Mountain Breaks
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- 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.
Deterioration of the potential plant community is indicated by a decrease in such species as Arizona fescue, mountain muhly, western wheatgrass, prairie junegrass, winterfat and fourwing saltbush. Species that increase include blue grama, galleta, sleepygrass, big sagebrush, rabbitbrush and other undesirable woody species. A planned grazing system with periodic grazing and rest is best to maintain the natural balance between plant species and to maintain high productivity.
Submodel
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.