Mountain Shale
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
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- Transition T1A More details
- Restoration pathway R2A 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
This state represents the natural range of variability on the site. The plant communities within the reference state were shaped and maintained by disturbances such as grazing, browsing, drought, wet years, and fire. The removal or alteration of these processes can cause a shift to an alternative state.
Continuous grazing during the growing season will cause the potential plant community to deteriorate. Most of the dominant grasses will decrease as the ecological condition declines.
Submodel
Description
This state represents a shift from the reference state. The site has crossed a threshold that will require significant inputs to return to reference conditions, if possible. This has altered the hydrology and energy flow of the plant community.
Continuous grazing during the growing season will cause the potential plant community to deteriorate. Most of the dominant grasses will decrease as the ecological condition declines. Species most likely to invade under these conditions are ring muhly, rabbitbrush, pingue rubberweed, and Kentucky bluegrass. Species most likely to increase as the ecological conditions decline are Gambel oak, sleepygrass, threeawn., broom snakeweed and big sagebrush. Oak brush may completely dominate the plant community.
Mechanism
Removal of periodic fire may result in an increase in woody canopy across the site.
Improper grazing will cause desirable species to decrease and less desirable species to increase Long term drought can also have an impact on the shifting structure and composition of the plant community.
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.