Loess Breaks
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
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Transition T3A More details
- Restoration pathway R4A More details
- Restoration pathway R4B More details
- Restoration pathway R4C More details
-
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Reference State describes the range of vegetative communities that occur on Loess Breaks site where the natural processes are mostly intact. Historically, the amount of grazing varied with the slopes. Areas with slopes steeper than 45 percent were rarely grazed. The historical vegetation of this site is mixed-grass prairie.
The Reference Community is representative of the native plant community historically maintained by frequent fire and herbivory (grazing) with adequate recovery periods. The Degraded Native Grass, At-Risk Native Grass, and Excessive Litter Communities result from management decisions that are unfavorable for the plant community and soil health.
High perennial grass cover and production facilitate increased soil moisture retention, high infiltration rates, plant vigor, and overall soil quality.
Submodel
Description
The Native Shortgrass/Invaded Grass State has deteriorated in quality from the Reference State. Few native, warm-season, tall- and midgrasses remain. Native shortgrasses and invasive species dominate the site.
Submodel
Description
The Degraded State is a result of overgrazing and misuse. Weedy annuals have replaced the desirable species. Ground cover is reduced and the system becomes more vulnerable to soil erosion.
Submodel
Description
This Invaded Woody State represents a state that has excessive woody species encroachment. The woody species are present due to lack of prescribed fire and brush management. The sites typically have a loss of native warm-season grasses, reduced forage production, and reduced soil quality.
Submodel
Mechanism
Continuous season-long grazing without adequate recovery periods during the growing season will cause the Reference Community to lose all tall- and midgrass species and cross an ecological threshold to the Native Shortgrass/Invaded Grass State. Once this occurs it will require considerable time and expense to return this site to a higher condition. Water infiltration is reduced due to the root mass present of the blue grama and Kentucky bluegrass sod.
Mechanism
Disruption of the natural fire regime and lack of brush management cause a major shift in the vegetative community. This causes the system to cross the threshold into the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Long-term prescribed grazing will shift the Native Shortgrass/Invaded Grass State to the Reference State. A shift to this state may take decades to achieve.
Mechanism
Continuous season-long grazing without adequate recovery periods during the growing season will shift the Native Shortgrass/Invaded Grass State to the Degraded State. The Degraded State has a significant risk of soil erosion. The percent and aspect of slope will impact the rate of change.
Mechanism
Disruption of the natural fire regime causes a major shift in the vegetative community. The resulting impacts cause the system to cross the threshold from the Reference State into the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Lack of fire and/or brush management will cause the Degraded State to cross a threshold and transition to the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Brush management, prescribed grazing, harvesting, prescribed burning, or wildfire will eventually cause the Invaded Woody State to shift back to the Reference State.
Mechanism
Brush management, prescribed grazing, harvesting, prescribed burning, or wildfire will eventually cause the Invaded Woody State to shift back to the Native/ Invaded Grass State.
Model keys
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase (
) 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.
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.