Sandy Bottom
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Introduction of invasive plant species
More details -
Transition T2A
Prolonged, improperly managed grazing, possibly in combination with a long interval in the absence of fire.
More details -
Restoration pathway R3A
Requires mechanical or herbicide treatment of brush species and control of invasive weeds. Fire is not recommended. If basin wildrye is not apparent, seeding may be required.
More details -
Transition T3A
Further prolonged improperly managed grazing, fire
More details -
Restoration pathway R4A
Requires control of invasive weeds. Fire is not recommended . If basin wildrye is not apparent, seeding will likely be required.
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
Community phase changes are a function of fire and/or chronic drought. The existence of the reference state today is rare. Fire played a significant role in the community phase dynamics of the reference state; however, the time between fires would be highly variable and dependent upon the location and productivity of the site. Chronic drought leads to a reduction in native grasses and an increase in sagebrush or greasewood dominance while low-intensity fire maintains state dynamics.
Submodel
Description
Compositionally similar to the reference state with the addition of a trace of annual weeds, primarily cheatgrass. Ecological function has not changed, however the resiliency of the state has been reduced by the presence of invasive weeds. Abusive grazing practices and or chronic drought leads to a reduction in native grasses and an increase in sagebrush or greasewood dominance creating an at-risk community phase (CP1). Low-intensity fire combined with prescribed grazing maintains state dynamics (CP2 & CP3).
Submodel
Description
Decadent sagebrush dominates the overstory and cheatgrass dominates the understory. A significant reduction/loss of basin wildrye and other grasses is apparent. Bare ground is abundant. Spatial and temporal energy capture and nutrient cycling has been truncated. Infiltration may be reduced due to lack of ground cover.
Submodel
Mechanism
Prolonged, improperly managed grazing, possibly in combination with a long interval in the absence of fire.
Constraints to recovery
Irreversible transition has occurred and a biotic threshold has been crossed. Brush species and cheatgrass control site dynamics.
Mechanism
Requires mechanical or herbicide treatment of brush species and control of invasive weeds. Fire is not recommended. If basin wildrye is not apparent, seeding may be required.
Mechanism
Further prolonged improperly managed grazing, fire
Constraints to recovery
Irreversible transition has occurred and an abiotic threshold has been crossed. Frequent fire
promotes maintenance of cheatgrass dominance. Wind and water erosion of soil increases and may become a dominant ecological process driving site dynamics.
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.