VERY SHALLOW STONY LOAM 10-14
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 T2 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 may appear to be similar to the Reference State 1.0, however the resiliency of the state has been reduced by the presence of invasive weeds. 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.
Resilience management
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
This is state is characterized by increased bare ground and active soil erosion. Patches of native shrubs and perennial grasses may be present, but bare ground is significant. Site potential has been reduced. Significant soil loss has occurred. Infiltration has been reduced and run-off has become more rapid
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: Severe and repeated wildfire will remove sagebrush overstory and decrease herbaceous perennials Annual non-native species will increase. Inappropriate grazing management causing a removal of perennial bunchgrasses and a disruption of the soil surface would increase soil erosion. Soil disturbing treatments such as a chaining or other mechanical tree removal treatment.
Slow variables: Long term decrease in shrub and perennial grass density. Bare ground interspaces are large and connected; water flow paths long and continuous, understory is sparse, pedestalling of plants significant.
Threshold: Loss of shrubs and perennial bunchgrasses reduces soil stability and changes nutrient cycling, nutrient redistribution, and reduces soil organic matter. Soil redistribution and erosion is significant and linked to vegetation mortality evidenced by pedestalling and burying of herbaceous species and / or lack of recruitment in the interspaces.
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.