Vegetation of steep slopes in the shrub-steppe region of south-central Washington

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:7312289

Sauer, R H; Rickard, W H

This paper presents data and conclusions concerning the vegetation and soils of steep natural slopes of arid regions. Cover by species and soil physical and chemical properties were taken from 10 canyons along the Columbia River north of Pasco, Washington. Vegetative cover was significantly different and averaged 25 percent on the south-facing and 72 percent on the north-facing slopes. The mean number of species were significantly different. Four species were restricted to the south slopes, 10 were restricted to the north slopes, and 23 were common to both. Poa sandbergii and Agropyron spicatum, native perennial grasses, dominated the north-facing slopes and Bromus tectorum, an alien annual grass, dominated the south-facing slopes. Soils were shallower and rockier on the south-facing slopes. Even though vegetative cover and number of species were different, the similar number of dominant species suggest community functions are nonetheless similar in these contrasting environments.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: E(45-1)-1830
• OSTI ID: 7312289
• Report Number(s): BNWL-SA-5960; CONF-770219-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510100* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ARID LANDS
BIOLOGICAL VARIABILITY
BIOMASS
CLIMATES
COLUMBIA RIVER
DESERTS
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
GENETIC VARIABILITY
GRASS
GROWTH
NORTH AMERICA
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RIVERS
SOILS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TOPOGRAPHY
USA
WASHINGTON