Upland Loam (Bonneville Big Sagebrush) North
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
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- Transition T1a More details
- Transition T2a More details
- Transition T2b More details
- Transition T3b More details
- Transition T3a More details
- Transition T4a More details
- Restoration pathway R5a More details
- Transition T5a More details
- Transition T5b 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
This state includes the plant communities that were best adapted to the unique combination of factors associated with the ecological site. It was in a natural dynamic equilibrium with the historic biotic, abiotic, climatic factors on its ecological site in North America at the time of European immigration and settlement. This dominant aspect of the plant community is Bonneville big sagebrush and Bluebunch wheatgrass. The community is made up of 60 % Grass 25 % forbs and 15 % shrubs on a dry weight base.
Submodel
Description
This state includes the biotic communities that would become established on the ecological site if all successional sequences were completed without interferences by man under the present environmental conditions. Natural disturbances are inherent in its development. The CPS state will include acclimatized, naturalized or invasive nonnative species. There is no known way to effectively or efficiently remove these plants completely from the site once they have become established. The level of occurrence of these plants in the CPS can be controlled with carful management. Plant communities within the CPS state may be managed and used for various purposes by man without significant alteration in plant community composition or production. It includes all of the plant communities that exist in the RPC state with the inclusion of nonnative species. Additional plant communities with significant portions of invasive annuals may also be possible within this state.
Submodel
Description
3 - Utah Juniper/Invasion State
This State has only two described Plant Communities but many variations of the represented ones are present. This is the State that this plant community will move to when there is a lack of fire (over exuberant fire control) and there is a source of Utah Juniper and/or Pinyon seed. Movement from community faze to community faze can and often is accelerated by overgrazing. The dominant aspect of the plant community is Utah juniper and Sandberg bluegrass if it moves from State (1) but the main grass will be Cheatgrass brome if it moves from state (2). With the coming of Cheatgrass brome this plant will always become the main grass on the site at this point in time. 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
This is the State that this Plant Community will move to when it is in an overgrazed and/or drought condition and not rested to allow recovery and/or burned (wild or controlled) without being seeded. The dominant aspect of the plant community is Cheatgrass brome, Yellow rabbitbrush, with a small amount of Bonneville big sagebrush.
Submodel
Description
This State exists when the site is cultivated and/or burned and planted to Introduced perennial plants and/or in some situations a mix of Native grasses and forbs with at times some Introduced plant species.
Submodel
Mechanism
Prolonged drought, overgrazing, extreme lengthening of the fire interval frequency. This takes place when the sagebrush canopy gets so heavy that it destroys the perennial grass and forb understory and the fire frequency is increased from 20 to 40 years to 60 to 90 years and there is an introduction of Utah Juniper.
Mechanism
Prolonged drought and/or prolonged overgrazing. Most often it is a combination of the two conditions that bring this condition into existence. Continued overgrazing and increase of the fire frequency over a very prolonged period of time i.e. 3 to 5 year fire frequency interval.
Mechanism
- Continued overgrazing and increase of fire frequency over a very prolonged period of time i.e. 3 to 5 year fire frequency interval.
Mechanism
Human caused disturbance i.e. mechanical treatment and seeding; chemical treatment and seeding etc.
Mechanism
Human caused disturbance i.e. mechanical treatment and seeding; chemical treatment and seeding etc.
Mechanism
Time with proper management that favors the Native Plants as they move back onto the site.
Mechanism
Prolonged drought, overgrazing, extreme lengthening of the fire interval frequency. This takes place when the sagebrush canopy gets so heavy that it destroys the perennial grass and forb understory and the fire frequency is increased from 20 to 40 years to 60 to 90 years and there is an introduction of Utah Juniper.
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.