Loamy Upland
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
-
Transition T1A
Clear cutting or stand-replacing fire.
More details -
Transition T1B
Removal of forest vegetation and tilling.
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Disturbance-free period 70+ years.
More details -
Transition T2A
Removal of forest vegetation and tilling.
More details -
Restoration pathway R3A
Cessation of agricultural practices, natural or artificial afforestation.
More details -
Restoration pathway R1A
Cessation of agricultural practices, natural or artificial afforestation.
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
State 1
Reference State
Description
When allowed the time and lack of disturbance to achieve the reference state, this ecological site is best characterized as a mesic hardwood forest. The advanced succession or mature phase is likely to have a dense canopy with few shrubs and a relatively sparse understory as well. The canopy is usually dominated by Sugar maple with American beech and American basswood as common associates. In addition to the mature or advanced succession phase there is also a rejuvenated community phase in the reference state. The rejuvenated community phase includes the same overstory canopy, but often with some gaps, a more developed shrub layer and understory, as well as a few different tree associates including Ashes and Black cherry.
Submodel
Description
Following disturbances, such as clear cutting and fire a wide range of forest community phases may come into temporary existence, the three most common ones are described here. This ecological state is characterized as early to mid-successional and can be dominated by aspen or birch (possibly a mixture), Red oak and Red maple, or Sugar maple and Red maple. Each of these phases likelihood is strongly influenced by local seed source and the type of disturbance which led to this successional state.
Submodel
Mechanism
Clear cutting with initial control of competing vegetation, or stand-replacing fire, prepare the site for occupancy by shade intolerant species. This may occur through natural regeneration or by planting.
Mechanism
Removal of forest cover, tilling and application of other agricultural techniques to grow agricultural crops.
Mechanism
A period of some 70-100 years without major stand disturbance, especially fire, leads to decreased presence, through natural mortality, of early successional species and the dominance of shade tolerant sugar maple with less tolerant associates of red oak and white ash, returning the community to Reference State.
Mechanism
Removal of forest cover, tilling and application of other agricultural techniques to grow agricultural crops.
Mechanism
Abandonment of agricultural practices and allowing natural vegetation to colonize the site or apply artificial afforestation.
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.