Sage Brush Ecosystem
Sagebrush covers 165 million acres over 14 states and is a habitat to animals like mule deer, bighorn sheep, jackrabbits and around 100 bird species.
Some animals of Sagebrush Steppe ecosystems include:
Pygmy rabbits
Coyotes
Golden eagles
Pronghorn
Mule deer
Burrowing owls
Wild horses
These animals and more rely on sagebrush habitat to survive. Some species, like the Greater sage grouse, are only found in sagebrush ecosystems and nowhere else around the world.
Where is the ecosystem?
Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) exists in large areas of the western U.S. There are 200-400 species species of sagebrush; all produce chemicals that create a specific aroma.
The ecosystem occurs on dry plains and hills on calcereous and slightly acidic or alkaline soils.
Rangeland ecosystems in North America
- Milne Library
Sagebrush in Medicine
The plants have been used by many native North American Indian tribes for medicinal purposes. Sagebrush is antirheumatic, antiseptic, digestive, disinfectant, febrifuge, ophtalmic, poultice, and sedative.
The leaves can be used to treat digestive disorders, sore throats, pneumonia, and bad colds. The crushed plant can be used to as a liniment on cuts and sores.
Other Uses:
Sage leaves can be made into a anti-dandruff hair rinse, insect repellent, and house repellent. Combining the leaves, buds, and stems can create a yellow dye while the bark can be used for weaving baskets and cloth.
Decline in Habitat
The sage-steppe ecosystem is one of the most threatened in America. The unique and centrally important ecosystem has been encroached upon by human activities and policies that have caused the habitat to dwindle. Invasive weeks, like cheatgrass, increase fire danger and land-management practices discourage restoration and protection of large blocs of sagebrush.
Fire is one of the largest threats to sagebrush ecosystems as they increase in frequency and intensity. Native conifers have also expanded into sagebrush ecosystems and domestic livestock numbers have increased. Both of these factors have also been linked to habitat loss.
What can you do?
When you talk to your friends, parents, and siblings about sagebrush habitats, you bring awareness to the issue!
Film Rec!
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology produced a film called “The Sagebrush Sea” that details the lives dependent on the sagebrush ecosystem. It’s an excellent film and we recommend giving it a watch!