The Great Salt Lake Desert, located near the northeast corner of the Great Basin desert, is an excellent example of a cold desert climate. Although still arid, it is worthy to note that this portion of the desert receives more precipitation than the similar playas and salt pans on the western edge of the Great Basin desert.
Biological communities
The pattern of 'basin and range' with adjacent basins and ranges in this region results in incredible biological diversity. Climate, elevation, soil type, and many anthropogenic variables greatly influence the diversity and distribution of shrubland, grassland, and woodland communities in the desert. Across the high desert there are numerous sub-climates correlating to the varied elevations. Heading from the valley bottoms to the mountain peaks one will encounter constantly changing combinations of plant and animal species making up some 200 distinct biological communities. These communities can be generally grouped into six general communities or "life zones".
Shadscale zone
thumb|right|Valley bottom at [[Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge ]]
In the lower valley bottoms where mountain run off evaporates to create saline soils is the shadscale zone. Plants in this community are adapted to living with very little precipitation, high heat, and saline conditions. The amount of water and the soil type in any one area will determine exactly which plants will live there. Certain areas of the valley floors may harbor no life. These parched areas that flood periodically are called playas. On the shores of the playas, shadscale is the dominant plant, but is kept company by iodine bush,
Lahontan salt shrub basin
The Lahontan salt shrub basin is an expansive dry plain that was once below Pleistocene Lake Lahontan. The Lahontan Basin, compared to the Bonneville Basin to the east, is lower in elevation and warmer in winter. Although there is a direct connection to the south to the Mojave Desert, winters are cold enough in this ecoregion to discourage the northward dispersal of Mojavean species into the Lahontan Basin. In addition to shadscale, other salt-tolerant shrubs, such as Shockley's desert-thorn and Bailey greasewood, cover the lower basin slopes. These shrubs distinguish the Lahontan salt shrub basin and the Tonopah Basin from other Nevada salt shrub ecoregions. Sand dunes may occur where windblown sand accumulates against a barrier; dune complexes support a specialized plant community and diverse small mammal populations. The Carson and Truckee Rivers, originating in the Sierra Nevada, provide water for irrigated farming. Riparian corridors along these rivers support the only trees found in this ecoregion.
- Mammals
- Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens)
See also
- Becky Peak Wilderness (BLM)
- Bristlecone Wilderness (BLM)
- Goshute Canyon Wilderness (BLM)
- Government Peak Wilderness (BLM)
- Great Basin
- Great Basin National Park
- Highland Ridge Wilderness (BLM)
- Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
- Bald Mountain Wilderness (Humboldt NF)
- Currant Mountain Wilderness (Humboldt NF)
- East Humboldt Wilderness (Humboldt NF)
- High Schells Wilderness (Humboldt NF)
- Jarbidge Wilderness (Humboldt NF)
- Quinn Canyon Wilderness (Humboldt NF)
- Red Mountain Wilderness (Humboldt NF)
- Shellback Wilderness (Humboldt NF)
- White Pine Range Wilderness (Humboldt NF)
- Mount Grafton Wilderness (BLM)
- Mount Moriah Wilderness (Humboldt NF / BLM)
- South Egan Range Wilderness (BLM)
- Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge
- Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge
- Fallon National Wildlife Refuge
- Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge