Lakebed 19-26" PZ
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Absence of disturbance coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Adequate rest from defoliation, followed by reintroduction of historic disturbance regimes
More details -
Transition T2A
Absence of disturbance and excessive grazing pressure coupled with periodic wet cycles
More details -
Restoration pathway R3A
Adequate rest from defoliation, reintroduction of historic disturbance regimes, and dry cycles
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
State 1
Midgrass/Grasslike State
Description
The Grass Dominant Community is the interpretive or "reference" plant community for the Lakebed site. When the moisture regime of the Lakebed Site is relatively dry because inundation is infrequent or occasional, the plant community is a Grass Dominated Plant Community (1.1). This situation normally occurs in the smaller lakebeds and in larger, deeper lakes during extended dry cycles. Vine mesquite, buffalograss, western wheatgrass, cane bluestem, knotgrass, blue grama and white tridens are the primary grasses in most of the grass-dominated lakebeds. Sedges and spike rushes are generally present in small amounts. Common forbs are frogfruit, arrowhead, evening primrose, knotweed, and plains coreopsis, especially in wetter areas. Herbage production is primarily by grasses. The annual herbage yields of the reference community varied widely from year to year and were dependent on available runoff water and growing conditions.
The plant community found on frequently ponded Lakebed Ecological sites, or that occurs as the result of extended wet cycles, is the Hydrophyte Dominant Community (1.2). Plants such as sedges, rushes, spike rushes, smartweed and many annuals dominate the composition and production. Western wheatgrass and vine mesquite are often present around the edges of the ponded areas. Larger lakebeds support the greatest diversity of vegetation. Species composition varies considerably. Several hydrophilic forbs such as sawtooth frogfruit, kochia, bursage, slimleaf goosefoot, and arrowhead can be expected.
Submodel
Description
The Shortgrass State is the result of continued overgrazing by livestock. Selective grazing reduces the more palatable or less grazing resistant midgrasses, grass-likes and forbs. Sedges, rushes, buffalograss and blue grama increase along with annual grasses such as little barley, barnyardgrass, and sixweeks fescue. Invading forbs include smartweed, slimleaf goosefoot, kochia, evening primrose, silverleaf nightshade and arrowhead.
Submodel
Description
The Hydrophytes/ Annuals Community (3.1) is the result of long-term overgrazing followed by long-term ponding of the site during extended wet periods. The continuous overgrazing reduces the vegetation to shortgrasses, grass-likes, and forbs. The ponding kills the remaining shortgrasses and non-hydrophytic perennial forbs. When drying occurs the hydrophytic plants dominate and annuals establish from seed. Unpalatable sedges, rushes, are present in the composition along with annuals such as little barley, barnyardgrass, and six-week’s fescue. Forbs include smartweed, slimleaf goosefoot, kochia, evening primrose, silverleaf nightshade and arrowhead.
Submodel
Mechanism
With heavy continuous grazing and no fires, the Midgrass/Grasslike State will transition into the Shortgrass State.
Mechanism
The Shortgrass State reverts back to the Midgrass/Grasslike State due to conservation practices such as Prescribed Grazing and Prescribed Burning.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
The Shortgrass State transitions into the Hydric State due to heavy continuous grazing, no fires, and periodic wet cycles.
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.