Thin Breaks
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition 1A More details
- Transition 1B More details
- Restoration pathway 2A More details
- Transition 2A More details
- Transition 3A 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
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 Reference, is a mix of grasses, grass-like, forbs, shrubs and tree species. Wet and dry climatic cycles, fire, no fire and encroachment of junipers are the major drivers between plant communities. In general, grazing pressure is limited because of limited accessibility however on flatter slopes, livestock will utilize the site for shade and loafing.
Submodel
Description
This State occurs when eastern redcedar and/or Rocky Mountain juniper encroach onto the site. As the juniper becomes established, the herbaceous component declines and more bare ground is exposed. It appears that juniper is creating the condition for continuing encroachment. As bare ground increases juniper establishes more readily.
Submodel
Description
This State is the result of a stand replacing fire that removes the majority of the woody component from the site. Before the re-sprouting shrubs can stabilize the site and native grasses and forbs can reestablish, non-native, cool-season grasses invade the site and become the dominate species. This State can also be the result of heavy use by livestock.
Submodel
Mechanism
Over time, no fire will convert the plant community to the Conifer State (2.0). Shrubs and trees replace the grasses and forbs due to no fire over many years. This transition is most likely to occur through Plant Community Phase (1.2).
Mechanism
Heavy use (livestock concentration or loafing areas) and invasion on non-native, cool-season grasses will transition this site to the Disturbed State (3.0).
Mechanism
In areas where non-native, cool-season grasses are not common in the adjacent plant communities, the natural successional process of shrubs and tree regeneration can transition this plant community back to the Reference State (1.0).
Mechanism
Hot, stand replacing fire and the invasion of non-native, cool-season grasses will convert the plant community to the Invaded State (3.0).
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.