Limy Upland
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1B More details
- Transition T1C More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Transition T2C More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Restoration pathway R3B More details
- Restoration pathway R3C More details
- Restoration pathway R4A More details
- Restoration pathway R4B More details
- Transition T4A More details
- Restoration pathway R5A 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 contains two community phases historically maintained by frequent fire and herbivory(grazing) with adequate recovery periods. High perennial grass cover and production allows for increased soil moisture retention, vegetative production and overall soil quality.
Submodel
Description
This state has been degraded from the reference state and much of the native warm season grass community has been replaced by less desirable plants. The loss of tall and mid warm season grasses has negatively impacted energy flow and nutrient cycling. Water infiltration is reduced due to the shallow root system and rapid runoff characteristics of Kentucky bluegrass and blue grama plant communities.
Submodel
Description
The spatial extent of eastern red cedar encroachment has expanded and individual trees have grown substantially. The areas under and near individual cedars have experienced altered function through shading, evergreen litter, and suppressed herbaceous understory. The woody overstory now dictates certain disturbance responses, and prescribed fire options become increasingly problematic as any fire will be largely carried by the volatile evergreen canopy instead of the herbaceous understory.
Submodel
Description
Introduced cool-season invasion has progressed to the point that native species comprise a negligible portion of the community and the aggressively rhizomatous invasive smooth bromegrass preclude native germination and seedling survival. The native component may be completely absent and the site then will resemble a seeded pasture.
Submodel
Description
Nutrient cycling, hydrologic function and/or soil stability have been severely altered and possibly coompromised. This is a highly variable stte in which the specific observed plants will depend largely on the original community and the nature of the disturbance. This state encompasses (but is not necessarily limited to) events such as severe fire impacts, heavy continuous grazing, heavy nutrient inputs, and abandoned cropland.
Submodel
Mechanism
Continuous grazing without adequate recovery periods will cause this plant community to cross a threshold and change to a Blue grama, Kentucky bluegrass Sod plant community. Continued defoliation without adequate recovery periods will significantly reduce the proportions of the mid grass species and begin to increase the proportions of short grass species.
Mechanism
Encroachment of woody species, no grazing and no fire will cause the Reference State to transition to the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Continuous heavy grazing or grazing without adequate recovery periods can allow Smooth Bromegrass to invade the plant communities of the Reference State and cause it to transition to the Invaded Grass State.
Mechanism
Prescribed Grazing with adequate recovery periods between grazing events will shift this plant community back across an ecologic threshold to the Sideoats grama, Blue grama, Western wheatgrass plant community. A shift to this community could take many years to achieve.
Mechanism
Encroachment of woody species, no grazing, and no fire will cause the Native/Invaded Grass State to transition to the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Continuous heavy grazing or grazing without adequate recovery periods will cause Smooth Bromegrass to continue to invade the plant communities of the Native/Invaded Grass State and cause it to transition to the Invaded Grass State.
Mechanism
Continued Grazing without adequate recovery periods can cause this plant community to change to an Annuals plant community. This plant community is at significant risk to soil erosion. The percent and aspect of slope will impact the rate of change.
Mechanism
Agressive intervening actions will be required to simultaneously recolonize native grasses and suppress vigor in undesirable species. Restoration from the Invaded Woody State toward the Reference State can be achieved with brush management and/or prescribed burning for red cedar control. If re-sprouting species such as Honey locust or Siberian elm are present, stumps must be treated after mechanical removal. Ongoing brush management such as hand cutting, chemical spot treatments or periodic prescribed burning is required.
Mechanism
Agressive intervening actions will be required to simultaneously recolonize native grasses and suppress vigor in undesirable species. Prescribed burning, brush management, and prescribed grazing can cause the Invaded Woody State to return to the Native/Invaded Grass State. Ongoing brush management will be needed to maintain the herbaceous state.
Mechanism
Agressive intervening actions will be required to simultaneously recolonize native grasses and suppress vigor in undesirable species. Prescribed burning, brush management, and prescribed grazing can cause the Invaded Woody State to return to the Invaded Grass State. Ongoing brush management will be needed to maintain the herbaceous state.
Mechanism
Restoration from the Invaded Grass State to the Reference State is achieved by killing existing vegetation through the use of burn down herbicides or by growing annual crops for 2 or more years, and then planting the site with native grasses and forb following the range seeding practice standard. If significant native remnants exist, prescribed fire, chemical treatments, targeted grazing of undesired species with adequate recover periods over an extended period of time will eventually return the site to the Reference State.
Mechanism
Restoration from the Invaded Grass State to the Native/Invaded State can be achieved if significant native remnants exist. Prescribed fire, chemical treatments, targeted grazing of undesired species with adequate recover periods over an extended period of time will eventually return the site to the Native/Invaded State.
Mechanism
The presence of an invasion source coupled with fire exclusion allows cedar seeds to germinate and establish within the herbaceous stand. This typically begins near fencerows, woody draws, and windbreaks, and accelerates outward as propagules increase. Lack of intervening action allows cedar expansion to continue and tree sizes to increase. Cedar will eventually modify site function in ways that promote further encroachment such as rainfall interception and stemflow, heavy duff litter and shading of the herbaceous understory.
Mechanism
Restoration from the Annual State to the Native/Invaded State can be achieved if significant perennial remnants exist. Prescribed grazing, chemical treatments, targeted grazing of undesired species with adequate recover periods over an extended period of time will eventually return the site to the Native/Invaded State.
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.