Subirrigated
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition 1 to 2 More details
- Transition 1 to 3 More details
- Transition 1 to 4 More details
- Restoration pathway 2 to 1 More details
- Transition 2 to 3 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
The Grassland State is supported by empirical data, historical data, local expertise, and photographs. This state is defined by two native plant communities that are a result of periodic fire, drought, and grazing. These events are part of the natural disturbance regime and climatic process. The Reference Plant Community consist of warm season tall grasses, forbs, and shrubs. The At-risk Plant Community is made up primarily of cool season grasses with decreasing amounts of remnant tallgrasses from the Reference Community. There is a possibility of woody encroachment of Eastern Red Cedar and Russian olive especially in the north part of MLRA72.
Submodel
Description
The cool season state is supported by empirical data, historical data, local expertise and photographs. The reference grassland state ecosystem has been driven beyond the limits of ecological resilience and has crossed a threshold into the cool season state. The designation of the cool season state denotes changes in individual plant species and community composition. This change in plant species affects the biotic integrity of the ecosystem. The photosynthetic pathway of plants gradually transitioned from a warm to a cool season plant community. The replacement of plants will have an impact on grazing management influencing the timing and season of use. Hydrologic function of the ecosystem may also altered by the growing season of the cool season plants.
This alternative state should be treated as a hypothesis that will be tested through long-term observation of ecosystem behavior and repeated application of conservation and restoration practices. This state should be re-evaluated and refined continually.
Submodel
Description
The woody state is supported by empirical data, historical data, local expertise and photographs. The reference grassland state or the cool season state has been driven beyond the limits of ecological resilience and has crossed a threshold into the woody state. The designation of the woody state denotes changes in plant type and species. This change in plant species affects the hydrologic function and biotic integrity of the ecological processes.
This alternative state should be treated as a hypothesis that will be tested through long-term observation of ecosystem behavior and repeated application of conservation and restoration practices. This state should be re-evaluated and refined continually.
Submodel
Description
The Tillage State is defined by two separate vegetation communities that are highly variable. They are derived through two distinct management scenarios, and are not related successionally. Infiltration, runoff and soil erosion varies depending on the vegetation present. A major flooding event with associated deposition may also occur in any of the following plant communities.
The Grassland State ecosystem has been driven beyond the limits of ecological resilience and has crossed a threshold into the Tillage State. The designation of the tillage state denotes changes in plant community composition and soil structure. This change in plant species and soil structure affects the following ecological processes; hydrologic function, biotic integrity, and soil site stability.
This alternative state should be treated as a hypothesis that will be tested through long-term observation of ecosystem behavior and repeated application of conservation and restoration practices. This state should be re-evaluated and refined continually.
Submodel
Mechanism
Long term heavy grazing, inadequate rest and recovery of reference plant species, and an absence of prescription fire all contribute to the variables or events that contribute directly to loss of state resilience and result in shifts between states. This transition involves a change in vegetation photosynthetic pathways resulting in a shift from warm season dominated grasses to cool season.
Mechanism
A transition occurs as a result of prescription fires that occur less frequent (>20 years)than fires of the natural disturbance regime, and/or there is an absence of woody encroachment control. The woody plant community has increased to levels that begin competing with the grasses for water, sunlight, and space. Tree/shrub canopy cover is greater than 30%.
Mechanism
T 1-4. Tillage by machinery is an event that contributes directly to loss of state resilience and result in shifts between states. Tillage removes existing vegetation and affects structure and aggregate stability resulting in a change to hydrologic function.
Mechanism
R 2-1. Long term grazing management with adequate rest and recovery of the remnant reference plant community species and a prescription fire are the management actions required to recover to the grassland state. The species to target for management are those that were dominant or sub-dominant within the reference plant community according to the functional/structural group sheet. This restoration may take greater than 20 years to accomplish.
Mechanism
T 2-3. The absence of managing woody species are the variables that contribute directly to loss of state resilience and result in shifts between states. This transition involves a change in vegetation type. This transition could take generations and possibly will not occur if there is not a seed source available.
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.