Introduced annuals such as red brome, schismus and redstem stork's bill have invaded the reference plant community and have become a dominant component of the herbaceous cover. This invasion of non-natives is attributed to a combination of factors including: 1) surface disturbances, 2) changes in the kinds of animals and their grazing patterns, 3) drought, and 4) changes in fire history. These non-natives annuals are highly flammable and promote wildfires where fires historically have been infrequent.
LATR and AMDU would persist after this invasion by non-native annuals, but the other shrubs and desirable grasses would either be unsuccessful in competing with the non-natives or removed from the system.
The threshold that is crossed, is the introduction of non-native annuals that cannot be removed from the system and will alter disturbance regimes significantly from their natural or historic range of disturbances.
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.