Tapping Soil Survey Information for Rapid Assessment of Sagebrush Ecosystem Resilience and Resistance

Abstract

Emerging applications of ecosystem resilience and resistance concepts in sagebrush ecosystems allow managers to better predict and mitigate impacts of wildfire and invasive annual grasses.

Widely available soil survey information can be harnessed to spatially depict and evaluate relative resilience and resistance from regional to site scales.

New products and tools illustrate how managers can use soils data to inform rapid risk assessments, determine appropriate management strategies, and prioritize resources to maintain and restore functioning sagebrush ecosystems.