Loamy Prairie
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Introduction of invasive cool season grasses
More details -
Transition T1B
Lack of fire for more than 5 years.
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Transition T1C
Tillage or other agricultural practices.
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Transition T2A
Lack of fire for more than 5 years.
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Transition T2B
Tillage and farming practices.
More details - Restoration pathway R3A More details
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Restoration pathway R3B
Fire or thinning treatments are applied to this site, killing off shrub overstory, along with prolonged heavy grazing and possible drought.
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Transition T3A
Tillage or other agricultural production methods.
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The reference state is considered to be representative of the native range of variability under pre Euro-settlement conditions. Community phase changes in this state are primarily driven by a fire return interval less than 5 years, periodic drought cycles, and light to moderate grazing pressure. This state was co-dominated by warm and cool season grasses.
Submodel
Description
This state is dominated by cool season invasive grasses resulting from heavy grazing and high ground litter accumulation. Some native species are still present.
Submodel
Description
The encroached state is characterized by increased cover of native woody species due to the absence of wildfire. Ecological processes such as energy distribution, nutrient cycling, and soil moisture recharge are being controlled by trees. Herbaceous species in the understory experience reduced productivity and reproductive capacity due to shading.
Submodel
Mechanism
Triggers: the introduction of non-native, cool-season, perennial grasses that can not be removed from the system.
Slow variables: prolong periods of heavy grazing pressure reduce vigor and reproductive capacity of native species allowing non-natives to establish. This process can be exacerbated by the absence of wildfire that allows for the accumulation of litter that favors non-native, cool-season, grasses.
Mechanism
Slow variables: Lengthened fire return intervals (greater than 5 years) allow native woody species in encroach and being to dominant the ecological processes. As canopy cover increases herbaceous perennial understory is reduced in both vigor and reproductive capacity. Heavy grazing pressure may exacerbate the impacts of woody species encroachment
Thresholds: Nutrient cycling, energy capture and hydrologic function have been spatially and temporally truncated by the dominance of trees.
Mechanism
Triggers: Lands have been cleared and cultivated. These management actions represent a discrete event that truncates energy, nutrient, water cycling dynamics reducing ecological resilience.
Thresholds: Once the site is cultivated, soil properties such as structure and organic matter are permanently altered.
Mechanism
Slow variables: Lengthened fire return intervals (greater than 5 years) allow native woody species in encroach and being to dominant the ecological processes. As canopy cover increases herbaceous perennial understory is reduced in both vigor and reproductive capacity. Heavy grazing pressure may exacerbate the impacts of woody species encroachment
Thresholds: Nutrient cycling, energy capture and hydrologic function have been spatially and temporally truncated by the dominance of trees.
Mechanism
Triggers: Lands have been cleared and cultivated. These management actions represent a discrete event that truncates energy, nutrient, water cycling dynamics reducing ecological resilience.
Thresholds: Once the site is cultivated, soil properties such as structure and organic matter are permanently altered.
Mechanism
The encroached state will not return to the reference state without significant management actions. To restore this community to reference-like conditions requires the continued use of prescribed burning (fire return interval of ~5years is required to maintain the reference state). Management may also initially require herbicide and mechanical brush control. Additional considerations include deferment from grazing and the health and vigor of remnant native grass species in the understory.
Context dependence
Fire return interval less than 5 years, plus herbicide or thinning of shrubs.
Mechanism
Triggers: Widespread fire, or multiple fires, severe enough to kill overstory of woody species
Slow variables: prolonged heavy grazing, may also be coupled with drought and the introduction of non-native species.
Thresholds: hydrologic cycling, nutrient cycling, energy capture are controlled by herbaceous species
Mechanism
Triggers: Lands have been cleared and cultivated. These management actions represent a discrete event that truncates energy, nutrient, water cycling dynamics reducing ecological resilience.
Thresholds: Once the site is cultivated, soil properties such as structure and organic matter are permanently altered.
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.