Escarpments and the Foothill Transition - Mountains and Plains: The Ecology of Wyoming Landscapes - page 155

Chapter 10 Escarpments and
the Foothill Transition

the lowlands of Wyoming are interrupted by a dozen
or more mountain ranges (see figs. 1.1-1.2), all flanked
by foothills formed largely from glacial moraines and
eroding sedimentary rocks. Away from the mountains
are numerous escarpments. Both provide distinctive
habitats for plants and animals, adding immeasurably
to the aesthetic appeal of the region. the foothills are
comparable to the riparian zone, covering a small, nar-
row, elongated portion of the landscape and providing
a more moderate environment at some times of the year

than the adjacent ecosystems. escarpments appear as
islands in a sea of sagebrush or grassland, though they
can be narrow as well when associated with long ridges
(fig. 10.1) . 1
Foothills and escarpments are important habitats
for big game and other species because of their abrupt
topography. Windblown snow accumulates on leeward
slopes, which provides a more reliable source of water.
the lee slopes also serve as windbreaks for big game in
the winter, and windward and south-facing slopes are

Fig. 10.1. the coarse, rocky
soil of cretaceous sandstone
escarpments in the Powder
River Basin supports little
bluestem, ponderosa pine,
Rocky Mountain juniper,
skunkbush sumac, and other
foothill plants. Wyoming big
sagebrush, blue grama, and
western wheatgrass dominate
the shrubland on deeper,
fine-textured soils in the fore-
ground. elevation 5,000 feet.

155