Loamy 13-16" P.Z.
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1B More details
- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1C More details
- Transition T6A More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Transition T6A More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Transition T3A More details
- Transition T6A More details
- Transition T4A More details
- Transition T4B More details
- Transition T6A 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
This State represents what is believed to show the natural range of variability that dominated the dynamics of the ecological site prior to European settlement. This site in the Reference State (1.0), is dominated by cool-season grasses and subdominant warm-season grass. Shrubs, including Wyoming big sagebrush, are important components within this State. Grazing, fire, and drought are the major drivers between plant communities. Heavy, continuous season-long grazing can push this State to a warm-season shortgrass-dominated State (2.0). Invasion of non-native cool-season annual grasses and fire will result in a transition to a Burned Native/Invaded State (4.0).
Submodel
Description
The Shortgrass State is dominated by shortgrass species and upland sedges. The State is the result of fire, or heavy disturbance that removed much or all the big sagebrush, and grazing management that did not provide adequate recovery time for cool-season wheatgrasses and needlegrasses. The hydrologic function of this state is dramatically altered. Runoff is high and infiltration is low. This State is very resistant to change through grazing management alone.
Submodel
Description
The Early Seral State is dominated by weedy annuals, rhizomatous wheatgrass, threeawn and prickly pear cactus. This State is the result of fire, heavy disturbance such as, frequent and severe defoliation, and livestock concentration that removed big sagebrush along with grazing management that did not provide adequate recovery time for cool-season wheat grasses and needlegrasses. The hydrologic function is also likely to be dramatically altered. Runoff is high and infiltration is low. This State is very resistant to change through grazing management alone.
Submodel
Description
The Burned Native/Invaded State is dominated by rhizomatous wheatgrass, needlegrasses and non-native cool-season annual and/or perennial grasses. The State is the result of the invasion of non-native annual grasses and an increase in fire frequency that has permanently removed the big sagebrush component from the plant communities. This State can resemble the Reference State (1.0) except for the absence of big sagebrush and to what degree it is invaded by non-native cool-season grasses. This State is very resistant to change through grazing management alone.
Submodel
Description
This State can be transitioned to from any Plant Community. The two separate vegetative Plant Communities are highly variable in nature. They are derived through different management scenarios, and are not related successionally. Infiltration, runoff, and soil erosion varies depending on the vegetation present on the site.
Submodel
Mechanism
Fire that removes the majority or all of the big sagebrush, heavy, continuous season-long grazing, and a loss of hydrologic function will transition this Plant Community to the Shortgrass State (2.0).
Mechanism
Fire which removes the majority or all big sagebrush, heavy, continuous season-long grazing, or frequent and severe defoliation, or heavy disturbance including livestock feeding areas, and the loss in hydrologic function will transition this State to the Early Seral State (3.0).
Mechanism
Invasion of non-native cool-season annual or perennial grasses followed by fire will transition this State to the Burned Native/Invaded State (4.0). Fire followed by a long period of non-use can also cause this transition.
Mechanism
Heavy disturbance, including tillage, abandoned cropland, or seeding to improved pasture species, or long-term non-use and invasion of non- native cool-season grasses will result in a transition to the Disturbed State (5.0). This transition can occur from any plant community on this site.
Mechanism
Removal of the grazing disturbance coupled with long-term prescribed grazing, and favorable climatic conditions, which allow for adequate plant recovery periods, and no fire, may cause a shift to the Shortgrass-Rhizomatous Wheatgrass/Big Sagebrush <5% Cover Plant Community (1.3). This transition may not be rapid or meet management goals in the end.
Mechanism
Frequent and severe defoliation, and/or heavy disturbance such as livestock feeding areas, and/or extended periods of drought will move this plant community to the Early Seral State (3.0).
Mechanism
Removal of the grazing disturbance coupled with long-term prescribed grazing, and favorable climatic conditions, which allow for adequate plant recovery periods, and fire, may cause a shift to the Burned Native/Invaded State (4.0). This transition may not be rapid or feasible.
Mechanism
Heavy disturbance, including tillage, abandoned cropland, or seeding to improved pasture species, or long-term non-use and invasion of non- native cool-season grasses will result in a transition to the Disturbed State (5.0). This transition can occur from any plant community on this site.
Mechanism
Removal of grazing disturbance, and herbaceous weed control to address annual bromes and cactus followed with long-term prescribed grazing that incorporates proper stocking, change in season of use and periodic deferment will potentially transition this Plant Community to the Reference State (1.0). A return to normal or above normal precipitation will help with this transition. This transition may not be rapid or meet management goals in the end.
Mechanism
Removal of the grazing disturbance coupled with herbaceous weed control, and long-term prescribed grazing, along with favorable climatic conditions, which allow for adequate plant recovery periods, may shift this Plant Community to the Burned Native/Invaded State (4.0). This transition may not be rapid or feasible.
Mechanism
Heavy disturbance, including tillage, abandoned cropland, or seeding to improved pasture species, or long-term non-use and invasion of non- native cool-season grasses will result in a transition to the Disturbed State (5.0). This transition can occur from any plant community on this site.
Mechanism
Heavy, continuous season-long grazing and loss in hydrologic function through plant community shift to shortgrass species will transition this Plant Community to the Shortgrass State (2.0).
Mechanism
Heavy, continuous season-long grazing or frequent and severe defoliation, or heavy disturbance including livestock feeding areas, will transition this State to the Early Seral State (3.0).
Mechanism
Heavy disturbance, including tillage, abandoned cropland, or seeding to improved pasture species, or long-term non-use and invasion of non- native cool-season grasses will result in a transition to the Disturbed State (5.0). This transition can occur from any plant community on this site.
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.