Wet Meadow
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1 More details
- Transition T4 More details
- Restoration pathway R1 More details
- Transition T2 More details
- Transition T4 More details
- Transition T3 More details
- Restoration pathway R2 More details
- Restoration pathway R4 More details
- Restoration pathway R4 More details
- Transition T4 More details
- Restoration pathway R3 More details
- Restoration pathway R4 More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
This state represents the natural range of variability that dominates the dynamics of this ecological site. This state is typically dominated by cool-season grass-likes and grasses with minor amounts of warm-season grasses. Prior to European settlement, the primary disturbance mechanisms for this site in the reference condition included periodic fire, grazing by herding ungulates and shifting precipitation patterns. Timing of fires and grazing coupled with weather events dictated the dynamics that occurred within the natural range of variability. Today the primary disturbance is a lack of fire, physical impacts of livestock grazing, mechanical harvest, and precipitation. In some instances, the mechanical harvest of these sites has similar impacts on the willows as fire, limiting their size and extent within the plant community.
Submodel
Description
This State is characterized by the presence of minor amounts of non-native species and/or a significant increase in the amount and extent of willow species.
Submodel
Description
This state is characterized by a dominance of non-native invasive species such as quackgrass, redtop, Canada thistle, leafy spurge and Kentucky bluegrass and/or an increase in aggressive native species such as reed canarygrass. Species diversity is reduced as compared to the Reference State (State 1) and Native/Invaded State (State 2).
Submodel
Description
This state is characterized by a dominance (both visually and in production) of willow species and a greatly reduced herbaceous understory. Remnant sedges still dominate the herbaceous portion of the state but shade tolerant invasives such as Kentucky bluegrass and/or redtop may also be present.
Submodel
Mechanism
Transition from Reference State (State 1)to the Native/Invaded State (State 2)
This represents the transition from the native sedge dominated reference state to a state that has been invaded by introduced species. When propagules of non-native species such as redtop, Canada thistle, field sowthistle are present, this transition occurs as management actions, or soil disturbance, favor a decline in the composition of the sedges and other grass-likes. These species may occupy functional/structural groups not present in the Reference State.
This transitional pathway may be compounded by a reduction or elimination of fire which serves to maintain the willow as a minor component in the Reference State. Without this frequency of disturbance, the willow component exceeds the point where a return to the normal fire disturbance regime will reduce the willow component to Reference State conditions. The historic impacts of fire on the shrub component may be mimicked by regular mechanical clipping of the site.
Mechanism
Transition from Any Plant Community to Invaded State (State 4)
This transition is a result of abandonment following cropping.
Mechanism
R1 Restoration from Native/Invaded State (State 2) to the Reference State (State 1)
In the absence of invasive species, an increase in fire frequency alone, or in combination with, mechanical treatment and/or herbicide treatment would reduce the willow component to Reference State levels. This restoration pathway is not applicable when non-native invasive species are present in the plant community.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
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Prescribed Burning |
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Herbaceous Weed Control |
Mechanism
The complete removal of fire or, very infrequent fire, allows willow species to increase in both size and extent. This lack of disturbance (fire and/or mechanical) may be facilitated by periods of above normal precipitation. Sporadic attempts to shift the plant community back to the Reference State either through the use of prescribed burning and/or mechanical treatment causes the willow to re-sprout with multiple stems and ultimately, may hasten the shift to Plant Community Phase 3.1.
Experience would indicate the threshold occurs when willow attain a height of greater than 30 inches and become multi-stemmed. At this point, the willows begin to reduce herbaceous production and limit fire intensity. At this stage, if fire occurs, it does not generate adequate heat to kill the willow or, if it does top kill the willow, re-sprouting results in an even thicker stand of willow.
Mechanism
Transition from Any Plant Community to Invaded State (State 4)
This transition is a result of abandonment following cropping.
Mechanism
Transition from Plant Community Phase 2.2 to the Invaded State (State 4)
Continued excessive animal impact and/or mechanical disturbance coupled with drier soil conditions will favor the expansion of non-native invasive species such as quackgrass, redtop, field sowthistle, and Canada thistle. Native species such as reed canarygrass and foxtail barley may also expand to form monocultures.
Mechanism
Restoration from Wooded State (State 3) to the Native/Invaded State (State 2)
The use of mechanical brush control treatments and possible application of the proper herbicides coupled with repeated prescribed burns may result in a shift towards the herbaceous dominate communities of the Native/Invaded State. Remnant native herbaceous species will need to be present in adequate amounts (root stock) to re-establish so seeding is not needed. The potential would exist for invasives (e.g. redtop) to dominate the site following this treatment regime if they are present initially.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Herbaceous Weed Control |
Mechanism
Restoration from Any Plant Community to the Native/Invaded State (State 2)
Restoration efforts which include a properly prepared seedbed, control of competing vegetation using appropriate herbicides, seeding adapted native species, and managing the resulting plant community with prescribed burning and prescribed grazing may result in a plant community which resembles Plant Community Phase 2.1 in appearance.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
|
|
Herbaceous Weed Control |
Mechanism
Restoration from Any Plant Community to the Native/Invaded State (State 2)
Restoration efforts which include a properly prepared seedbed, control of competing vegetation using appropriate herbicides, seeding adapted native species, and managing the resulting plant community with prescribed burning and prescribed grazing may result in a plant community which resembles Plant Community Phase 2.1 in appearance.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
|
|
Herbaceous Weed Control |
Mechanism
Transition from Any Plant Community to Invaded State (State 4)
This transition is a result of abandonment following cropping.
Mechanism
Restoration from Invaded State (State 4) to the Native/Invaded State (State 2)
Restoration efforts which include destroying the invasive and other competing vegetation using appropriate herbicides, seeding adapted native species, and managing the resulting plant community with prescribed burning and prescribed grazing may result in a plant community which resembles Plant Community Phase 2.1 in appearance and function.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
|
|
Herbaceous Weed Control |
Mechanism
Restoration from Any Plant Community to the Native/Invaded State (State 2)
Restoration efforts which include a properly prepared seedbed, control of competing vegetation using appropriate herbicides, seeding adapted native species, and managing the resulting plant community with prescribed burning and prescribed grazing may result in a plant community which resembles Plant Community Phase 2.1 in appearance.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
|
|
Herbaceous Weed Control |
Model keys
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