Chalky Ridge
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
No fire, no brush management, improper grazing management, drought
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Fire, brush management, proper grazing, range planting
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
Two communities exist in the Prairie/Savannah State: the 1.1 Tallgrass Prairie Community and the 1.2 Live Oak/Red Cedar Savannah Community. Community 1.1 is characterized by tallgrasses dominating the understory, with woody cover less than 10 percent. Community 1.2 is characterized by a decrease in tallgrasses and an increase in midgrasses and forbs. Woody cover increases to 10 to 25 percent.
Submodel
Description
Two communities exist in the Shrubland State: the 2.1 Live Oak/Red Cedar Shrubland Community and the 2.2 Live Oak/Red Cedar Woodland Community. Community 2.1 is characterized by a shift in grass composition to silver bluestem and threeawns. The overstory canopy increases to 25 to 40 percent. Community 2.2 is characterized by a shortgrasses and low forbs with greater than 40 percent overstory canopy cover.
Submodel
Mechanism
The Prairie/Savannah State will transition to the Shrubland State when continued heavy grazing pressure, no fire, no brush management, and/or field abandonment continues. The transition is evident when woody species canopy cover exceeds 25 percent and grasses shift composition to silver bluestem, threeawns, and shortgrasses.
Mechanism
Restoration of the Shrubland State to the Prairie/Savannah State requires substantial energy input. Mechanical or herbicidal brush control treatments can be used to remove woody species. A long-term prescribed fire program may sufficiently reduce brush density particularly if the woody component is dominated by species that are not re-sprouters. However, fire may not be sufficient to remove mature trees. Brush control in combination with prescribed fire, proper grazing management, and favorable growing conditions may be the most economical means of creating and maintaining the desired plant community. If remnant populations of tallgrasses, midgrasses, and desirable forbs are not present at sufficient levels, range planting will be necessary to restore a plant community similar to the reference community.
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.