Environmental attributes correlating with density of blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) shrubs in the Spring Mountains of southern Nevada

Discovery of distinct mid-elevational bands of blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima Torr.) shrublands on desert mountain slopes in the Mojave Desert caused an investigation of the relationships between environmental factors and Coleogyne distribution. Environmental factors were quantitatively examined to determine which were significant predictors of Coleogyne density at upper-elevational limits (ecotones) in the Spring Mountains of southern Nevada. Path analysis revealed significant, direct causal effects of air temperature, soil moisture, soil depth, and percent litter cover on the distribution of Coleogyne. Specifically, air temperature was a significant positive predictor, while soil moisture, soil depth, and percent...

Categories: Publication; Types: Citation, Journal Citation; Tags: Spring Mountains, Western North American Naturalist, edaphic, soil attributes, soil sll1face variables, All tags... southern Nevada, upper Coleogyne ecotone, Fewer tags