Peatland
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
-
Transition T1A
Logging, seeding.
More details -
Transition T1B
Impoundment or maintenance of water on-site, and/or establishment of invasive species.
More details -
Transition T1C
Beaver activity, roads, drainage, and other alterations in hydrology.
More details -
Transition T2A
Non-native plant species on site
More details -
Restoration pathway R4A
Hydrological management
More details -
Transition T4A
Non-native species on site
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The reference state is dominated by conifer or tall shrub communities. Soils are mucky peat or peat. The shrub layer is composed of speckled alder, shrubby cinquefoil, bog rosemary, alder, willows, Labrador tea, and bog laurel. The ground layer is predominately sphagnum moss with forbs and graminoids intermixed. Peat continues to form and accumulate over time. Species to the reference state are not mutually exclusive, but will have a higher productivity compared to acid peatlands.
Submodel
Description
This state describes the removal black spruce and some tamarack through logging. The natural plant community has been severely disturbed and the site has been impacted by heavy equipment. Compositional changes in canopy cover and soil/water disturbances impact all layers of the plant community. Best management practices can help reduce site damage and the implementation of post-logging timber stand improvement practices can enhance tree regeneration.
Submodel
Description
The plant community is still an open peatland dominated by shrubs and graminoids; however, invasive species are now present on site and will increase with the absence of management inputs.
Submodel
Description
This community is dominated by fine-leaved sedges, graminoids, and shrubs. Soils are mucky peat or peat. The shrub layer is composed of bog birch, shrubby cinquefoil, bog rosemary, alder, willows, bog Labrador tea, and leatherleaf. Tamarack trees may be present but are scattered. The ground layer is predominately graminoids which includes multiple sedge species. Marsh cinquefoil (purple marshlocks), Labrador bedstraw, marsh bellflower, and eastern marsh fern are usually present.
Submodel
Mechanism
This transition involves logging, usually clearcutting, but with reserves for seed sources, site preparation, control for disease and invasive species, and seeding, in order to maintain the site as a viable commercial timber harvesting state. This transition is only possible, or desirable, when the management is applied to phases in which radial growth has been prolific and trees have reached maturity, exhibiting taller, more commercially viable trees.
Mechanism
Impoundment or maintenance of water on-site, and/or establishment of invasive species. Beaver activity, roads, drainage, and other alterations in hydrology can transition the Acid Peatlands out of Reference to an Impounded State, where water is ponded on site for longer durations and receives excessive nutrients from overland surface flow.
Mechanism
Impoundment or maintenance of water on-site. Beaver activity, roads, drainage, and other alterations in hydrology can transition the Acid Peatlands out of Reference to an Open State, where water is on site for longer durations and receives excessive nutrients from overland surface flow causing stunted tree growth.
Mechanism
Introduction and establishment of non-native invasive species.
Mechanism
Draining or maintenance of water on-site causing alterations in hydrology that can transition the Open state back to the Reference State, where water is on site for shorter durations and receives less nutrients from overland surface flow causing increased tree growth.
Model keys
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase (
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
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.