Puget Lowlands Dry Prairie
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1C More details
- Transition T1B More details
- Transition T1D More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Transition T2C More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Transition T3A More details
- Restoration pathway R4A More details
- Restoration pathway T4B More details
- Transition T4A More details
- Transition T4C More details
- Restoration pathway R5A More details
- Restoration pathway T5C More details
- Restoration pathway T5B More details
- Transition T5A More details
- Restoration pathway R6A More details
- Restoration pathway T6B More details
- Restoration pathway T6C More details
- Restoration pathway T6A More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Submodel
Submodel
Mechanism
This transition represents the absence of fire or other disturbances. It occurs if disturbances that can kill or clear woody vegetation, such as fire (natural or prescribed), mowing, or grazing continue to be absent from the site. This includes intentional omission of woody vegetation clearing activities and active suppression of fire. Historically, this transition occurred primarily due to the cessation of Native American burning and root resource harvesting and tending.
Mechanism
This transition represents a shift of land use from the reference native prairie state to a cropland agriculture state. Trees are cleared and the site is tilled to support cropping activity. Amendments are added to soil and the site is irrigated, as needed. Crops grown may be perennial or annual.
Mechanism
This transition is caused by the addition of livestock to the site and intentional establishment of mixed grass and forb species that support a grazed grassland system. Living oaks and pines may be retained for shade for livestock. Soil amendments and irrigation may or may not occur.
Mechanism
This restoration transition represents a disturbance, such as fire, selective cutting or mowing, or herbicide treatment (or a mix of those) that removes encroaching woody vegetation, allowing herbaceous species to recover and dominate the site. The restoration of complete cover of native species is unlikely as non-native herbaceous species are likely to persist despite efforts to eradicate them. Overstory oaks and pines are minimally affected by disturbances, but a majority native cover can be attained by intensive, frequent management. This transition can be initiated from any community phase in state 2.
Mechanism
This transition represents the continued absence of fire or other disturbances. This transition occurs if disturbances that can kill or clear larger woody vegetation, such as fire (natural or prescribed), mechanical harvesting of trees or chemical treatment continue to be absent from the site or are not employed. This includes intentional omission of woody vegetation clearing activities and active suppression of fire. This transition can be initiated from community 2.2 in state 2.
Mechanism
This transition is caused by development of an intensive cropping or haying agricultural management system. Trees are cleared and the site is tilled to support cropping activity. Amendments are added to soil and the site is irrigated, as needed. Crops grown may be perennial or annual. This transition can be initiated from any community in state 2.
Mechanism
This transition is caused by the removal of young conifers, brush and shrubs to restore open space, followed by the establishment of mixed grass and forb species that support a grazed grassland system. Living oaks may be retained for shade for livestock. Soil amendments and irrigation may or may not occur.
Mechanism
This restoration represents invading conifer tree removal followed by planting of native prairie forbs and grasses. Oaks and ponderosa pines also require planting to be restored to the site. Conifer tree removal consists of a timber harvest or chemical or girdling treatments which kill conifers in place. Activities to restore the original plant community include removal of non-native grass, forb, and shrub species and prescribed fire, brush control, invasive plant control, mowing, thatching, grazing, and soil aeration and reseeding. The restoration of complete cover of native species is unlikely as non-native herbaceous species are likely to persist despite efforts to eradicate them, but a majority native cover can be attained by intensive, frequent management.
Mechanism
This transition represents a shift of land use from an unmanaged, conifer converted prairie to a managed conifer plantation. A rotation of timber harvest and regeneration is implemented, and prairie oaks and pines are further reduced by intention or as casualties of heavy competition in a heavily shaded timber management system and collateral damage from harvesting actions and equipment.
Mechanism
This restoration represents a change in land management system from timber plantation to an open prairie. It is achieved through plantation conifer tree removal followed by planting of native prairie forbs and grasses. Oaks and ponderosa pines also require planting to be restored to the site. Conifer tree removal most often consists of a timber harvest, though in rare cases chemical or girdling treatments which kill conifers in place may be used. Activities to restore the original plant community include removal of non-native grass, forb, and shrub species and prescribed fire, brush control, invasive plant control, mowing, thatching, grazing, and soil aeration and reseeding. The restoration of complete cover of native species is unlikely as non-native herbaceous species are likely to persist despite efforts to eradicate them, but a majority native cover can be attained by intensive, frequent management.
Mechanism
This transition represents the cessation of timber management after the site has been managed previously for timber. This transition retains the conifer dominance of the site, and the forest is allowed to persist and continue to age beyond what is typical in a timber management rotation in the absence of actions that would open the site for prairie species, such as fire, mechanical treatment or chemical treatments. This transition can be initiated from any community phase in state 4.
Mechanism
This transition is caused by an intentional clearing of land, or a stand replacing fire in state 4, followed by development of an intensive cropping or haying agricultural management system that prevents trees from re-establishing. This transition can be initiated from any community phase in state 4.
Mechanism
This transition is caused by an intentional clearing of trees, followed by establishment of mixed grass and forb species that support a grazed grassland system. Improvements including soil amendments or irrigation may or may not be utilized. This transition can be initiated from any community in state 4.
Mechanism
This restoration represents a change in land management system from cropland agriculture to prairie. It is achieved through cessation of conventional tilling and crop rotation management, and planting of native prairie forbs and grasses. Oaks and ponderosa pines also require planting to be restored to the site. Activities to restore the original plant community include removal of non-native grass, forb, and shrub species and prescribed fire, brush control, invasive plant control, mowing, thatching, grazing, and soil aeration and reseeding. The restoration of complete cover of native species is unlikely as non-native herbaceous species are likely to persist despite efforts to eradicate them, but a majority native cover can be attained by intensive, frequent management.
Mechanism
This transition is caused by a cessation of cropland agriculture and lack of disturbance activities. Various native and non-native trees, herbaceous plants, and shrubs naturally establish throughout the site due to lack of significant disturbance or control.
Mechanism
This transition represents a shift of land use from a cropland state to a managed conifer plantation. Conifer trees are intentionally established by planting throughout cropped site. A rotation of timber harvest and regeneration is implemented, and species composition is heavily controlled to favor conifers.
Mechanism
This transition is caused by establishment of mixed grass and forb species that support a grazed grassland system.
Mechanism
This restoration represents an effort to restore the native prairie plant community and control invasive and other non-natives species. It is achieved through planting of native prairie forbs and grasses, and suppression of non-native species. Oaks and ponderosa pines also require planting to be restored to the site if they were previously removed. Activities to restore the original plant community include removal of non-native grass, forb, and shrub species and prescribed fire, brush control, invasive plant control, mowing, thatching, grazing, and soil aeration and reseeding. The restoration of complete cover of native species is unlikely as non-native herbaceous species are likely to persist despite efforts to eradicate them, but a majority native cover can be attained by intensive, frequent management. It may be possible to continue grazing on the site if carefully controlled to prevent decline of native species.
Mechanism
This transition is caused by a cessation of grazing and lack of other disturbance activities. Various native and non-native trees, herbaceous plants, and shrubs naturally begin to establish throughout the site due to lack of significant disturbance or control.
Mechanism
This transition represents a shift of land use from a grazed grassland state to a managed conifer plantation. Conifer trees are intentionally established by planting throughout cropped site. A rotation of timber harvest and regeneration is implemented, and species composition is heavily controlled to favor conifers.
Mechanism
This transition is caused by development of an intensive cropping or haying agricultural management system. Trees and shrubs are cleared and the site is tilled to support cropping activity. Amendments are added to soil and the site is irrigated, as needed. Crops grown may be perennial or annual.
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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.