593:
712:
314:
56:
29:
790:
1016:
896:
327:
The bristlecone pine is an important species that is indicative of the Great Basin montane forest. Bristlecones live a long time, some for thousands of years. The harsh areas they occupy are often devoid of other plant life, so there is little competition and reduced risk of fire. The trees grow very
698:
early in the last century, juniper–pinyon woodland has increased in density and expanded into lower sagebrush zones. More recently, large areas of pinyon–juniper woodland have been cleared to increase forage for cattle. The woodland understory is diverse due to the influence of carbonate substrates
681:
canopy overtops and spans the existing sagebrush and mountain brush communities. The pinyon–juniper woodland has a broader elevational range in the carbonate areas of eastern Nevada than elsewhere in Great Basin montane forests, even extending onto the floors of the higher basins, partially because
632:
have not recolonized the Ruby
Mountains, even though the Ruby Mountains receive more precipitation than the High Elevation Carbonate Mountains to the east. The High Elevation Ruby Mountains ecoregion is the wettest ecoregion in Nevada outside of the High Elevation Sierra Nevada. Some of the most
522:
in east-central Nevada. These mountains are in the zone of summer rain, although much of the precipitation percolates through the porous rock to reemerge at lower elevations as springs. Still, these carbonate-dominated mountains support a wider variety of conifers, such as
551:
The
Lahontan Uplands ecoregion is restricted to the highest elevations of the mountain ranges within the Lahontan Salt Shrub Basin ecoregion. Slopes vary in elevation from 6,400 to 8,800 feet (2,000 to 2,700 m) and are covered by sagebrush, grasses, and scattered
351:
The WWF took ecoregion 13 and split it according to elevation, naming the higher sub-ecoregions the "Great Basin montane forests". Below is a list of higher-level Level IV ecoregions. The high-elevation ecoregions are distributed as
711:
348:
adopted
Omernik's ecoregion, labeling it as Level III in its ecoregion hierarchy. Ecoregion 13 was further split into Level IV ecoregions according to elevation and location within Nevada and Utah.
726:
The
Tonopah Uplands ecoregion includes woodland- or shrub-covered hills and mountains ranging from 6,000 to 9,500 feet (1,800 to 2,900 m) in elevation. As elsewhere in the Tonopah region,
699:
and summer rainfall. There are more springs and live streams in this ecoregion than in western non-carbonate woodlands, because the carbonate substrate is soluble and porous, allowing rapid
462:
The
Woodland- and Shrub-Covered Low Mountains ecoregion includes low, rocky mountain ranges, mountain slopes, and foothills with enough available moisture to support open groves of
470:. The region includes a zone of mountain brush that replaces woodland above the elevational limit of pinyon. In southeastern Nevada, this ecoregion is transitional between the
1060:
653:
mingle upwards to the jagged, exposed peaks at elevations over 11,000 feet (3,400 m). Snowmelt moisture trapped by the impervious substrate supports extensive
1080:
982:
592:
694:, juniper grows alone and without distinct elevational banding. Historically, miners cut pinyon and juniper for mine timbers. Since the beginning of
313:
803:
209:
498:
grass may be associated with pinyon–juniper woodland. Summer rainfall is a factor that contributes to woodland diversity and productivity.
734:
elements blend together especially toward the south and east, where some mountain brush and interior chaparral components, including
1065:
763:
539:
have their widest distribution on carbonate substrates above 9,500 feet (2,900 m) elevation. Conditions do not favor
1070:
818:
691:
260:
256:
1020:
990:
1034:
844:
345:
264:
328:
slowly, producing very dense, disease-resistant wood. These factors contribute to the bristlecone's long life.
742:
is extensive between 6,000 and 8,000 feet (1,800 and 2,400 m) elevation. The highest peaks support a few
1090:
812:
299:
202:
91:
771:
1025:
775:
543:, however; alpine plants are more limited than on the nearby granitic High Elevation Ruby Mountains.
45:
1085:
1075:
808:
700:
535:, and a greater diversity of understory species than other ranges in Nevada at similar elevations.
321:
104:
762:
Approximately 97% of this ecoregion's habitat is preserved, most of which is contained within the
506:
The High-Elevation
Carbonate Mountains ecoregion includes a series of mountain ranges composed of
739:
678:
905:
568:
in the southeast portion of the
Lahontan Basin, but it is otherwise absent from this ecoregion.
519:
914:
565:
237:
41:
767:
695:
577:
437:
337:
8:
580:, dominate the understory in the north, but are replaced by warm season grasses, such as
307:
74:
628:
fields, are still active at higher elevations. Since the end of
Pleistocene glaciation,
727:
475:
391:
252:
317:
303:
751:
719:
638:
613:
581:
561:
536:
532:
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55:
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grow to the mountaintops above the woodland zone. Cool season grasses, including
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715:
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629:
605:
573:
283:
244:
79:
33:
1054:
957:
900:
731:
666:
662:
654:
604:
The High
Elevation Ruby Mountains ecoregion represents those portions of the
569:
540:
479:
341:
291:
143:
109:
61:
625:
553:
747:
683:
646:
621:
617:
557:
528:
491:
467:
448:
287:
279:
221:
941:. In Mac, M.J.; Opler, P.A.; Puckett Haeker, C.E.; et al. (eds.).
735:
495:
483:
353:
248:
229:
156:
848:
743:
658:
642:
524:
515:
507:
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275:
198:
28:
356:, without contact with each other. In general, the further from the
609:
419:
306:
often dominates drier, warmer south-facing slopes. Pure stands of
286:
are found in the middle elevations of some mountain ranges, while
687:
463:
302:
occupy the higher elevations, continuing to the upper tree line.
934:
Brussard, P.F.; Charlet, D.A.; Dobkin, D.S.; Ball, L.C. (1998).
225:
161:
983:"Ecoregional Boundaries; Omernik Ecoregions Level 3, Metadata"
634:
205:
86:
457:
220:
The Great Basin montane forests ecoregion is located in the
770:. Smaller instances of this ecoregion are preserved within
233:
16:
Temperate coniferous forests ecoregion of the United States
616:
types, and that were heavily glaciated during the
933:
344:
as a distinct ecoregion, numbered 13. In 1999, the U.S.
943:
Status and trends of the nation's biological resources
501:
945:. Vol. 2. Reno, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey.
785:
482:, with some characteristics of each region. Here,
1061:Temperate coniferous forests of the United States
1010:
1008:
1006:
1004:
1002:
1000:
958:"Ecoregions: a framework for managing ecosystems"
1052:
1027:Level IV Ecoregions of Nevada--poster front side
587:
255:or xeric shrublands. The forests are within the
657:and alpine lakes are common. Wildlife includes
1081:Plant communities of the Western United States
997:
336:In 1987, Omernik defined the area between the
804:List of ecoregions in the United States (WWF)
927:
458:Woodland- and Shrub-Covered Low Mountains
383:Woodland and Shrub-Covered Low Mountains
847:. The Nature Conservancy. Archived from
710:
690:decline north of this ecoregion. In the
591:
312:
975:
955:
839:
837:
835:
1053:
890:
888:
682:of greater summer precipitation. Both
869:
867:
865:
672:
832:
677:In the Carbonate Woodland Zone, the
885:
546:
310:are also common in this community.
261:Northern Basin and Range ecoregions
13:
936:"Great Basin-Mojave Desert Region"
862:
819:Northern Basin and Range ecoregion
706:
692:Northern Basin and Range ecoregion
502:High-Elevation Carbonate Mountains
360:, the less species-rich the area.
14:
1102:
1019: This article incorporates
1014:
899: This article incorporates
894:
788:
608:of Nevada that are dominated by
54:
27:
1066:Ecoregions of the United States
1035:United States Geological Survey
757:
346:Environmental Protection Agency
265:Environmental Protection Agency
949:
845:"Atlas of Global Conservation"
410:High Elevation Ruby Mountains
34:Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (
1:
875:"Great Basin montane forests"
825:
637:groves in Nevada occur here.
630:closed-canopy conifer forests
588:High-Elevation Ruby Mountains
331:
813:Deserts and xeric shrublands
215:
203:Temperate coniferous forests
92:Temperate coniferous forests
7:
989:. EPA. 2003. Archived from
821:— Level III ecoregion (EPA)
781:
195:Great Basin montane forests
22:Great Basin montane forests
10:
1107:
1071:Ecology of the Great Basin
987:NV Geospatial Data Browser
956:Omernik, James M. (1995).
907:Ecology of the Great Basin
776:Great Basin National Parks
718:foliage and pollen cones,
560:grows with juniper on the
270:
451:High Elevation Mountains
394:High Elevation Mountains
210:World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
183:
175:
170:
149:
139:
134:
126:
118:
97:
85:
73:
68:
53:
46:Great Basin National Park
26:
21:
809:Great Basin shrub steppe
449:Sierra Nevada-Influenced
251:at elevations above the
105:Great Basin shrub steppe
965:The George Wright Forum
740:Pinyon-juniper woodland
679:pinyon-juniper woodland
366:Central Basin and Range
208:, as designated by the
1021:public domain material
901:public domain material
881:. World Wildlife Fund.
879:Terrestrial Ecoregions
738:, become more common.
723:
601:
324:
915:National Park Service
815:biome ecoregion (WWF)
768:Inyo National Forests
714:
595:
316:
238:Western United States
578:bluebunch wheatgrass
368:Level IV ecoregions
263:defined by the U.S.
1091:Nearctic ecoregions
624:phenomena, such as
440:-Influenced Ranges
369:
247:are often found on
724:
673:Carbonate Woodland
602:
476:Great Basin Desert
363:
325:
253:Great Basin Desert
639:Subalpine meadows
537:Bristlecone pines
455:
454:
402:Lahontan Uplands
318:Mountain mahogany
304:Mountain mahogany
300:bristlecone pines
191:
190:
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764:Humboldt–Toiyabe
752:bristlecone pine
720:Spring Mountains
716:Bristlecone pine
696:fire suppression
614:metamorphic rock
600:, Ruby Mountains
584:, in the south.
582:Indian ricegrass
562:Stillwater Range
547:Lahontan Uplands
533:Engelmann spruce
472:Colorado Plateau
429:Tonopah Uplands
370:
362:
296:Engelmann spruce
58:
31:
19:
18:
1106:
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1101:
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1099:
1097:
1096:
1095:
1086:Montane forests
1076:Flora of Nevada
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1050:
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852:
843:
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833:
828:
794:
789:
787:
784:
760:
709:
707:Tonopah Uplands
675:
598:Lamoille Canyon
590:
574:black sagebrush
549:
504:
460:
367:
365:
358:Rocky Mountains
334:
322:Maverick Canyon
284:ponderosa pines
273:
245:montane forests
218:
166:
114:
64:
49:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1104:
1094:
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996:
993:on 2014-01-12.
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799:
796:Ecology portal
783:
780:
759:
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708:
705:
674:
671:
667:mountain goats
655:alpine meadows
651:whitebark pine
641:and scattered
620:. Extensive
606:Ruby Mountains
589:
586:
548:
545:
503:
500:
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453:
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364:High-Elevation
333:
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232:, and western
217:
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167:
165:
164:
159:
153:
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137:
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127:Mammal species
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99:
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36:Pinus longaeva
32:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1103:
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959:
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944:
937:
930:
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891:
889:
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851:on 2012-03-05
850:
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769:
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749:
745:
741:
737:
733:
732:Mojave Desert
729:
721:
717:
713:
704:
702:
697:
693:
689:
685:
680:
670:
668:
664:
663:bighorn sheep
660:
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623:
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570:Low sagebrush
567:
566:Fairview Peak
563:
559:
555:
544:
542:
541:alpine tundra
538:
534:
530:
526:
521:
517:
513:
509:
499:
497:
493:
489:
485:
481:
480:Mojave Desert
477:
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469:
465:
450:
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444:
443:
439:
438:Sierra Nevada
436:
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428:
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347:
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342:Wasatch Range
339:
338:Sierra Nevada
329:
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301:
297:
293:
292:subalpine fir
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144:United States
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110:Mojave Desert
108:
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84:
81:
78:
76:
72:
67:
63:
62:North America
57:
52:
47:
43:
39:
37:
30:
25:
20:
1038:. Retrieved
1026:
991:the original
986:
977:
968:
964:
951:
942:
929:
918:. Retrieved
906:
878:
853:. Retrieved
849:the original
772:Death Valley
761:
758:Preservation
725:
701:infiltration
676:
626:solifluction
603:
554:Utah juniper
550:
520:conglomerate
505:
468:pinyon pines
461:
350:
335:
326:
274:
242:
219:
194:
192:
176:Habitat loss
171:Conservation
119:Bird species
60:Location in
42:Wheeler Peak
35:
971:(1): 35–51.
748:limber pine
728:Great Basin
684:pinyon pine
647:limber pine
622:periglacial
618:Pleistocene
558:Pinyon pine
529:Douglas-fir
492:Joshua tree
354:sky islands
288:limber pine
280:Douglas fir
249:sky islands
222:Great Basin
1055:Categories
1040:2017-10-01
920:2015-07-13
855:2017-05-08
826:References
736:Gambel oak
633:extensive
596:Aspens in
496:blue grama
484:Gambel oak
478:, and the
418:Carbonate
332:Subregions
230:California
228:, eastern
224:region of
157:California
744:white fir
659:mule deer
643:white fir
525:white fir
516:quartzite
508:limestone
488:scrub oak
392:Carbonate
276:White fir
236:, in the
216:Geography
199:ecoregion
184:Protected
135:Geography
40:trees on
782:See also
722:, Nevada
610:granitic
512:dolomite
420:Woodland
340:and the
80:Nearctic
688:juniper
564:and on
464:juniper
271:Species
257:Central
201:of the
140:Country
98:Borders
69:Ecology
665:, and
649:, and
531:, and
518:, and
494:, and
298:, and
282:, and
226:Nevada
197:is an
187:97.53%
179:25-50%
162:Nevada
150:States
1031:(PDF)
1023:from
961:(PDF)
939:(PDF)
911:(PDF)
903:from
750:, or
635:aspen
612:and
373:code
308:aspen
206:biome
87:Biome
75:Realm
774:and
766:and
730:and
686:and
572:and
466:and
445:13y
434:13x
426:13w
415:13q
407:13o
399:13l
388:13e
380:13d
243:The
234:Utah
193:The
259:or
122:160
1057::
1033:.
999:^
985:.
969:12
967:.
963:.
913:.
887:^
877:.
864:^
834:^
811:—
778:.
754:.
746:,
703:.
669:.
661:,
645:,
556:.
527:,
514:,
510:,
490:,
486:,
474:,
320:,
294:,
290:,
278:,
267:.
240:.
212:.
130:91
44:,
1043:.
923:.
858:.
48:.
38:)
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