State 1 represents the historic-natural condition for this ecological site. It is similar to State 2, but non-native species are not present. Data is not available for this State. Plant community composition is similar to State 2 but without the presence of annual exotics species such as red brome and redstem stork's bill.
Non-native annuals, including red brome (Bromus rubens) and red-stem storks bill (Erodium cicutarium) are naturalized in this state. Their abundance varies with precipitation but they are, at a minimum, sparsely present. Non-native annuals may be present in current year's growth or in the soil seedbank. This ecological state has a long history of livestock grazing which is likely to have obscured our understanding of state and community pathways as well as vegetation composition. Given that this ecological site is at higher elevations of the Mojave Desert and can support perennial bunch grasses, unlike the more harsh and arid Mojave Desert environments, this ecological site would have been attractive to early livestock operations in the Mojave.
This state exists when blackbrush is lost from the community as a result of large-scale and high intensity fires, where blackbrush seed source is not available to recolonize, and/or recurrent fire does not provide intervals long enough for blackbrush recovery. Evidence suggests that Indigenous land management practices were employed in and around this ecological site for several reasons, which include increasing the number of individual Mojave yucca (Yucca schidigera) and banana yucca (Yucca baccata) plants.
Several bands of Chemehuevi (Hokwaits, Kauyaichits, and the Timpashauwagotsits) spent time in and around the Providence and New York Mountains and are reported to have employed fire as a hunting technique to capture rabbits and deer (Miller and Miller 1967). Laird (1984) also describes Chemehuevi tales where fire was used to improve the growth and quality of basketry materials as well as to char seeds to be eaten.
Whether intentional or not, the greatest differences recorded between pre- and post-fire vegetation demographics, aside from the blackbrush removal, is an increase in Yucca schidigera and Yucca baccata individuals. S.R. Abella (2009) found Mojave yucca (Yucca schidigera) to exhibit the highest post-fire sprouting rate than any other plant species in a study of post-fire recovery in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. Abella et al (2009) also described vigorous Yucca baccata and schidigera resprouting following a Mojave Desert burn. In yet another study of post-fire effects, a similar yucca (Yucca glauca) increased the number of rosettes, from pre-burn, by 17% two years following the experimental fire (Parmenter 2008). Many tribes such as the Chemehuevi used Yucca species for food, soap, baskets, bowstrings, sandals and many other items (Bean and Saubel 1972).
Introduction of non-native species due to a combination of factors including; surface disturbance, changes in the kinds of animals and their grazing patterns, drought, changes in fire history or any other type of vegetation removal. Non-natives can alter disturbance regimes significantly from their natural or historic range and change ecological processes therefore creating an unlikely scenario to restore the site back to reference.
This transition occurs when large scale, high intensity fire has removed blackbrush from the site and surrounding areas.
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.
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
