| Abstract Detail
Systematics Section / ASPT Garrison, Heather [1], Shultz, Leila M. [1], McArthur, E. Durant [2], Winward, Alma [3]. Understanding of a Putative Taxon in Artemisia tridentata Nutt. SAGEBRUSH is the dominant shrub in the Intermountain West and comprises one of the most widespread and ecologically important shrub groups of the North American continent, covering approximately 69 million hectares in the Colorado Plateau and Great Basin provinces alone (West and Young 2000). Most of the twenty subspecies in the thirteen species complex (Shultz 2006) occur within narrowly defined ecological parameters. Members of the recently evolved Artemisia subgenus Tridentatae complex have adapted to rapidly changing environmental conditions during the late Quaternary, resulting in ecotypes, varieties, or subspecies that are adapted for specific habitats (Downs 2000). Geographic migration, introgression, and hybridization have played a crucial role in the differentiation and evolution of these shrubs. A presumed hybrid between two of the Artemisia tridentata subspecies occurs in the moister ranges of Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis and can be found growing with shrubs commonly associated with Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana. The intermediate populations may be preferred habitat for sage grouse and appear to be more heavily grazed by ungulates than the parental populations (Winward 2004). Sixteen morphological characteristics were chosen to determine the putative parents which include Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata and Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana. Four populations at four different study sites for a total of sixteen populations were analyzed. Three of the study sites are located on the Curlew National Grasslands in Idaho and one study site is located on the east side of Bear Lake, Utah.
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1 - Utah State University, Department of Forest, Range, And Wildlife Science, 5230 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah, 84322-5230, USA
2 - USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Shrub Sciences Laboratory, 735 N 500 E, Provo, Utah, 84606, USA
3 - U. S. Forest Service, 324 25th Street, Ogden, Utah, 84401, USA
Keywords:
Artemisia tridentata
hybridization
sagebrush
morphometrics.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 74-7
Location: 120/Ayres
Date: Wednesday, August 2nd, 2006
Time: 2:30 PM
Abstract ID:204 |
