Bromus invasions on the Nevada Test Site: Present status of B. rubens and B. tectorum with notes on their relationship to disturbance and altitude

Abstract

Bromus rubens and Bromus tectorum are now nearly ubiquitous components of the Nevada Test Site (NTS) flore. Introduced to the western US in the late 1800s, they spread through the Mojave and Great Basin deserts in the early twentieth century. Since quantitative studies began on the NTS in 1957, Bromus spp. have greatly increased in frequency and density. By 1988 both species occurred in many places at densities exceeding 1,000 individuals per square meter. They may significantly increase flammability of the vegetation and reduce success of native ephemeral species.