Hart Mountain (gradient site)
|
Links to other gradient sites: Hanford Reynolds Creek South Ruby Mountain Great Basin National Park |
Location: Hart Mountain, Great Basin (IRON, domain 15), HMTN_OR_IRON
Contact person: David Pyke, 541-750-7334, david_a_pyke@usgs.gov
Webpage: http:// neon-iron.org, http://sagestep.org
|
 |
History: The Hart Mountain site was established as part of the Joint Fire Science Project to understand the ways to restore sagebrush ecosystems as a result of both juniper expansion and invasive species; each resulting in increased fire frequencies and the conversion of sagebrush shrublands to annual grasslands (http://sagebrushstep.org). In addition to control plots, the site consists of several long-term treatment plots: burned, herbicide application, and physical juniper removal). Treatment and control plots at this site range from 81 to 405 ha, where cheatgrass ranges from being a minor component to being a co-dominate with sagebrush in the plant community. Treatments will be applied in 2007 and follow-up measurements of soils, plants and animals will be made by members of the Joint Fire Science Project team.
Key characteristics: This site is dominated by the three dominant vegetation associations that characterize the basin portion of the basin and range of the Great Basin: sagebrush steppe, invasive annual grassland, and sage-brush juniper steppe.
|
Climatic location of Hart Mountain within the BAR SALT gradient are shown in blue. Contributions to national gradients: drought, land cover, invasives, infectious disease |
 |
 |
Existing infrastructure relevant to NEON: There are meteorological stations on site that have been operational for a limited period of time.
Facilities: There are no established onsite facilities.