Upland Gravelly Loam (Wyoming Big Sagebrush)
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1a More details
- Transition T1b More details
- Transition T2a More details
- Transition T2b More details
- Transition T2c More details
- Transition T3b More details
- Transition T3a More details
- Transition T4b More details
- Transition T4a More details
- Transition T5a More details
- Restoration pathway R6a 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 includes the plant communities that were best adapted to the unique combination of factors associated with this ecological site prior to European settlement. It was in a natural dynamic equilibrium with the historic biotic and abiotic (i.e. climactic), and disturbance factors on the ecological site in North America at the time of European immigration and settlement. Assumed historic fire interval is 50-60 years. Dominant vegetative aspect is Wyoming big sagebrush and bluebunch wheatgrass with other grasses and forbs in the interspaces. This site is usually associated with Lake Bonneville terraces. The air-dry composition weight is 50 percent perennial grasses, 15 percent forbs, and 35 percent shrubs. Plants begin growth around April 20 and end growth around September 15. The Reference State has been determined by the study of rangeland relic areas, the evaluation of collected data, and trend data. The assumptions in developing this site were that the historic data and the sites visited were accurately represented.
Characteristics and indicators
This state will have no non-native species in the plant community.
Submodel
Description
The Current Potential State includes the plant communities that were in the Reference State but with a component of invasive species (such as cheatgrass and/or Russian thistle) added. There is no known way to effectively remove these plants from the site once they have become established. The level of occurrence of these plants in the Current Potential State is such that careful management can prevent their domination of the site. This site is irreversibly changed. Plant communities within this state may be managed and used for various purposes without significant alteration in plant community composition or production
Characteristics and indicators
This state is similar in community composition and community dynamics to the Reference State with the exception of non-native species inclusion in the plant community.
Submodel
Description
The Utah Juniper Invasion State is driven by lack of fire. Movement into this state can be accelerated by overgrazing. This state can persist for a long time until extreme conditions needed for a wildfire occur or some other management treatment is implemented.
Submodel
Description
The Shrub State occurs when there is long term improper grazing (continuous season long, high intensity). The perennial grasses are removed and broom snakeweed will increase in the understory (Ralphs and Thacker 2007).
Submodel
Description
The Yellow rabbitbrush / Invasive annuals State occurs when the site is overgrazed. Drought conditions will enhance and/or accelerate the move to this state. This state often occurs after fire. The dominant aspect of this state is fire tolerant shrubs like yellow rabbitbrush and fire tolerant annual grasses like cheatgrass brome.
Submodel
Description
The Seeded Range State results from significant vegetation manipulation that may include, prescribed burning, chaining, disking, mowing, or other techniques with the intentional introduction of non-native perennial grasses such as crested wheatgrass or Russian wildrye. This state may persist for long periods of time. Typically, sagebrush will establish in the seeding to significant proportions within 15 years.
Submodel
Mechanism
Disturbances such as improper grazing, and the introduction of seed of invasive species (such as cheatgrass and/or Russian thistle).
Mechanism
Prolonged improper grazing (continuous season long grazing at high intensity) suppresses most perennial grasses and forbs allowing Sandberg bluegrass and broom snakeweed to increase in the understory (Ralphs and Thacker 2007).
Mechanism
Prolonged drought and/or extreme lengthening of the fire interval. This takes place when the sagebrush canopy increases enough that it starts to severely suppress the perennial grass and forb understory and the fire interval is increased from 50 to 60 years to 70 to 90 years followed by an increase of Utah juniper. Drought can stress the existing plants on the site creating ideal conditions for Utah juniper establishment in the next favorable year. Improper grazing can accelerate this transition.
Mechanism
Prolonged improper grazing (continuous season long grazing at high intensity) suppresses most perennial grasses and forbs allowing Sandberg bluegrass and broom snakeweed to increase in the under story (Ralphs and Thacker 2007).
Mechanism
Disturbances including improper grazing and decrease of fire interval over a prolonged period of time.
Mechanism
Disturbances including improper grazing and decrease of fire interval over a prolonged period of time.
Mechanism
Actions such as mechanical treatment and seeding; chemical treatment and seeding, or other vegetation manipulations that remove the junipers and intentionally establish introduced perennial plants.
Mechanism
Disturbances including improper grazing and decrease of fire interval over a prolonged period of time (8 to 15 year fire intervals), with invasive plants becoming dominant.
Mechanism
Actions such as mechanical treatment and seeding; chemical treatment and seeding, or other vegetation manipulations that remove the broom snakeweed and intentionally establish introduced perennial plants.
Mechanism
Actions such as mechanical treatment and seeding; chemical treatment and seeding, or other vegetation manipulations that remove the invasive plants and intentionally establish introduced perennial plants.
Mechanism
Under careful management, native grasses and forbs will become re-established in this plant community over a long period of time, allowing a transition back to the Current Potential State over 100-150 years. Actively manipulating plant communities in the annual grass or juniper invasion states to create a seeded range state is the first step in assisted succession to restore plant communities.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
|
|
Grazing Management Plan - Applied |
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.