Habitats

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Habitats:

In order to be consistent concerning species habitat definitions, UWIN is using the ten habitats identified in Utah's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy as "habitat descriptions" for native Utah wildlife.

Aspen

Mature stands of quaking aspen are the primary feature of aspen habitat. These areas also include grasses, shrubs and other flowering plants. Aspen habitat constitutes 3.4 of Utah’s...

Grassland

Grassland habitat includes a variety of grasses, sedges and wildflowers. In Utah, grasslands make up 3.5 percent of the state's total habitat. Common grasses include wheatgrass, bluegrass,...

Lentic (standing water)

Lentic habitat includes ponds, lakes, reservoirs and other bodies of standing water. These areas are home to numerous aquatic species, and they make up 3.4 percent of all Utah habitats.

Lotic (flowing water)

Lotic habitat includes streams, rivers and other areas where water flows continuously. Utah is a very arid state, and lotic habitat is rare. It makes up only .1 percent of all Utah...

Lowland riparian

Lowland riparian habitat includes low-elevation land on the banks of a stream or river. Rare in Utah, these areas make up only .2 percent of the state's total habitats. You'll often...

Mountain riparian

Mountain riparian habitat includes the land along rivers and streams at elevations higher than 5,500 feet. These areas constitute only .2 percent of all Utah habitats, but they support...

Mountain shrub

Smaller trees and shrubs dominate Utah's mountain shrub habitat. These areas represent only 1.3 percent of all Utah habitats. Plants such as cliff rose, serviceberry, chokecherry, mahogany...

Shrubsteppe

Shrubsteppe habitat includes natural grasslands that receive low levels of moisture throughout the year. These areas make up 13.4 percent of Utah's habitats, and they support a wide...

Wet meadow

Wet meadow habitat is home to many grasses and sedges, which are saturated with water during much of the year. Very rare in this arid state, wet meadow habitat makes up only .1 percent...

Wetland

A wetland is a low-elevation area such as a marsh or swamp where the land is saturated with water. Only .2 percent of Utah habitats are composed of wetlands. You'll typically find cattails,...