Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-21T17:04:10.215Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Survival and Growth of Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) Plants in Reciprocal Gardens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Raymond A. Evans
Affiliation:
U.S. Dep. Agric., Agric. Res. Serv., 920 Valley Road, Reno, NV 89512
James A. Young
Affiliation:
U.S. Dep. Agric., Agric. Res. Serv., 920 Valley Road, Reno, NV 89512

Abstract

Survival and growth of five collections of big sagebrush were compared in reciprocal transplant gardens. The study was designed to further the understanding of seedling ecology of this important rangeland plant. Survival of transplanted seedlings was not tied to their origin, but antagonism for collection site in survival was apparent for some collections. The site with the highest environmental potential as indexed by native plant community, soil development, and precipitation had the poorest seedling survival. The site with the lowest environmental potential produced seedlings that had the highest survival across all reciprocal gardens. The average mortality level after 3 yr was 11%, indicating that seedlings of big sagebrush can be transplanted successfully. In dry years, the collection from the driest location had the highest amount of juvenile biomass accumulation. However, during a season with much above-normal precipitation this was reversed and the amount of growth for this source was below levels observed for the dry years. The relation between subspecies of big sagebrush and survival or growth of the collections used in this study was not clear. Because collections were made on arid extremes of the subspecies they may reflect introgressive populations among subspecies.

Type
Weed Biology and Ecology
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. Anonymous. 1972. The nations range resources – a forest-range environmental study (FRES). Forest Service, U.S. Dep. Agric. GPO, Washington, DC. 129 pp.Google Scholar
2. Barker, J. R. and McKell, C. M. 1983. Habitat differences between Basin and Wyoming big sagebrush in contiguous populations. J. Range Manage. 36:450480.Google Scholar
3. Beetle, A. A. 1960. A study of sagebrush. The section tridentatae of Artemisia . Wyoming Agric. Exp. Stn. Bull. 368. Laramie, WY. 83 pp.Google Scholar
4. Beetle, A. A. and Young, J. A. 1965. A third subspecies in the Artemesia tridentata complex. Rhendora 67:405406.Google Scholar
5. Clausen, J., Keck, D. D., and Hiesey, W. 1948. Experimental studies on the nature of species. III. Environmental responses of climatic races of Achillea . Carnegie Inst Wash. Publ. 581, Washington, DC. 129 pp.Google Scholar
6. Hanks, D. L., McArthur, E. D., Stevens, R., and Plummer, A. P. 1972. Chromatographic characteristics and phylogenetic relationships of Artemisia, section tridentatae. Res. Paper INT-141. Intermediate Forest and Range Exp. Stn., Forest Service, U.S. Dep. Agric., Odgen, UT, 24 pp.Google Scholar
7. Holbo, H. R. and Mozingo, H. N. 1965. The chromatographic characterizing of Artemisia, section tridentatae . Am. J. Bot. 52:970978.Google Scholar
8. Holbo, H. R. and Mozingo, H. N. 1965. The chromotographic characterizing of Artemisia, section tridentatae . Am. J. Bot. 52:970978.Google Scholar
9. Houghton, J. G., Sakamoto, C. M., and Gifford, R. O. 1972. Nevada's weather and climate. Special Publ. No. 2. Nevada Bur. of Mines and Geol., Mackay School of Mining, Univ. Nevada, Reno. 78 pp.Google Scholar
10. Jacobson, T. L. and Welch, B. L. 1987. Planting depth of “Hobble Creek” mountain big sagebrush seed. Great Basin Nat 47:497499.Google Scholar
11. McArthur, E. D., Pope, C. L., and Freeman, D. C. 1981. Chromosomal studies of subgenus tridentatae of Artemisia: Evidence for autopelploidy. Am. J. Bot. 68:589605.Google Scholar
12. McArthur, E. D. and Welch, B. L. 1982. Growth rate differences among big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and subspecies. J. Range Manage. 38:386401.Google Scholar
13. McArthur, E. D. 1983. Taxonomy, origin and distribution of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and allies (subgenus tridentatae). Pages 313 in Johnson, K. L., ed. Proceedings of the First Utah Shrub Biology Workshop, Coll. of Natural Resources, Utah State Univ., Logan, UT.Google Scholar
14. McArthur, E. D., Welch, B. L., and Sanderson, S. C. 1988. Natural and artificial hybridization between big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) subspecies. J. Hered. 79:268276.Google Scholar
15. Pechanec, J. F. 1945. Indicators of downward trend in sagebrush perennial grass range grazed by sheep in spring and fall. Forest Service, U.S. Dep. Agric., Intermountain For. and Range Exp. Stn. Res. Paper 12. 2 pp.Google Scholar
16. Sneva, F. A. 1972. Grazing return following sagebrush control in eastern Oregon. J. Range Manage. 25:174198.Google Scholar
17. Welch, B. L. and McArthur, E. D. 1981. Variation of monoterpernoid content among subspecies and accessions of Artemisia tridentata grown in a uniform garden. J. Range Manage. 34:380384.Google Scholar
18. Welch, B. L. and McArthur, E. D. 1986. Wintering mule deer preference for 21 accessions of big sagebrush. Great Basin Nat 46:281286.Google Scholar
19. West, N. E., ed. 1983. Temperate desert and semideserts. Elsevier Sci. Publ Co., Amsterdam, Netherlands. 507 pp.Google Scholar
20. Winward, A. A. and Tisdale, E. W. 1977. Taxonomy of the Artemisia tridentata complex in Idaho. Bulletin 19. For., Wildlife, and Range Exp. Stn., Univ. Idaho. 12 pp.Google Scholar
21. Young, J. A., Evans, R. A., and Palmquist, D. A. 1989a. Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) seed production. Weed Sci. 37:4753.Google Scholar
22. Young, J. A. and Evans, R. A. 1989a. Dispersal and germination of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) seeds. Weed Sci. 37:201206.Google Scholar
23. Young, J. A. and Evans, R. A. 1989b. Reciprocal common garden studies of the germination of seeds of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). Weed Sci. 37:319324.Google Scholar
24. Young, J. A., Evans, R. A., and Palmquist, D. E. 1990. Seedling emergence of big sagebrush. J. Range Manage. (in press).Google Scholar