Ecological site descriptions
Overview
Ecological sites are the basic component of a land-type classification system that describes ecological potential and ecosystem dynamics of land areas. All land/land use types are identified within the ecological site system, including rangeland, pasture, and forest land.
An ecological site is defined as a distinctive kind of land with specific soil and physical characteristics that differ from other kinds of land in its ability to produce a distinctive kind and amount of vegetation and its ability to respond similarly to management actions and natural disturbances. Lands are classified considering discrete physical and biotic factors. Physical factors include soils, climate, hydrology, geology, and physiographic features. Biotic factors include plant species occurrence, plant community compositions, annual biomass production, wildlife-vegetation interactions, and other factors. Ecological dynamics, primarily disturbance regimes such as grazing, fire, drought, management actions and all resulting interactions, are also a primary factor in the development of ecological sites.
Information and data pertaining to a particular ecological site are organized into a reference document known as an Ecological Site Description (ESD). ESDs function as a primary repository of ecological knowledge regarding an ecological site.
Additional information
Key publications
Contacts
Region | Contact | Phone | |
---|---|---|---|
Alaska | Jamin Johanson | 907-982-5827 | jamin.johanson@usda.gov |
North Central | Chris Tecklenburg | 785-201-5099 | chris.tecklenburg@usda.gov |
Northeast | Nels Barrett | 860-871-4015 | nels.barrett@usda.gov |
Northwest | Kirt Walstad | 406-587-6861 | kirt.walstad@usda.gov |
South Central | Bryan Christensen | 254-742-9871 | bryan.christensen@usda.gov | Southeast | Charles Stemmans | 337-948-8288, ext. 2217 | charles.stemmans@usda.gov |
Southwest | Kendra Moseley | 530-792-5697 | kendra.moseley@usda.gov |
Availability
View Summary Reports and MapsNext steps
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1
Select a Major Land Resource Area
To learn more about a particular ecological site, first select a Major Land Resource Area using the list, map, photos, briefcase, or quick search option located on this page. -
2
Select an ecological site
Next, select an ecological site associated with the Major Land Resource Area of interest. Keys, descriptions, and images are available to help determine an appropriate ecological site. -
3
Explore the ecological site description
Finally, learn more about the selected ecological site and its characteristic dynamics by browsing the ecological site description and exploring alternative state and transition model formats.
Major Land Resource Area list
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Major Land Resource Area map
Basemap
Line color
Labels
Find me
Find point
Full screen
Zoom in to display soil survey map units for an area of interest, and zoom out to display MLRAs. Select a map unit polygon to view ecological sites correlated to that map unit. View a brief description of an ecological site by clicking on its name in the map popup. Soil survey correlations may not be accurate, and ecological site classification of a location should always be verified in the field. Each selection may require the transfer of several hundred KB of data.
Major Land Resource Area photos
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase () icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.