When scanning the map of the United States, possibly planning a next vacation or just familiarizing yourself with the country, many individuals would skip right over this unassuming state. Just within the Pacific Northwest, Washington is known for its lush, moody rain forests, Oregon receives its reputation for its rugged coastline that delivers dramatic views of the ocean, and Montana is a stereotypical haven for the American Cowboy with its massive blue skies and rangelands that are fit for ranching. But what about Idaho? Is this state only known for its glorious potatoes that Hollywood and the agriculture industry has branded it for? Luckily, this article will highlight the major ecological landscape of this humble piece of land, which contributes to the unique character of Idaho.
Forests
Besides being known for the famous “Idaho russet potato,” this 83,575 square acre piece of land also receives its reputation through its wide expanse of forested regions. In fact, roughly around 60% of Idaho is covered in forest. Within those forests hold vast expanses of mountain ranges, woodlands, open meadows, alpine ranges, and scenic lakes, rivers, and streams ranging from 710 feet above sea level to 12,662 feet. Within those immense mountainous landscapes resides a total of 11 National Forests; Seven which are entirely within the state and four that are shared with other states. The forested region in Idaho is mostly composed of conifers, or evergreen trees, with patches of deciduous trees found within certain regions of the ecosystems. There are more than 20 different tree species found in Idaho due to the varied topography, climate, and four seasons [3]. A few examples of the trees found within Idaho’s forests consist of:
| Idaho Forests- Evergreen Trees | Idaho Forests- Deciduous Trees |
|---|---|
| Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) | grey alder (Alnus incana) |
| rocky mountain juniper (Juniperous scopulorum) | white alder (Alnus rhombifolia) |
| western juniper (Juniperous occidentalis) | green alder (Alnus viridis) |
| common juniper (Juniperous communis) | narrowleaf cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) |
| Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) | black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) |
| Grand fir (Abies grandis) | white poplar (Populus alba) |
| subalpine fir (abies lasiocarpa) | quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) |
| Western Larch (Larix occidentalis) ***note- Also called a tamarack, this species is also considered a deciduous tree due to it losing its needles annually. | white poplar (Populus alba) |
Grasslands
Idaho has two distinct grassland regions- the lush, rolling hills of the Palouse in Northern Idaho, and the sandy, semi-arid rangelands in Southern Idaho. Although both are considered “grasslands,” the two landscapes boast completely different ecosystems.
The Palouse
Located near the city of Moscow, Idaho, this landscape reaches around 3,000 square miles and is known for its hilly terrain and fertile soils. Due to the high winds throughout this environment, the soil is composed of mineral-dense silt which was blown into the area from nearby volcanic eruptions. This, along with the lengthy depth of the topsoil, the Palouse is the ideal environment for agriculture production. In addition to this fact, the area receives a healthy average of 27 inches of rainfall annually, and the climate in the summer and winter are mild. Unfortunately since the region has become idealistic for agriculture production, a large portion of the native grasses that were originally found in this region have declined drastically. This has created threats to wildlife that depend on this landscape for survival. One species in particular includes the giant palouse earthworm (Driloleirus americanus), which has only been found living under bunchgrasses that are native to the Palouse grasslands [4].
Idaho Rangeland
When traveling along I-84 through Southern Idaho, many people may find the scenery to be vague, shrubby, and desolate. Although what they don’t know is the landscape they are driving through is home to a variety of species that have adapted to live in the semi-arid environment. Although this area of Idaho technically does fall into the Great Basin, which is a large desert region covering multiple states in the Western United States, due to its higher annual precipitation levels compared to true deserts. As a result of this, the extra moisture allows the growth of perennial species, like sagebrush and bunchgrasses, to thrive. This grassland is specifically called the sagebrush steppe ecosystem which is an ecosystem composed of various grasses, forbs, and shrubs creating different canopy layers. Within those layers live a variety of animal species that depend on the plants for shelter from the harsh conditions. Some of these animal species include sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), coyotes (Canis latrans), American badgers (Taxidea taxus), pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), and grasshoppers/crickets (Orthoptera) [4].
Deserts
Within the western portion of the Idaho rangelands is where the salt-desert shrubland resides. This desert is essentially an ecosystem where low growing, salt tolerant grasses, forbs, and shrubs have adapted to the harsh arid environment. Wildlife habitats in these salty environments support fauna such as small mammals, reptiles, insect species, and various microorganisms. The soil within these regions are high in salt content and fall at around an eight on the pH scale (more alkaline). Due to the low quantities of vegetation, the topsoil within these regions is very shallow from the high winds and limited organic matter. Since these ecosystems receive anywhere from five to ten inches of precipitation annually, cyanobacteria, lichen and moss species are a vital component to this area. They create a biocrust community, which assists in retaining moisture within the soil of these ecosystems. In addition to that, they assist in reducing invasive species, like cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) to this sensitive ecosystem. Unfortunately biocrusts are excruciatingly slow-growing, potentially taking centuries to form. This is why disturbances to these regions, such as wildfires, are detrimental and can result in a shift in the ecosystem [6].
Wetlands
Within this previous article, we have discussed that Idaho is home to forests, grasslands, and even deserts. To continue with the theme of surprising biomes found within a state that is supposedly only known for their robust potato harvests, Idaho also lodges a multitude of wetland landscapes. Wetlands, or aquatic ecosystems, include rivers, streams, lakes, and even ponds. In addition to that, they also include the lands that surround the water such as marshes, swamps, bogs, and riparian zones [4]. Idaho is the fourth state to have the longest combined river mileage (890.8 miles) within America just behind Alaska, Oregon, and California [5]. With that being said, only about 1% of Idaho falls into the ‘wetland’ category, yet about 75% of Idaho;s wildlife species depend on these wetlands throughout their life cycle. To be considered a ‘wetland,’ a criteria of three objectives need to be met:
- Water– Without this essential element, an ecosystem would not be considered a ‘wetland.’
- Hydronic Soils– Hydronic soil is essentially soil that has a high water-retaining capacity (like silt or clay). These soils tend to have high levels of organic matter within them, such as decomposing plants. Sandy soils have difficulty retaining water due to the large pore spaces between each individual particle, resulting in quicker drainage.
- Aquatic Adapted Flora– Wetlands require plant species that can survive in ecosystems with high levels of water within them. These plants are considered hydrophytes, or ‘water-loving.’ Aquatic flora can be beneficial for certain ecosystems by reducing erosion within riparian areas, and providing oxygen to the water.
Wetlands are an important asset to other biomes as well. Not only do they assist in the filtration of water, but they also can slow the flow rate reducing erosion and topsoil loss, as well as provide a safe area for wildlife to raise their young [4].
Some Lingering Thoughts
Idaho may be known by most as a potato paradise, but there is much more to Idaho than a plethora of rolling potato farms. Not only does this overlooked state provide illustrious landscapes to those willing to slow down and look out the window, but those landscapes also support various ecosystems with multitudes of wildlife habitat. The next time you’re visiting this unassuming state, take a look around and try to identify which biome you’re visiting!