This State represents what is believed to show the natural range of variability that dominates the dynamics of this ecological site prior to European settlement. This state is dominated by cool-season grasses. In pre-European times, the primary disturbance mechanisms for this site in the Reference condition included somewhat frequent fire, precipitation cycles and grazing by large herding ungulates. Timing of fires and grazing coupled with weather events dictated the dynamics that occurred within the natural range of variability. Today, this State can be found on areas that are properly managed with grazing and/or prescribed burning, and sometimes on areas receiving occasional short periods of rest. Cool-season species can decline and a corresponding increase in short, warm-season grasses will occur. Under extended periods of disturbance, the main change is a reduction in vigor and production and an increase in bare ground.
This plant community results from the invasion of non-native, invasive species such as cheatgrass, field bromegrass, bluegrass, and/or smooth bromegrass. This plant community will have similar plant composition to the Reference State (1.0). The main difference is that the plant communities in this State will have up to 15 percent non-native cool-season grasses.
Submodel
2.1. Western Wheatgrass-Green Needlegrass-Non-Native Cool-Season Grasses
2.2. Western Wheatgrass-Non-Native Cool-Season Grasses/Bare Ground
Invasion of non-native cool-season annual and perennial grasses and other invasive and/or noxious species will lead this plant community phase over a threshold to the Native/Invaded State (2.0). Once this threshold is crossed, it highly unlikely to recover.
Model keys
Briefcase
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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.
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
