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Wildlife, Animals, and Plants
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Introductory
SPECIES: Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola | Hotsprings Sagebrush
ABBREVIATION :
ARTARBT
SYNONYMS :
NO-ENTRY
SCS PLANT CODE :
ARART
COMMON NAMES :
hotsprings sagebrush
cleftleaf sagebrush
thermopola sagebrush
thermopola low sagebrush
TAXONOMY :
The currently accepted scientific name of hotsprings sagebrush is
Artemisia arbuscula Nutt. ssp. thermopola Beetle. There are two other
subspecies of low sagebrush (A. arbuscula): A. arbuscula ssp. arbuscula
(gray low sagebrush) and A. arbuscula ssp. longiloba (Osterhout) L.
Shultz (alkali sagebrush) [35,36].
LIFE FORM :
Shrub
FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS :
NO-ENTRY
OTHER STATUS :
NO-ENTRY
COMPILED BY AND DATE :
D. Tirmenstein, September, 1986.
LAST REVISED BY AND DATE :
D. Tirmenstein, September 1988
AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION :
Tirmenstein, D. 1988. Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola. In: Remainder of Citation
DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola | Hotsprings Sagebrush
GENERAL DISTRIBUTION :
Hotsprings sagebrush occurs in east-central Oregon, the Stanley Basin of
Idaho, and near Jackson, Wyoming, along the Wyoming-Idaho-Utah borders
[19]. It grows on harsh sites in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton
National Parks [2].
ECOSYSTEMS :
FRES21 Ponderosa pine
FRES26 Lodgepole pine
FRES29 Sagebrush
FRES34 Chaparral - mountain shrub
STATES :
ID OR UT WY
ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS :
GRTE YELL
BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS :
5 Columbia Plateau
8 Northern Rocky Mountains
9 Middle Rocky Mountains
KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS :
K011 Western ponderosa forest
K012 Douglas-fir forest
K037 Mountain mahogany - oak scrub
K055 Sagebrush steppe
SAF COVER TYPES :
210 Interior Douglas-fir
218 Lodgepole pine
237 Interior ponderosa pine
SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES :
NO-ENTRY
HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES :
Hotsprings sagebrush occurs as a dominant in sagebrush-grassland
communities in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and elsewhere
within its range. It is listed as a codominant indicator species along
with Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) in the following publications:
Sagebrush-grass habitat types of southern Idaho [14]
A preliminary description of plant communities found on the Sawtooth,
White Cloud, Boulder, and Pioneer Mountains [22]
Hotsprings sagebrush frequently grows in mosaics with big sagebrush and
is commonly associated with Idaho fescue [19,30]. Plant associates and
habitat requirements are similar to the more widely distributed gray low
sagebrush [30]. Common plant associates include fernleaf fleabane
(Erigeron compositus), rosey pussytoes (Antennaria rosea), Hood's phlox
(Phlox hoodii), chimaya (Cymopterus bipinnatus), aster (Aster ssp.), and
sulfur erigogonum (Eriogonum umbellatum) [22]. Some authorities believe
that hotsprings sagebrush is restricted to areas adjacent to those
occupied by threetip sagebrush (Artemisia tripartita) and gray low
sagebrush [25].
VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola | Hotsprings Sagebrush
WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE :
NO-ENTRY
IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE :
Comparatively little is known about the importance of hotsprings
sagebrush to livestock and wildlife. Low sagebrush (Artemisia
arbulsula) is considered a valuable browse plant at some locations
during the spring, fall, and winter months [16]. Mule deer, pronghorn,
bighorn sheep, and sage grouse all utilize the closely related gray low
sagebrush [5,24]. Domestic sheep and, to a much lesser degree, cattle
consume gray low sagebrush, particularly during the spring, fall, and
winter [8,24]. Gray low sagebrush provides little winter forage in many
parts of its range because of extreme snow depths [3]. Hotsprings
sagebrush occurs on higher and colder sites than gray low sagebrush, and
winter utilization of this species may be even more limited.
PALATABILITY :
The palatability of hotsprings sagebrush to livestock and wildlife is
rated low to moderate [3]. It provides some winter forage, but is
largely ignored during the summer months [3].
NUTRITIONAL VALUE :
Energy and protein values of low sagebrush are rated fair [10]. Crude
protein, fat, and fiber contents of hotsprings sagebrush leaves and
stems are 6.40 percent, 4.40 percent, and 34.54 percent, respectively [2].
COVER VALUE :
NO-ENTRY
VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES :
NO-ENTRY
OTHER USES AND VALUES :
NO-ENTRY
MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
Removing hotsprings sagebrush to increase herbage production on some
sites has been recommended [15]. Best results have been obtained on
sites with at least remnant bunchgrass populations [30]. However, other
researchers recommend against treating low sagebrush communities, citing
minimal improvement or even further deterioration [2].
BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola | Hotsprings Sagebrush
GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS :
Hotsprings sagebrush is a dwarf, spreading shrub reaching 12 inches (3
dm) in height, with a crown spread of 12 to 16 inches (30-40 cm) [2].
It closely resembles the more widespread subspecies gray low sagebrush
in morphology. However, leaves are more finely divided than those of
gray low sagebrush and have three long, linear divisions [2,25].
Numerous vegetative branches are present. Culms are 4 to 12 inches
(10-30 cm) long [2]. Hotsprings sagebrush is resistant to drought [26].
RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM :
Phanerophyte
REGENERATION PROCESSES :
Hotsprings sagebrush reproduces only through light, wind-dispersed seed
[2]. Very little is known about germination rates or requirements.
SITE CHARACTERISTICS :
Hotsprings sagebrush typically occurs on dry, shallow, infertile and
rocky ridgetops or benches [14,22]. It grows well in the cold, dry
mountain valleys of central and eastern Idaho, northern Utah, and
northeastern Wyoming [22,23]. Hotsprings sagebrush dominates extensive,
nearly uniform communities in many areas including parts of Yellowstone
and Grand Teton National Parks [3], but also grows in openings in
lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) or ponderosa pine (P. ponderosa) forests
[2,30].
Many authorities believe that the distribution of low sagebrush is
largely related to soil conditions. Hotsprings sagebrush generally
grows on poorly drained soils with a high clay content. Soils are
generally less than 13 inches (33 cm) to an impermeable B horizon or, if
deeper, with 30 percent or more gravel and cobbles in the horizon [28].
Growth has been reported on volcanics, sediments, and granitics [22]. In
central Idaho hotsprings sagebrush grows on glacial outwash, dry
alluvium, terraces, or on poorly drained mountainous sites [22]. Soils
which support hotsprings sagebrush tend to be drier and rockier than
those which support big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) [3].
Hotsprings sagebrush typically grows on higher and cooler sites than the
closely related gray low sagebrush [14]. Hotsprings sagebrush sites are
characterized by large amounts of bare soil and exposed rock.
Hotsprings sagebrush grows on all aspects on slopes of 10 to 15 percent
or less [22]. Hotsprings sagebrush typically grows above 6,000 feet
(1,829 m) [23]. Elevational ranges are as follows [2,22,30]:
from 6,000 to 9,800 ft (1,830 to 2,989 m) in ID
5,000 to 9,000 ft (1,524 to 2,743 m) in OR
6,000 to 7,000 ft (1,829 to 2,134 m) in WY
SUCCESSIONAL STATUS :
Hotsprings sagebrush occurs with Idaho fescue in a number of low
sagebrush-bunchgrass climax communities [14,22]. Climax conditions in
these communities are generally attributable to edaphic factors.
Hotsprings sagebrush also occurs as a dominant in uniform, climax
populations in northwestern Wyoming and eastern Idaho and is also
represented in some early seral communities.
SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT :
Seasonal development of hotsprings sagebrush is poorly known. Some
researchers believe that its phenology is similar to that of gray low
sagebrush [2], while others maintain that hotsprings sagebrush exhibits
earlier phenological development [19]. Shultz [25] reports that
hotsprings sagebrush blooms in late summer and fall. Seed matures from
late August through October, and ripens by October or November [2,30].
FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola | Hotsprings Sagebrush
FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS :
Evidence suggests that hotsprings sagebrush is readily killed by fire.
It is not known to sprout, but reestablishes through light, off-site,
wind-dispersed seed from surviving plants adjacent to the burn.
Low sagebrush communities are characterized by a depauperate understory
with much exposed soil and surface rock. Many stands lack sufficient
fuels to carry a fire [1,5,7]. Consequently, fires in hotsprings
sagebrush communities are probably rare. The probability of fire
increases as herbaceous growth increases as a result of above-average
precipitation or increased protection from grazing [7]. Weedy species
such as medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) and cheatgrass (Bromus
tectorum) will increase flammability of low sagebrush stands [7,33].
POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY :
Secondary colonizer - off-site seed
FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola | Hotsprings Sagebrush
IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT :
Hotsprings sagebrush is propbably killed outright by fire.
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT :
NO-ENTRY
PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE :
Hotsprings sagebrush probably colonizes a burn through small, light,
wind-dispersed seed from off-site plants. Response time is not
well documented. Gray low sagebrush responds variably, with recovery
described as "slow to rapid" [34]. Gray low sagebrush can recover
within 2 to 5 years with favorable conditions, but more than 10 years
may be required under less favorable circumstances [34].
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE :
NO-ENTRY
FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
Fires are rare in low sagebrush communities due to lack of fuel. Fires
do not carry in communities dominated by gray low sagebrush even on hot
days with winds up to 25 miles per hour (40 km/hr) [1,6]. Gray low
sagebrush has been successfully used as a fuelbreak when adjacent big
sagebrush communities have been burned [32,34].
Prescribed fires may not be possible or desirable in hotsprings
sagebrush stands. Fires in most low sagebrush communities produce
relatively few benefits [1,7,34].
REFERENCES
SPECIES: Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola | Hotsprings Sagebrush
REFERENCES :
1. Beardall, Louis E.; Sylvester, Vern E. 1976. Spring burning for removal
of sagebrush competition in Nevada. In: Proceedings, Tall Timbers fire
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Station: 539-547. [406]
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Artemisia. Bulletin 368. Laramie, WY: University of Wyoming,
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[21992]
Index
Related categories for Species: Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola
| Hotsprings Sagebrush
|
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