Loamy Floodplain
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
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- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1B More details
- Transition T1C More details
- Restoration pathway T3A More details
- Transition T3C More details
- Transition T3B More details
- Restoration pathway T4A More details
- Transition T4B More details
- Restoration pathway T5A More details
- Restoration pathway T5B More details
- Restoration pathway T5c, T5D 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
The Reference State describes the range of vegetative community phases that occur on the Loamy Floodplain site where the natural processes are mostly intact. This state would include community phases 1.1, 1.2 and small areas of 1.3. The extent of each would be dependent upon recent growing conditions. Drought and increased fire frequency would favor the herbaceous community while periods of above normal precipitation and reduced fire frequency would have favored the shrub and woody community phase. Due to change in microclimate within the wooded patches, fire intensity would have been lessened, thereby permitting this community to escape normal fire events. Extreme fire events may have resulted in these areas being burned over and reverting to more of an herbaceous and shrub dominated plant community. Invasion of conifers such as eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginian) or Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) separately or the combination of both together is possible over time on areas with reduced fire frequency. These areas occur typically in the upper reaches of the watershed.
Submodel
Description
This state is characterized by the increase in bare ground due to trampling caused by excessive use or by inundation for extended periods separately or the combination of both together which causes a temporary shift in the plant composition and cover. Severe flooding events where scouring or sediment deposition separately or the combination of both together allow for seed germination and establishment. This allows for the invasion of woody species, which, with continued heavy grazing and no surface fire, can increase to eventual dominance. Loss or reduction of native cool-season and warm-season species can negatively impacted energy flow and nutrient cycling. Small amount of shade tolerant non-native species such as smooth bromegrass and Kentucky bluegrass would be present. Infiltration will be reduced, and native plant mortality will increase. As the disturbance level increases, native plant density decreases even more, giving way to annual species and invasive perennial species, as well as, a further increase woody species and bare ground. Invasion of conifers such as eastern redcedar or Rocky Mountain juniper separately or the combination of both together is possible over time on areas with reduced fire frequency. These areas occur typically in the upper reaches of the watershed.
Submodel
Description
This state represents the more common range of variability that exists with higher levels of grazing management but in the absence of periodic fire due to fire suppression. This state is dominated by warm-season grasses, with cool-season grasses being subdominant. It can be found on areas that are properly managed with grazing or prescribed burning separately or the combination of both together, and sometimes on areas receiving occasional short periods of rest. Taller warm-season species can decline and a corresponding increase in short statured grass will occur. Invasion of conifers such as eastern redcedar or Rocky Mountain juniper separately or the combination of both together
is possible over time on areas with reduced fire frequency. These areas occur typically in the upper reaches of the watershed.
Submodel
Description
This state is a result of encroachment mainly by invasive introduced cool-season grasses. The ecological processes are not functioning, especially the biotic processes and the hydrologic functions. The introduced cool-season grasses cause reduced infiltration and increased runoff. Preliminary studies would tend to indicate this threshold may exist when Kentucky bluegrass exceeds 30 percent of the plant community and native grasses represent less than 40 percent of the plant community composition.
The opportunity for high intensity spring burns is severely reduced by early greenup and increased moisture and humidity at the soil surface and grazing pressure cannot cause a reduction in sodgrass dominance. Production is limited to the sod forming species. Infiltration continues to decrease, and runoff increases and energy capture into the system is restricted to early season low producing species. Nutrient cycling is limited by root depth of the dominant species. Invasion of conifers such as eastern redcedar or Rocky Mountain juniper separately or the combination of both together is possible over time on areas with reduced fire frequency. These areas occur typically in the upper reaches of the watershed.
Submodel
Description
This state is characterized by the production of annual crops using a variety of tillage and cropping systems along with management practices. Cropping on this site is enabled during years with drier than normal precipitation or with artificial drainage (surface or subsurface).
Mechanism
Non-use or no surface fire for extended periods of time (typically for 10 or more years) separately or the combination of both together causing litter levels to become high enough to reduce native grass vigor, diversity, and density or invasion of non-native plant species will likely lead this 1.3 Green Ash-Plains Cottonwood-American Plum/Western Snowberry Plant Community Phase within the Reference State (State 1) over a threshold leading the Wooded/Invaded State (State 2).
Mechanism
Non-use or no surface fire for extended periods of time (typically for 10 or more years) separately or the combination of both together causing litter levels to become high enough to reduce native grass vigor, diversity, and density, or heavy continuous grazing by itself or combined with other management or invasion of non-native plant species will likely lead this 1.1 Bluestem-Switchgrass-Sideoats Grama Plant Community Phase within the Reference State (State 1) state over a threshold resulting in the Native/Invaded State (State 3).
Mechanism
Brush management such as removing woody vegetation and tillage will cause a shift over a threshold leading to the 5.1 Annual Crops Plant Community Phase within the Crop Production State (State 5).
Mechanism
Tree Planting will likely lead this state over a threshold leading to the Wooded/Invaded State (State 2). This will take significant resources and years of monitoring and management.
Mechanism
Non-use or no surface fire for extended periods of time (typically for 10 or more years) separately or a combination of both together causing litter levels to become high enough to reduce native grass vigor, diversity, and density, heavy continuous grazing (stocking levels well above carrying capacity for extended portions of the growing season and often at the same time of year each year), or inundation due to flooding with very long duration (greater than 30 days) beyond normal ponding and drying patterns by itself or combined with other management will likely lead this state over a threshold leading to the Invaded State (State 4).
Mechanism
Tillage will cause a shift over a threshold leading to the 5.1 Annual Crops Plant Community Phase within the Crop Production State (State 5).
Mechanism
Long-term prescribed grazing (moderate stocking levels coupled with adequate recovery periods, or other grazing systems such as high-density, low-frequency intended to treat specific species dominance, or periodic light to moderate stocking levels possibly including periodic rest) coupled with prescribed burning occurring at relatively frequent intervals (3 to 5 years) and a return to normal disturbance regime levels and frequencies may lead this plant community phase over a threshold to the Native/Invaded State (State 3).
Mechanism
Tillage will cause a shift over a threshold leading to the 5.1 Annual Crops Plant Community Phase within the Crop Production State (State 5).
Mechanism
Seeding combined with tree planting may lead this Crop Production State (State 5) over a threshold leading to the Wooded/Invaded State (State 2). This will take significant resources and years of monitoring and management.
Mechanism
Seeding may lead this Crop Production State (State 5) over a threshold leading to the Native/Invaded State (State 3).
Mechanism
Seeding may lead this Crop Production State (State 5) over a threshold to the Invaded State (State 4).
Cropping followed by abandonment may lead this plant community phase over a threshold to the Invaded State (State 4) and more specifically to the 4.3 Annual Pioneer-Perennial Pioneer Plant Community Phase.
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.