Alpine plant community sampling and stewardship assessment in the Sheep Mountain Research Natural Area, Lemhi Mountains, Idaho

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Sheep Mountain is located along the crest of the Lemhi Range in east-central Idaho. In 1992, Steve Urbanczyk conducted an alpine plant community classification study in the Sheep Mountain area as his graduate research project for the University of Idaho. This study collected community-level plant composition and canopy cover data at a total of 77 plots. Environmental data were also collected at each plot. The resulting classification and ordination recognized eight alpine plant community types linked to apparent habitat preferences. In 2016, the Caribou- Targhee National Forest, Salmon-Challis National Forest, and Mancuso Botanical Services collaborated on a project to resample a subset of the alpine plant community plots originally included in the 1992 study. This resampling presented an opportunity to compare, assess, and document plant community-level changes that may have occurred within the alpine vegetation at Sheep Mountain during the intervening 24 years. We resampled a total of 10 plots in July 2016. This included 2 plots each for the Carex rupestris, Carex elynoides, Calamagrostis purpurascens - Carex elynoides, and Leucopoa kingii community types; plus 1 plot each for the Carex elynoides - Trifolium haydenii and Salix nivalis community types. Comparison of the 2016 and 1992 datasets suggested a general similarity in species composition and relative abundance patterns for the 6 resampled community types. Although based on only limited sampling in 2016, the comparisons did not point to any clear, largescale differences in the alpine vegetation at Sheep Mountain since 1992. Overall, the alpine vegetation at Sheep Mountain continues to be dominated by a dry, turf-like physiognomy. <br> Related to the alpine plant community sampling project was a goal to complete a general stewardship assessment for the Sheep Mountain Research Natural Area (RNA). Most of the RNA occurs on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, but a small section at its southern end extends onto the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Ecological integrity within the RNA was found to be high based on observations made while conducting the alpine plant community sampling and during a dedicated hike along the main crestline ridge to the Sheep Mountain summit. As the primary vegetation features for its establishment, alpine turf and whitebark pine plant communities in the RNA remain in excellent ecological condition. The RNA was largely undisturbed, the only exception being a limited amount of off-road vehicle use near the southern end of the RNA. Overall, ecological values that led to the establishment of Sheep Mountain RNA continue to characterize the area and make it a valuable node in the nationwide RNA network.

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Reference Code: U16MAN05IDUS <br>

Full Citation: Mancuso, M. and R. Lehman. 2016. Alpine plant community sampling and stewardship assessment in the Sheep Mountain Research Natural Area, Lemhi Mountains, Idaho. Report prepared for the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Idaho Falls, ID and Salmon-Challis National Forest, Salmon, ID. Mancuso Botanical Services, Boise, Idaho. 21 pp. plus appendices <br>

Location: ELECTRONIC FILE - BOTANY: MULTIPLE SPECIES <br>

Keywords: Sheep Mountain, Lemhi Range, east-central Idaho, Carex rupestris, Carex elynoides, Calamagrostis purpurascens - Carex elynoides, Leucopoa kingii, Carex elynoides - Trifolium haydenii, Salix nivalis, community type, alpine plant community sampling, Sheep Mountain Research Natural Area, RNA, Salmon-Challis National Forest, Caribou-Targhee National Forest <br>