Adobe 29-35 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 and natural regeneration over time
More details -
Transition T1B
Removal of woody species coupled with range seeding
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Reintroductions of natural disturbance regimes
More details -
Transition T2A
Removal of woody vegetation coupled with range seeding
More details -
Transition T2B
Mechanical conversion of primarily to mulch
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
State 1
Reference
Description
The reference state is considered to be representative of the natural range of variability under pre-Euro settlement conditions. It is characterized by a warm-season tallgrass savannah with scattered oak trees. Community phase changes are primarily driven by wildfire, grazing, and climatic fluctuations.
Submodel
State 2
Oak/Juniper State
Description
Juniper is dominating the site. Most of the juniper has a full mid-story making travel by people and animals difficult because of the thickness.
Submodel
State 3
Open Grassland State
Submodel
State 4
Mulched State
Description
The mulched state is created when heavy equipment shreds dense stands of brush, mainly juniper and reduces it to surface mulch on the soil.
Submodel
Mechanism
Sunlight energy is being captured more by woody plants than by herbaceous plants. An increasing amount of rainfall is entrapped in the juniper canopy with less entering the soil rooting zone. Continued overgrazing/browsing, lack of the fire and lack of brush management are responsible. Drought can hasten the process although a long term severe drought can result in death of juniper.
Mechanism
Land clearing removes all of the woody species to restore the energy capture to herbaceous plants. Range seeding has been applied that includes exotic herbaceous species or they are introduced through hay, livestock or wildlife. The hydrologic cycle resembles the reference plant community.
Mechanism
Brush management and range planting (if needed) will change the plant community back to a more herbaceous plant community to capture sunlight. The hydrology is reclaimed with a higher percentage of rainfall entering the root zone for use by herbaceous plants. Fire will be needed to maintain the recovery.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Range Planting |
|
|
Native Plant Community Restoration and Management |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Land clearing removes all of the woody species to restore the energy capture to herbaceous plants. Range seeding has been applied that includes exotic herbaceous species or they are introduced through hay, livestock or wildlife. The hydrologic cycle resembles the reference plant community.
Mechanism
Mechanical conversion of primarily juniper canopy to a mulch cover restores the energy flow to the remaining species, usually oak. The hydrologic cycle retains nearly all the rainfall because of the heavy mulch. Little evaporation takes place.
Model keys
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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.