Choppy Sands
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition 1 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-, mid-, shortgrasses, forbs, and shrubs. The Cool-Season Community is dominated by cool season species with remnant warm-season grasses present. The Non-use plant community consists of decadent plants or excessive litter, and few remnant native grasses and forbs.
Submodel
Description
The Sedge 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.
Species diversity and composition has been reduced relative to that of the reference plant community.
Submodel
Description
The Degraded 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 two plant communities.
Submodel
Mechanism
Heavy, continuous grazing and/or continuous seasonal (spring) grazing may cause further deterioration resulting in a shift to the Sedge/Forb Plant Community.
Mechanism
Excessive defoliation (i.e., areas of heavy animal concentration) or cropped go-back land with continuous grazing will convert the plant community to the Annual/Pioneer Perennial Plant Community.
Mechanism
Long term prescribed grazing with adequate recovery periods following each grazing event and proper stocking over long periods of time move this plant community toward the Needleandthread/Sedge Plant Community. Eventually the plant community may return to the Reference Plant Community or associated successional plant community stages assuming an adequate seed/vegetative source is available. This process may take greater than 20 years.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Long-term prescribed grazing and removal of disturbance, including adequate rest periods, will move this community through the successional stages, and may eventually lead to a plant community resembling the Sand Bluestem/Prairie Sandreed Plant Community or associated successional plant communities assuming an adequate seed/vegetative source exists. This process will likely take a long period of time (50+ years).
Range seeding followed with prescribed grazing can be used to convert this plant community to one that may resemble the Reference Plant Community.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
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.