Clayey
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition 1.2 to 2 More details
- Transition 1 to 3 More details
- Restoration pathway 2 to 1 More details
- Restoration pathway 3 to 1 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
The Grassland State is supported by empirical data, historical data, local expertise, and photographs. This state is defined by three native plant communities that are a result of periodic fire, drought, and grazing. These events are part of the natural disturbance regime and climatic process. The Reference Plant Community consists of both warm- and cool-season, tall- and midgrasses, forbs, shrubs. Plant Community 1.2 the Shortgrass cool-season community is dominated by blue grama and western wheatgrass. The Non-Use Plant Community 1.3 consists of decadent plants or excessive litter, and few remnant native grasses and forbs.
Submodel
Description
The Club Moss State is supported by empirical data, historical data, local expertise, and photographs. This state represents a plant community change as well as changes to the energy flow and nutrient cycling processes. This state is defined by one plant community.
Submodel
Description
The Annual/Pioneer State is supported by empirical data, historical data, local expertise, and photographs. This state represents a plant community change as well as changes to the energy flow and nutrient cycling processes. This state is defined by one plant community.
Submodel
Mechanism
Heavy, continuous grazing may cause further deterioration resulting in a shift to the Club Moss Plant Community.
Mechanism
Heavy, continuous grazing, excessive defoliation and/or mechanical tillage may shift this plant community to the Annual/Pioneer Perennial Plant Community.
Mechanism
Fertilization combined with prescribed grazing may move this plant community through the successional stages leading toward the Green Needlegrass/Western Wheatgrass Plant Community.
Mechanical renovation followed by prescribed grazing will reduce club moss, increase western wheatgrass, and eventually shift this plant community back toward the Green Needlegrass/Western Wheatgrass Plant Community.
Prescribed burning may reduce club moss, and eventually convert this plant community back to the Green Needlegrass/Western Wheatgrass Plant Community.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Under long-term prescribed grazing and/or removal of disturbance, including adequate rest periods, this plant community will move through the successional stages, and may eventually lead to a plant community resembling the Reference Plant Community. Depending on the slope, aspect, and size, and if adequate perennial plants exist, this change can occur more rapidly. This process will likely take a long period of time (50+ years).
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Model keys
Briefcase
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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.