Cool Shallow to Moderately Deep Fans
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition 1A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Restoration pathway 1 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
Historic-natural condition for this ecological site. This state is similar to State 2, but Historic State 1 contains only native species. If dynamics were included in this state, they would be similar to those displayed in State 2. The presence of non-native species in State 2 may increase fire frequency and intensity from that experienced in Historic State 1.
State 2
Reference State
Description
The Reference State includes three community phases maintained by the current natural conditions for this ecological site.
Indicators: Blackbrush and creosote bush are prevalent.
Feedbacks: Increasing organic matter inputs, soil protected from wind erosion.
Submodel
Description
This state develops when intense and/or frequent fire removes blackbrush and creosote bush as dominant species. There are two community phases maintained by an increase in fire intensity and/or fire frequency due to the abundance of annual species, especially invasive grasses.
Submodel
Mechanism
Non-native forbs and grasses are introduced to the Historic State. There may be only a trace amount of non-native species present. Non-native species are well adapted to the desert climate. Attempts to eradicate this species may be futile as seed sources are widespread throughout the state of California and the Southwest.
Mechanism
High intensity fire is carried by the continuous fuel load of annual species. This transition is most likely to occur when the interstitial spaces between shrubs are filled with dried annual species, especially non-native grasses.
Mechanism
Restoration of communities severely altered by repeat fire at the landscape scale is difficult. Methods may include aerial seeding of early native colonizers such as desert globemallow, burrobrush, threeawns (Aristida spp.), and desert marigold. Increased native cover may help to reduce non-native plant invasion, helps to stabilize soils, provides a source of food and cover for wildlife, including desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), and provides microsites that facilitate creosote bush and blackbrush establishment. However, the amount of seed required for success is often prohibitive. Large-scale planting of both early colonizers and community dominants tends to be more successful in terms of plant survival, especially if outplants receive supplemental watering during the first two years. Creosote bush is readily cultivated for outplanting, but blackbrush is difficult to cultivate due to susceptibility to fungal pathogens in the greenhouse environment. Pre-emergent herbicides (Plateau) have been used in the year immediately post-fire to attempt to inhibit or reduce brome invasion. How successful this is on a landscape scale, and the non-target effects have not yet been determined.
Model keys
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Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
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.