Juniper-Oak Clayey
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Invasion of annual grasses
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Restoration efforts designed to reduce invasion of annual grasses
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
The Reference Plant Community is an open, mature woodland represented by Community Phase 1.3. This is the most advanced community within the historical disturbance regime for this site, yet this site occurs across the landscape as a mosaic of plant community phases characterized by variation in community structural stage (tree age, density and cover) and species composition. Historically, these woodlands would have cycled from a shrub bunchgrass young tree stand initiation phase (1.1) to a young woodland phase (1.2) to a mature woodland phase (1.3) with a disturbance regime characterized by moderately frequent, low intensity surface fires with occasional mixed or replacement severity fires (Landfire fire regime group 3). Fire suppression has likely diminished the presence of mature savannah across the landscape, instead favoring closed canopy conditions and higher densities of younger trees, especially juniper. Given the likelihood that this state, even in the best condition and highest potential, will almost always include at least some component of exotic species regardless of management inputs, this may also be referred to as the “current potential state”. In this document, the term “reference state” is used synonymously with “current potential state” for the sake of simplicity.
Submodel
Description
Much of the perennial grasses have been lost and replaced by exotic annual grasses. This may result in an alteration of fire regimes creating feedbacks that maintain the site in this state (Archer 2001, Zouhar 2003).
Submodel
Mechanism
Invasion of annual grasses in to the understory composition, such as cheatgrass and medusahead, reduction in native perennial bunchgrasses. Research has not identified a threshold for cover that will shift this community into an alternative state.
Model keys
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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.