Describing and Monitoring Rangelands: Ecological Sites

Both influence rangeland ecosystems Composition Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors Both influence rangeland ecosystems

Both influence rangeland ecosystems Composition Abiotic Factors Slope Aspect Minerals Moisture Temperature Biotic Factors Plants Animals Bacteria Fungi Both influence rangeland ecosystems

Describing Being able to describe and monitor rangelands requires a solid foundation and understanding in abiotic and biotic factors Ecological Sites Soils Typography & Watersheds Uplands vs. Riparian

Ecological Site “An Ecological Site is defined as a distinctive kind of land, with specific physical characteristics which differ from other kinds of land in its ability to produce a distinctive kind and amount of vegetation, and in its response to management.” https://wmc.ar.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/mt/technical/landuse/pasture/?cid=nrcs144p2_057024

Ecological Site When the NRCS documents an ecological site. They have 4 major components. Site Characteristics - Describes the physiographic (topography of the area, altitude, drainage conditions, degree of erosion, slope of the land, etc.), climate, soil, and water features associated with the site. Plant Communities - Describes the ecological dynamics and the common plant communities comprising the various vegetation states of the site. The disturbances that cause a shift from one state to another are also described. Site Interpretations - The use and management of the site and its related resources. Supporting Information – Sources of information and data utilized in developing the site description and the relationship of the site to other ecological sites. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1075092.pdf botanydictionary.org/physiographic-factor.html

MT’s current ecological site descriptions are in five major units. “…management decisions require the knowledge of these individual sites and their interrelationships to one another on the landscape.” MT’s current ecological site descriptions are in five major units. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1075092.pdf https://wmc.ar.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/mt/technical/landuse/pasture/?cid=nrcs144p2_057024

Ecological Site Description https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83gKvbB9XbU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lawd3mPI090