Clayey-South (16-18" PZ)
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1 More details
- Transition T4 More details
- Restoration pathway R2 More details
- Transition T4 More details
- Restoration pathway R3 More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
Interpretations are based primarily on the Western Wheatgrass/Green Needlegrass Plant Community Phase (this is also considered to be climax). The potential vegetation is about 80 percent grasses or grass-like plants, 10 percent forbs, and 10 percent shrubs. The community is dominated by cool-season grasses. The major grasses include western wheatgrass, green needlegrass, big bluestem, and sideoats grama. Other grass and grass-like species include blue grama, buffalograss, needleleaf sedge, needleandthread, little bluestem, slender wheatgrass and prairie junegrass. This plant community is resilient and well adapted to the Northern Great Plains climatic conditions. The diversity in plant species allows for high drought tolerance. This is a sustainable plant community in regards to site/soil stability, watershed function, and biologic integrity.
Submodel
Description
This state occurs as a result of heavy stocking levels, inadequate recovery periods between grazing events, or a combination of these disturbances. This state is dominated by warm--season grasses, with cool-season grasses being subdominant. The shallow, compact nature of the roots of the dominant species causes increased runoff and reduced infiltration. In addition, reduced shading due to a lesser amount of foliar cover causes increased soil temperatures and increased evaporation of the surface soil moisture. These conditions combine to cause the site to become droughtier, and thus reduce the opportunity for recruitment and/or establishment of the taller statured grasses. This state is relatively stable and resistant to change.
Submodel
Description
This state occurs as a result of extreme disturbance that typically removes most of the native species normally present on this site. Disturbance in the form of cropping or severe grazing over several years are the most typical. Occupation by black-tailed prairie dogs may also result in this transition. The dominant species present is highly variable, but the common characteristics include high amounts of bare ground, reduced soil aggregate stability, increased runoff and increased erosion (including increased sediment loads in the runoff). Restoration of the ecological processes will be very difficult.
Submodel
Mechanism
Heavy continuous grazing (stocking levels well above carrying capacity for extended portions of the growing season, and at the same time of year each year, typically beginning early in the season) or heavy continuous season-long grazing will convert this plant community to the 2.1 Blue Grama/Buffalograss/Cactus Plant Community Phase in the Shortgrass Sod State (State 2).
Mechanism
Cropping followed by abandonment or heavy, continuous season-long grazing (high stocking levels for a majority of the growing season over extended periods of time) will lead this plant community phase over a threshold to the 3.1 Annual/Pioneer Perennial, Bare Ground Plant Community Phase within the Early Seral State (State 3).
Mechanism
Long-term prescribed grazing (moderate stocking levels coupled with adequate recovery periods, or other grazing systems such as high-density, low-frequency intended to treat specific species dominance, or periodic light to moderate stocking levels possibly including periodic rest) may lead this plant community phase over a threshold to the Reference State (State 1). This will likely take a long period of time, possibly up to 10 years or more, and recovery may not be attainable.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Cropping followed by abandonment or heavy, continuous season-long grazing (high stocking levels for a majority of the growing season over extended periods of time) will lead this plant community phase over a threshold to the 3.1 Annual/Pioneer Perennial, Bare Ground Plant Community Phase within the Early Seral State (State 3).
Mechanism
Seeding of improved/selected varieties of native species may lead this plant community phase over a threshold to a plant community resembling a phase of the Reference State (State 1). If seed and/or reproductive propagules of native species are still present in sufficient amounts, long-term prescribed grazing may eventually lead this plant community phase over the threshold and result in a phase of the Reference State (State 1). This restoration pathway will likely take a long period of time, if attainable.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
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.