Communities on the Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites

Saskatchewan Rangeland Ecosystems Publication 5

Communities on the Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites

A project of the Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan

Jeff Thorpe Saskatchewan Research Council

2007

Funding for this publication provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Greencover Canada Program

Communities on the Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites – Publication 5

2 Saskatchewan Rangeland Ecosystems

NOTES

• This publication describes native rangeland communities found on the Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites in the Dry Mixed Grassland, Mixed Grassland, and Aspen Parkland regions of Saskatchewan. Dry Mixed Grassland and Mixed Grassland were combined because data were insufficient for separate classifications.

• In each region, a reference community, typical of ungrazed to lightly grazed areas, and a series of other communities related to increasing grazing impact, are described.

• In assessing rangeland health, this information can be used to pick the community that best fits the area being assessed. The degree of alteration of that community from the reference community can be used to answer Question 1 of the Saskatchewan Rangeland Health Assessment. This may require interpretation, because the area being assessed may not exactly match any of the described types.

• Another approach is to calculate the percent similarity of the area being assessed to the reference community, as a measure of the degree of alteration due to grazing impact. This measure is similar in both concept and result to the traditional range condition scale.

• State-and-transition diagrams are used to show that there may also be transitions related to factors such as exotic invasion or fire regime. These transitions should not be confused with grazing impacts.

• More detailed discussion of the above points can be found in Publication 1: Ecoregions and Ecosites.

Communities on the Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosite – Publication 5

Saskatchewan Rangeland Ecosystems 3

STATE-AND-TRANSITION DIAGRAMS

Mixed Grassland and Dry Mixed Grassland: Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites

MG-SD-A

Needle-and-thread - Sand Grass

near reference community on certain sites?

MG-SD-B

Needle-and-thread - Wheat Grass - Sedge near reference community

?↓↑?

heavy grazing ↓↑ reduced grazing

MG-SD-C

Needle-and-thread - June Grass - Sedge - Blue Grama

75% similar to MG-SD-B

exotic invasion→

←management

to control exotics?

MG-SD-E Crested

Wheat Grass 27% similar to MG-SD-B


MG-SD-D

Pasture Sage - June Grass - Sedge - Needle-and-thread - Blue Grama 63% similar to MG-SD-B



Aspen Parkland: Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites

AP-SD-A Western Porcupine Grass

reference community


AP-SD-B

Western Porcupine Grass – Sedge

66% similar to reference community


heavy grazing ↓↑ reduced

grazing

exotic invasion→

←management to control exotics?

AP-SD-F Crested Wheat Grass - Sedge


AP-SD-C Sedge - Western

Porcupine Grass - June Grass


AP-SD-D

Needle-and-thread - June Grass



grazing


grazing

AP-SD-E

Pasture Sage - Sedge - Needle-and-thread - June Grass46% similar to reference community





COMMUNITY DESCRIPTIONS

MG-SD-A Needle-and-thread - Sand Grass

Mixed Grassland and Dry Mixed Grassland: Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Mixed prairie dominated by midgrasses, but with a significant component of shortgrasses, and lesser components of forbs and half-shrubs. Some cover of erect and prostrate shrubs. Near reference community, or with minor alteration as a result of grazing impact, possibly on coarser-textured or more recently stabilized sites compared to MG-SD-B.

STRUCTURE

tall shrub cover (n=10) 1% (0 - 4) clubmoss cover (n=24) 4% (0 - 12) short shrub cover (n=11) 1% (0 - 3) moss cover (n=15) 0% (0 - 0) prostrate shrub cover (n=10) 2% (0 - 7) lichen cover (n=6) 3% (0 - 8) herbaceous cover (n=27) 40% (26 - 48) litter cover (n=20) 38% (18 - 53) - midgrasses approx. 25% bare soil (n=18) 9% (3 - 15) - shortgrasses approx. 10% - half-shrubs approx. 5% - forbs approx. 5% SPECIES COMPOSITION % biomass (n=33) Major graminoids needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) 29% (21 - 37) sand grass (Calamovilfa longifolia) 15% (7 - 24) sedge (Carex spp.) 8% (4 - 13) june grass (Koeleria cristata) 6% (2 - 12) blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) 5% (2 - 12) western wheat grass (Agropyron smithii) 3% (0 - 7) plains reed grass (Calamagrostis montanensis) 2% (0 - 6) sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) 1% (0 - 3) northern wheat grass (Agropyron dasystachyum) 1% (0 - 3) Major forbs and half-shrubs pasture sage (Artemisia frigida) 6% (2 - 10) lance-leaved psoralea (Psoralea lanceolata) 3% (0 - 8) hairy golden-aster (Heterotheca villosa) 2% (0 - 7) goldenrod (Solidago spp.) 1% (0 - 2) Major shrubs silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana) 3% (0 - 8) rose (Rosa spp.) 3% (0 - 6) western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) 3% (0 - 8) creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) 1% (0 - 0)



Major cactus prickly-pear (Opuntia polyacantha) 1% (0 - 4) Minor graminoids 2% bearded wheat grass (Agropyron trachycaulum var. unilaterale), salt grass (Distichlis stricta), Canada wild rye (Elymus canadensis), plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii), sheep fescue (Festuca saximontana), Indian rice grass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), Sandberg's blue grass (Poa sandbergii), western porcupine grass (Stipa curtiseta), green needle grass (Stipa viridula) Minor forbs and half-shrubs 3% woolly yarrow (Achillea millefolium), pygmyflower (Androsace septentrionalis), prairie sage (Artemisia ludoviciana), aster (Aster spp.), Missouri milk-vetch (Astragalus missouriensis), nodding thistle (Carduus nutans), field chickweed (Cerastium arvense), lamb's-quarters (Chenopodium album), pale comandra (Comandra pallida), horsetail (Equisetum spp.), wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota), skeletonweed (Lygodesmia juncea), silver-leaved psoralea (Psoralea argophylla), yellow coneflower (Ratibida columnifera), golden bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia) Minor shrubs 0% chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) SIMILARITY TO REFERENCE COMMUNITY near reference community PRODUCTION graminoids 500 kg/ha RECOMMENDED STOCKING RATE Dry Mixed Grassland 0.47 AUM/ha 0.19 AUM/ac Mixed Grassland 0.69 AUM/ha 0.28 AUM/ac



MG-SD-B

Needle-and-thread - Wheat Grass - Sedge Mixed Grassland and Dry Mixed Grassland: Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Mixed prairie dominated by midgrasses, but with significant amounts of shortgrasses, and lesser amounts of forbs and half-shrubs. Shrub cover usually low. Near reference community, or with minor alteration as a result of grazing impact. Western and northern wheat grass are both abundant in the data for this community; also note that there is some potential for confusion between these two species in field surveys.

STRUCTURE

short shrub cover (n=5) 1% (0 - 1) clubmoss cover (n=8) 11% (3 - 23) prostrate shrub cover ? moss cover ? cactus cover ? lichen cover ? herbaceous cover (n=9) 50% (27 - 78) litter cover (n=5) 34% (11 - 51) - midgrasses approx. 25% bare soil (n=8) 5% (0 - 11) - shortgrasses approx. 15% - half-shrubs approx. 35 - forbs approx. 4% SPECIES COMPOSITION % biomass (n=23) Major graminoids 25% (5 - 42) needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) 10% (0 - 28) western wheat grass (Agropyron smithii) 10% (3 - 23) sedge (Carex spp.) 9% (1 - 20) june grass (Koeleria cristata) 8% (0 - 19) northern wheat grass (Agropyron dasystachyum) 8% (0 - 22) blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) 6% (0 - 27) western porcupine grass (Stipa curtiseta) 2% (0 - 5) sand grass (Calamovilfa longifolia) 1% (0 - 0) Sandberg's blue grass (Poa sandbergii) 1% (0 - 4) blue grass (Poa spp.) 1% (0 - 3) plains reed grass (Calamagrostis montanensis) 1% (0 - 0) slender wheat grass (Agropyron trachycaulum var. trachycaulum) 25% (5 - 42) Major forbs and half-shrubs pasture sage (Artemisia frigida) 7% (1 - 11) scarlet mallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) 1% (0 - 4) lance-leaved psoralea (Psoralea lanceolata) 1% (0 - 4) hairy golden-aster (Heterotheca villosa) 1% (0 - 5) Major shrubs rose (Rosa spp.) 1% (0 - 3) western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) 1% (0 - 3)



Minor graminoids 1% salt grass (Distichlis stricta), sheep fescue (Festuca saximontana), rush (Juncus spp.), Canada blue grass (Poa compressa), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus), green needle grass (Stipa viridula) Minor forbs and half-shrubs 4% woolly yarrow (Achillea millefolium), pygmyflower (Androsace septentrionalis), crocus anemone (Anemone patens), everlasting (Antennaria spp.), prairie sage (Artemisia ludoviciana), showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), chamaerhodos (Chamaerhodos erecta), broomweed (Gutierrezia diversifolia), skeletonweed (Lygodesmia juncea), moss phlox (Phlox hoodii), silverweed (Potentilla anserina), goldenrod (Solidago spp.), golden bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia), American vetch (Vicia americana) Minor shrubs 0% silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana), creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) Minor cactus 0% prickly-pear (Opuntia spp.) SIMILARITY TO REFERENCE COMMUNITY near reference community PRODUCTION graminoids 700 kg/ha RECOMMENDED STOCKING RATE Dry Mixed Grassland 0.47 AUM/ha 0.19 AUM/ac Mixed Grassland 0.69 AUM/ha 0.28 AUM/ac



MG-SD-C

Needle-and-thread - June Grass - Sedge - Blue Grama Mixed Grassland and Dry Mixed Grassland: Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Mixed prairie with short grasses and midgrasses codominant, and with lesser components of forbs and half-shrubs. Shrub cover usually low. Interpreted as showing minor alteration from the reference community as a result of heavy grazing impact. Probably develops from the reference community (MG-SD-B) by decreases in wheat grasses and western porcupine grass and increases in june grass, sedges, and blue grama.

STRUCTURE

tall shrub cover (n=20) 0% (0 - 1) clubmoss cover (n=31) 12% (0 - 28) short shrub cover (n=20) 2% (0 - 6) moss cover (n=11) 0% (0 - 0) prostrate shrub cover (n=20) 0% (0 - 0) lichen cover (n=14) 7% (0 - 15) cactus cover (n=20) 0% (0 - 0) litter cover (n=19) 20% (6 - 30) herbaceous cover (n=37) 48% (24 - 73) bare soil (n=28) 10% (0 - 22) - midgrasses approx. 20% - shortgrasses approx. 20% - half-shrubs approx. 5% - forbs approx. 5% SPECIES COMPOSITION

% biomass (n=41)

% cover (n=11)

Major graminoids needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) 22% (4 - 33) 8% (0 - 15) june grass (Koeleria cristata) 14% (2 - 26) 7% (0 - 15) sedge (Carex spp.) 13% (4 - 25) 3% (0 - 6) blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) 12% (2 - 23) 13% (0 - 15) western wheat grass (Agropyron smithii) 5% (0 - 12) 0% (0 - 0) sand grass (Calamovilfa longifolia) 4% (0 - 11) 0% (0 - 0) northern wheat grass (Agropyron dasystachyum) 2% (0 - 9) 2% (0 - 3) plains reed grass (Calamagrostis montanensis) 1% (0 - 4) 0% (0 - 0) western porcupine grass (Stipa curtiseta) 1% (0 - 1) 0% (0 - 0) blue grass (Poa spp.) 1% (0 - 0) 0% (0 - 0) sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) 1% (0 - 1) 0% (0 - 0) crested wheat grass (Agropyron pectiniforme) 0% (0 - 0) 1% (0 - 3) Major forbs and half-shrubs pasture sage (Artemisia frigida) 8% (2 - 16) 6% (0 - 15) hairy golden-aster (Heterotheca villosa) 2% (0 - 4) 0% (0 - 0) lance-leaved psoralea (Psoralea lanceolata) 1% (0 - 4) 0% (0 - 0) prairie sage (Artemisia ludoviciana) 1% (0 - 2) 0% (0 - 0) moss phlox (Phlox hoodii) 1% (0 - 2) 1% (0 - 3) broomweed (Gutierrezia diversifolia) 0% (0 - 0) 1% (0 - 3)



Major shrubs rose (Rosa spp.) 2% (0 - 6) 1% (0 - 3) silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana) 1% (0 - 2) 0% (0 - 0) western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) 1% (0 - 4) 1% (0 - 3) wolf-willow (Elaeagnus commutata) 1% (0 - 0) 0% (0 - 0) Minor graminoids 2% 0% bearded wheat grass (Agropyron trachycaulum var. unilaterale), smooth brome (Bromus inermis), salt grass (Distichlis stricta), sheep fescue (Festuca saximontana), rush (Juncus spp.), plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata), Canby's blue grass (Poa canbyi), Kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis), Sandberg's blue grass (Poa sandbergii), alkali cord grass (Spartina gracilis), prairie cord grass (Spartina pectinata), prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) Minor forbs and half-shrubs 5% 3% woolly yarrow (Achillea millefolium), prairie onion (Allium textile), pygmyflower (Androsace septentrionalis), crocus anemone (Anemone patens), everlasting (Antennaria spp.), reflexed rockcress (Arabis holboellii), sage (Artemisia spp.), aster (Aster spp.), lotus milk-vetch (Astragalus lotiflorus), Nuttall's atriplex (Atriplex nuttallii), field chickweed (Cerastium arvense), chamaerhodos (Chamaerhodos erecta), lamb's-quarters (Chenopodium album), pale comandra (Comandra pallida), horsetail (Equisetum spp.), fleabane (Erigeron spp.), small-flowered mustard (Erysimum inconspicuum), scarlet gaura (Gaura coccinea), blue-bur (Lappula spp.), common pepper-grass (Lepidium densiflorum), large flowered yellow flax (Linum rigidum), narrow-leaved puccoon (Lithospermum incisum), skeletonweed (Lygodesmia juncea), white sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis), white beard-tongue (Penstemon albidus), purple prairie-clover (Petalostemon purpureum), prairie cinquefoil (Potentilla pensylvanica), silver-leaved psoralea (Psoralea argophylla), dock (Rumex spp.), low goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis), scarlet mallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea), golden bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia), violet (Viola spp.) Minor shrubs 0% 0% creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides)

Minor cactus 0% 0% purple cactus (Coryphanta vivipara), prickly-pear (Opuntia polyacantha) SIMILARITY TO REFERENCE COMMUNITY (MG-SD-B) 75% PRODUCTION graminoids 500 kg/ha; forbs 150 kg/ha RECOMMENDED STOCKING RATE Dry Mixed Grassland 0.47 AUM/ha 0.19 AUM/ac Mixed Grassland 0.69 AUM/ha 0.28 AUM/ac



MG-SD-D

Pasture Sage - June Grass - Sedge - Needle-and-thread - Blue Grama Mixed Grassland and Dry Mixed Grassland: Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Mixed prairie dominated by shortgrasses, with lesser components of midgrasses, half-shrubs and forbs. Shrub cover usually low. Interpreted as showing moderate alteration from the reference community as a result of heavy grazing impact. Probably develops from MG-SD-C by decrease in needle-and-thread and increase in pasture sage.

STRUCTURE

short shrub cover (n=24) 1% (0 - 4) clubmoss cover (n=25) 17% (0 - 38) prostrate shrub cover (n=24) 0% (0 - 0) moss cover ? cactus cover (n=24) 0% (0 - 1) lichen cover (n=21) 5% (0 - 15) herbaceous cover (n=34) 46% (23 - 73) litter cover (n=11) 14% (0 - 24) - midgrasses approx. 10% bare soil (n=29) 7% (0 - 23) - shortgrasses approx. 20% - half-shrubs approx. 10% - forbs approx. 10% SPECIES COMPOSITION % biomass (n=23) % cover (n=19) Major graminoids june grass (Koeleria cristata) 16% (2 - 33) 4% (0 - 15) sedge (Carex spp.) 12% (2 - 20) 7% (0 - 22) needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) 12% (2 - 25) 5% (0 - 15) blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) 10% (1 - 19) 4% (0 - 5) western wheat grass (Agropyron smithii) 3% (0 - 7) 0% (0 - 0) sand grass (Calamovilfa longifolia) 2% (0 - 6) 0% (0 - 1) plains reed grass (Calamagrostis montanensis) 2% (0 - 5) 0% (0 - 0) Sandberg's blue grass (Poa sandbergii) 1% (0 - 2) 0% (0 - 0) blue grass (Poa spp.) 1% (0 - 5) 0% (0 - 0) northern wheat grass (Agropyron dasystachyum) 1% (0 - 4) 0% (0 - 0) western porcupine grass (Stipa curtiseta) 1% (0 - 0) 0% (0 - 0) sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) 1% (0 - 2) 0% (0 - 0) rush (Juncus spp.) 1% (0 - 1) 0% (0 - 0) crested wheat grass (Agropyron pectiniforme) 1% (0 - 0) 0% (0 - 0) sheep fescue (Festuca saximontana) 1% (0 - 1) 0% (0 - 0)

Major forbs and half-shrubs pasture sage (Artemisia frigida) 16% (5 - 24) 7% (0 - 15) lance-leaved psoralea (Psoralea lanceolata) 2% (0 - 5) 0% (0 - 0) moss phlox (Phlox hoodii) 2% (0 - 7) 5% (0 - 15) hairy golden-aster (Heterotheca villosa) 1% (0 - 3) 1% (0 - 3) locoweed (Oxytropis spp.) 1% (0 - 0) 0% (0 - 0) lamb's-quarters (Chenopodium album) 1% (0 - 0) 0% (0 - 0) dotted blazingstar (Liatris punctata) 1% (0 - 2) 0% (0 - 0) scarlet mallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) 1% (0 - 1) 0% (0 - 0) tufted fleabane (Erigeron caespitosus) 0% (0 - 0) 1% (0 - 0) silver-leaved psoralea (Psoralea argophylla) 0% (0 - 0) 1% (0 - 0)



Major shrubs rose (Rosa spp.) 1% (0 - 5) 1% (0 - 1) silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana) 1% (0 - 2) 0% (0 - 1) wolf-willow (Elaeagnus commutata) 1% (0 - 2) 0% (0 - 0) Minor graminoids 2% 1% bluebunch wheat grass (Agropyron spicatum), bearded wheat grass (Agropyron trachycaulum var. unilaterale), salt grass (Distichlis stricta), Hooker's oat grass (Helictotrichon hookeri), plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata), mat muhly (Muhlenbergia richardsonis), white-grained mountain rice grass (Oryzopsis asperifolia), Indian rice grass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), Canada blue grass (Poa compressa), Kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), alkali cord grass (Spartina gracilis)

Minor forbs and half-shrubs 6% 3% prairie onion (Allium textile), pygmyflower (Androsace septentrionalis), crocus anemone (Anemone patens), everlasting (Antennaria spp.), reflexed rockcress (Arabis holboellii), plains wormwood (Artemisia campestris), prairie sage (Artemisia ludoviciana), showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), aster (Aster spp.), narrow-leaved milk-vetch (Astragalus pectinatus), field chickweed (Cerastium arvense), narrow-leaved goosefoot (Chenopodium leptophyllum), pale comandra (Comandra pallida), horsetail (Equisetum spp.), fleabane (Erigeron spp.), yellow umbrella plant (Eriogonum flavum), small-flowered mustard (Erysimum inconspicuum), scarlet gaura (Gaura coccinea), broomweed (Gutierrezia diversifolia), spiny ironplant (Haplopappus spinulosus), hedysarum (Hedysarum spp.), alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii), blue-bur (Lappula spp.), common pepper-grass (Lepidium densiflorum), puccoon (Lithospermum spp.), skeletonweed (Lygodesmia juncea), white beard-tongue (Penstemon albidus), lilac-flowered beard-tongue (Penstemon gracilis), prairie cinquefoil (Potentilla pensylvanica), Indian breadroot (Psoralea esculenta), yellow coneflower (Ratibida columnifera), low goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis), golden bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia), yellow goat's-beard (Tragopogon dubius)

Minor shrubs 0% 0% creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis), western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) Minor cactus 0% 0% purple cactus (Coryphanta vivipara), brittle prickly-pear (Opuntia fragilis) SIMILARITY TO REFERENCE COMMUNITY (MG-SD-B) 63% PRODUCTION insufficient data RECOMMENDED STOCKING RATE Dry Mixed Grassland 0.38 AUM/ha 0.15 AUM/ac Mixed Grassland 0.55 AUM/ha 0.22 AUM/ac



MG-SD-E

Crested Wheat Grass Mixed Grassland and Dry Mixed Grassland: Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Grassland strongly dominated by exotic midgrasses, with lesser components of native grasses, forbs, and half-shrubs. Some shrub cover. Interpreted as showing severe alteration from the reference community as a result of exotic invasion. However, may include some old seeded stands that have been reinvaded by native species.

STRUCTURE

short shrub cover ? clubmoss cover (n=8) 4% (0 - 11) prostrate shrub cover moss cover (n=8) 0% (0 - 0) cactus cover lichen cover herbaceous cover (n=10) 58% (42 - 88) litter cover (n=8) 38% (28 - 49) - midgrasses approx. 40% bare soil (n=8) 9% (4 - 18) - shortgrasses approx. 5% - half-shrubs approx. 5% - forbs approx. 10% SPECIES COMPOSITION % biomass (n=12) Major graminoids crested wheat grass (Agropyron pectiniforme) 50% (17 - 77) needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) 5% (0 - 17) blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) 3% (0 - 9) sedge (Carex spp.) 3% (0 - 5) Canada blue grass (Poa compressa) 2% (0 - 0) alkali grass (Puccinellia nuttalliana) 2% (0 - 0) western porcupine grass (Stipa curtiseta) 1% (0 - 0) western wheat grass (Agropyron smithii) 1% (0 - 2) salt grass (Distichlis stricta) 1% (0 - 0) june grass (Koeleria cristata) 1% (0 - 3) northern wheat grass (Agropyron dasystachyum) 1% (0 - 2) smooth brome (Bromus inermis) 1% (0 - 2) sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) 1% (0 - 3) Major forbs and half-shrubs sweetclover (Melilotus spp.) 7% (0 - 0) pasture sage (Artemisia frigida) 5% (0 - 12) prairie sage (Artemisia ludoviciana) 2% (0 - 3) silver-leaved psoralea (Psoralea argophylla) 1% (0 - 2) lance-leaved psoralea (Psoralea lanceolata) 1% (0 - 4) goldenrod (Solidago spp.) 1% (0 - 3) golden bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia) 1% (0 - 1) yellow coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) 1% (0 - 1)



Major shrubs western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) 3% (0 - 7) rose (Rosa spp.) 1% (0 - 4) silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana) 1% (0 - 3) Minor graminoids 1% sand grass (Calamovilfa longifolia), Kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis), green needle grass (Stipa viridula) Minor forbs and half-shrubs 3% woolly yarrow (Achillea millefolium), pygmyflower (Androsace septentrionalis), anemone (Anemone spp.), horsetail (Equisetum spp.), broomweed (Gutierrezia diversifolia), sunflower (Helianthus spp.), hairy golden-aster (Heterotheca villosa), dotted blazingstar (Liatris punctata), silverweed (Potentilla anserina), low goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), yellow goat's-beard (Tragopogon dubius) Minor cactus 0% brittle prickly-pear (Opuntia fragilis), prickly-pear (Opuntia polyacantha) Minor shrubs 0% wolf-willow (Elaeagnus commutata) SIMILARITY TO REFERENCE COMMUNITY (MG-SD-B) 27% PRODUCTION insufficient data RECOMMENDED STOCKING RATE insufficient data



AP-SD-A

Western Porcupine Grass Aspen Parkland: Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Mixed prairie strongly dominated by midgrasses, but with a significant component of shortgrasses, and lesser amounts of forbs and half-shrubs. Shrub cover usually low. Reference community for Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites in the Aspen Parkland.

STRUCTURE

short shrub cover ? clubmoss cover (n=11) 22% (0 - 54) herbaceous cover (n=11) 32% (17 - 45) moss cover (n=8) 0% (0 - 0) - midgrasses approx. 20% lichen cover ? - shortgrasses approx. 10% litter cover (n=8) 44% (28 – 68) - half-shrubs approx. 1% bare soil (n=8) 5% (1 - 10) - forbs approx. 2% SPECIES COMPOSITION % biomass (n=14)Major graminoids western porcupine grass (Stipa curtiseta) 38% (7 - 64) sedge (Carex spp.) 12% (1 - 20) needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) 9% (0 - 13) northern wheat grass (Agropyron dasystachyum) 5% (0 - 13) plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii) 4% (0 - 18) june grass (Koeleria macrantha) 4% (0 - 11) blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) 4% (0 - 8) Hooker's oat grass (Helictotrichon hookeri) 3% (0 - 6) sand grass (Calamovilfa longifolia) 3% (0 - 2) plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata) 2% (0 - 6) western wheat grass (Agropyron smithii) 1% (0 - 3) bearded wheat grass (Agropyron trachycaulum var. unilaterale) 1% (0 - 5) mat muhly (Muhlenbergia richardsonis) 1% (0 - 0) Canada blue grass (Poa compressa) 1% (0 - 1) Major forbs and half-shrubs pasture sage (Artemisia frigida) 3% (1 - 7) crocus anemone (Anemone patens) 2% (0 - 5) cinquefoil (Potentilla spp.) 1% (0 - 2) goldenrod (Solidago spp.) 1% (0 - 2) prairie sage (Artemisia ludoviciana) 1% (0 - 2) hairy golden-aster (Heterotheca villosa) 1% (0 - 2) Major shrubs western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) 2% (0 - 4) rose (Rosa spp.) 1% (0 - 3)



Minor graminoids 1% crested wheat grass (Agropyron pectiniforme), slender wheat grass (Agropyron trachycaulum var. trachycaulum), sheep fescue (Festuca saximontana), Kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis), Sandberg's blue grass (Poa sandbergii), green needle grass (Stipa viridula) Minor forbs and half-shrubs 3% woolly yarrow (Achillea millefolium), pygmy-flower (Androsace septentrionalis), anemone (Anemone spp.), showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), aster (Aster spp.), field chickweed (Cerastium arvense), chamaerhodos (Chamaerhodos erecta), pale comandra (Comandra pallida), common horsetail (Equisetum arvense), smooth wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), three-flowered avens (Geum triflorum), locoweed (Oxytropis spp.), golden bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia), American vetch (Vicia americana) SIMILARITY TO REFERENCE COMMUNITY ref. comm. PRODUCTION insufficient data RECOMMENDED STOCKING RATE Drier part of region 1.05 AUM/ha 0.43 AUM/ac Moister part of region 1.60 AUM/ha 0.65 AUM/ac



AP-SD-B

Western Porcupine Grass – Sedge Aspen Parkland: Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Mixed prairie dominated by midgrasses, but with shortgrasses subdominant. Lesser amounts of forbs and half-shrubs. Shrub cover usually low. Interpreted as showing minor alteration from the reference community as a result of grazing impact. Probably develops from the reference community (AP-SD-A) by decrease in western porcupine grass and increase in a variety of species.

STRUCTURE

short shrub cover ? clubmoss cover (n=6) 34% (9 - 66) prostrate shrub cover ? moss cover (n=6) 0% (0 - 0) herbaceous cover (n=6) 34% (24 - 42) lichen cover ? - midgrasses approx. 15% litter cover (n=6) 38% (21 – 58) - shortgrasses approx. 10% bare soil (n=6) 4% (0 - 8) - half-shrubs approx. 2% - forbs approx. 5% SPECIES COMPOSITION % biomass (n=25) Major graminoids western porcupine grass (Stipa curtiseta) 21% (14 - 32) sedge (Carex spp.) 14% (6 - 21) blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) 6% (0 - 16) june grass (Koeleria macrantha) 6% (0 - 13) needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) 3% (0 - 11) Kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis) 3% (0 - 9) sheep fescue (Festuca saximontana) 3% (0 - 8) sand grass (Calamovilfa longifolia) 3% (0 - 9) Hooker's oat grass (Helictotrichon hookeri) 3% (0 - 7) western wheat grass (Agropyron smithii) 2% (0 - 8) northern wheat grass (Agropyron dasystachyum) 2% (0 - 7) plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii) 1% (0 - 4) bearded wheat grass (Agropyron trachycaulum var. unilaterale) 1% (0 - 4) common witch-grass (Panicum capillare) 1% (0 - 6) plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata) 1% (0 - 3) crested wheat grass (Agropyron pectiniforme) 1% (0 - 0) green needle grass (Stipa viridula) 1% (0 - 0) timber oat grass (Danthonia intermedia) 1% (0 - 0)



Major forbs and half-shrubs pasture sage (Artemisia frigida) 5% (0 - 12) field chickweed (Cerastium arvense) 1% (0 - 4) crocus anemone (Anemone patens) 1% (0 - 3) pale comandra (Comandra pallida) 1% (0 - 2) everlasting (Antennaria spp.) 1% (0 - 0) northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) 1% (0 - 3) hairy golden-aster (Heterotheca villosa) 1% (0 - 5) goldenrod (Solidago spp.) 1% (0 - 3) sunflower (Helianthus spp.) 1% (0 - 1) prairie sage (Artemisia ludoviciana) 1% (0 - 2) purple prairie-clover (Petalostemon purpureum) 1% (0 - 2) three-flowered avens (Geum triflorum) 1% (0 - 3) chamaerhodos (Chamaerhodos erecta) 1% (0 - 2) white cinquefoil (Potentilla arguta) 1% (0 - 1) anemone (Anemone spp.) 1% (0 - 0) harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) 1% (0 - 2) Major shrubs creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) 2% (0 - 0) rose (Rosa spp.) 1% (0 - 4) Minor graminoids 2% quack grass (Agropyron repens), slender wheat grass (Agropyron trachycaulum var. trachycaulum), rough hair grass (Agrostis scabra), smooth brome (Bromus inermis), plains reed grass (Calamagrostis montanensis), baltic rush (Juncus balticus), Sandberg's blue grass (Poa sandbergii), alkali cord grass (Spartina gracilis) Minor forbs and half-shrubs 5% woolly yarrow (Achillea millefolium), prairie onion (Allium textile), pygmy-flower (Androsace septentrionalis), plains wormwood (Artemisia campestris), showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), many-flowered aster (Aster ericoides ssp. pansus), umbrella plant (Eriogonum spp.), smooth wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii), yellow sundrops (Oenothera serrulata), owl's-clover (Orthocarpus luteus), moss phlox (Phlox hoodii), common blue-eyed grass (Sisyrhinchium angustifolium), golden bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia), yellow goat's-beard (Tragopogon dubius), American vetch (Vicia americana) Minor shrubs 0% wolf-willow (Elaeagnus commutata), western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) SIMILARITY TO REFERENCE COMMUNITY 66%

PRODUCTION insufficient data RECOMMENDED STOCKING RATE Drier part of region 1.05 AUM/ha 0.43 AUM/ac Moister part of region 1.60 AUM/ha 0.65 AUM/ac



AP-SD-C

Sedge - Western Porcupine Grass - June Grass Aspen Parkland: Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Mixed prairie with shortgrasses and midgrasses codominant, with lesser components of forbs and half-shrubs. Shrub cover usually low. Interpreted as showing moderate alteration from the reference community as a result of grazing impact. Probably develops from AP-SD-B by decrease of western porcupine grass and increase of sedges and june grass.

STRUCTURE

short shrub cover ? clubmoss cover (n=11) 29% (15 - 45) prostrate shrub cover ? moss cover (n=10) 0% (0 - 0) herbaceous cover (n=11) 65% (36 - 83) lichen cover ? - midgrasses approx. 25% litter cover (n=10) 30% (17 - 45) - shortgrasses approx. 25% bare soil (n=10) 3% (1 - 5) - half-shrubs approx. 5% - forbs approx. 10% SPECIES COMPOSITION % biomass (n=20) Major gramimoids sedge (Carex spp.) 20% (8 - 31) western porcupine grass (Stipa curtiseta) 10% (2 - 16) june grass (Koeleria macrantha) 10% (0 - 18) needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) 7% (0 - 15) sand grass (Calamovilfa longifolia) 5% (0 - 14) western wheat grass (Agropyron smithii) 4% (0 - 10) Hooker's oat grass (Helictotrichon hookeri) 3% (0 - 10) blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) 3% (0 - 9) northern wheat grass (Agropyron dasystachyum) 2% (0 - 7) common witch-grass (Panicum capillare) 2% (0 - 10) Kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis) 2% (0 - 7) sheep fescue (Festuca saximontana) 2% (0 - 5) bearded wheat grass (Agropyron trachycaulum var. unilaterale) 1% (0 - 5) plains reed grass (Calamagrostis montanensis) 1% (0 - 1) baltic rush (Juncus balticus) 1% (0 - 2) plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii) 1% (0 - 0) Nuttall's alkali grass (Puccinellia nuttalliana) 1% (0 - 0) Major forbs and half-shrubs pasture sage (Artemisia frigida) 7% (0 - 16) goldenrod (Solidago spp.) 1% (0 - 3) field chickweed (Cerastium arvense) 1% (0 - 5) hairy golden-aster (Heterotheca villosa) 1% (0 - 5) harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) 1% (0 - 3) crocus anemone (Anemone patens) 1% (0 - 3) three-flowered avens (Geum triflorum) 1% (0 - 2) pale comandra (Comandra pallida) 1% (0 - 2) prairie sage (Artemisia ludoviciana) 1% (0 - 2) dotted blazingstar (Liatris punctata) 1% (0 - 3)



Major shrubs western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) 2% (0 - 8) rose (Rosa spp.) 1% (0 - 4) creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) 1% (0 - 0) Minor graminoids 2% crested wheat grass (Agropyron pectiniforme), rough hair grass (Agrostis scabra), salt grass (Distichlis stricta), Canada wild rye (Elymus canadensis), plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata), mat muhly (Muhlenbergia richardsonis), Sandberg's blue grass (Poa sandbergii), prairie cord grass (Spartina pectinata), green needle grass (Stipa viridula) Minor forbs and half-shrubs 6% woolly yarrow (Achillea millefolium), pygmy-flower (Androsace septentrionalis), everlasting (Antennaria spp.), sage (Artemisia spp.), showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), many-flowered aster (Aster ericoides ssp. pansus), chamaerhodos (Chamaerhodos erecta), goosefoot (Chenopodium spp.), common horsetail (Equisetum arvense), tufted fleabane (Erigeron caespitosus), northern bedstraw (Galium boreale), sunflower (Helianthus spp.), owl's-clover (Orthocarpus luteus), locoweed (Oxytropis spp.), purple prairie-clover (Petalostemon purpureum), moss phlox (Phlox hoodii), common plantain (Plantago major), white cinquefoil (Potentilla arguta), common blue-eyed grass (Sisyrhinchium angustifolium), scarlet mallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea), golden bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia), violet (Viola spp.) Minor shrubs 0% narrow-leaved meadowsweet (Spiraea alba) SIMILARITY TO REFERENCE COMMUNITY 58% PRODUCTION insufficient data RECOMMENDED STOCKING RATE Drier part of region 0.84 AUM/ac 0.34 AUM/ac Moister part of region 1.28 AUM/ac 0.52 AUM/ac



AP-SD-D

Needle-and-thread - June Grass Aspen Parkland: Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Mixed prairie dominated by midgrasses, but with a significant component of shortgrasses, and lesser components of half-shrubs and forbs. Often with significant patches of short shrubs. Interpreted as showing moderate to significant alteration from the reference community as a result of grazing impact. Probably develops from the reference community (AP-SD-A) by decrease of western porcupine grass and increase of needle-and-thread, pasture sage, and june grass. STRUCTURE - insufficient data SPECIES COMPOSITION % biomass (n=20) Major graminoids needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) 25% (16 - 34) june grass (Koeleria macrantha) 10% (3 - 18) sedge (Carex spp.) 9% (4 - 17) northern wheat grass (Agropyron dasystachyum) 5% (0 - 21) western porcupine grass (Stipa curtiseta) 4% (0 - 10) western wheat grass (Agropyron smithii) 3% (0 - 14) Kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis) 2% (0 - 9) sand grass (Calamovilfa longifolia) 2% (0 - 9) plains reed grass (Calamagrostis montanensis) 2% (0 - 6) blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) 1% (0 - 4) Sandberg's blue grass (Poa sandbergii) 1% (0 - 4) Nuttall's alkali grass (Puccinellia nuttalliana) 1% (0 - 3) redtop (Agrostis stolonifera) 1% (0 - 1) sheep fescue (Festuca saximontana) 1% (0 - 5) timber oat grass (Danthonia intermedia) 1% (0 - 0) Major forbs and half-shrubs pasture sage (Artemisia frigida) 13% (4 - 23) crocus anemone (Anemone patens) 2% (0 - 7) goldenrod (Solidago spp.) 1% (0 - 3) three-flowered avens (Geum triflorum) 1% (0 - 4) woolly yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 1% (0 - 2) golden bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia) 1% (0 - 2) Major shrubs western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) 5% (0 - 12) rose (Rosa spp.) 1% (0 - 5)



Minor graminoids 2% crested wheat grass (Agropyron pectiniforme), bearded wheat grass (Agropyron trachycaulum var. unilaterale), Russian wild rye (Elymus junceus), plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii), Hooker's oat grass (Helictotrichon hookeri), baltic rush (Juncus balticus), plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata), mat muhly (Muhlenbergia richardsonis), common witch-grass (Panicum capillare), prairie cord grass (Spartina pectinata) Minor forbs and half-shrubs 5% pygmy-flower (Androsace septentrionalis), everlasting (Antennaria spp.), plains wormwood (Artemisia campestris), prairie sage (Artemisia ludoviciana), showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), harebell (Campanula rotundifolia), field chickweed (Cerastium arvense), chamaerhodos (Chamaerhodos erecta), tufted fleabane (Erigeron caespitosus), smooth wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa), broomweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae), sunflower (Helianthus spp.), hairy golden-aster (Heterotheca villosa), skeletonweed (Lygodesmia juncea), locoweed (Oxytropis spp.), purple prairie-clover (Petalostemon purpureum), moss phlox (Phlox hoodii), white cinquefoil (Potentilla arguta), American vetch (Vicia americana) SIMILARITY TO REFERENCE COMMUNITY 48% PRODUCTION insufficient data RECOMMENDED STOCKING RATE Drier part of region 0.84 AUM/ac 0.34 AUM/ac Moister part of region 1.28 AUM/ac 0.52 AUM/ac



AP-SD-E

Pasture Sage - Sedge - Needle-and-thread - June Grass Aspen Parkland: Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Mixed prairie dominated by shortgrasses, but with a significant component of midgrasses, and lesser components of half-shrubs and forbs. Shrub cover usually low. Interpreted as showing significant alteration from the reference community as a result of heavy grazing impact. May develop from AP-SD-C by decrease of western porcupine grass and increase of pasture sage. May also develop from AP-SD-D by decrease of needle-and-thread and increase of pasture sage and sedges.

STRUCTURE

short shrub cover ? clubmoss cover (n=5) 18% (5 - 31) herbaceous cover (n=7) 58% (38 - 73) moss cover ? - midgrasses approx. 15% lichen cover ? - shortgrasses approx. 20% litter cover (n=6) 29% (11 - 47) - half-shrubs approx. 10% bare soil (n=6) 11% (2 - 21) - forbs approx. 10% SPECIES COMPOSITION % biomass (n=20) Major graminoids sedge (Carex spp.) 16% (3 - 28) needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) 12% (0 - 24) june grass (Koeleria macrantha) 10% (1 - 22) blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) 5% (0 - 13) Kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis) 5% (0 - 12) western wheat grass (Agropyron smithii) 4% (0 - 12) western porcupine grass (Stipa curtiseta) 3% (0 - 9) northern wheat grass (Agropyron dasystachyum) 2% (0 - 4) sand grass (Calamovilfa longifolia) 1% (0 - 4) sheep fescue (Festuca saximontana) 1% (0 - 4) Hooker's oat grass (Helictotrichon hookeri) 1% (0 - 2) common witch-grass (Panicum capillare) 1% (0 - 0) Major forbs and half-shrubs pasture sage (Artemisia frigida) 17% (1 - 41) goldenrod (Solidago spp.) 1% (0 - 4) field chickweed (Cerastium arvense) 1% (0 - 6) three-flowered avens (Geum triflorum) 1% (0 - 4) hairy golden-aster (Heterotheca villosa) 1% (0 - 2) golden bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia) 1% (0 - 1) showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) 1% (0 - 0) horsetail (Equisetum spp.) 1% (0 - 1) woolly yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 1% (0 - 1)

Major shrubs rose (Rosa spp.) 3% (0 - 8) western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) 1% (0 - 2)



Minor graminoids 3% quack grass (Agropyron repens), bearded wheat grass (Agropyron trachycaulum var. unilaterale) rough hair grass (Agrostis scabra), fringed brome (Bromus ciliatus), smooth brome (Bromus inermis) plains reed grass (Calamagrostis montanensis), timber oat grass (Danthonia intermedia), salt grass (Distichlis stricta), Canada wild rye (Elymus canadensis), Russian wild rye (Elymus junceus), plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii), six weeks fescue (Festuca octoflora), baltic rush (Juncus balticus), plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata), Sandberg's blue grass (Poa sandbergii) Minor forbs and half-shrubs 10% pygmy-flower (Androsace septentrionalis), crocus anemone (Anemone patens), everlasting (Antennaria spp.), plains wormwood (Artemisia campestris), prairie sage (Artemisia ludoviciana), harebell (Campanula rotundifolia), chamaerhodos (Chamaerhodos erecta), pale comandra (Comandra pallida), common horsetail (Equisetum arvense), tufted fleabane (Erigeron caespitosus), northern bedstraw (Galium boreale), broomweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae), alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii), kochia (Kochia scoparia), wild peavine (Lathyrus venosus), white sweet-clover (Melilotus alba), purple prairie-clover (Petalostemon purpureum), moss phlox (Phlox hoodii), common silverweed (Potentilla anserina), white cinquefoil (Potentilla arguta), violet (Viola spp.) Minor shrubs 0% narrow-leaved meadowsweet (Spiraea alba) SIMILARITY TO REFERENCE COMMUNITY 46% PRODUCTION insufficient data RECOMMENDED STOCKING RATE Drier part of region 0.63 AUM/ha 0.26 AUM/ac Moister part of region 0.96 AUM/ha 0.39 AUM/ac



AP-SD-F

Crested Wheat Grass – Sedge Aspen Parkland: Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Grassland dominated by exotic midgrasses, with lesser components of native grasses, forbs, and half-shrubs. May have significant patches of short shrubs. Interpreted as showing significant alteration from the reference community as a result of exotic invasion. However, may include some old seeded stands that have been reinvaded by native species. STRUCTURE - insufficient data SPECIES COMPOSITION % biomass (n=7) Major graminoids crested wheat grass (Agropyron pectiniforme) 22% (12 - 31) sedge (Carex spp.) 10% (2 - 17) june grass (Koeleria macrantha) 7% (1 - 15) needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) 6% (0 - 17) Canada wild rye (Elymus canadensis) 4% (0 - 10) Kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis) 4% (0 - 10) northern wheat grass (Agropyron dasystachyum) 3% (0 - 8) Sandberg's blue grass (Poa sandbergii) 3% (0 - 7) smooth brome (Bromus inermis) 2% (0 - 5) western wheat grass (Agropyron smithii) 2% (0 - 6) blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) 1% (0 - 5) western porcupine grass (Stipa curtiseta) 1% (0 - 4) Hooker's oat grass (Helictotrichon hookeri) 1% (0 - 3) bearded wheat grass (Agropyron trachycaulum var. unilaterale) 1% (0 - 2) Major forbs and half-shrubs pasture sage (Artemisia frigida) 9% (3 - 18) hairy golden-aster (Heterotheca villosa) 4% (0 - 10) goldenrod (Solidago spp.) 2% (0 - 6) golden bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia) 2% (0 - 5) many-flowered aster (Aster ericoides ssp. pansus) 1% (0 - 3) prairie sage (Artemisia ludoviciana) 1% (0 - 3) wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) 1% (0 - 3) gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa) 1% (0 - 3) three-flowered avens (Geum triflorum) 1% (0 - 2) yellow coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) 1% (0 - 2) Major shrubs western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) 4% (0 - 8) rose (Rosa spp.) 4% (0 - 11)



Minor graminoids 1% redtop (Agrostis stolonifera), sand grass (Calamovilfa longifolia), plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii) baltic rush (Juncus balticus), mat muhly (Muhlenbergia richardsonis), green needle grass (Stipa viridula) Minor forbs and half-shrubs 3% woolly yarrow (Achillea millefolium), everlasting (Antennaria spp.), aster (Aster spp.), Missouri milk-vetch (Astragalus missouriensis), owl's-clover (Orthocarpus luteus), moss phlox (Phlox hoodii), violet (Viola spp.) SIMILARITY TO REFERENCE COMMUNITY 39% PRODUCTION insufficient data RECOMMENDED STOCKING RATE insufficient data



PHOTO CREDITS: Front Cover – Sandy Loam Ecosite in the Mixed Grassland; Page 5 – Sand Ecosite near Tompkins; Page 9 – Needle-and-thread – Wheatgrass - Sedge Community. Photos by Bob Godwin. SUGGESTED CITATION Thorpe, J. 2007. Saskatchewan Rangeland Ecosystems, Publication 5: Communities on the Sand and

Sandy Loam Ecosites. Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan. Saskatchewan Research Council Pub. No. 11881-5E07.

For additional copies, please contact:

Michel Tremblay, Provincial Forage Specialist Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

3085 Albert St., Regina, SK S4S 0B1 Tel: (306) 787-7712 Email: [email protected]

Documents

Communities on the Sand and Sandy Loam Ecosites