Issue Date
1997-05-01Keywords
meadowsindicator species
land forms
soil degradation
soil temperature
ecotones
slope
grazing intensity
biomass
botanical composition
rangelands
canopy
soil compaction
soil texture
altitude
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Weixelman, D. A., Zamudio, D. C., Zamudio, K. A., & Tausch, R. J. (1997). Classifying ecological types and evaluating site degradation. Journal of Range Management, 50(3), 315-321.Publisher
Society for Range ManagementJournal
Journal of Range ManagementDOI
10.2307/4003735Additional Links
https://rangelands.org/Abstract
An analytical method for classifying ecological types was developed and tested for mountain meadows in central Nevada. Six ecological types were identified by plot sampling of vegetation and soil-site variables. Two-way indicator species analysis and canonical correspondence analysis were used to identify ecological types and to compare the discriminating abilities of different ecosystem components. Each ecological type was a characteristic combination of landform, soil, and vegetation. Changes in vegetation and soil conditions were assessed along a gradient of degradation within one ecological type—the dry graminoid/Cryoboroll/trough drainageway type. Direct gradient analysis was used to display changes in plant composition and indicators of site degradation. Plant and soil indicators of degradation were basal cover of vegetation, standing crop production of 3 key grass species, rates of infiltration, and soil compaction. Three states of range degradation were identified along the gradient. The grass-dominated state was the most desirable in terms of forage production, basal cover of vegetation and infiltration, while the grass/forb/shrub state represented the most degraded and least productive state.Type
textArticle
Language
enISSN
0022-409Xae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.2307/4003735