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11A

Ecological site DX032X01A150

Sandy (Sy) Big Horn Basin Core

Home / Esd catalog / MLRA 032X / Ecological site DX032X01A150
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T 1-2 - Frequent or high-intensity herbivory weakens the ability of the grasses to persist, especially during prolonged drought. Removal of or significant decrease in key grasses and a shift to a more pronounced sagebrush community renders a site difficult to restore back to the Reference State without mechanical or similar treatments.
T 1-3 - Long duration, high-intensity grazing reduces the bunchgrass component and encourages the mat- or sod-forming species. Prolonged drought stresses plants, opening the canopy for sod-formers. Removal of sagebrush by disturbances opens the canopy, aiding the transition.
R 2-1 - Removal or thinning of the sagebrush by mechanical or chemical means or by fire with remnant populations of native perennial desired grass species will lead to this community, if time is given for recovery and seedling establishment. Frequent use of this community during the dormant season will work to reduce the sagebrush through trampling and grazing but may encourage shorter-statured, more tolerant species and not the more desired species.
T 2-3 - Sod-forming species such as blue grama can tolerate high levels of use and will maintain as other native species decline. This decline creates a sagebrush–sod-former community that is resistant to change with management. Impacts to sagebrush by disease or insect damage will shift this to the secondary community phase.
T 2-4 - When seed sources are prevalent for invasive species, stress from drought, wildfire, or other natural and man disturbances, removes or exposes the soil and presents a niche for invasion by undesirable weeds.
T 3-4 - The interstitial spaces within the patchy canopy of sod-formers leaves areas for weedy species to establish, especially with disturbance or high traffic areas.
R 4-5 - Integrated pest management plan and intense weed control after and possibly before seedbed preparation will be necessary to overcome a severe weed infestation. Working a location and using either improved varieties, native seed, or, in some cases, an introduced species suited for the management use intended may be the only way to overcome some invasive species.
T 5-4 - In the reclamation or restoration process, or after a land disturbance occurs, if no management is put into place to prevent a reoccurrence or a new infestation of weeds, the community will revert or transition to an invaded state. Wildfire, prescribed burning, drought, or frequent and severe misuse by large herbivores can be a source of the disturbance that either opens the canopy or introduces the species to the location.
CP 1.1-1.2 - Historic use patterns, drought, and climatic shifts have attributed to the decline in needle and thread and Indian ricegrass. As bare ground increases, species such as prairie Junegrass, blue grama, and threadleaf sedge increased as along with the canopy of sagebrush.
CP 1.2-1.1 - Removal of the historic use patterns in favor of a rest rotation system and the implementation of wildlife management programs has helped to reduce the grazing pressure and allow rest for recovery. This also allows grasses the opportunity to increase within the interspaces.

State 2 submodel, plant communities

CP 3.1-3.2 - As the mat-forming species increase with continued stress or pressure, hydrology is altered, and sagebrush begins to decrease and will eventually be removed. Cactus increases in this transition due to the open interspaces between patches of sod-formers.
CP 4.1-4.2 - The competition for limited resources with drought stress or grazing pressure will allow invasive species to become dominant, leaving only remnant populations of natives. Non-use allows soils to become vulnerable to invasive species in these stressed conditions, thus allowing their expansion.
CP 4.1-4.3 - A major disturbance that removes sagebrush as well as other native herbaceous species leaves the community vulnerable to invasive species.
CP 4.2-4.1 - The integration of a pest management/weed control plan in conjunction with intensive grazing management over time will encourage the remnant populations of natives to expand. Eradication of invasive species may not be possible, but it is possible to encourage natives to persist.
CP 4.2-4.3 - Loss of sagebrush by major disturbance (fire, mechanical alteration, chemical means) will encourage the invasive species to become a near-monoculture population.
CP 5.1-5.2 - Reclamation or restoration with reseeding, integrated pest management, and long-term prescribed grazing or other managed use of a landscape is needed to shift a disturbed community back to a representative or functional plant community.
CP 5.2-5.1 - If a reclaimed or restored site is not managed for the species implemented, (non-use or overuse), the community will revert back or fail to establish and will remain in a degraded community phase.