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BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report

Artemisia campestris - Hesperostipa curtiseta
northern wormwood / short-awned porcupinegrass

 
Scientific Name: Artemisia campestris - Hesperostipa curtiseta
English Name: northern wormwood / short-awned porcupinegrass
   
Provincial Status Summary
Status: S3
Date Status Assigned: January 23, 2018
Date Last Reviewed: January 23, 2018
Reasons: This grassland community occurs within a narrow geographic range and there are limited sites with suitable conditions. Ecosystem mapping within the range of the community indicates a small area of occurrence. It is threatened throughout its range by the invasion of alien species and conifer encroachment associated with fire exclusion.
 
Range
Range Extent: D = 1,000-5,000 square km
Range Extent Estimate (km2): 3081
Biogeoclimatic Unit: BGxw2
IDFxm/00
Range Extent Comments: The range extent estimate of this ecological community is based on Version 9 of the Biogeclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) map (B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations. 2014). However, analyses of environmental conditions suitable for grassland development within the Biogeoclimatic (BGC) range indicates that 1159 km2 of this area is suitable habitat (Grassland Conservation Council 2004) in the IDFxm and in the BGxw2. Both of these BGC units are included in existing Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping projects as well as minor areas in three other BGC units (see Area of Occupancy comments).
Area of Occupancy (km2): F = 100-500 km²
Area of Occupancy Comments: As a large patch grassland ecosystem, this ecological community likely occupies 60-80% (453 to 604 km2) of the IDFxm grassland range (see Range Comments) (K. Iverson pers. comm. 2013). It is restricted to small swales in the BGxw2 and may occupy about 5% (21 km2) of these grasslands (K. Iverson pers. comm. 2013). The potential area of occupancy of this ecological community is 474 - 625 km2. TEM analyses (Yearsley et al. 2013), estimate the area of occupancy as 121 km2 within the available TEM coverage (>25% of the range of this community). TEM projects of this ecological community includes 105 km2 in the IDFxm and 11 km2 in the BGxw2. A related short-awned porcupine grass unit is mapped in several other biogeoclimatic units in these TEM projects including small areas of the BGxh3, IDFdk3 and IDFdk4 (total area 5 km2).
Spatial Pattern: Large patch
 
Occurrences
Number of Occurrences: C = 21 - 80
Comments: TEM data indicate there would likely be eight large element occurrences and twenty-two small occurrences within the available TEM project boundaries. The full range of this ecosystem has not been mapped.
Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: U = Unknown
Percent Area with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: F = Excellent (>40%)
Comments: Almost one-third of the TEM-mapped area has been mapped as early to mid seral succssion. This area has been degraded by invasion of alien species and by the effects of cattle grazing on soils and vegetation. The remainder has been mapped as good condition.
 
Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected)
Degree of Threat: B = High
Comments: This ecological community occurs on moist sites which are particularly vulnerable to conifer encroachment as fire exclusion is the primary reason for lack of conifer establishment. Fire suppression in the past decades is a primary threat. Other primary threats which are also pervasive in scope and with low to moderate severity, include poor grazing practices in some areas, and the spread of invasive alien plants. Off-road vehicles and military training (within the Chilcotin Training Area) are lesser scope but with serious to extreme severity (K. Iverson pers. comm. 2013).
 
Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences)
Short-Term Trend: F = Decline of 10-30%
Comments: This ecological community is declining due to forest encroachment. Ecosystem losses are estimated at 15-20% of IDF grasslands from 1965 to 2000 (Cariboo-Chilcotin Grasslands Strategy Working Group 2001).
Long-Term Trend: EF = Decline of 10-50%
Comments: Grassland area has declined and there has been a loss of ecological integrity due to early grazing practices (Grassland Conservation Council 2004).There is no information available on conversion of grasslands to other ecosystems or to anthropogenic use.
 
Other Factors
Intrinsic Vulnerability: B=Moderately vulnerable
Comments: Grasslands can recover over several decades. Recovery time depends on the type of disturbance and extent of active management.
Environmental Specificity: D=Broad. Generalist or community with all key requirements common.
Comments: This ecological community occurs in moist areas on level sites or on slightly cool aspects in the IDFxm biogeoclimatic unit.
Other Rank Considerations:
 
Information Gaps
Research Needs:
Inventory Needs: Update of grassland classification.
 
Stewardship
Protection:
Management:
 
Version
Author: Iverson, K.E., C.M. Cadrin, and H.K. Yearsley
Date: January 23, 2018
 
References
B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations. Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) Map, WHSE_FOREST_VEGETATION.BEC_BIOGEOCLIMATIC_POLY [ESRI ArcSDE format]. Version 9. Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Forest Analysis and Inventory Branch, Victoria, B.C. Updated Regularly.
B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resources Operations. 2012. Biogeoclimatic Map, ABEC_BC [ESRI Interchange format]. Version 8. Minist. of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations. Forest Analysis and Inventory Branch, Victoria, B.C. ftp://ftp.for.gov.bc.ca/HRE/external/!publish/becmaps/GISdata/PreviousVersions/ (current as of Feb. 10, 2012).
Cariboo-Chilcotin Grasslands Strategy Working Group. 2001. Cariboo-Chilcotin Grasslands Strategy: Forest encroachment onto grasslands and establishment of a grassland benchmark area. Prepared for: Cariboo-Mid Coast Interagency Management Committee. Williams Lake, B.C. 57pp.
Flynn, Samantha. 2000. Plant Association Status Ranking 1999-2000. Access Digital Database. BC Ministry of Environment, Conservation Data Centre. Victoria, BC.
Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia. 2004. BC grasslands mapping project: A conservation risk assessment. Final report. 116 pp.
 

Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.

Suggested Citation:

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2018. Conservation Status Report: Artemisia campestris - Hesperostipa curtiseta. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 5, 2026).