lower elevations and increase at the upper ele- 

 vations of the ecosystem. Forbs, with the ex- 

 ception of filaree, are of secondary importance 

 but the number occurring is large. Many people 

 believe the prehistoric vegetation was perennial 

 but historical evidence is meager and recon- 

 struction of the original perennial vegetation 

 (if it were perennial), if it can be done at all, 

 is accomplished only with complete protection 

 and considerable effort. The earliest references 

 (early 1800's) indicate the California steppe 

 was dominated by annual grasses. The annual 

 plant type, as might be expected, has shown 

 probably the most consistent and profitable re- 

 sponse to range fertilization practices of any 

 range type. 



Kuchler Communities 



K-41 California steppe 



Rare and Endangered Species 



San Joaquin kit fox 



Tule elk 



Area Economically Depressed 



50 percent 



ALPINE 



Vegetation 

 The grass life form predominates, but the 

 number of subdominant forbs is very large. 

 Willows may occur on the moist soils of pro- 

 tected slopes and valleys. 



Kiichler Communities 

 K-45 Alpine meadows and barren 



Rare and Endangered Species 

 Grizzly bear 



Area Economically Depressed 

 5 percent 



WESTERN FOREST 

 DOUGLAS-FIR 



Vegetation 

 Commercial Douglas-fir stands are defined as 

 those containing 50 percent or more Douglas- 

 fir, except where redwood, sugar pine, or west- 

 ern white pine comprise 20 percent or more of 

 the stand. Most common ecological descriptions 

 define Douglas-fir timber in western Oregon 

 and Washington define it as subclimax stands 

 within the climax western hemlock-western red 

 cedar formation. Common shrubs in the stands 

 are species of maple, rock-spirea, filbert, blue- 

 berry, snowberry, barberry, currant, black- 

 berry, ninebark, rose and spirea. Grass or 

 grass-like growth form is more apparent in the 

 stands of interior states. Here, pinegrass and 

 sedge are present. 



Kiichler Communities 



K-2 Cedar-hemlock-Douglas-fir forest 

 K-11 Douglas-fir forest 



K-24 Mosaic cedar-hemlock-Douglas-fir for- 

 est (K-2) and Oregon oakwoods (K-22) 

 K-25 California mixed evergreen forest 



Rare and Endangered Species 

 Columbian white-tailed deer 

 Grizzly bear 



Area Economically Depressed 

 10 percent 



PONDEROSA PINE 



Vegetation 

 By definition ponderosa pine forest is 50 per- 

 cent or more of one of the pines — ponderosa 

 pine, Jeffrey pine, sugar pine, limber pine, Ari- 

 zona ponderosa pine, Apache pine, or Chihua- 

 hua pine. The exceptions are those situations 

 where western white pine or sugar pine are 

 predominant; these species then control the 

 name of the ecosystem. The impact of logging 

 and ecological dynamics can cause some prob- 

 lems in maintaining good delineation of this 

 ecosystem. The ponderosa pine unit is idealized 

 as open and park-like with excellent ground 

 cover of grasses, sedges, and forbs, or with an 

 understory of shrubs of low to medium height. 

 The shrubs, however, may vary in from from 

 antelope bitterbrush (three to five or six feet 

 tall) to bearmat (ground-hugging) . 



Kiichler Communities 



K-5 Mixed conifer forest 



K-9 Pine-cypress forest 



K-10 Western ponderosa forest 



K-15 Eastern ponderosa forest 



K-16 Black Hills pine forest 



K-17 Pine-Douglas-fir forest 



K-18 Arizona pine forest 



Rare and Endangered Species 

 Kaibab squirrel 

 Grizzly bear 

 California bighorn 

 California condor 



Area Economically Depressed 

 60 percent 



WESTERN WHITE PINE 



Vegetation 

 Forests in which 20 percent or more of the 

 stand is western white pine or sugar pine char- 

 acterize this ecosystem. 



Kiichler Communities 

 K-12 Cedar-hemlock-pine forest 

 Rare and Endangered Species 

 Grizzly bear 

 California bighorn 



Area Economically Depressed 

 90 percent 



99 



