Sierra Nevada Alpine Shrubland

EVT 7071Sierra Nevada Alpine Dwarf-Shrubland
CES206.924GNRShrubShrubland
Summary
This ecological system is found only at the highest elevations, usually above 2800 m (8500 feet), throughout the Sierra Nevada and surrounding high mountain ranges. The system is commonly composed of a mosaic of plant communities that include Arenaria kingii, Cassiope mertensiana, Ericameria discoidea, Artemisia arbuscula, Phlox covillei, Eriogonum incanum, Eriogonum ovalifolium, Eriogonum roseum, Kalmia microphylla, Polygonum shastense, Linanthus pungens (= Leptodactylon pungens), Phyllodoce breweri, Salix arctica, Salix nivalis, Salix reticulata, and Vaccinium cespitosum. Floristically, communities within this system have desert affinities, rather than cordilleran affinities. Vegetation in these areas is controlled by the absence of persistent snow, wind desiccation, permafrost, and a short growing season.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Environment
Elevations are above 2800 m. This system occurs in areas of level or concave glacial topography, with late-lying snow, and subirrigation from surrounding slopes. Soils have become relatively stabilized in these sites, are moist, but well-drained, strongly acidic, and often with substantial peat layers.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Distribution
This system is found only at the highest elevations, usually above 2800 m (8500 feet), throughout the Sierra Nevada and surrounding high mountain ranges.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Ecologically Associated Plant Species

Plant species that characterize this ecosystem type, organized by vegetation stratum. These are species ecologically associated with the ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific area.

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Salix arctica, Salix nivalis, Salix reticulata, Vaccinium caespitosum

Short shrub/sapling

Artemisia arbuscula, Cassiope mertensiana, Ericameria discoidea, Kalmia microphylla, Phyllodoce breweri, Polygonum shastense

Herb (field)

Calamagrostis breweri, Eremogone kingii, Eriogonum incanum, Eriogonum ovalifolium, Eriogonum roseum, Linanthus pungens, Phlox covillei, Sibbaldia procumbens
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Ecologically Associated Animals (1)

Animal species ecologically associated with this ecosystem type based on NatureServe assessment. These are species whose habitat requirements overlap with this ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific roadless area.

Mammals (1)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Western Heather VolePhenacomys intermediusG5
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Component Associations (1)

Plant community associations that occur within this ecological system. Associations are the finest level of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) and describe specific, repeating assemblages of plant species. Each association represents a distinct community type that may be found where this ecosystem occurs.

NameG-Rank
Phlox covillei - Elymus elymoides - Podistera nevadensis Alpine Fell-fieldG3 NatureServe
State Conservation Ranks (2)

Subnational conservation status ranks (S-ranks) assigned by Natural Heritage Programs in each state where this ecosystem occurs. S1 indicates critically imperiled at the state level, S2 imperiled, S3 vulnerable, S4 apparently secure, and S5 secure. An ecosystem may be globally secure but imperiled in specific states at the edge of its range.

StateS-Rank
CASNR
NVSNR
Roadless Areas (36)

Inventoried Roadless Areas where this ecosystem is present, identified from LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type spatial analysis. Coverage indicates the proportion of each area occupied by this ecosystem type.

California (35)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
Table Mtn.Inyo National Forest25.8%440.37
Coyote SoutheastInyo National Forest24.9%5,350.59
Iceberg - Wolf Ck LkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest22.6%16.02
Hall Natural AreaInyo National Forest22.3%472.23
Hoover - Virginia LksHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest19.8%404.01
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest18.8%1,154.88
North LakeInyo National Forest18.5%180.27
SherwinInyo National Forest16.3%207.18
Coyote NorthInyo National Forest16.0%774.45
Hoover - Mt.olsenHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest13.6%34.47
Mt. OlsenInyo National Forest13.6%118.62
Wheeler RidgeInyo National Forest13.4%851.67
Rock Creek WestInyo National Forest12.2%179.19
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9.2%1,004.76
Robinson PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8.5%201.78
Hoover - Green Ck NoHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest7.9%230.04
San JoaquinInyo National Forest7.6%601.38
Glass MountainInyo National Forest6.3%1,342.8
Jobs Peak (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest6.0%553.86
Tioga LakeInyo National Forest5.8%19.35
Laurel McgeeInyo National Forest5.5%195.57
NessieInyo National Forest4.7%15.84
FreelLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit3.8%234.9
Buckeye RidgeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3.7%33.21
Dinkey LakesSierra National Forest2.9%406.08
Hoover - Emma LakeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2.7%10.89
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest2.5%575.55
TinemahaInyo National Forest2.2%240.48
NightStanislaus National Forest2.0%25.38
DardanellesLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit1.7%98.1
Independence CreekInyo National Forest1.6%84.42
Bald MountainTahoe National Forest1.4%32.22
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest0.9%42.03
DardanellesEldorado National Forest0.9%29.16
Mokelumne - Hawkins PkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest0.8%56.07

Nevada (1)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
Mt. Rose RoadlessLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit18.9%40.23
Methodology and Data Sources

Ecosystem classification: Ecosystems are classified using the LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) layer, mapped to NatureServe Terrestrial Ecological Systems via a curated crosswalk. Each EVT is linked to the USNVC (U.S. National Vegetation Classification) hierarchy through pixel-level co-occurrence analysis of LANDFIRE EVT and NatureServe IVC Group rasters across all roadless areas.

Vegetation coverage: Coverage percentages and hectares are derived from zonal statistics of the LANDFIRE 2024 EVT raster intersected with roadless area boundaries.

Ecosystem narratives and community species: Sourced from the NatureServe Explorer API, representing professional ecological assessments of vegetation composition, environmental setting, dynamics, threats, and characteristic species assemblages.

IVC hierarchy: The International Vegetation Classification hierarchy is sourced from the USNVC v3.0 Catalog, providing the full classification from Biome through Association levels.

Component associations: Plant community associations listed as components of each NatureServe Ecological System. Association data from the NatureServe Explorer API.

State ranks: Conservation status ranks assigned by NatureServe member programs in each state where the ecosystem occurs.