Claypan
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition 1A More details
- Transition 5A More details
- Transition 6A More details
- Restoration pathway 2A More details
- Transition 5A More details
- Transition 6A More details
- Restoration pathway 3A More details
- Transition 6A 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 in this ecological site prior to European settlement. This site, in reference, is dominated by a mix of cool-season wheatgrass and needlegrass and warm-season shortgrasses. Excessive grazing will cause the plant community to transition to a community dominated by the warm-season shortgrasses and upland sedges. Erosion of the surface horizon is also a likely outcome with heavy grazing. In pre-European times the primary disturbances included grazing by large ungulates and small mammals and drought. Favorable growing conditions occurred during the spring, and warm months of June through August. Today a similar state can be found in areas where proper livestock use has occurred.
Submodel
Description
This state is dominated by shortgrass species and upland sedges and is the result of grazing practices that remove the mid-stature, cool- and warm-season grasses and provide a competitive advantage to shortgrasses and grass-like species that are grazing resistant. This state is very resilient and resistant to change.
Submodel
Description
This state is the result of very heavy, concentrated disturbance such as prairie dog activity, or concentrated livestock areas. Extended periods of drought accompanied by heavy grazing can also push an “At Risk” plant community phase to this state. In most cases, this phase is dominated by annual and/or pioneer perennial species. Bare ground is typically greater than on any other plant community phase.
Submodel
Description
This state includes highly disturbed areas that have been allowed to grow back naturally, have been seeded to introduced forage species or have converted to weedy annuals. The plant communities on these site varies greatly. In most cases the hydrologic function, biotic integrity and soil site stability are dysfunctional.
Submodel
Mechanism
Heavy seasonal grazing, heavy continuous season-long grazing, heavy disturbance or drought will convert this plant community to the Blue Grama-Sedge Plant State. This transition is most likely to come from the Blue Grama-Western Wheatgrass PCP 1.2.
Mechanism
This State can transition to State 3.0 as a result of frequent and severe defoliation due to such occurrences as prairie dog activity, confined feeding areas, and heavy use areas.
Mechanism
This State can transition to State 4.0 as a result of tillage, seeding or invasion of non-native weedy species.
Mechanism
Under long-term prescribed grazing, including adequate rest periods and normal precipitation patterns, this plant community will return to the Reference State. This may take a long period of time and may not meet management goals.
Mechanism
This State can transition to State 3.0 as a result of frequent and severe defoliation due to such occurrences as prairie dog activity, confined feeding areas, and heavy use areas.
Mechanism
This State can transition to State 4.0 as a result of tillage, seeding or invasion of non-native weedy species.
Mechanism
This plant community can transition to the Shortgrass State (2.0) by removing the disturbance and applying long-term prescribed grazing. This may take an extended period of time and may not meet management objectives.
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.