SALINE BOTTOM
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Trigger: This transition is caused by the introduction of non-native annual weeds, such as cheatgrass and Russian thistle.
More details
Slow variables: Over time the annual non-native plants increase within the community.
Threshold: Any amount of introduced non-native species causes an immediate decrease in the resilience of the site. Annual non-native species cannot be easily removed from the system and have the potential to significantly alter disturbance regimes from their historic range of variation. -
Transition T2A
Trigger: To Community Phase 3.1: Inappropriate cattle/horse grazing will decrease or eliminate deep rooted perennial bunchgrasses and favor shrub growth and establishment.
More details
To Community Phase 3.2: Soil disturbing brush treatments will reduce black greasewood and possibly increase non-native annual species. Lowering of the water table due to groundwater pumping will also decrease black greasewood and allow for rabbitbrush and other shrubs to increase.
Slow variables: Long term decrease in deep-rooted perennial grass density and/or black greasewood.
Threshold: Loss of deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses changes nutrient cycling, nutrient redistribution, and reduces soil organic matter. Loss of long-lived, black greasewood changes the temporal and depending on the replacement shrub, the spatial distribution of nutrient cycling. -
Restoration pathway R3A
Restoration of this state would require mechanical or chemical brush treatment and
More details
control of weedy annual species. Restoration may also require an increase in the water
table, including repair of incised channel(s) and/or reduced groundwater pumping. Seeding of grasses may be necessary if basin wildrye is severely reduced or no longer
present in the community. Fire is not a recommended treatment. -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Reference state is representative of the natural range of variability under pristine conditions. Community phase changes are driven by interactions between disturbances and climate patterns. Expected disturbances include fire, chronic drought and/or periodic flooding (in certain locations). The existence of the reference community today is rare. Fire plays a significant role in the community phase dynamics due to the high production by grass species, like basin wildrye. However, the time between fires would be highly variable.
Submodel
State 2
Current Potential State
Description
This state is similar to the Reference State.
Ecological function has not changed, however resiliency of the state has been reduced by the presence of invasive weeds. Non-natives may increase in abundance but will not become dominant within this State. These non-natives can be highly flammable and can promote fire where historically fire had been infrequent. Negative feedbacks enhance ecosystem resilience and contribute to the stability of the state. These feedbacks include the presence of all structural and functional groups, low fine fuel loads, and retention of organic matter and nutrients. Positive feedbacks decrease ecosystem resilience and stability of the state. These include the non-natives’ high seed output, persistent seed bank, rapid growth rate, ability to cross pollinate, and adaptations for seed dispersal.
Expected non-natives include fivehook bassia, mustards, cheatgrass, and halogeton.
Submodel
Description
This state has two community phases, one that is characterized by a dominance of black greasewood overstory and the other with a rabbitbrush overstory. This site has crossed a biotic and abiotic threshold and site processes (infiltration/nutrient cycling) are being controlled by shrubs. Bare ground has increased.
Hydrology has been significantly altered through a decline in the water table leading to shrub dominance and a permanent reduction in the perennial grass understory.
Submodel
Mechanism
Trigger: This transition is caused by the introduction of non-native annual weeds, such as cheatgrass and Russian thistle.
Slow variables: Over time the annual non-native plants increase within the community.
Threshold: Any amount of introduced non-native species causes an immediate decrease in the resilience of the site. Annual non-native species cannot be easily removed from the system and have the potential to significantly alter disturbance regimes from their historic range of variation.
Mechanism
Trigger: To Community Phase 3.1: Inappropriate cattle/horse grazing will decrease or eliminate deep rooted perennial bunchgrasses and favor shrub growth and establishment.
To Community Phase 3.2: Soil disturbing brush treatments will reduce black greasewood and possibly increase non-native annual species. Lowering of the water table due to groundwater pumping will also decrease black greasewood and allow for rabbitbrush and other shrubs to increase.
Slow variables: Long term decrease in deep-rooted perennial grass density and/or black greasewood.
Threshold: Loss of deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses changes nutrient cycling, nutrient redistribution, and reduces soil organic matter. Loss of long-lived, black greasewood changes the temporal and depending on the replacement shrub, the spatial distribution of nutrient cycling.
Mechanism
Restoration of this state would require mechanical or chemical brush treatment and
control of weedy annual species. Restoration may also require an increase in the water
table, including repair of incised channel(s) and/or reduced groundwater pumping. Seeding of grasses may be necessary if basin wildrye is severely reduced or no longer
present in the community. Fire is not a recommended treatment.
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.