands with mean canopy covers of 33% and 9% respectively. Artemisia tridentata was common in ca. 1/3 of the stands. Poa sandbergii and Aqropyron spicatum each occurred in ca. half of the stands with mean cover of 20% and 3% respectively. Aqropyron smithii and Poa juncif olia are common in some stands. Forbs are poorly represented. Allium textile, Musineon divaricatum and Platyschkurhia inteqrifolia are present in most stands, and Opuntia polyacantha and Vicia americana are common in some plots. Bryophytes and lichens are present but uncommon. Soils- ARTPED-ATRNUT occurs on deep soils derived from shales and clays interbedded with sandstone. Coarse fragments and gravels are absent, and surface texture varies from silt-loam to clay. The soil subgroup at all three soil characterization sites was Ustic Torriorthent . pH varied from 7.2 to 9.0, and conductivity ranged from 205 to 489 uhmos/cm- (3 stands) . Other Studies- Kratz (1988) probably includes this community in his Artemisia pedatif ida /Aqropyron spicatum type described from the same area. Knight et al. (1987) do not describe this type for the Bighorn Canyon NRA, and it has not been described elsewhere (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992). Natural Heritage Program Rank- G2/S2 23 20. Artemisia tridentata/Agropyron smithii c.t. (ARTTRI/AGRSMI, big sagebrush/western wheatgrass) (6 stands) Environment- Alluvial fans, toeslopes and terraces in the southwest portion of the study area are often dominated by ARTTRI/AGRSMI. Elevations range from 4,100 to 4,800 feet Adjacent communities include Artemisia tridentata/Agropyron spicatum on better drained soils, v/hile Sarcobatus vermiculatus or Artemisia pedatif ida may dominate on more saline soils. Vegetation- This community has a moderately dense shrub layer 1 to 3 feet tall and a fairly continuous cover of rhizomatous grasses. Artemisia tridentata was present in but one all stand with a mean cover of 48%. Other shrub species are not common, but Chrysothamnus nauseosus and Sarcobatus vermiculatus were present in some stands. Agropyron smithii /dasystachyum was present in all stands v;ith an mean canopy cover of 27%. Poa sandbergii and Koeleria pyranidata are common in most stands. Forbs diversity is low, but Phlox hoodii and Vicia americana are common in most stands, and Lomatium f oeniculaceum is common in some plots. Soils- ARTTRI/AGRSMI occurs on deep soils developed from alluvium. Gravels and coarse fragments are absent, and carbonates are leached well below the surface. The soil subgroup at our single soil characterization site was a Ustollic Haplargid. Surface texture is silt to clay loam. The single pH measurement was 7.4, and conductivity was 210 uhmos/cm" (1 stand) . Other Studies- Communities dominated by Artemisia tridentata and Agropyron smithii/A. dasystachyum are described for central and eastern Montana by Jorgensen (1979) and Hansen and Hoffman (1988) . The type also occurs in North and South Dakota (Hansen and Hoffman 1988) , Wyoming and Colorado (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) . Throughout all of eastern Montana this community type has low species richness. Natural Heritage Program Rank- G5/S5 21. Artemisia tridentata/Agropyron spicatum c.t. (ARTTRI/AGRSPI, big sagebrush/bluebunch wheatgrass) (24 Stands) Environment- ARTTRI/AGRSPI is common on gentle to moderately steep (and occasionally very steep) slopes in the outwash plains and foothills of the Pryor Mountains. Occasional examples may also be found v;ell up into the mountains, and elevations range from 4,200 feet to over 6,700 feet This type occurs on slopes of 24 all aspects as well as ridgetops, terraces and alluvial fans. Juniperus osteosperma woodland is common on adjacent sites with more exposed bedrock, and black sagebrush steppe is frequently found on sites with shallower soils. Adjacent sites with deep but less well-drained soils are often dominated by big sagebrush but with Aqropvron smithii or Atriplex conf ertif olia as codominants. Birdfoot sagebrush is often dominant on adjacent communities in the southwest portion of the study area. Vegetation- Typically this type has a rather sparse shrub layer, 1 to 3 feet tall, and a moderate cover of grasses. Artemisia tridentata was present in all stands with a mean cover of 23%. Gutierrezia sarothrae was present in most stands, but had a mean cover of only 1%. Artemisia nova , Chrysothamnus nauseosus , C. viscidif lorus and Ceratoides lanata are present in some stands. Aqropvron spicatum was present in all stands with a mean canopy cover of 23%. Poa sandberqii and Stipa comata were frequent in ca . half the stands. Aqropyron dasystachyum , Carex f ilif olia and Koeleria pyramidata are common in some stands. Arenaria hookeri , Phlox hoodii , Opuntia polyacantha and Vicia americana are common f orbs . Allium textile is abundant in some stands, and Penstemon eriantherus , Platyschkurhria inteqrif olia and Sphaeralcea coccinea are frequent but never common. Soil lichens are present in most stands, and bryophytes are common in some stands. Soils- ARTTRI/AGRSPI is found on moderately deep to deep soils derived from limestone, shale, sandstone or alluvium. Surface gravel is common in some stands and common textural classes are silt, silt-loam and clay-loam. The soil subgroups at our five soil characterization sites included a Ustollic Calciorthid, a Ustollic Haplargid, Ustic Torriorthents, and a Argic Cryoboroll. pH varied from 6.5 to 7.8, and conductivity ranged from 175 to 230 uhmos/cm^ (5 stands). Other Studies- Knight et al.(1987) describe this type for the adjacent Bighorn Canyon NRA. Jorgensen (1979) , Mueggler and Stewart (1980) , and Hansen and Hoffman (1988) describe an Artemisia tridentata /Aqropyron spicatum for Montana. Similar communities are described for British Columbia, Washinqton, Oreqon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Wyominq and Colorado (references in Mueggler and Stewart 1980 and Bourgeron and Engelking 1992). Natural Heritage Program Rank- G5/S5 22. Artemisia tridentata-Atriplex conf ertif olia c.t. (ARTTRI-ATRCON, big sagebrush-shadscale) (4 stands) Environment- ARTTRI-ATRCON occurs on terraces and alluvial fans at 4,200 to 4,700 feet in the outwash plains scuth of the Pryor 25 Mountains. This type is closely related to and often merges with ARTTRI/AGRSPI and ARTTRI/STICOM, but these coinmunities are generally found on better drained or less saline soils. Vegetation- This vegetation is characterized by a moderately dense shrub layer ca. 3 feet tall and a sparse ground layer. Both Artemisia tridentata and Atriplex conf ertif olia occurred in all stands and had mean canopy covers of 28% and 4% respectively. Artemisia spinescens , Atriplex nuttallii , Chrysothamnus nauseosus and Sarcobatus vermiculatus are often present. Graminoid cover is low. Aristida purpurea and Stipa comata are common in many stands, and Sporobolus airoides may be abundant. Phlox hoodii and Opuntia polyacantha are the only common and frequent f orbs . Lichens and bryophytes are uncommon. Soils- ARTTRI-ATRCON occurs on deep soil weathered from sandstone, often of the calcareous Chugwater formation. Surface gravel is absent, and texture is generally silty. We collected no additional soils data for this type. Other Studies- Knight et al. (1987) describe a sagebrush desert shrubland on the Bighorn Canyon NRA that includes our ARTTRI- ATRCON type. Brown (1971) describes a community dominated by Atriplex conf ertif olia and Artemisia tridentata for the badlands of eastern Montana; however, common grasses are different. Similar communities also occur in Oregon and Utah (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) and probably in Wyoming and Idaho. Natural Heritage Program Rank- G4/S4 23. Sarcobatus vermiculatus-Artemisia tridentata c.t. (SARVER-ARTTRI, greasewood-big sagebrush) (3 stands) Environment- SARVER-ARTTRI occurs along drainages on alluvial terraces. The type occurs from 4,000 to 4,600 feet and is found in the south and southwest portions of the study area. Adjacent upland sites are most often dominated by Artemisia tridentata and Agropyron smithii or A_^ spicatum. Vegetation- This community has a relatively dense shrub layer that may be over 6 feet tall. Artemisia tridentata and Sarcobatus vermiculatus occurred in all stands with mean canopy covers of 21% and 30% respectively. Artemisia pedatif ida was common in one stand. Agropyron smithii and Poa sandbergii were the common native grasses with 30% and 7% cover respectively. Lepidium perf oliatum and Opuntia polyacantha are common forbs. The introduced Taraxacum officinale and Bromus tectorum are common in some stands. Lichens and bryophytes are uncommon. 26 Soils- SARVER-ARTTRI is found on deep alluvial soils. Gravel and coarse fragments are absent, and a carbonate layer occurs at depths below 20 inches. The soil subgroup at our single soil characterization site v;as a Ustic Torrif luvent . Surface texture is silty. pH and conductivity of the one stand measured were 7.7 and 290 uhmos/cm- (1 stand) . Other Studies- Knight et al. (1987) report a greasewood desert shrubland for the Bighorn Canyon NRA. Mueggler and Stewart (1980) and Hansen et al. (1991) describe a Sarcobatus vermiculatus-Artemisia tridentata habitat type for western Montana; however, they do not include Artemisia tridentata as a common species. Although greasewood communities are reported throughout the Intermountain West, this type is reported only for Montana (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) , but is certainly also present in Wyoming. Natural Heritage Program Rank- G4/S4 24. Artemisia tridentata/Stipa comata c.t. (ARTTRI/STICOM; big sagebrush/needle-and-thread) (18 stands) Environment- Wide alluvial valleys, fans, toeslopes and terraces are most often occupied by ARTTRI/STICOM. This type is very common between 4,000 and 5,000 feet in the outwash plains and foothills on the south side of the Pryor Mountains. Adjacent community types include ARTTRI/AGRSPI and Utah juniper woodlands on steeper slopes and stonier soils and ARTTRI-ATRCON or ARTTRI/AGRSMI on heavier or more saline soils. Vegetation- Artemisia tridentata was present in nearly all of the stands with a mean cover of 23%. Ceratoides lanata and Gutierrezia sarothrae have low cover in many stands. Atriplex conf ertif olia and Grayia spinosa are common in some stands. Stipa comata and Bouteloua gracilis were present in most stands with mean canopy covers of 11% and 25% respectively. Oryzopsis hymenoides and Poa sandbergii were present in approximately half of the stands, but their cover was generally low. Aristida purpurea , Sitanion hystrix and Sporobolus cryptandrus are common in some stands. Forb cover is low, but Opuntia polyacantha and Sphaeralcea coccinea are common, and Ipomopsis pumila is present in many stands. Bryophytes and lichens are present in many stands but are usually not common. Soils- ARTTRI/STICOM occurs on deep soils derived from sandstone or limestone. Coarse fragments or gravel are absent in most but not all stands, and texture is silty or sandy loam. The soil subgroups at our two soil characterization sites included a Ustollic Calciorthid and a Ustollic Haplargid. pH of the surface 27 horizon ranged from 7.4 to 7.8, and conductivity varied from 210 to 270 uhmos/cm- (2 stands) . Other Studies- Knight et al. (1987) include this community type in their description of big sagebrush steppe on Bighorn Canyon NRA. This type appears to have northern Great Basin affinities. Similar community types are described for Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Washington and Wyoming (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992). Natural Heritage Program Rank- G4/S4 25. Atriplex nuttallii-Artemisia spinescens c.t. (ATRNUT-ARTSPI; Gardner saltbush-bud sagebrush) (4 stands) Environment- ATRNUT-ARTSPI occurs on broad alluvial plains in the area around Gyp Springs near the Wyoming border. Elevations range from 4,600 to 4,800 feet ARTTRI/STICOM or ARTTRI-ATRCON occupy adjacent sites on better drained soils. ARTTRI/AGRSPI may occur on adjacent slopes. Vegetation- Atriplex nuttallii and Artemisia spinescens occurred in all stands with mean canopy covers of 38% and 20% respectively. Ceratoides lanata is sometimes common. The herb layer is very sparse. Poa sandbergii and Sitanion hystrix have low cover in most stands. Opuntia polyacantha , Lappula echinata and Ipomopsis pumila are present in most stands. Bryophytes and lichens are absent or nearly so. Soils- ATRNUT-ARTSPI occurs only on fine-textured alluvial soil derived from Chugwater sandstone. Soils are very deep, and distinct horizons are undeveloped. Coarse fragments and gravel are absent, and surface texture is silty clay. The soil subgroup at our single soil characterization site was a Typic Torriorthent . High concentrations of carbonates are present at the surface and increase with depth. pH was 8.0 with conductivity of 230 uhmos/cm". Other Studies- Kratz (1988) reports this type from the same area, otherwise this community type is previously unreported for North America. Natural Heritage Program Rank- Gl/Sl 28 26. Artemisia tridentata/ Atrip lex nuttallii c.t. (ARTTRI/ATRNUT; big sagebrush/Gardner saltbush) (2 stands) Environment- This minor type occurs on slopes, terraces and alluvial fans in highly eroded terrain on the south side of the Pryor Mountains. Elevations range from 4,300 to 4,800 feet Adjacent communities include ARTTRI/AGRSPI and sparse Utah juniper woodlands. Vegetation- Artemisia tridentata and Atriplex nuttallii occurred in both stands with cover of 15% and 10% respectively. Gutierrezia sarothrae also occurred in both stands but cover was sparse. Grass cover is very sparse; no species is present in all stands or has more than 1% canopy cover. The scarcity of grasses is likely due to livestock grazing. Aqropyron spicatum, Oryzopsis hymenoides , and Stipa comata would probably be the dominant grasses in undegraded stands. The exotic Haloqeton qlomeratus and Opuntia polyacantha are the only common forbs. Lichens are abundant in stands with a gentle slope. Soils- ARTTRI/ATRNUT occurs on deep to very deep soils derived from shale, sandstone and alluvium. Gravel and cobbles are abundant in some stands but absent in others. The soil subgroup at our single soil characterization site was a Ustic Torriorthent. Texture of the surface horizon is silty. Carbonates were present throughout all horizons in the single stand sampled. pH was 6.8 and 1925 uhmos/cm^, one of the highest measurements recorded, suggesting that soils are highly saline (1 stand) . Other Studies- This community type would likely be included in Knight et al.'s (1987) saltbush desert shrubland. ARTTRI/ATRNUT is not reported from outside the northern Bighorn Basin. Fautin (1946) described communities dominated by Atriplex conf ertif olia , Artemisia spinescens , and Oryzopsis hymenoides from west-central Utah. Natural Heritage Program Rank- G2/S2 27. Atriplex nuttallii/Monolepis nuttalliana c.t. (ATRNUT/MONNUT; Gardner saltbush/povertyweed) (3 stands) Environment- Low ridges and toeslopes in badlands near the Wyoming border are often occupied by ATRNUT/MONNUT. Elevations range from 4,500 to 4,800 feet, and slopes are usually gentle but show evidence of sheet and gully erosion. Adjacent communities are generally dominated by Atriplex nuttallii or Artemisia pedatif ida. 29 Vegetation- Sites occupied by ATRNUT/MONNUT appear barren in spite of moderate cover by the two dominant species. Atriplex nuttallii was present in tv;o of three stands with a mean cover of 35%. Sarcobatus vermiculatus and Sueda nigra were both present in one stand, but neither were common. Grass cover is sparse; Hordeum jubatum was present in two stands, and Oryzopsis hymenoides was present in one stand. Monolepis occurred in all stands with a mean cover of 34%. Allium textile , Camissonia scapoidea , Platyschkurhia integrif olia and Opuntia polyacantha are found in most stands, but all have low cover. Lichens and bryophytes are absent or nearly so. Soils- ATRNUT/MONNUT occurs on deep, heavy clay soils with extremely low infiltration rates. Parent materials are shale, clay, or bentonite. Gravel derived from old streambeds or shores is often present on the surface as are salt deposits. We collected no additional soils data for this type. Other Studies- This community type has not been previously described. It would probably fit into Knight et al.'s (1987) saltbush desert shrubland. These authors do not mention the presence of Monolepis nuttalliana , but this species is an annual and may not always be as prevalent as it was in 1991. This community type is probably similar to the Atriplex nuttallii/Allenrolf ea occidentalis type described for Idaho, Wyoming and Utah (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992). Natural Heritage Program Rank- G2?/S2? 28. Potentilla f ruticosa/Festuca idahoensis c.t. (POTFRU/FESIDA; shrubby cinquef oil/Idaho fescue) (1 stand) Environment- POTFRU/FESIDA is a minor type found near lower timberline on cool slopes in the Pryor Mountains. The elevation of our one stand was 7,080 feet Adjacent communities are dominated by Abies lasiocarpa and Pseudotsuga menziesii. Vegetation- Potentilla f ruticosa is the only common shrub; it had 20% canopy cover in the one stand sampled. Festuca idahoensis is the most abundant grass, but Koeleria pyramidata , Leucopoa kingii and Agropyron caninum are also common. Forbs are common and conspicuous. Solidago missouriensis. Anemone patens , Galium boreale and Astragalus miser are common species, Bryophytes and lichens are uncommon. Soils- POTFRU/FESIDA occurs on deep soils derived from limestone. Surface texture is silty or loamy and gravel is rare. VJe collected no additional soils data for this type. 30 other studies- Mueggler and Stewart (1980) describe a Potentilla fruticosa/Festuca idahoensis habitat type for southwestern Montana; however, Danthonia intermedia and Potentilla gracilis are common in their type but were not present in our POTFRU/FESIDA. Similar community types are also reported for Idaho, Nevada and Wyoming (Mueggler and Stewart 19980, Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) . Natural Heritage Program Rank- G4/S3 29. Sarcobatus vermiculatus/Atriplex nuttallii c.t. (SARVER/ATRNUT, greasewood/Garner saltbush) (1 stand) Environment- SARVER/ATRNUT occurs on highly eroded moderate slopes in badlands topography near the Wyoming border at ca . 4,600 feet Adjacent communities are dominated by Artemisia pedatif ida . Vegetation- Sarcobatus vermiculatus and Atriplex nuttallii each had ca. 10% cover, while Chrysothamnus nauseosus was present with cover of 3%. The herbaceous layer is very sparse. Poa sandberqii is the only common grass, and Lappula echinata and Allium textile are the only common forbs. Lichens and bryophytes are absent. Soils- SARVER/ATRNUT occurs on deep undifferentiated soil derived from bentonite. Surface gravel and coarse fragments are absent. The soil subgroup at our single soil characterization site was a Ustic Torriorthent . Surface texture is heavy clay. pH was 7.2, and conductivity was 270 uhmos/cm^ (1 stand) . Other Studies- Knight et al. (1987) describe a saltbush desert shrubland that probably includes stands similar to ours. Mueggler and Stewart (1980) describe a community dominated by Sarcobatus vermiculatus with significant quantities of Atriplex nuttallii for western Montana, but their type has much greater cover of grasses. A similar community type is also reported for Wyoming (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) . Fautin (1946) described communities dominated by Sarcobatus vermiculatus and Atriplex conferti folia for west-central Utah. Natural Heritage Program Rank- G4/S3 31 Grasslands 30. Aqropyron spicatum/cushion plant c.t. (AGRSPI/cushion; bluebunch wheatgrass/cushion plant) (17 stands) Environment- Windswept mesas, ridgetops and upper slopes in the outwash plains and foothills on the south side of the Pryor Mountains are often dominated by cushion plant-grasslands. Elevations range from 4,100 to 5,500 feet Adjacent plant communities are often Utah juniper or limber pine woodlands in more protected sites. ARTTRI/AGRSPI may also occur nearby where soils are deeper. Vegetation- Shrubs are rare in this community type. The subshrubs Ceratoides lanata and Gutierrezia sarothrae were present in the majority of stands but their mean cover did not exceed 2%. Aqropyron spicatum was present in all stands with a mean canopy cover of 13%. Koeleria pyramidata is common in some stands. The most common forbs are cushion plants, including Arenaria hookeri, Hymenoxys acaulis. Phlox hoodii and P. muscoid.es. Cryptantha cana and Erioqonum mancum are common in some stands, and Machaeranthera qrindelioides , Townsendia spathulata and Astragalus spatulatus are present in the majority of stands but have low mean cover. Lichens are relatively common in this type. Soils- AGRSPI/cushion generally occurs on moderately deep soils derived from limestone or calcareous sandstone. They are very gravelly or cobbly with a loamy to clay texture. The soil subgroup at both of the soil characterization sites was Ustic Torriorthent . High concentrations of carbonate are present in all horizons. pH varied from 7.2 to 7.6, and conductivity ranged from 200 to 680 uhmos/cm^ (2 stands) . Other Studies- Knight et al. (1987) describe this community type from Bighorn Canyon NRA and refer to it as windswept plateau grassland. Similar shallow-soil grasslands dominated by Aqropyron spicatum have been described for northwest Montana where the codominant forb is Erioqonum ovalifolium (Lesica 1988) and for Oregon and Idaho in which the codominant is E. heracleoides (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992). Natural Heritage Program Rank- G3/S3 32 31. Chrysothamnus nauseosus/Erioqoniim brevicaule c.t. (CHRNAU/ERIBRE; rubber rabbitbrush/short-sten buckv/heat) (3 stands) Environment- CHRNAU/ERIBRE is common on moderate to steep, highly eroded slopes, often in badlands terrain on the south and west sides of the Pryor Mountains. Elevations range from 4,200 to 5,000 feet Adjacent communities on gentler slopes include ARTPED/AGRSPI and ARTTRI/AGRSPI . Utah juniper woodland may also occur nearby on ridgetops with fractured bedrock. Vegetation- These stands are characterized by lov.' vegetal cover. Chrysothamnus nauseosus v;as present in all stands but had a mean cover of only 3%. Gutierrezia sarothrae was present in most stands with mean cover of 2%. Atriplex conf ertif olia is often present. Agropyron spicatum was the only common grass, occurring in half of the stands with mean canopy cover of 7%. Oryzopsis hymenoides occurs in some stands. Eriogonum brevicaule was present in nearly all stands and had mean cover of 8%. Arenaria hookeri is common in some stands, and Machaer anther a qrindelioides is present in many stands. Cryptogamic soil crusts are v.'ell-developed in some of the stands on gentler slopes. Soils- CHRNAU/ERIBRE occurs on deep soils derived from shale, bentonite, clay or sandstone interbedded v.'ith clay. Surface gravel and cobbles are common and texture is sandy clay to clay. We collected no additional soils data for this type. Other Studies- CHRNAU/ERIBRE probably corresponds to Knight et al.'s (1987) nixed desert shrubland. ECON (1975) describes a similar badlands community in southeastern Montana v.'here Eriogonum paucif lorum replaces E_^ brevicaule as the most common f orb. Natural Heritage Program Rank- G2/S2 32. Festuca idahoensis-Agropyron caninum c.t. (FESIDA-AGRCAl-I; Idaho fescue-bearded v.'heatgrass) (3 stands) Environment- Upper slopes and broad ridges near the crest of the Pryor Mountains are often occupied by mesic high-elevation grasslands. Elevations range from 8,000 to 8,800 feet On gentle, warm slopes these grasslands often grade into mesic limber pine forests at lower elevations, while on cooler slopes or the highest areas, Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii dominate adjacent communities. Vegetation- Shrubs are rare in this type although Artemisia f rigida r.ay be locally common in protected sites at lower elevations. Festuca iaahoensis , Aarcpvron caninum and Koeleria 33 pvramidata occurred in all stands with mean canopy covers of 24%, 18% and 29% respectively. Other common graminoids include Carex rupestris , Poa cusickii and P_^ secunda. Forbs are abundant in this community type. Common species include Achillea millefolium, Antennaria microphylla, Arenaria congesta , Astragalus miser, Cerastium arvense and Oxytropis campestris . Arenaria nuttallii , Hymenoxys acaulis , Lupinus argenteus and Phlox hoodii are common in some plots and may indicate overgrazing. Soil lichens are common in most stands. Soils- FESIDA-AGRCAN occurs on moderately deep to deep soils derived from Madison limestone. Surface gravel is uncommon or absent but often increases with depth. The soil subgroup at our single soil characterization site was a Calcic Cryoboroll. Carbonates are leached from the surface horizon but also increase with depth. pH of the single stand measured was 6.99, and conductivity was 161 uhmos/cm- (1 stand). Other Studies- Mueggler and Stewart (1980) describe a Festuca idahoensis-Agropyron caninum habitat type for southwest Montana. Cooper and Lesica (1992) describe a similar community type from lower portions of the alpine zone for the same region, but their alpine type had many different forbs and graminoids. Similar communities also occur in Wyoming and Colorado (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) . Natural Heritage Program Rank- G4/S4 33. Carex rupestris /Potent ilia ovina c.t. (CARRUP/POTOVI; curly sedge/sheep cinquefoil) (1 stand) Environment- This minor type occurs on high windswept ridgetops along the crest of the Pryor Mountains. Our one stand was at 8,750 feet Adjacent sites with deeper soils support the FESIDA- AGRCAN community type. Vegetation- Shrubs are absent. Carex rupestris , Koeleria pyramidata and Calamagrostis purpurascens are the dominant grasses. In our single sample they had 30%, 20% and 10% canopy cover respectively. Oxytropis campestris , Zigadenus elegans and Arenaria obtusiloba are common forbs. Both lichens and mosses are common. Soils- CARRUP/POTOVI occurs on shallow, limestone-derived soils. Surface texture is sandy to silty, and gravel is abundant. We collected no additional soils data for this type. 34 other studies- Cooper and Lesica (1992) describe a similar limestone fellfield type from alpine areas in southwest Montana. This community type also occurs on limestone ridges along the east side of the Beartooth Mountains and at lower elevations in the Ruby Range of Beaverhead County (P. Lesica, observations) . Natural Heritage Program Rank- G3/S3 Incidental Types In addition to the 33 vegetation types described above, six communities were observed that did not fit our classification. Additional sampling is needed to more fully document these communities and to ascertain their status as unique types. Within the forest and woodland zone the following three additional communities were sampled: 1) Pseudotsuqa menziesii- Juniper us osteosperma This community was sampled at two mid slope locations on soils derived from limestone parent materials at elevations between 5,200 and 6,200 feet. Vegetation composition suggests that this community is at the ecotone between Pseudotsuqa menziesii forest and Juniperus osteosperma woodland and both tree species are well represented to abundant. Characteristic undergrowth species include Artemisia tridentata , Cercocarpus ledif olius , Aqropyron spicatum, and Koeleria pyramidata . This community type has not been previously described. 2) Pinus ponderos a -Juniperus scopulorum This community was sampled at one mid slope location on soils derived from non-calcareous sandstone parent material at an elevation of 4,300 feet. Sandstone outcrops were abundant. Adjacent vegetation was the ARTTRI/STICOM type. Pinus ponderosa and Juniperus scopulorum were both well represented. Undergrowth species that were v;ell represented included Artemisia tridentata . Aqropyron spicatum, and Bromus tectorum. This community type has been previously described in north-central Montana (Roberts 1980) . Similar communities occur in Wyoming (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992) . 3) Picea enqelmannii/ SCREE This community v;as sampled at one upper slope location on steep limestone talus with little soil development at an elevation of 8,600 feet. Adjacent vegetation v.'as of the ABILAS/ARNCOR and ABILAS/RIBMON types. Picea enqelmannii dominates the open tree stratum. Undergrowth species that were well represented included Clematis columbiana , Leucocoa 35 kingii , Carex rupestris , and Poa interior. This community type has been described in Montana in very general terms by Pfister et al. 1977. Within the shrubland and grassland zone the following three additional communities were sampled: 4) Atriplex conf ertif olia This community was sampled at one steep mid slope location at an elevation of 4,600 feet. Atriplex conf ertif olia and Haloqeton qlomeratus were the only species that were well represented. This community type has not been previously described in Montana. Similar communities occur in Nevada (Bourgeron and Engelking 1992). 5) Sporobolus cryptandrus This community was sampled at one valley bottom location on at an elevation of 4,800 feet. Sporobolus cryptandrus , Opuntia polyacantha , and Haloqeton qlomeratus were all well represented. This community type has not been previously described . 6) UNCLASSIFIED One steep mid slope sample at an elevation of 4,500 feet was not characterized by any single species or group of species. The only species present with canopy cover values up to 5% were Suaeda nigra , Atriplex conf ertif olia , and Atriplex nuttallii. DISCUSSION Rarity and Biogeography Using a combination of two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) 33 vegetation types were identified among the 197 study plots. Comparisons with a "comprehensive" listing of vegetation types of the western United States revealed that 9 of the types from the Pryor Mountains region had not been reported from elsewhere and 14 are rare globally. This concentration of rare vegetation types, in combination with previously documented occurrences of rare plant species, highlight the significant biodiversity values of the Pryor Mountains. Specifically, the globally rare types identified in the study area were: Abies la siocarpa/ Clematis columbiana (G3/S3) Pseudotsuaa msnziesii/Cercocarpus ledifolius (G3/S3) 36 Juniperus osteosperma/Aqropyron spicatum (G3/S3) Juniperus osteosperraa/Cercocarpus ledif olius (G3/S3) Juniperus scopulorun/Artenisia nova (G2/S2) Pinus flexil is- Juniperus osteosperma (G3/S3) Artemisia pedatif ida/Aqropyron spicatum (G3/S3) Artemisia pedatif ida-Atriplex nuttallii (G2/S2) Atriplex nuttallii-Artemisia spinescens (Gl/Sl) Artemisia trident at a /Atriplex nuttallii (G2/S2) Atriplex nuttallii/Monolepis nuttalliana (G27/S2?) Aqropyron spicatum/cushion plant (G3/S3) Chrysothamnus nauseosus/Erioqonum brevicaule (G2/S2) Carex rupestr is /Potent ilia ovina (G3/S3) Among the above types, those that appear to be possibly endemic to the Pryor Mountain and northern Bighorn River Basin area are: Juniperus osteosperma /Cer coca rpus ledif olius (G3/S3) Juniperus scopulorum/ Artemisia nova (G2/S2) Pinus flexil is- Juniperus osteosperma (G3/S3) Artemisia pedatif ida-Atriplex nuttallii (G2/S2) Atriplex nuttallii-Artemisia spinescens (Gl/Sl) Artemisia trident at a /Atriplex nuttallii (G2/S2) Atriplex nuttallii/Monolepis nuttalliana (G27/S2?) Aqropyron spicatum/cushion plant (G3/S3) Chrysothamnus nauseosus/Erioqonum brevicaule (G2/S2) Management Considerations Plant community diversity should be conserved on the ecosystem and landscape levels. Maximizing diversity of one group of species, such as birds or plants, may not optimize overall biological diversity. On the other hand, plant communities are one of the most efficient surrogates for overall species diversity because vegetation consists of the principle autotrophs upon which most other organisms depend, and it integrates many important environmental gradients (Whittaker 1975) . Maintaining community diversity is the best insurance that small, dif f icult-to-inventory organisms that contribute the most to ecosystem function and biological diversity are not lost, For these reasons it is important to protect rare and threatened vegetation types in any ecosystem- or landscape-level management plan. We identified six community types in the Pryor Mountain study area that are considered globally rare: Artemisia pedatif ida-Atriplex nuttallii (G2/S2) , Atriplex nuttallii- Artemisia spinescens (Gl/Sl), Artemisia tridentata /Atriplex nuttallii (G2/S2) , Atriplex nuttallii/Monolepis nuttalliana (G27/S2?) , Chrysothamnus nauseosus/Erioqonum brevicaule (G2/S2) , and Juniperus scopulorum /Artemisia nova (G2/S2) . All of these community types are thought to be endemic to the Pryor Mountain Desert region at the north end of the Bighorn Basin. 37 These rare plant communities in the Pryor Mountain Desert are threatened by (1) encroachment of exotic species, (2) livestock and feral horse grazing, (3) off-road vehicle (ORV) use, and (4) oil and gas development (Lesica and Achuff 1992). Exotic Species Haloqeton qlomeratus is an Asian species that was introduced into arid v/estern North America in 1934. It has since spread throughout much of the arid and semi-arid lands in the western U.S. It is poisonous to livestock, and it outcompetes many native species by increasing the salinity of the soil (Sauer 1988) . This plant is present in the Bighorn Basin (Fisser and Joyce 1984) and has become locally common in the Pryor Mountain Desert region and may be able to displace native plants, especially annuals. Haloqeton qlomeratus was found in three of the rare community types, Artemisia tridentata/Atriplex nuttallii , Atriplex nuttallii/Monolepis nuttalliana and Chrysothamnus nauseosus/Erioqonum brevicaule , and it is expected to be able to invade the Artemisia pedatifida- Atriplex nuttallii community type. Haloqeton qlomeratus is a threat to individual rare plant species (Lesica and Achuff 1992) as well as the integrity of rare communities. Grazing Recent livestock grazing appeared to be light to moderate throughout most of the lov/er portions of the study area. However, severe effects of overgrazing were apparent in areas near water, such as Gyp Springs and Bear Canyon. Overgrazing in the Gyp Springs area is a particularly serious problem because this area supports the only stands of the rare Atriplex nuttallii-Artemisia spinescens community type. Four or five species of grass occur in this type, but total grass cover was always less than 5%. Low grass cover may be due to the harsh edaphic environment, but grazing is likely an exacerbating factor. Most stands of Artemisia pedatif ida-Atriplex nuttallii , another rare community type, had very low grass cover, but one or two stands had much more grass. Stands on steep slopes often had more grass cover than stands on adjacent terraces. These differences in grass cover are likely caused by livestock grazing. ATRNUT-ARTSPI and ARTPED-ATRNUT are particularly vulnerable to livestock grazing because they occur on nearly level terrain v/here use is heaviest. Damage due to feral horses was observed in the desert west of the mouth of Big Coulee. Steep slopes and banks had been severely terraced and destabilized. Fragile vegetation in this arid environment is slov; to recover, particularly v;hen the effects of trampling and terracing are compounded by erosion. Subalpine grasslands appear to have been degraded by feral horse grazing. We sampled inside a horse exclosure (T3S R28E S18 38 SEl/4) and compared the vegetation to that outside the fence. Cover of unpalatable forbs, Balsamorhiza saqittata , Phlox hoodii , Oxytropis campestris , Taraxacum officinale and Ziqadenus venenosus , was higher outside the exclosure. Height of native grasses inside the exclosure was approximately twice that on the outside. Both livestock and feral horse grazing increase the likelihood of exotic weed encroachment. Degradation of subalpine grasslands can be ameliorated by lowering stocking rates. Damage done to the desert ecosystem at lov/er elevations suggests that these fragile systems are not compatible with feral horse grazing. ORV Use At the present time there is relatively little off-road vehicle use in the Pryor Mountain Desert area. However, the topography and sparseness of the vegetation is appropriate for this sort of recreation. ARTPED-ATRNUT, ATRNUT-ARTSPI , ATRNUT/MONNUT and CHR.NAU/ERIBRE are dominated by low shrubs and have sparse vegetation. These habitats will be especially vulnerable to disturbance caused by ORV use, particularly destruction of vegetation, soil compaction and increased erosion. The arid climate prohibits rapid recovery of vegetal cover and soil stability. MinincT Bentonite claims have been made on public lands in the Pryor Mountain Desert area, and some strip mining has occurred on both sides of the Wyoming border. The Atriplex nuttallii/Monolepis nuttalliana and Artemisia pedatif ida-Atriplex nuttallii community types are often associated with bentonite deposits and strip mining has the potential for disturbing or destroying large areas occupied by these rare plant communities. Oil and gas development has occurred south and west of Warren. Drilling and the associated road-building and development could degrade or destroy portions of rare plant communities. Introduction of exotics is a potential problem associated with development in these areas. Protecting Biological Diversity Plant communities that are at risk due to their rarity or other aspects of their biology should be given high priority for protection (Jenkins 1981) . Based on the results of our study, vegetation types occurring in the study area can be classified into one of three groups based on global and state rarity and degree of threats: (1) globally rare - Gl, G2 or G2 , (2) globally uncommon - G3 , and (3) relatively common. Knowledge of the distribution of plant communities in groups (1) and (2) in the Pryor Mountain Desert can be used to identify areas that are 39 critical for protecting the biological diversity of this northern outlier of intermountain desert vegetation. Protection should be given to many of the areas supporting extensive, good-condition examples of the six community types in group (1). Protection of the Gyp Springs area that supports the Atriplex nuttallii- Artemisia spinescens community type is particularly critical. The eight community types in group (2) , Abies las iocarpa/ Clematis Columbiana , Pseudotsuqa menziesii-Cercocarpus ledif olius, Juniperus osteosperma/Agropyron spicatum, Juniperus osteosperma/Cercocarpus ledifolius. Pinus flexi lis- Juniperus osteosperma, Artemisia pedatif ida/Agropyron spicatum, Aqropyron spicatum /Cushion plant, and Carex rupestr is /Potent ilia ovina are more common in the study area. Good-condition extensive examples of these communities should be managed to maintain their condition, and examples should be protected v;hen possible during designation of special management areas designed to protect more critical elements of diversity. Mapping of plant communities should be completed in order to take community diversity into account. Using GIS, maps locating rare plant communities could be overlaid on the existing rare plant maps (Lesica and Achuff 1992) to better delineate the boundaries of special management areas. This integrated approach will provide an information base that allows managers to protect biological diversity on multiple-use lands. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance provided by the USDI Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Montana Natural Heritage Program. BLM assistance in locating and assessing some of the field sites was greatly appreciated. Don Heinze and Dan Bricco of the BLM were instrumental advocates for this project and we extend our gratitude to them. 40 LITERATURE CITED Bourgeron, P. and L. Engelking. 1992. Western United States community classification (Draft) . The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. Brown, R. W. 1971. Distribution of plant communities in southeastern Montana badlands. American Midland Naturalist 85: 458-477. Cooper, S. V. and P. Lesica. 1992. Plant community classification for alpine vegetation on Beaverhead National Fores, Montana. Unpublished report to Beaverhead National Forest, Dillon, Montana. DeVelice, R.L. 1991. MTNHP site and community survey manual. Version 91B. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. DeVelice, R.L. 1992. Classification of the plant communities of Beaverhead, Silver Bow, and Madison counties, Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. Dorn, R.D. 1978. Great Basin vegetation in Carbon Co., Montana. Madrono 25: 105-106. Dorn, R.D. 1988. Vascular plants of Wyoming. Mountain West Publishing, Cheyenne, WY. ECON Inc. 1975. Vegetation, production, condition and community typing, Mining areas A, B, and E. Western Energy Co. Project 107-23-A. Fautin, R.W. 1946. Biotic communities of the northern desert shrub biome in western Utah. Ecological Monographs 16:252-31. Fisser, H. G. and L. A. Joyce. 1984. Atrip lex /grass and forb relationships under no grazing and shifting precipitation patterns in north-central Wyoming. In A. R. Tiedemann, E. D. McArthur, H. C. Stutz, R. Stevens and K. L. Johnson (eds.). Proceedings of the symposium on the biology of Atriplex and related chenopods. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report INT-172, Ogden, UT. Franklin, J.F. and C.T. Dyrness, 1973. Natural vegetation of Oregon and Washington. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PNW-8, Portland, OR. Great Plains Flora Association. 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. University of Kansas Press, Lawrence, KS. 41 Hansen, P. L. and G. R. Hoffman. 1988. The vegetation of the Grand River/Cedar River, Sioux, and Ashland districts of the Custer National Forest: a habitat type classification. USDA General Technical Report RM-157, Fort Collins, Colorado. Hansen, P., K. Boggs, R. Pfister, J. Joy. 1991. Classification and management of riparian and wetland sites in Montana. University of Montana School of Forestry, Missoula, MT. Hill, M.O. 1979a. TWINSPAN: A FORTRAN program for arranging multivariate data in an ordered two-way table by classification of the individuals and attributes. Ecology and Systematics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Hill, M.O. 1979b. DECORANA: A FORTRAN program for detrended correspondence analysis and reciprocal averaging. Ecology and Systematics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Jenkins, R. E. 1981. Rare plant conservation through elements- of-diversity information. In L. E. Morse and M. S. Henifin (eds.). Rare plant conservation: Geographic data organization. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. Jensen, M.E., L.S. Peck, and M.V. Wilson. 1988. Vegetation characteristics of mountainous northeastern Nevada sagebrush community types. Great Basin Naturalist 48:403-421. Jorgensen, H. E. 1979. Vegetation of the Yellow Water Triangle, Montana. Montana Department of Fish and Game, Helena. Knight, D. H., G. P. Jones, Y. Akashi, R. W. Myers. 1987. Vegetation ecology in the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Unpublished report submitted to the University of Wyoming- National Park Service Research Center. Kratz, A. 1988. Preliminary descriptions of Great Basin-type vegetation occurring in Carbon County, Montana, U.S.A. Proceedings of the Montana Academy of Sciences 48: 47-55. Lesica, P. 1988. Preserve design for the Giant Ripple Marks. Unpublished report to The Nature Conservancy, Helena, Montana. Lesica, P., G. Moore, K. M. Peterson and J. H. Rumely. 1984. Vascular plants of limited distribution in Montana. Monograph No. 2, Montana Academy of Sciences, supplement to the Proceedings Vol. 43. Lesica, P. and P. L. Achuff. 1992. Distribution of vascular plant species of special concern and limited distribution in the Pryor Mountain Desert, Carbon County, Montana. Unpublished report to USDI Bureau of Land Management, Montana State Office, Billings, MT. 42 Lichvar, R. W. , E. I. Collins and D. H. Knight. 1985. Checklist of vascular plants of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Wyoming and Montana. Great Basin Naturalist 45: 734-746. Mayr, E. 1963. Animal species and evolution. Harvard University Press, Cambridge. Mohler, C.L. 1987. Cornell ecology programs: MS-DOS microcomputer package. Microcomputer Power, Ithaca, NY. Mueggler, W. F. and W. L. Stewart. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat types of western Montana. USDA General Technical Report INT-66, Ogden, UT. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. 1982. Monthly normals of temperature, precipitation and heating and cooling degree days. Montana, 1951-1980. National Climate Center, Ashville, North Carolina. Pfister, R.D., B.L. Kovalchik, S.F. Arno, and R.C. Presby. 1977. Forest habitat types of Montana. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report INT-34. Richards, P. W. 1955. Geology of the Bighorn Canyon - Hardin area, Wyoming and Montana. U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1026. Roberts, D.W. 1980. Forest habitat types of the Bear's Paw Mountains and Little Rocky Mountains, Montana. M.S. thesis, School of Forestry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT. Sauer, J.D. 1988. Plant migration. University of California Press, Berkeley. South, P. 1980. Pryor Mountain ecosystems (revised). USDA Forest Service, Custer National Forest, Billings, MT. Ter Braak, C.J.F. 1988. CANOCO — A FORTRAN program for canonical community ordination by (partial) (detrended) (canonical) correspondence analysis, principal component analysis and redundancy analysis (Version 2.1). TNO Institute of Applied Computer Science, Wageningen, The Netherlands. USDA. 1987. Ecosystem classification handbook. FSH 12/87 R-1 SUPP 1. USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, Missoula, MT. USDA Soil Conservation Service. 1981. Average annual precipitation, Montana. USDA-SCS, Bozeman, MT. Ivhitaker, R. H. 1975. Communities and ecosystems. Macmillan Publishing, New York. 43 APPENDIX A. Vascular Plant Species List The importance values (IV) presented equal the species percentage presence (number of plots of occurrence as percentage of all plots) time the species cover index (% cover of species summed over all plots of occurrence) . #OCCUR = number of plots of occurrence Summary statistics: Total number of species = 365 Total number of plots = 197 Total number of species occurrences 3565 SPECIES CODE #OCCUR IV TREES ABIES LASIOCARPA JUNIPERUS OSTEOSPERMA JUNIPERUS SCOPULORIM PICEA ENGELMANNII PINUS CONTORTA PINUS FLEXILIS PINUS PONDEROSA PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII ABILAS 6. 582 JUNOST 62. 32385 JUNSCO 22 . 1742 PICENG 6. 701 PINCON 2. 20 PINFLE 31. 5665 PINPON 4. 71 PSEMEN 17. 6118 SHRUBS ACER GLABRUM ARTEMISIA CANA ARTEMISIA FRIGIDA ARTEMISIA LONGIFOLIA ARTEMISIA NOVA ARTEMISIA PEDATIFIDA ARTEMISIA SPINESCENS ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA ATRIPLEX CANESCENS ATRIPLEX CONFERTIFOLIA ATRIPLEX NUTTALLII BERBERIS REPENS CERATOIDES LANATA CERCOCARPUS LEDIFOLIUS CHRYS0THAI4NUS NAUSEOSUS CHRYSOTHAI^INUS VISCIDIFLORUS CLEMATIS COLUMBIANA GRAYIA SPINOSA GUTIERREZIA SAROTHRAE ACEGLA 1. 2 ARTCAN 2. 2 ARTFRI 31. 834 ARTLON 3. 8 ARTNOV 43. 10979 ARTPED 23. 4308 ARTSPI 12. 573 ARTTRI 95. 78315 ATRCAN 5. 23 ATRCON 30. 1112 ATRNUT 28. 4889 BERREP 4 . 12 CERLAN 57. 3414 CERLED 10. 909 CHRNAU 30. 822 CHRVIS 8. 134 CLECOL 4 . 35 GRASPI 5. 71 GUTSAR 99. 6784 44 SPECIES CODE #OCCUR IV JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS KELSEYA UNIFLORA PETROPHYTUM CAESPITOSUM POTENTILLA FRUTICOSA PHYSOCARPUS MONOGYNUS RHUS TRILOBATA RIBES CEREUM RIBES MONTIGENUM ROSA WOODSII RUBUS IDAEUS SALIX GLAUCA SARCOBATUS VERMICULATUS SHEPHERDIA CANADENSIS SPIRAEA BETULIFOLIA SUAEDA NIGRA SYMPHORICARPOS ALBUS SYMPHORICARPOS OREOPHILUS TETRADYMIA CANESCENS VACCINIUM SCOPARIUM YUCCA GLAUCA JUNCOM 7. 302 KELUNI 1. 1 PETCAE 10. 137 POTFRU 1. 10 PHYMON 4 , 8 RHUTRI 16. 146 RIBCER 13 . 112 RIBMON 5. 58 ROSWOO 1. 1 RUB I DA 1. 1 SALGLA 1. 1 SARVER 12. 737 SHECAN 2. 2 SPIBET 1. 10 SUANIG 5. 18 SYMALB 1. 2 SYMORE 13 . 224 TETCAN 1. 1 VACSCO 1. 20 YUCGLA 14. 163 GRAMINOIDS AGROPYRON CANINUM AGROPYRON CRISTATUM AGROPYRON DASYSTACHYUM AGROPYRON SMITHII AGROPRYRON SPICATUM ARISTIDA PURPUREA BOUTELOUA GRACILIS BROMUS INERMIS BROMUS JAPONICUS BROMUS TECTORUM CALAMAGROSTIS PURPURASCENS CALAMAGROSTIS RUBESCENS CAREX FILIFOLIA CAREX PENSYLVANICA CAREX PETASATA CAREX ROSSII CAREX RUPESTRIS CAREX VALLICOLA DANTHONIA UInIISPICATA ELYMUS CINEREUS FESTUCA IDAHOENSIS H0RDEUI4 JUBATUI^l KOELERIA PYRAI^IIDATA LEUCOPOA KINGII AGRCAN 4. 128 AGRCRI 2. 2 AGRDAS 6. 457 AGRSMI 6. 408 AGRSPI 120. 87533 ARIPUR 30. 1188 BOUGRA 32. 6741 BROINE 1. 1 BROJAP 1. 1 BROTEC 18. 1215 CALPUR 1. 5 CALRUB 4. 8 CARE I L 29. 3592 CARPEN 2. 2 CARPET 1. 1 CARROS 17. 276 CARRUP 4. 89 CARVAL 1. 1 DANUNI 1. 1 ELYCIN 1. 1 FESIDA 9. 923 HORJUB 7. 25 KOEPYR 38. 6115 LEUKIN 10. 244 45 SPECIES CODE #OCCUR IV MUNROA SQUARROSA ORYZOPSIS HYMENOIDES POA SPP. PDA ALPINA POA CUSICKII POA INTERIOR POA JUNCIFOLIA POA NERVOSA POA SANDBERGII POA SCABRELLA SITANION HYSTRIX SPOROBOLUS AIROIDES SPOROBOLUS CRYPTANDRUS STIPA COMATA STIPA OCCIDENTALIS TRISETUM SPICATUM MUNSQU 1. 1 ORYHYM 48. 1413 POA 1. 5 POAALP 1. 1 POACUS 6. 30 POAINT 5. 36 POAJUN 2 . 21 POANER 4 . 26 POASAN 76. 14930 POASCA 1. 1 SITHYS 22 . 313 SPOAIR 3. 94 SPOCRY 7. 107 STICOM 58. 9127 STIOCC 4. 8 TRISPI 1. 1 FORBS ABRONIA FRAGRANS ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM AGOSERIS GLAUCA ALLIUM BREVISTYLUM ALLIUM CERNUUM ALLIUM TEXTILE ALYSSUM ALYSSOIDES ALYSSUM DESERTORUM ANEMONE MULTIFIDA ANEMONE PATENS ANTENNARIA MICROPHYLLA ANTENNARIA RACEMOSA ANTENNARIA UMBRINELLA ARABIS DRUMMONDII ARABIS HOLBOELLII ARABIS NUTTALLII ARABIS SPARSIFLORA ARENARIA CONGESTA ARENARIA HOOKERI ARENARIA NUTTALLII ARENARIA OBTUSILOBA ARNICA CORDIFOLIA ARNICA FULGENS ARNICA RYDBERGII ARNICA SORORIA ARTEMISIA BIENNIS ARTEMISIA CAMPESTRIS ARTEMISIA DRACUNCULUS ABRFRA 2 . 2 ACHMIL 14 . 405 AGOGLA 6. 79 ALLBRE 2. 11 ALLCER 11. 61 ALLTEX 61. 1889 ALYALY 1. 1 ALYDES 2. 4 ANEMUL 4 . 12 ANEPAT 4 . 47 ANTMIC 18. 457 ANTRAC 2. 2 ANTUMB 3. 5 ARADRU 3. 5 ARAHOL 5. 13 ARANUT 6. 18 ARASPA 2. 2 ARECON 9. 164 AREHOO 83. 9775 ARENUT 1. 10 AREOBT 3. 18 ARNCOR 10. 690 ARNFUL 1. 1 ARNRYD 1. 1 ARNSOR 1. 1 ARTBIE 1. 1 ARTCAM 2. 2 ARTDRA 1. 1 46 SPECIES CODE #OCCUR IV ARTEMISIA MICHAUXIANA ASTER SPP. ASTER ALPIGENUS ASTER CONSPICUUS ASTER FOLIACEUS ASTER OCCIDENTALIS ASTRAGALUS ADSURGENS ASTRAGALUS AGRESTIS ASTRAGALUS BISULCATUS ASTRAGALUS CHAMAELEUCE ASTRAGALUS CIBARIUS ASTRAGALUS DRUMMONDII ASTRAGALUS GEYERI ASTRAGALUS GILVIFLORUS ASTRAGALUS GRACILIS ASTRAGALUS HYALINUS ASTRAGALUS LOTIFLORUS ASTRAGALUS MISER ASTRAGALUS MISSOURIENSIS ASTRAGALUS OREGANUS ASTRAGALUS PURSHII ASTRAGALUS SPATULATUS ASTRAGALUS VEXILIFLEXUS ATRIPLEX DIOICA BALSAMORHIZA INCANA BALSAMORHIZA SAGITTATA BESSEYA WYOMINGENSIS BUPLEURUM AMERICANUM CALOCHORTUS GUNNISONII CALOCHORTUS NUTTALLII CAMELINA MICROCARPA CAMISSONIA ANDINA CAMISSONIA MINOR CAMISSONIA PARVULA CAMISSONIA SCAPOIDEA CAMPANULA ROTUND I FOLIA CASTILLEJA SPP. CASTILLEJA ANGUSTIFOLIA CASTILLEJA LINARIIFOLIA CASTILLEJA PULCHELLA CASTILLEJA SESSILIFLORA CERASTIUM ARVENSE CHAENACTIS DOUGLASII CHENOPODIUM SPP. CHENOPODIUM ALBUM CHEN0P0DIUI4 DESICCATUM CHENOPODIUM FREMONTII ARTMIC 1. 1 ASTER 1. 2 ASTALP 1. 1 ASTCON 8. 219 ASTFOL 1. 2 ASTOCC 1. 10 ASTADS 19. 222 ASTAGR 2. 2 ASTBIS 1. 1 ASTCHA 12. 73 ASTCIB 1. 1 ASTDRU 3. 8 ASTGEY 3 . 5 ASTGIL 2 . 2 ASTGRA 8. 49 ASTHYA 17 . 147 ASTLOT 3 . 5 ASTMSR 12. 548 ASTMIS 4. 8 ASTORE 1. 1 ASTPUR 8. 41 ASTSPA 26. 515 ASTVEX 2. 2 ATRDIO 2. 42 BALING 1. 1 BALSAG 3. 18 BESWYO 6. 24 BUPAME 5. 18 CALGUN 1. 1 CALNUT 8. 32 CAMMIC 3. 5 CAMAND 2. 2 CAMMIN 6. 18 CAMPAR 1. 1 CAMSCA 20. 203 CAMROT 7. 25 CAS 1. 1 CASANG 21. 224 CASLIN 4. 8 CASPUL 3. 5 CASSES 1. 1 CERARV 9. 224 CHADOU 13. 86 CHE 1. 1 CHEALB 10. 51 CHEDES 1. 1 CHEFRE 8. 57 47 SPECIES CODE #OCCUR IV CHRYSOPSIS VILLOSA CIRSIUM HOOKERIANUM CIRSIUM UNDULATUM CLAYTONIA LANCEOLATA COLLINSIA PARVIFLORA COMANDRA UMBELLATA CORALLORHIZA STRIATA CREPIS SPP. CREPIS ACUMINATA CREPIS INTERMEDIA CRYPTANTHA CANA CRYPTANTHA CELOSIOIDES CRYPTANTHA FLAVOCULATA CRYPTANTHA KELSEYANA CRYPTANTHA SCOPARIA CRYPTANTHA SPICULIFERA CRYPTANTHA TORREYANA CYMOPTERUS ACAULIS CYMOPTERUS TEREBINTHINUS DALEA CANDIDA DELPHINIUM ANDERSONII DELPHINIUM BICOLOR DESCURAINIA SPP. DESCURAINIA PINNATA DESCURAINIA RICHARDSONII DISPORUM TRACHYCARPUM DODECATHEON CONJUGENS DRABA NEMOROSA DRABA OLIGOSPERMA EPILOBIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM ERIGERON ACRIS ERIGERON ALLOCOTUS ERIGERON CAESPITOSUS ERIGERON COMPOSITUS ERIGERON DIVERGENS ERIGERON OCHROLEUCUS ERIGERON SUBTRINERVIS ERIOGONUM ANNUUM ERIOGONUM BREVICAULE? ERIOGONUI^ CERNUUI^l ERIOGONUM FLAVUI^ ERIOGONUM I4ANCUI4 ERIOGONUM OVALIFOLIUM ERIOGONUM PAUCIFLORUI-I ERIOGONUI^ UMBELLATUl'l ERITRICHIU1>1 HOWARDII ERYSIMU'M ASPERLl^ CHRVIL 7. 25 CIRHOO 1. 1 CIRUND 1. 1 CLALAN 2. 2 COLPAR 5. 36 COMUMB 22. 290 CORSTR 1. 1 CRE 4 . 8 CREACU 8. 32 CREINT 1. 1 CRYCAN 14. 270 CRYCEL 23. 292 CRYFLA 22. 503 CRYKEL 3. 8 CRYSCO 2. 2 CRYSPI 14. 99 CRYTOR 8. 41 CYMACA 15. 114 CYMTER 7. 25 DALCAN 1. 1 D ELAND 1. 1 DELBIC 5. 13 DES 17. 380 DESPIN 13. 86 DESRIC 1. 1 DISTRA 2. 2 DODCON 4. 8 DRANEM 2. 2 DRAOLI 7. 25 EPIANG 6. 30 ERIACR 1. 1 ERIALL 7. 25 ERICAE 22. 290 ERICOM 1. 1 ERIDIV 2. 2 ERIOCH 27. 521 ERISUB 1. 1 ERIANN 1. 1 ERIBRE 28. 1109 ERICER 1. 1 ERIFLA 10. 51 ERIMAN 10. 223 ERIOVA 16. 130 ERIPAU 9. 50 ERIUMB 1. 2 ERIHOW 2. 2 ERYASP 2. 2 48 SPECIES CODE #OCCUR IV EUPHORBIA GLYPTOSPERMA EUPHORBIA ROBUSTA FRAGARIA VESCA FRAGARIA VIRGINIANA FRASERA SPECIOSA GAILLARDIA ARISTATA GALIUM BOREALE GAURA COCCINEA GEUM TRIFLORUM GILIA LEPTOMERIA GILIA TWEEDYI GOODYERA OBLONGIFOLIA GRINDELIA SQUARROSA HALOGETON GLOMERATUS HAPLOPAPPUS ACAULIS HAPLOPAPPUS ARMERIOIDES HEDEOMA DRUMMONDII HEDEOMA HISPIDWI HEDYSARUM BOREALE HEDYSARUM SULPHURESCENS HELIANTHUS ANNUUS HEUCHERA GROSSULARIIFOLIA HEUCHERA PARVIFOLIA HYMENOPAPPUS FILIFOLIUS HYMENOXYS ACAULIS HYMENOXYS TORREYANA IPOMOPSIS CONGESTA IPOMOPSIS PUMILA IPOMOPSIS SPICATA IVA AXILLARIS KOCHIA SCOPARIA LACTUCA SERRIOLA LAPPULA ECHINATA LAPPULA REDOWSKII LEPIDIUM SPP. LEPIDIUM DENSIFLORUM LEPIDIUM PERFOLIATUM LEPTODACTYLON CAESPITOSUM LEPTODACTYLON PUNGENS LESQUERELLA ALPINA LESQUERELLA LESICII LEWISIA REDIVIVA LIATRIS PUNCTATA LINLTI PERENNE LITHOPHRAGMA BULBIFERA LITH0SPERI4UM INCISUTI LCI^LATIU!'! COUS EUPGLY 6. 24 EUPROB 4 . 8 FRAVES 3. 5 FRAVIR 4. 12 FRASPE 3. 5 GAIARI 1. 5 GALBOR 8. 231 GAUCOC 16. 130 GEUTRI 6. 18 GILLEP 6. 18 GILTWE 10. 51 GOOOBL 2. 2 GRISQU 1. 1 HALGLO 10. 503 HAPACA 13. 330 HAP ARM 14. 306 HEDDRU 4. 8 HEDHIS 1. 1 HEDBOR 12 . 140 HEDSUL 4 . 8 HELANN 1. 1 HEUGRO 1. 1 HEUPAR 7. 25 HYMFIL 23. 269 HYMACA 51. 2951 HYMTOR 11. 73 IPOCON 1. 1 IPOPUM 18. 201 IPOSPI 24. 292 IVAAXI 1. 1 KOCSCO 1. 1 LACSER 2. 2 LAPECH 10. 127 LAPRED 17. 164 LEP 1. 1 LEPDEN 4. 8 LEPPER 2. 54 LEPCAE 1. 2 LEPPUN 1. 2 LESALP 26. 343 LESLES 1. 2 LEWRED 2 . 2 LIAPUN 1. 1 LINPER 15. 114 LITBUL 1. 1 LITINC 10. 51 LOMCOU 5 . 58 49 SPECIES CODE #OCCUR IV LOMATIUM FOENICULACEUM LOMATIUM ORIENTALE LUPINUS ARGENTEUS LUPINUS PUSILLUS LUPINUS SERICEUS LYGODESMIA JUNCEA MACHAERANTHERA CANESCENS MACHAERANTHERA GRINDELIOIDES MACHAERANTHERA TANACETIFOLIA MALACOTHRIX TORREYI MELILOTUS OFFICINALIS MENTZELIA ALBICAULIS MENTZELIA PUMILA MERTENSIA OBLONGIFOLIA MICROSERIS CUSPIDATA MICROSTERIS GRACILIS MIRABILIS LINEARIS MITELLA STAUROPETALA MITELLA TRIFIDA MONOLEPIS NUTTALLIANA MUSINEON DIVARICATUM MUSINEON VAGINATUM MYOSOTIS ALPESTRIS OENOTHERA ALBICAULIS OENOTHERA CAESPITOSA OENOTHERA PALLIDA OROBANCHE FASCICULATA OSMORHIZA CHILENSIS OSMORHIZA DEPAUPERATA OXYTROPIS BESSEYI OXYTROPIS CAMPESTRIS OXYTROPIS LAGOPUS OXYTROPIS LAMBERTII OXYTROPIS SERICEA PARONYCHIA SESSILIFLORA PEDICULARIS CYSTOPTERIDIFOLIA PENSTEMOM ARIDUS PENSTEMOM ATTENUATUS PENSTEMON ERIANTHERUS PENSTEMON LARICIFOLIUS PENSTEMON NITIDUS PENSTEMOM PROCERUS PHACELIA HASTATA PHACELIA IVESIANA PHACELIA LINEARIS PHLOX CAESPITOSA LOMFOE 8. 41 LOMORI 3. 5 LUPARG 3. 49 LUPPUS 1. 1 LUPSER 3. 62 LYGJUN 1. 1 MACCAN 3. 8 MACGRI 44. 1117 MACTAN 5. 18 MALTOR 1. 1 MELOFF 1. 1 MENALB 7. 32 MENPUM 5. 13 MEROBL 6. 18 MICCUS 1. 1 MICGRA 1. 2 MIRLIN 4. 8 MITSTA 2 . 2 MITTRI 1. 1 MONNUT 5. 266 MUSDIV 30. 579 MUSVAG 7. 46 MYOALP 1. 1 OENALB 4. 8 OENCAE 10. 51 OENPAL 1. 1 OROFAS 6. 18 OSMCHI 3. 5 OSMDEP 1. 1 OXYBES 11. 84 OXYCAM 10. 365 OXYLAG 1. 1 OXYLAM 1. 1 OXYSER 11. 61 PARSES 22. 290 PEDCYS 3. 5 PENARI 1. 1 PENATT 1. 1 PENERI 30. 457 PENLAR 19. 309 PENNIT 12. 73 PENPRO 2. 2 PHAHAS 3. 5 PHAIVE 16. 130 PHALIN 7. 25 PHLCAE 1. 1 50 SPECIES CODE #OCCUR IV PHLOX HOODII PHLOX MULTIFLORA PHLOX MUSCOIDES PHYSARIA ACUTIFOLIA PLANTAGO PATAGONICA PLATYSCHKURHIA INTEGRIFOLIA POLYGONUM AVICULARE POLYGONUM BISTORTOIDES POLYGONUM DOUGLASII POTENTILLA SPP. POTENTILLA DIVERSIFOLIA POTENTILLA GRACILIS POTENTILLA HIPPIANA POTENTILLA OVINA PSORALEA TENUIFLORA PYROLA CHLORANTHA PYROLA SECUNDA SALSOLA IBERICA SAXIFRAGA RHOMBOIDEA SCHOENOCRAMBE LINIFOLIA SEDUM LANCEOLATUM SENECIO CANUS SENECIO CRASSULUS SENECIO STREPTANTHIFOLIUS SILENE ANTIRRHINA SILENE MENZIESII SISYMBRIUM SPP. SISYMBRIUM ALTISSIMUM SISYMBRIUM LOESELII SMILACINA RACEMOSA SOLIDAGO MISSOURIENSIS SOLIDAGO MULTIRADIATA SOLIDAGO SPARSIFLORA SPHAERALCEA COCCINEA SPHAEROMERIA CAPITATA STANLEYA PINNATA STANLEYA TOMENTOSA STEPHANOMERIA RUNCINATA STREPTANTHELLA LONGIROSTRIS TARAXACUM OFFICINALE THALICTRUM OCCIDENTALE THLASPI ARVENSE TOWNSENDIA HOOKERI TOWNSENDIA INCANA TOWNSENDIA PARRYI TOWNSENDIA SPATHULATA TRAGOPOGON DUBIUS PHLHOO 80. 14416 PHLMUL 5. 58 PHLMUS 19. 926 PHYACU 18. 164 PLAPAT 4 . 8 PLAINT 38. 1080 POLAVI 1. 1 POLBIS 3. 5 POLDOU 1. 1 POT 3. 5 POTDIV 5. 23 POTGRA 1. 1 POTHIP 1. 1 POTOVI 1. 1 PSOTEN 3 . 14 PYRCHL 1. 1 PYRSEC 3. 32 SALIBE 3 . 21 SAXRHO 1. 1 SCHLIN 17. 147 SEDLAN 16. 130 SENCAN 42. 938 SENCRA 2. 11 SENSTR 6. 18 SILANT 1. 1 SILMEN 2. 2 SIS 1. 3 . 1 SI SALT 8 SISLOE 1. 1 SMIRAC 1. 1 SOLMIS 1. 10 SOLMUL 7. 210 SOLSPA 2. 21 SPHCOC 39. 1049 SPHCAP 7. 32 STAPIN 8. 32 STATOM 22. 246 STERUN 11. 61 STRLON 9. 41 TAROFF 11. 346 THAOCC 1. 1 THLARV 2. 4 TOWHOO 11. 61 TOWINC 24. 317 TOWPAR 1. 2 TOWS PA 11. 61 TRADUB 3 . 5 51 SPECIES CODE #OCCUR IV VALERIANA DIOICA VALERIANA EDULIS VICIA AMERICANA VIOLA ADUNCA VIOLA CANADENSIS VIOLA NUTTALLII VIOLA ORBICULATA VIOLA PURPUREA WYETHIA SCABRA XYLORHIZA GLABRIUSCULA ZIGADENUS ELEGANS ZIGADENUS VENENOSUS VALDIO 1. 1 VALEDU 2. 2 VICAME 19. 704 VIOADU 1. 1 VIOCAN 1. 5 VIONUT 4. 8 VIOORB 1. 1 VIOPUR 1. 1 WYESCA 12. 97 XYLGLA 11. 73 ZIGELE 1. 1 ZIGVEN 15. 305 FERNS/ALLIES & CACTI CYSTOPTERIS FRAGILIS SELAGINELLA DENSA CORYPHANTHA SPP. OPUNTIA POLYACANTHA CYSFRA 2. 2, SELDEN 1. 2. COR 1 . 1 , OPUPOL 126. 20467. 52 APPENDIX B. Vascular Plant Constancy and Coverage VEGETATION CHARACTERISTICS* SUMMARY TABLE FOR PRYOR MOUNTAINS FOREST AND WOODLAND COMMUNITIES TYPE PHASE COMMUNITY TYPE NO NO NAME 1 1 Abies lasiocarpa/Arnica cordifolia 2 1 Abies lasiocarpa/Clenatis colunbiana 3 1 Abies lasiocarpa/Ribes montigenum 4 1 Abies lasiocarpa/Vaccinium scoparium 5 1 Pinus f lexilis/Festuca idahoensis 6 1 Pinus f lexilis/ Juniperus communis 7 1 Pseudotsuga menziesii/Agropyron spicatum 8 1 Pseudotsuga menziesii/Festuca idahoensis 9 1 Pseudotsuga nenziesii/Cercocarpus ledifolius 10 1 Pseudotsuga menziesii/Symphoricarpos oreophilus 11 1 Juniperus osteosperma/Agro. spic, Arte, nova 11 2 Juniperus osteosperma/Agro. spic, Guti. saro. 12 1 Juniperus osteosperma/Artemisia tridentata 13 1 Juniperus osteosperma/Cercocarpus ledifolius 14 1 Juniperus scopulorum/Artemisia nova 15 1 Pinus f lexilis-Juniperus osteosperma 16 1 Pinus f lexilis-Juni . scop., Arte, nova 16 2 Pinus f lexilis-Juni . scop., Arte. trid. average cover (GOV) and constancy (CON) . 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LU LU LU _J Ci: on -J < Z < < < o; q; LU LU < t— < LU LU LU ^ LU y— LU LJ X >< X < >- < — 1 o LU u LJ u o O LU LU —I _J a: CL X 00 CO to < ^ or d C/) 1/) CO (_J CJ o o o Lrt LJ OH o uo O 3 lU LJ LU < < Z 2 CL LU < z z z t— o - < o a: —I O z z z -J _J 3: < - < tJ LU LU LU UJ o c o a h- h— I— < o o o >- >- Q. Q. Q. Q- Q. CL a. Q- a. Cl. a. a. Q- LO »^ 00 0") (.0 00 to 00 00 to to 00 to 00 to t— t— t— > 3 X rsl APPENDIX C. Key to the Community Types Use the following definitions for canopy coverage terms in the key: present common scarce well represented poorly represented greater than 0% cover greater than 1% cover less than 1% cover greater than 5% cover less than 5% cover KEY TO PHYSIOGNOMIC TYPES Trees present and reproducing successfully (i.e., Abies lasiocarpa , Juniperus osteosperma, J. scopulorum, Picea enqelmannii , Pinus contorta, P_^ f lexilis , P. ponderosa , and/or Pseudotsuqa menziesii) .... FORESTS and WOODLANDS (Key A) Not as above 2 Artemisia nova , A. pedatif ida , A. spinescens , A. tridentata , Atriplex nuttallii , A. conf ertif olia , Potentilla fruticosa, and/or Sarcobatus vermiculatus well represented .... SHRUBLANDS (Key B) Graminoids, forbs, and/or Chrysothamnus nauseosus connon .... GRASSLANDS (Key C) A. KEY TO FOREST AND WOODLAND TYPES 1. Abies lasiocarpa present and reproducing successfully .... 2 1 . Not as above 5 2. Sites at or above the cold limits of Pseudotsuqa menziesii and having Ribes montiqenum well represented .... Abies lasiocarpa /Ribes montiqenum 2 . Not as above 3 3. Vaccinium scoparium well represented .... Abies lasiocarpa /Vaccinium scoparium 3. Vaccinium scoparium poorly represented or absent 4 4. Clematis columbiana present .... Abies lasiocarpa /Clematis columbiana 4. Clematis columbiana absent .... Abies lasiocarpa /Arnica cordifolia 5. Pinus f lexilis a successfully reproducing dominant; often sharing that status with Pseudotsuqa menziesii 6 5. Pinus f lexilis absent or clearly serai 9 75 6. Festuca idahoensis well represented .... Pinus flexi lis /Festuca idahoensis 6. Festuca idahoensis poorly represented or absent 7 7. Juniperus communis v/ell represented .... Pinus flexilis/ Juniperus communis 7. Juniperus communis poorly represented or absent 8 8. Juniperus osteosperma well represented .... Pinus flexilis- Juniperus osteosperma 8. Juniperus osteosperma poorly represented or absent; J^ scopulorum well represented .... Pinus flexi lis- Juniperus scopulorum 9. pseudotsuqa menziesii present and reproducing successfully .... 10 9 . Not as above ^^ 10. Festuca idahoensis well represented .... Pseudotsuqa menziesii /Festuca idahoensis 10. Festuca idahoensis poorly represented or absent 11 11. Symphoricarpos oreophilus common .... Pseudotsuqa menziesii /Symphoricarpos oreophilus 11, Symphoricarpos oreophilus scarce or absent 12 12. Cercocarpus ledifolius well represented .... Pseudotsuqa menziesii /Cercocarpus ledifolius 12. Cercocarpus ledifolius poorly represented or absent; Aqropyron spicatum well represented .... Pseudotsuqa menziesii /Aqropyron spicatum 13 . Juniperus osteosperma v;ell represented 14 13. Juniperus osteosperma poorly represented or absent; J^ scopulorum and Artemisia nova well represented .... Juniperus scopulorum /Artemisia nova 14. Cercocarpus ledifolius well represented .... Juniperus osteosperma /Cercocarpus ledifolius 14. Cercocarpus ledifolius poorly represented or absent 15 15. Artemisia tridentata v;ell represented .... Juniperus osteosperma /Artemisia tridentata 15. Artemisia tridentata poorly represented or absent .... Juniperus osteosperma /Aqropyron spicatum B. KEY TO SHRUBLAND TYPES 1. Potentilla fruticosa and Festuca idahoensis both well represented Potentilla fruticosa /Festuca idahoensis 1 . Not as above 2 76 2 . Aqropyron spicatum well represented 3 2. Aqropyron spicatum poorly represented or absent 5 3. Artemisia pedatif ida well represented .... Artemisia pedatif ida /Aqropyron spicatum 3. Artemisia pedatif ida poorly represented or absent 4 4. Artemisia nova well represented .... Artemisia nova /Aqropyron spicatum 4. Artemisia nova poorly represented or absent; A_^ tridentata well represented . . . Artemisia tridentata /Aqropyron spicatum 5. Sarcobatus vermiculatus or Atriplex conf ertif olia well represented 6 5 . Sarcobatus vermiculatus and Atriplex conf ertif olia both poorly represented or absent 8 6. Atriplex conf ertif olia well represented .... Artemisia tridentata- At rip lex conf ertif olia 6. Atriplex conf ertif olia poorly represented or absent 7 7. Atriplex nuttallii well represented .... Sarcobatus vermiculatus /Atriplex nuttallii 7 . Atriplex nuttallii poorly represented or absent .... Sarcobatus vermiculatus -Artemisia tridentata 8 . Atriplex nuttallii well represented 9 8. Atriplex nuttallii poorly represented or absent 12 9. Artemisia pedatif ida well represented .... Artemisia pedatif ida-Atriplex nuttallii 9. Artemisia pedatif ida poorly represented or absent 10 10. Monolepis nuttalliana well represented .... Atriplex nuttallii /Monolepis nuttalliana 10. Monolepis nuttalliana poorly represented or absent 11 11. Artemisia spinescens well represented .... Atriplex nuttallii-Artemisia spinescens 11. Artemisia spinescens poorly represented or absent .... Artemisia tridentata /Atriplex nuttallii 12. Aqropyron smithii and/or A_^ dasystachyum well represented .... Artemisia tridentata /Aqropyron smithii 12 . Aqropyron smithii and/or A^ dasystachyum poorly represented or absent Artemisia tridentata/ St ipa comata C. KEY TO GRASSLAND TYPES 1. Festuca idahoensis v.'ell represented .... Festuca idahoensis- Aqropyron caninum 1. Festuca idahoensis poorly represented or absent 2 77 2 . Chrysothamnus nauseosus common .... Chrysothamnus nauseosus /Eriogonum brevicaule 2 . Chrysothamnus nauseosus scarce or absent 3. Carex rupestris well represented .... Carex rupestris /Potent ilia ovina 3. Carex rupestris poorly represented or absent .... Aqropyron spicatum/cushion plant 78