Wetland Complex
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A 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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Description
State 1 represents stable wetlands with no invasive or exotic weed species. Often this site has low species diversity as dominant species can form dense monocultures Reference Community 1.1 can be dominated by cattails or, bulrush or, Nebraska sedge or, American mannagrass or, Baltic rush. At-risk Communities: All communities in the reference state are at risk because of heavy grazing pressure and other human manipulations to meadows.
Submodel
Description
State 2 represents an altered state because of intensive disturbance. The wetland may have been drained or filled to convert to a different land use. Or, the wetland may have experienced excessive grazing. Invasive species such as phragmites, reed canarygrass, and purple loosestrife may dominate the plant community in the altered state. Community Phases for State 2: Can have several variations: Reed canarygrass Purple loosestrife Phragmites
Submodel
Mechanism
Result: Transition from Reference State to altered State 2 Ecological process: Wetland hydrology altered, and site may no longer have wetland functions. Invasive species colonize the site and over time dominate the stand. Primary Trigger: both deliberate and unintentional, human-caused, alterations such as drainage, filling the wetland with soil, herbicide drift, deliberate use of herbicides or grazing pressure. Indicators: occurrence of invasive species where there has been none. Declining cover of native species and increasing cover of invasive species. Site is much drier than previously. Recovery Need to explore wetland recovery processes
Model keys
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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.