RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 



Ecological Results 



Fifteen plant associations/community types were sampled in the Ruby Range study area, 

 including nine forest and woodland types, tliree slirubland types, two grassland types, and one 

 wetland type (Table 1). Each of the sampled types is described in detail in the following sections 

 of this report. 



Three of the forest types (ABILAS/ARNCOR, ABILAS/LINBOR, PICEA/SENSTR) and one 

 woodland type (JUNSCO/ARTNOV) were not previously sampled on ELM lands in the Dillon 

 Resource Area (Cooper and DeVelice 1995). This, and the relative high number of forest types 

 documented in the study area reflects the unusually high concentration of forested area for ELM 

 lands in southwestern Montana. The JUNSCO/ARTNOV community type was previously 

 documented by just one plot on Montana ELM land in the Eillings Resource Area. This rather 

 small occurrence of JUNSCO/ARTNOV is insufficient to change its state rank from S2, nor does 

 it impact its global rank; however, we are recommending this type be placed on the ELM state 

 Watch List for communities. 



Most forest and woodland types in the Ruby Range have a relatively high component of Pinus 

 flexilis (limber pine) compared to descriptions of the community types from elsewhere, reflecting 

 the aridity and lithology of the range. Bums flexilis appears to replace Pinus contorta (lodgepole 

 pine) as a major serai component in Picea (spruce) and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir) 

 community types on calcareous substrates. Pinus flexilis occupies high elevation sites whereas 

 Pinus albicaulis (whitebark pine) dominates similar enviromnents in wetter ranges with 

 crystalline bedrock (e.g. the Centennial and Tobacco Root Mountains). 



The low number of shi'ub and grassland types sampled probably underestimates the diversity of 

 potential vegetation of these types in the study area. These are the habitats most heavily impacted 

 by cattle grazing, thus, finding examples in good condition for sampling was difficult. The 

 sampled plots tend to have steeper slopes than average for the types, or are grazing disclimaxes. 

 The exception to these observations is the Artemisia nova/Agropyron spicatum plant association 

 of the upper bajada on the east slope of the Ruby Range that is in good condition, probably 

 owing to its distance from a consistent water source. This additional knowledge may be 

 sufficient to rank this cormnunity as secure within the state, S5. 



The wetland Carex simulata community type was sampled on private land in the study area but 

 has not to date been documented on ELM land in Montana (Cooper and DeVelice 1995). The 

 relative uniqueness of this type at low elevations on private lands mostly below ELM holdings 

 points to an opportunity for conservation, or at least a need to inventoiy more low-elevation 

 habitat for communities of this nature. 



In addition to the sampled types, several vegetation communities were noted by reconnaissance 

 in the study area (Table 2). These are mostly specialized habitats of low aerial extent or were 

 heavily impacted by cattle grazing and so were not chosen for sampling. 



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