Depression
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Abandonment, no fire, and/or no grazing management
More details -
Transition T1B
Brush management, crop cultivation, pasture planting
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Prescribed grazing, fire, and/or brush management
More details -
Transition T2A
Brush management, crop cultivation, pasture planting
More details -
Restoration pathway R3A
Prescribed grazing, fire, and/or brush management
More details -
Restoration pathway T3A
Abandonment, no fire, and/or no grazing management
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
One community exists in the Savannah State, the Sedge/Oak Savannah Community. The site is dominated by grass-like species and has a presence of up to 50 percent woody species intermixed.
Submodel
Description
One community exists in the Woodland State, the Water Oak Community. The site is defined by woody canopy cover over 50 percent. The site has reduced herbaceous production compared to the Savannah State.
Submodel
Mechanism
The driver for this transition is abandonment, lack of fire, and/or lack of prescribed grazing. Woody species are allowed to continue to grow until reaching over the threshold of 50 percent. This signifies the transition to the Woodland State.
Mechanism
The transition to the Converted State occurs when the site is plowed for planting crops or pasture. The driver for the transition is the land manager's decision to farm the site.
Mechanism
Restoration back to the Savannah State requires substantial energy inputs. Brush management and prescribed grazing will be needed to shift the community back to the reference state. Mechanical or chemical controls can be used to remove the woody overstory species back below 50 percent. Prescribed grazing may require destocking and/or deferment to manage the understory grasses back to those found in the reference community.
Mechanism
The transition to the Converted State occurs when the site is plowed for planting crops or pasture. The driver for the transition is the land manager's decision to farm the site.
Mechanism
The restoration to State 1 can occur when the land manager ceases agronomic practices. Range planting of native species found in the reference community will be required to bring back a similar community as the State 1 plant composition. The extent of previous soil disturbances will determine how much seedbed preparation will be needed, as well as the ability to be restored. Proper grazing and brush management will be required to ensure success.
Mechanism
The Converted Land State will transition to the Woodland State following abandonment of cropping or prescribed grazing of the introduced pasture. Lack of brush management will allow woody species to grow and eventually limit the herbaceous production. Introduced grasses are hard to eliminate, so they may stay part of the community in lesser amounts.
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.