Treesearch

The Bishop Conglomerate forms broad, gently sloping pediments that include a mantle or veneer of coarse gravel and some cobble over underlying formations. These pediments cover large areas at the margins of the Uinta Mountains. Mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata var. pauciflora) communities cover rather large areas at the outer edge or lower end of these pediment-plains. These communities are a conspicuous feature of the Diamond Mountain, Brush Creek Mountain, and Taylor Mountain areas toward the eastern end of the Uinta Mountains.

Ecological inventory and vegetation monitoring in the Uinta Mountains and Utah Plateaus on the Ashley National Forest and Manti-LaSal National Forest of the past several years suggest a community type in which yellowbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus ssp. lanceolatus), and slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus) are indicator species. This community type is common at elevations or slope positions where snow depth and duration are sufficient to greatly suppress big sagebrush. Features of this community type are discussed in context of management implications.

Redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii) is a major problem on Texas rangelands, yet little is known about the rate it is increasing. This study estimated long-term rates of change of redberry juniper canopy cover on undisturbed sites and adjacent sites that were either chained or grubbed at five locations in western Texas. Juniper cover was estimated from positive transparencies of aerial photographs by the line intercept method using a 10-X monocular lense with a vernier. Juniper cover increased at an average rate of 0.37 percentage unit year-1 (range 0.12 to 0.59) on undisturbed sites...

The Edwards Plateau region of central Texas supports a rich diversity of plants and animals. The diversity and abundance of trees and shrubs is especially noteworthy, but two species of juniper (Juniperus ashei, Juniperus pinchotii) now dominate much of the landscape. Goats are currently being recommended to control juniper infestations. The concept of using biological methods for the control of nuisance plant species has gained much attention in recent years. Some claim that biological control is more environmentally friendly and cost effective than herbicides or heavy equipment. Because...

Native vegetation of semiarid grasslands and desert ecosystems that comprise the Arbosufrutescent Desert scrub vegetation in north-central Sonora has been degraded by overgrazing, drought, farming, woodcutting, and a host of other activities over the past century. Several studies were conducted at "Rancho Grande" and at "Rancho El Carrizo," Sonora from 1992 to 1999 to evaluate the effect of several range improvement practices on wildlife habitat. Twenty-five-thousand seedlings of eight native shrubs and trees were transplanted on a site in north-central Sonora. Survival rates among species...

The field trip was held on June 14, 2000, in warm, dry weather. It consisted of eleven stops and additional views from the busses. Many saltbush (Atriplex) species were observed and their genetical and ecological characteristics described. In addition other chenopod shrubs and annual chenopods were observed and characterized. The field trip is described so that is can be experienced by interested parties on subsequent trips.

The vegetation of Zion National Park (ZNP) is used to illustrate the use of various indices that describe aspects of botanical diversity. The simplest method reports the average number of vascular species per 0.01 ha (0.025 acre) macroplot. The MacArthur-Wilson index of diversity is given for each plant community of occurrence in the Park. Neither the number of species per macroplot nor the MacArthur-Wilson index show much variation among the plant communities of the Park. A third index shows the proportion of a community’s major species that reach maximum regional abundance in that...

"The Box" is a canyon located in the western portion of Box-Death Hollow Wilderness Area, Garfield County, southern Utah. The objectives of this study included: (1) collect, identify and make a checklist of the species of vascular plants found in "The Box," (2) search for threatened and endangered species within the area, (3) provide an opportunity for high school students to develop research skills that contribute to the reservoir of scientific information. During a period of 2 years, students of the Provo High School Botany Club, the club advisor, and others collected and identified 304...

This study was conducted within the Gardiner Basin, an especially critical wintering area for native ungulates utilizing the Northern Yellowstone Winter Range. Mountain big sagebrush plants on 33 sites were classified as large (≥22 cm canopy cover), small (

Shoot growth in shrubs is often overlooked as an important component of phenological development in woody plants. However, shoot growth dictates the pattern of growth of deciduous trees or shrubs, especially following defoliation or canopy damage. In general, woody shoots are divided into short- and long-shoots. Short-shoots, sometimes called "spurs," are reproductive shoots (in other words, spurs on an apple (Malus pumila) tree). The longshoots, sometimes called "watersprouts," are vegetative shoots. From a management perspective, herbicidal control of shrubs (in other words, mesquite...