SALINE FLOODPLAIN
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition A More details
- Transition A More details
- Transition B More details
- Restoration pathway A More details
- Transition A 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
The Reference State 1.0 is a representative of the natural range of variability under pristine conditions. The Reference State has three general community phases: a shrub-grass dominant phase, a perennial grass dominant phase and a shrub dominant phase. 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 with three similar community phases. Ecological function has not changed, however the 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. A site may be considered to be in the Current Potential State if the non-native seeded species crested wheatgrass is present.
Submodel
Description
This state is a product of many years of heavy grazing during time periods harmful to perennial grasses. Sites with high water tables may transition to a shrub state if the hydrology of the area is affected. In both cases, basin wildrye is significantly reduced and other perennial grasses such as inland saltgrass will increase. Fourwing saltbush, black greasewood, rabbitbrush and big sagebrush dominate the overstory. The shrub overstory and shallower rooted grasses dominate site resources such that soil water, nutrient capture, nutrient cycling and soil organic matter are temporally and spatially redistributed.
Submodel
Description
This state has two community phases. One community phase is characterized by the dominance of annual non-native species such as cheatgrass and annual mustards in the understory. The other community phase is dominated by rabbitbrush and black greasewood with an understory of cheatgrass and mustards.
Submodel
Mechanism
Trigger: This transition is caused by the introduction of non-native annual plants, such as cheatgrass and mustards.
Slow variables: Over time the annual non-native species will 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: Repeated, heavy, growing season grazing will decrease or eliminate basin wildrye and favor shrub growth and establishment. To Community Phase 3.2: Severe fire in the depleted state 2.3 will remove shrub overstory and allow basin wildrye to dominate the understory. Grazing and/or fire may couple with hydrologic changes and accelerate the transition to state 3.0.
Slow variables: Long term decrease in basin wildrye density due to grazing or lowering water table.
Threshold: Loss of the large, deep-rooted basin wildrye changes nutrient cycling, nutrient redistribution, and reduces soil organic matter.
Mechanism
Trigger: Severe fire.
Slow variables: Increased production and cover of non-native annual species.
Threshold: Loss of deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses and shrubs truncates, spatially and temporally, nutrient capture and cycling within the community. Increased, continuous fine fuels from annual non-native plants modify the fire regime by changing intensity, size and spatial variability of fires.
Mechanism
Restoration of this state would require mechanical or chemical brush treatment and control of annual invasive weed species. Seeding of grasses may be necessary if basin wildrye is severely reduced or no longer present in the community. Prescribed burning is not recommended if there is a significant component of cheatgrass or other non-native weeds in the understory. If channel incision has lowered the water table or altered spring soil moisture the probability of establishment of a basin wildrye seeding will be significantly reduced.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Range Planting |
Mechanism
Trigger: Severe fire.
Slow variables: Increased production and cover of non-native annual species.
Threshold: Increased, continuous fine fuels modify the fire regime by changing intensity, size and spatial variability of fires. Changes in plant community composition and spatial variability of vegetation due to the loss of perennial bunchgrasses and shrubs truncate energy capture spatially and temporally thus impacting nutrient cycling and distribution.
Model keys
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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.