Approximately 90 to 95 percent of the vegetation produced on this site comes from plants producing forage suitable for grazing or browsing. Due to the high availability of soil moisture, which results in early green up and high productivity, this site is subject to deterioration by overgrazing and trampling. Deterioration is indicated by a decrease in western wheatgrass, tufted hairgrass, brome spp., and bluegrass with an increase in mat muhly, sedges, rushes, and forbs.
The current potential state is similar in structure and function to the reference state, however invasive and non-natives species are present in all community phases. The current potential state is generally dominated by perennial grasses. Kentucky bluegrass can become a dominant in this plant community. The current potential state is less resilient than the reference state due to the presence of non-native/invasive species in the plant community. Annual herbaceous weedy plants have increased, but occur in small patches. Invasive species present can include knapweeds, Canada thistle, and curly dock.
This state results from seeding introduced perennial grasses. Some of the potential grass found may include the following: meadow foxtail, orchardgrass, meadow barley, timothy and smooth brome. Native perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs may be included in the seed mix. This state behave similar community dynamics to the current potential state community. Other vegetation treatments may be necessary to get to this state, they include mowing, disking, prescribed burning and other techniques which manipulate the plant community. The seeded state could persist for long periods of time with proper management. Native grasses and forbs may reestablish over time from nearby seed sources.
The native understory in the reference state has been invade by non-native species. Plant may include thistles, knotweeds, dandelion, and povertyweed. Some invasive plants can become established in undisturbed and healthy native plant communities. Possible events that can cause this transition include improper domestic livestock, severe surface disturbances, fire, and/or extended droughts.
This transition is triggered by management decisions and actions. This transition, to a state that has been seeded with introduced perennial grasses. High energy inputs are needed for this transition. Brush will need to be removed with vegetation treatment techniques (I.e. chemical, mechanical, or fire) and introduced species that are adapted to the area and adapted to management needs have been seeded and become established. Water diversion maybe used to enhance or alter this site hydrological regime.
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.
