• IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE
• PALATABILITY
• NUTRITIONAL VALUE
• COVER VALUE
• VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES
• OTHER USES AND VALUES
• MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE:

Oceanspray is often considered of minor importance as a browse species [25,89,90,109]. However, because this species typically occupies low elevation sites that are easily accessible to livestock and wildlife, plants provide some browse during the summer [109] with peak use in the fall and winter months [101]. Studies in the Bitterroot National Forest and Rattlesnake Creek drainage, both in western Montana, determined that oceanspray was not a desirable winter forage species for elk, mule deer, or white-tailed deer [74,58]. Oceanspray is considered a poor forage species [89] and an undesirable competitor with the more desirable browse species redstem ceanothus in northern Idaho [71]. Daubenmire and Daubenmire [26] reported that forced grazing of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)/ninebark stands in eastern Washington and northern Idaho, in which oceanspray occurs, typically results in a bluegrass (Poa spp.) disclimax.

Other data indicate that oceanspray can be a useful livestock and wildlife browse species [33,19,60]. Cattle use oceanspray as summer forage in northern Idaho [18], and there is evidence of grazing by cattle in northeastern Oregon [60]. Black-tailed deer in western Oregon browse oceanspray twigs in winter [24], and the species is heavily utilized by transient deer and elk in central Washington [94]. Snowshoe hares in the Flathead region of western Montana use the leaves and twigs for fall forage [2]. The following table indicates the importance of oceanspray to British Columbian ungulates [12].

Ungulate	Importance as Browse
black-tailed deer	moderate
mule deer	moderate
white-tailed deer	low
mountain goat	low
bighorn sheep	low
Roosevelt elk	low
Rocky mountain elk	low
moose	low
caribou	low

 

PALATABILITY:

Oceanspray is usually unpalatable and seldom used as forage by domestic livestock and big game animals, where it is prevalent in stands approaching climax [75,76]. However, fire can increase the palatability of some "normally unpalatable species," such as oceanspray [81]. Elk utilization of the shrub in northern Idaho following a prescribed burn increased from 0.7% to 23.1% the 1st year after burning. Although use dropped to 6.9% the 2nd postburn winter, burned plants were still more heavily utilized than those on adjacent unburned sites [62]. Big game species in northern Idaho preferred browsing new growth, including oceanspray, on burned sites over "current annual growth" of adjacent nonburned sites, especially the 1st growing season after a fire [9]. A northern Idaho study in the Douglas-fir habitat type found livestock utilized oceanspray. In grazed stands the shrub decreased [116]. Green clippings of oceanspray were found stored in shelters of dusky-footed woodrats in Oregon [15] and the shrub is apparently palatable to slugs native to western Washington [17]. This species was found to be unpalatable to moose in British Columbia in a Tiaga forest formation [22].

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:

No entry  

COVER VALUE:

Oceanspray provides cover for a variety of species. It is often a common and sometimes abundant climax understory species in Douglas-fir/ninebark habitat types which are widespread throughout the northern Rocky Mountains. Dense shrubby stands characteristic of this association generally provide visual and thermal cover for deer and elk; in addition, these sites supply nesting habitat, cover, and food for a variety of nongame birds and animals [19]. Oceanspray was found on streamside and upslope locations in the central Oregon Coast Range where 18 of 22 known small mammal species and 9 of 13 known amphibian species were captured [73]. The blue grouse on Vancouver Island, British Columbia [34], and the Oregon blue grouse in Wallowa County, Oregon, typically inhabit understory comprised in part by oceanspray. The northern flying squirrel in southwestern Oregon is found in western hemlock transition, and mixed conifer vegetation zones where oceanspray is common in the shrub layer [16]. This shrub is also common in a northern Idaho Pacific treefrog habitat area [96].  

VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES:

Oceanspray readily rehabilitates disturbed sites. It is classified as an "invader" after disturbances such as burning and logging [113]. Because of oceanspray's shade tolerance, fast growth, resistance to trampling, screening capability, aesthetic appearance and disease resistance, old-growth Douglas-fir stands in the Pacific northwest disturbed by root rot were rehabilitated with the shrub [39]. Logged sites with some overstory protection produce high cover of oceanspray [18]. In a northern Idaho postburn area, oceanspray dominated (48% of total ground cover) a site because its size, 10 to 15 ft (3-4.6 m) tall, allowed it to successfully compete for light, moisture and space. Because it is a "poor forage species," researchers predicted it would dominate the site until crowded out by conifers [89]. Naturally regenerated western redcedar is almost always subordinate to associated species, such as oceanspray, that grow more rapidly [1].

OTHER USES AND VALUES:

Bark and leaves of oceanspray are sometimes dried and pulverized for application to burns or sores, and infusions are made from seeds and used to prevent contagious diseases [43]. As the common name arrow-wood implies, the hard wood and long, straight branches of this species were highly prized by indigenous peoples for making arrow shafts [25].

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS:

Oceanspray's overall hardy nature, including tolerance to wide moisture regimes, sun or shade, and many soil types makes it useful for low-maintenance riparian plantings, reclamation of droughty and rocky or disturbed sites, windbreaks and screens [33]. "Safe" levels of browsing of oceanspray by game animals is between 50 percent and 60 percent [31]. Oceanspray had nearly the same coverage in grazed areas as on undisturbed sites in northern Idaho.

Related categories for SPECIES: Holodiscus discolor | Oceanspray