CLAYPAN 10-12 P.Z.
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1
Introduction of annual non-native species.
More details -
Transition T3
Repeated, widespread and severe fire.
More details - Transition T4 More details
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Restoration pathway R2
Seeding with native species/prescribed grazing
More details - Transition T7 More details
- Transition T5 More details
- Transition T6 More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Reference State is a representative of the natural range of variability under pristine conditions. State dynamics are maintained by interactions between climatic patterns and disturbance regimes. Negative feedbacks enhance ecosystem resilience and contribute to the stability of the state. These include the presence of all structural and functional groups, low fine fuel loads, and retention of organic matter and nutrients. Plant community phase changes are primarily driven by fire, periodic drought and/or insect or disease attack.
Submodel
Description
This state is similar to the Reference State 1.0. Ecological function has not changed, however the resiliency of the state has been reduced by the presence of invasive weeds. This state has the same three general community phases. 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 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.
Management would be to maintain high diversity of desired species to promote organic matter inputs and prevent the dispersal and seed production of the non-native invasive species.
Submodel
Description
Annual non-natives dominated site productivity and site resources. The dominance of non-native annuals control the spatial and temporal distribution of soil moisture, soil nutrients and energy resources. Remaining patches of sagebrush and/or perennial bunchgrass suffer from increased competition and narrowed fire return intervals.
Characteristics and indicators
This state experiences frequent fire due to increased cover and continuity of fine fuels. Fire is frequent enough to prevent the recovery of long-lived native perennials like little sagebrush. Disturbance tolerant shrubs may be present or increasing depending on time since disturbance.
Submodel
Description
Sagebrush and rabbitbrush dominate overstory while sandberg bluegrass dominate understory.
Submodel
Mechanism
Trigger: Introduction of annual non-native species
Slow variable: 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: Repeated, widespread and severe fire.
Slow variables: Increased production and cover of non-native annual species over time.
Threshold: Loss of deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses and shrubs truncates, spatially and temporally, nutrient capture and cycling within the community.
Mechanism
Trigger: Inappropriate grazing or increased wildfire activity.
Controlling Variables: Decreased perennials will increase resource availability for sagebrush and annuals.
Threshold: Loss of deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses, spatially and temporally, nutrient capture and cycling within the community.
Mechanism
Seeding with native species followed by prescribed grazing
Minimize soil disturbance and maximize non-native annual plant biomass removal during early spring. Combine prescribed grazing with seeding of native species. Continue to protect site from wildfire. Probability of success is extremely low.
Mechanism
Trigger: Inappropriate grazing, wildfire, prolonged droughts, and soil disturbing treatments.
Controlling Variables: Excessive grazing will eliminate ground cover that holds soil. Soil disturbing treatments will create soil instability and could cause compaction. Wind and precipitation will begin to create rills and gullies along unstable and compacted soils.
Threshold: When the soil is disturbed, climatic influences such as precipitation and wind can begin forming gullies and rills.
Mechanism
Trigger: Wildfire or shrub eliminating treatments.
Controlling Variables: Wildfire eliminates shrubs and perennial grasses, providing sufficient resources for annuals to dominate the landscape.
Threshold: Decreasing shrubs and perennial annuals create opportunities of annuals to populate the landscape. With time, more annuals will be present causing frequent severe wildfires. These conditions will favor annual species due to the availability of nutrients, soil, sunlight, and moisture.
Mechanism
Trigger: Inappropriate grazing or soil disturbing treatments.
Controlling Variables: Excessive grazing will eliminate ground cover that holds soil. Soil disturbing treatments will create soil instability and could cause compaction. Wind and precipitation will begin to create rills and gullies along unstable and compacted soils.
Threshold: When the soil is disturbed, climatic influences such as precipitation and wind can begin forming gullies and rills.
Model keys
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Ecological sites
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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.