APPEXDIX A— 1970 FRES ECOSYSTEMS 



This appendix contains a brief description of 

 the vegetation of each FRES ecosystem. Also 

 shown for each ecosystem are the associated 

 Kiichler's plant communities, rare and endan- 

 gered species, and the percent of the ecosystem 

 that is economically depressed.^ The Kiichler 

 communities included within each ecosystem 

 are identified by Kiichler's number and name 

 (i.e., K-86 Great Lakes pine forest) .^ 



The ecosystems are presented in four Eco- 

 groups. These are: Western Range, Western 

 Forest, Great Plains, and Eastern Forest. 



Detailed descriptions of the Ecosystems are 

 presented in a companion publication. (See in- 

 side front cover for reference.) 



WESTERN RANGE 

 SAGEBRUSH 



Vegetation 

 The Sagebrush ecosystem is characterized by 

 shrubs, principally sagebrush, which are usual- 

 ly 1 to 7 feet high. Other shrubs are part of 

 the vegetation composition. Grasses such as the 

 wheatgrasses, fescues, bluegrasses, and brome- 

 grasses as well as broadleaved herbs are found 

 in the understory. 



Kiichler Communities 

 K-32 Great Basin sagebrush 

 K-49 Sagebrush steppe 

 K-50 Wheatgrass-needlegrass shrubsteppe 



Kare and Endangered Species 

 Utah prairie dog 

 Tule elk 

 Mexican duck 



Area Economically Depressed 

 25 percent 



DESERT SHRUB 



Vegetation 

 The vegetation is characterized by xeric 



'FRES "Economically Depressed Areas" are "EDA 

 Qualified Areas" as defined by the U.S. Dept. of Com- 

 merce, Economic Development Administration. 1969. 



^ Number and names are those assigned by A. W. 

 Kiichler. 1970. The National Atlas of the United States. 

 United States Department of Interior, pp. 89-91. 



shrubs varying in height from four inches to 

 many feet. Stands are generally open with a 

 large amount of bare soil and desert pavement 

 exposed. However, some stands may be rela- 

 tively dense. Understory vegetation is generally 

 sparse. During years of above average rainfall, 

 annuals may be conspicuous for a short period 

 of the year. Production varies greatly from 

 year to year depending on the moisture supply. 



Kiichler Communities 



K-23 Mesquite bosques 



K-33 Blackbrush 



K-34 Saltbush-greasewood 



K-35 Creosote bush 



K-36 Creosote bush-bur sage 



K-37 Palo verde-cactus shrub 



Rare and Endangered Species 

 Tule elk 



Yuma clapper rail 

 Masked bobwhite 

 California condor 



Area Economically Depressed 

 10 percent 



SOUTHWESTERN SHRUBSTEPPE 



Vegetation 

 The Southwestern shrubsteppe ecosystem 

 characterizes vegetation types ranging from 

 short grass with scattered shrubs to shrubs 

 Avith scattered areas with short grasses. This is 

 due to relatively long transition from this eco- 

 system to the more woody pinyon-juniper 

 and/or desert shrub ecosystems. Yucca is one 

 of the most characteristic woody species; mes- 

 quite is abundant in many areas. Creosote and 

 tarbush dominate the shrub layer. Black grama, 

 three-awns, and tobosa dominate the herba- 

 ceous layer. Sideoats grama and curly mesquite 

 are also important. The shrub-grass stands 

 occupy shallow soils with little development. 

 The grass-shrub stands occupy the soils with 

 more development. 



Kiichler Communities 

 K-52 Grama-tobosa shrubsteppe 

 K-53 Trans-Pecos shrub savanna 



Rare and Endangered Species 

 Masked bobwhite 



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