Alkali Flat (Greasewood)
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T2A More details
-
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The reference state represents the plant communities and ecological dynamics of the alkali flat (greasewood) site. This state includes the biotic communities that become established on the ecological site if all successional sequences are completed under the natural disturbance regime. The reference state is generally dominated by greasewood. The reference state is self sustaining and resistant to change due to high resistance to natural disturbances and high resilience following natural disturbances. When natural disturbances occur, the rate of recovery is variable due to disturbance intensity. Once invasive plants establish, return to the reference state may not be possible.
Reference State: Greasewood state with fluctuations form a greasewood shrubland to a grassland and a grassland/shrubland community.
Indicators: A community dominated by greasewood or perennial grasses.
Feedbacks: Continuous season long grazing of perennial grasses, frequent fire, or other disturbance that may allow for the establishment of invasive species.
At-risk Community Phase: This state is at risk when native plants are stressed and nutrients become available for invasive plants to establish.
Trigger: The establishment of invasive plant species.
Submodel
Submodel
Description
This community is characterized by the establishment and persistence of invasive annual grasses and forbs. The species of forbs and annual grasses present are a result of the area and seed sources. Due to the low number of sites currently in this state, the ability for this state to convert back to a shrubland is not well understood.
Submodel
Mechanism
This transition is from the current potential state into a state dominated by annual invasive plants. This transition occurs as events favor the increased establishment and dominance of annual invasive plants. Typically this occurs as a series of fires which lead to an increase in cheatgrass and a subsequent decrease in the fire return interval. Once invasive plant species drive the ecological dynamics of the site a threshold has been crossed.
Model keys
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase (
) 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.
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.