South Ruby Mountain (gradient site)
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Links to other gradient sites: Hanford Hart Mountain Reynolds Creek Great Basin National Park |
Location: South Ruby Mountain (IRON, domain 15)
Contact person: Jeanne Chambers, 775-784-5329, jchambers@fs.fed.gov
Webpage: http:// neon-iron.org, http://sagestep.org
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History: The South Ruby 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 sagebrush juniper steppe.
| Climatic location of South Ruby Mountain within the BAR SALT gradient are shown in blue. Contributions to national gradients: drought, land cover, invasives, infectious disease |  |
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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.