Clayey Terrace
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition 1.1 to 2 More details
- Transition 1 to 3 More details
- Transition 1 to 4 More details
- Restoration pathway 2 to 1.2 More details
- Restoration pathway 3 to 1 More details
- Restoration pathway 4 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. The shortgrass-midgrass plant community is dominated by warm-season shortgrass and cool-season midgrass. Non-use plant Community consists of decadent plants or excessive litter, and few remnant native grasses or forbs.
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.
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
Description
This state is characterized by a dominance of Rocky Mountain juniper. Depending upon tree density, the herbaceous understory (grasses and forbs) will be minimal to non-existent. The combination of factors including a detritus layer of juniper, shading, changes to soil chemistry, interception of rainfall by tree canopies, and shallow rooting morphology of the juniper inhibit the herbaceous layer. The hydrologic function of this state has been altered from that of State 1. The shallow rooting structure of the juniper and lack of native perennial grass species alters infiltration and increases potential of erosion.
Submodel
Mechanism
Heavy continuous grazing without adequate recovery opportunity between grazing events or continuous seasonal (i.e. spring) grazing will move this plant community across an ecological threshold to the Shortgrass State.
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
Elimination of fire is the major contributor to this transition.
Mechanism
Long-term (>10 years) prescribed grazing with adequate recovery periods between grazing events and proper stocking will shift this plant community toward the Inland Saltgrass/Western Wheatgrass Plant Community, and eventually to the Reference Plant Community or associated successional plant community stages assuming an adequate seed/vegetative source is available. This transition may take up to 20 years or more to accomplish depending on the degree of degradation.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
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 one of the Grassland State Plant Communities. This process will take a long period of time (20+ years).
Range seeding into mulch 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 Grazing |
Mechanism
For this retrogression to occur, an agent of change is needed such as the use of prescribed fire(s) and mechanical treatment to gradually reduce the dominance of juniper to prevent seedlings from becoming established. Prescribed grazing is required. Wildfire (stand replacing) is also an agent of change that could aid in this restoration pathway. Reseeding to native species may also be required.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Range Planting |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
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.