Limy 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 4 More details
- Restoration pathway 2 to 1 More details
- Transition 2 to 3 More details
- Restoration pathway 3 to 2 More details
-
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 two 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 Non-use plant community consists of decadent plants or excessive litter, and few remnant native grasses and forbs.
Submodel
Description
The Mid-, Shortgrass 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 Shortgrass 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.
With heavy, continuous grazing blue grama will become the dominant species and have a sod bound appearance. Unable to withstand the grazing pressure, only a remnant population of native tall- and midrass species remains.
Species composition and diversity has been reduced relative to state 2 and the Reference State. Water infiltration is reduced due to the sod nature of the blue grama and runoff is increased.
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
Long-term, heavy, continuous grazing or continuous seasonal grazing will convert the Grassland State to Mid-, Shortgrass State.
Mechanism
Excessive defoliation (i.e., areas of heavy animal concentration) or cropped go-back land with continuous grazing will convert the Grassland State to the Annual/Pioneer State.
Mechanism
Long-term prescribed grazing that includes changing season of use and allowing adequate recovery periods will lead this plant community back to the Grassland State.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Long-term, heavy, continuous grazing or continuous seasonal grazing will convert Mid-, Shortgrass State to the Shortgrass State.
Mechanism
Long-term (+25 years) of prescribed grazing with adequate rest and recovery of the key forage species. Prescribed burning may be a necessary management tool.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Model keys
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase (
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
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.