Influences of browsing and fire on sagebrush taxa of the northern Yellowstone winter range
Mehus CA. 1995. Influences of browsing and fire on sagebrush taxa of the northern Yellowstone winter range. Montana State University
Sagebrush (Artemisia L.)/grass habitat types on the Northern Yellowstone Winter Range near Gardiner, Montana provide critical winter habitat for many big game species, particularly mule deer (Odocoileus hemonius ssp. hemonius) and elk (Cervus elaphus ssp. nelsoni). Because 4 sagebrush taxa are common throughout the area, often occurring in the same communities, this area also provides a unique opportunity to study relationships among these taxa. Sagebrush communities, containing Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Beetle and Young) 4 sites, mountain big sagebrush (A. t. ssp. vaseyana [Rydb.]. Beetle) 4 sites, basin big sagebrush (A. t. Nutt. ssp. tridentata) 3 sites, and black sagebrush (Artemisia nova) 1 site, distributed throughout the area are described. These 12 sagebrush communities of varying levels of past browsing use were measured for canopy cover, density, and production.
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- Mehus, Chris
- Date of Issue
- 1995
- Publisher
- Montana State University
- Units
- YELL
- Keywords
- Browsing, FIRE, Northern Range, Plant Studies, Sagebrush (Artemisia), Thesis, Winter
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Shrubland Communities , Ecological Framework: Landscapes | Fire and Fuel Dynamics | Fire and Fuel Dynamics